I'd get more involved in pool, but.........

[Maniac]

....I simply have too many other obligations/priorities/hobbies to consider. Number one, I'm married. I have to spend some time with the little lady in the evenings not only because I WANT to, but because she gets up every morning 5 days a week and drives 25 miles (one way) in rush-hour traffic jams while I sleep in every morning and spend a good portion of my day on AZBilliards and shooting pool. She has earned the right for me to be home. I shoot in 3 leagues. One she shoots on (the same team with me), one is on her bowling night, and the last is on Thursday nights when she usually gets caught up on her choice of matters (friends, personal chores, rest, etc.). Number two is, I have some other hobbies, ones that I had BEFORE I started getting serious about pool (about 5 years ago). I fish (bass boat), I hunt, I target shoot, reload my own ammo, I ride motorcycles, and I am the primary care-giver/handyman/financial adviser for my parents (Pop is 88, Mom is 86). On top of this, I am VERY close to my two children and my six grandchildren and visit them often. Throw in the fact that I am the cook, housekeeper, laundryperson, grocery shopper, yard man (I do my parents yard also ), you can see that I am a fairly busy retired guy.

But.......if I wasn't married (I am NOT implying that I wish I weren't), I'd probably spend an inordinate amount of time in poolhalls/bars playing in more leagues (and tournaments on many weekends). I love the game that much. I have always enjoyed pool (for 40+ years), but in the last 4 or 5 years have really come to appreciate the intricate nature of the game. I would definitely become a pool junkie under different circumstances. I know my game would improve if I did this. I envy those who are totally caught-up in it. I see on here how some play leagues and tournaments on weekends and it sure makes me yearn for more pool.

But life for me is what it is. I have no complaints. In fact, I consider myself to be blessed with all the opportunities I have in life to experience so many wonderful things and enjoy the company of so many beautiful people.

I'm just sayin'.......I would if I could!!!!

Maniac

 

[Mike in MN]

Man, it sounds like you get waaayyy more pool time than I do, and I'm only 27! Since I got married, I found that my time at the table as dwindled as well. It's a trade I'm more than happy to make, though, because I truly do love my wife more than anything.

I'm just curious about how much more table time I'll lose when kids start showing up! (Again, a trade I'll be ecstatic to make)

 

[poolhustler]

Man, it sounds like you get waaayyy more pool time than I do, and I'm only 27! Since I got married, I found that my time at the table as dwindled as well. It's a trade I'm more than happy to make, though, because I truly do love my wife more than anything.

I'm just curious about how much more table time I'll lose when kids start showing up! (Again, a trade I'll be ecstatic to make)

Hhhmpppp....... I loved my wife too, but pool is more important so I left her. Now I can shoot pool whenever i want!!

 

[nelldrake]

Kudos to you two guys...

My hat's off to both of you for your devotion to your spouses, extended family, duties, etc. and to your love of pool. There should be more like you and less like me (I am retired and spend way too much time in the pool halls). My chores sometimes get put on a back burner so I can shoot but I do love it so. The way I figure it is that this is my time to do what I want for what little time remains to me.

 

[Black-Balled]

Man, it sounds like you get waaayyy more pool time than I do, and I'm only 27! Since I got married, I found that my time at the table as dwindled as well. It's a trade I'm more than happy to make, though, because I truly do love my wife more than anything.

I'm just curious about how much more table time I'll lose when kids start showing up! (Again, a trade I'll be ecstatic to make)

Just be sure you have a table at home...and get used to sleeping <6.5 hr a day...

There will be pleeenty tof tome for pool. Or not.

 

[justadub]

I'm just curious about how much more table time I'll lose when kids start showing up! (Again, a trade I'll be ecstatic to make)

You're right about the kids. They do require (and deserve) a great deal of your time.

But the damndest thing about kids is that they grow up, way too fast. I took my oldest to school this morning, starting his junior year of high school. How the hell did that happen?

Seriously, as your (future) kids start to grow up, they get their own interests, and spend less time with you, whether you like it or not. I've begun to play pool over the last year or so, as I actually had a little more "me" time available as opposed to the previous years of my childrens lives. It happens, and it all works out. Best of luck to you, and enjoy your future little ones when they are indeed little, because all you have to do is blink and they're asking for the car keys!

 

[ridinda9]

Maniac , we make choices about priorities in life , and if you're any kind of a man , Family has got to be your #1 priority . The great thing about pool is that the game itself is patient , and it will wait for you . Pool will still be there when you are ready to come back to it. Yes , lack of devoted , daily practice will make your game slip - and maybe when you're older , you won't have the 'eye' for it you have now -but that will just make you want to practice more to get your game back.
When I was in High School , I shot everyday , 4 hours per night on my basement table , with sporadic instruction from an uncle who lived in another state and only got by to see us every few months. Couldn't get into bars or pool halls because I wasn't 18 . Got to be pretty good that way.
Turned 18 & joined the Corps. Wasn't nearly as much time to practice , but I could still rob the locals (and my buddies) on leaves and liberties . After my discharge , I ran several bars and rooms , but guess what ? Running the room leaves you precious little time for practice , and everytime you come out from behind the bar with a cue , one of the patrons wants to play you .
Free time ? Plays , girl scouts , sports , and all the other things my daughters got involved in ate that up . Wouldn't trade those times for anything .
Had time for league a couple nights a week , and maybe 2-3 racks a day practice . That's nothing.
Girls are grown , flown , & on their own now , and I'm concentrating on getting my teenage game back. I'm good now , but nowhere near as good as I was then. And I know its my eyes ....time catches up with you.
But since I've had time for regimented , daily practice these last couple years , I am strong - it's trickling back.
Concentrate on what's important for now , and remember that pool is a recreation , not a compulsion
Of course , those six grandkids do need to learn how to play . . . .don't they ?

 

[poolhustler]

I woke up one day and my daughter was 19 !!!

Shes already through her first year of college now.

Holy crap... does time fly

Seriously, I will never regret putting my pool playing on the back burner and spending time with my wife and daughter.

Now that my eyes are bad and my back is out, i can play all the pool I want

 

[Underclocked]

The urge to procreate is a major form of insanity. Fight it for all you are worth!! :grin:

 

[Tbeaux]

The bad backs excuses sound real familiar to me.
My biggest problems are money for table time and having to help out a couple of old(er) folks with health issues.
I keep measuring rooms to figure a way to get a table in the house. Gotta chunk some furniture.

 

[Mike in MN]

Just be sure you have a table at home...and get used to sleeping <6.5 hr a day...

There will be pleeenty tof tome for pool. Or not.

The plan is definitely to have a table at home. My dad has already said I am going to be inheriting his Valley barbox once Wifey and I build our house. I'm thinking it'll look nice next to the 9' Diamond Pro-Am I have my sights set on

You're right about the kids. They do require (and deserve) a great deal of your time.

But the damndest thing about kids is that they grow up, way too fast. I took my oldest to school this morning, starting his junior year of high school. How the hell did that happen?

Seriously, as your (future) kids start to grow up, they get their own interests, and spend less time with you, whether you like it or not. I've begun to play pool over the last year or so, as I actually had a little more "me" time available as opposed to the previous years of my childrens lives. It happens, and it all works out. Best of luck to you, and enjoy your future little ones when they are indeed little, because all you have to do is blink and they're asking for the car keys!

I'm looking forward to the opportunity to be a good father, and if that means less pool, I am 110% ready to accept that. I'm thinking the biggest break I'll have to take is the first 4-6 years for each (future) kid. After that, it seems like a blink of an eye equates to several years, and before I know it, they'll be all grown up. That's when I will head back down to the basement and start smacking balls around again :thumbup:

 

[doitforthegame]

I'm only allowed 3 hours of unsupervised fun a week.