Last night I opened an e-mail from a quilting sister who (again) tried to talk me into joining the local guild. They're a lovely, friendly group of ladies, many of whom have issued similar invitations over the years. I had two more requests while I was at the show. Then, when I got home, my guy suggested I join, which really surprised me. I didn't know he was aware that I quit my online guild when all the eye trouble happened back in 2014, but apparently he pays more attention to me than I thought.
I sometimes suspect the family is trying to find things for me to do now that my kids are grown. Which, honestly, is weird. In addition to my full-time job as a ghost writer I have two dogs and a very large house to maintain, meals to cook, laundry to wash, a daughter to get through college, books, my own quilts, art, reviews to write for LT . . . all of which leaves me very little idle time to join a new group and get into even more creative trouble.
It would be nice to belong to the local guild. Right now my pal Jill is the only quilter friend I have in my real world life, and she's just as if not more busy with her family. Our conflicting schedules make it hard to get together very often. I rarely do well in groups (and that's me, not them) but I'd probably have a great time with this particular guild. Nearly all of the ladies in it are my age or older. No one is snobby or acts superior, although a few of them are masters of the art. Most of the guild ladies use machines for everything, but they like the kind of hand work work I do. I could probably learn a lot from all of them, and I know some have been quilting for half a century (I've only been at it for twenty-five years.)
That said, family and work must come first for me right now. Today, while the guild is having their weekly meeting, I will be finishing up a series proposal for one of my clients. That one job will pay my bills for six months. Or I could be sitting and gossiping and sewing, and having fun, and earning nothing. I also know in my heart that while I love quilting, writing really owns me.
It's not a tough choice. If I ever retire from writing (doubtful) or when my youngest gets her degree I may change my mind, but for now I'll just be content with seeing them once a year at the big show.
What have you given up for now that you may take up later? Let us know in comments.
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I've given up lots of things due to time/energy. It was actually kind of a relief to admit to myself that I don't have time for all my hobbies right now and that's okay. It's how this stage of my life is supposed to be. I've had more time in the past and will have more in the future, I hope, but at this point in life I don't have time to perform musically (vocals or instrumental) or even to practice, no time for yardwork (hence low maintenance yard), and I'm not going to be setting up my easel to paint any time soon either. Earning a living is a priority, so is health, family, time to read, and if there isn't time for much else, well, I expect that to change in another 10-15 years.
ReplyDeleteI quit writing fiction. It was fun and I seem to have some talent for storytelling, but I got tired of the constant hustling. Will I go back to it? Maybe. Someday. But for now I'm having a great time living on the farm, blogging, and designing covers. It doesn't bring in as much income as when I was writing, but it also doesn't consume all my free time either. It's been a good trade off.
ReplyDeleteAs my mother likes to tell me: 'Enjoy your life. It's gone before you know it.'
I'm finally beginning to take her advice to heart.
At the moment, I've given up the finely detailed drawings & paintings I enjoyed doing. Eye issues have made that impossible at the moment. Still do the occasional general sketch, but I miss the intricacy & absorption of the other.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping the problem will improve; but yeah, there's lots to do otherwise. :)
I've thought about joining a quilting guild but feel intimidated by those superior people who know better, if you see what I mean. My local fabric shop (Fabric HQ) however, runs a "Sewcial" evening twice a month which is so much nicer. Coffee, cake and the company of sewists of every kind. Some ladies are hand sewers, some dress makers, some a mix of everything. They make clothes, curtains, roman blinds, quilts, soft toys, cushions etc and are a wonderful, appreciative audience for your efforts. We even take knitting & crochet along when we haven't got a handy, portable sewing project. This is much more up my street.
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