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Me and my girlfriend moved out of our houses and relocated to a new city at the beginning of last year, and, while it has been a huge adventure and something we would do again in a second, I suddenly find that I don't have time for the hobby anymore

This is because of the never-ending list of things a person has to do to MAINTAIN things: life becomes mostly upkeep. Make food, wash the dishes, go to work, try not to get fired, maintain your relationship, maintain a positive outlook, maintain contact with friends, etc, etc, etc ad infinitum. I hardly have time to think. What I would like to know is this:

How do the older gamers make time for the hobby?

I assume you don't have kids. Wait till a child arrives then watch your free time evaporate. I wish I was just being cynical but unfortunately, it's true - I have literally had zero time for the hobby in the last year or so.

filbert wrote:I assume you don't have kids. Wait till a child arrives then watch your free time evaporate. I wish I was just being cynical but unfortunately, it's true - I have literally had zero time for the hobby in the last year or so.

Yeah, no kids thankfully... "Honey, come quickly, the baby's trying to eat your Lootas again!"

this might be off topic but I'm not an older guy and I have all the free time in the world until march when i leave for the military lol then my painting days are over for 4 years so I'm rushing to get all my guys done.

But seriously there must be some time for you? some free time at all. Maybe sacrifice one thing for the hobby? something you'd like to replace?

filbert wrote:I assume you don't have kids. Wait till a child arrives then watch your free time evaporate. I wish I was just being cynical but unfortunately, it's true - I have literally had zero time for the hobby in the last year or so.

That's the truth, right there.

I found that a daylight lamp gave me the facility to paint for an hour or so in my 'me time' (after kids are in bed and wifey's occupied with her stuff) ... about 11pm or so. As far as gaming itself goes, it's been on a hiatus for a while but now the kids are a litle older, I'm looking forward to squeezing in some evening sessions once the little millstones are abed.

There are times when wifey just looks across at me and says, 'Do you remember back before we had kids. What did we do with our time?'

Bless 'em

You find it.

If you WANT to do something badly enough, you WILL find a way.

If that means compromising on some things so that you get to do it, then so be it.

I got made redundant for the 3rd time 5 and a half years ago (Got married shortly after). I relocated to the city where my Fiancée lived (it's cheaper) - but it also has a higher unemployment rate.
My wife and I have an arrangement (since she has a relatively secure job with a government transport authority). I am the house-hubby. I do the cooking and the cleaning. Leftover time is my own apart from what we spend together doing together things.

I do my gaming on weekends mostly, and my hobbying during the day between domestic tasks (she's sensitive to glue and primer fumes - so I do these when she's at work).