So I have seen many a thread about mysterious male hobbies that some are very afraid of being identified by releasing what these hobbies are. So I give you my secret... I AM A MAN (this is not the secret!)
My hobby that takes me away from my partner and 2 year old son is Dungeons & Dragons and not the expected hobby of lycra and vehicles with two wheels.
For one evening a week I travel to my local city where I spend £2 on parking. I make my way to a store that sells board games and once I am there I become a GOD!
60 people turn up on average every week wanting to play, these people are not your standards nerds and geek (well some are) but we have a good mixture of sex, race, religion and race. We even have a good proportion of players who have special needs or disabilities who play. Ages range from 8 year olds who come with a parent to 80 year olds (who also come with their parents [lie, maybe their woo ghost's]). I then organise these people into groups where they Roleplay their fantasy characters through dangerous missions. My group of six people who I DM (Dungeon Master) for are currently walking through a jungle filled with zombies and dinosaurs trying to figure out what strange curse has been put on this world that does not allow the dead to be brought back to life!
I have been organising and playing for just two years now. The work I done in telling/Directing a comunal fantasy roleplaying story has helped countless people with varying problems. We have found that we have become support workers for people with autism and adhd where they find escape in becoming a different person. People who were once terrified of being in groups or with strangers now make small talk with ease (not saying it works for everyone).
But don't just take my word for it Mayim Bialik from The Big Bang Theory describes what it has done for her and her family.
Now onto the point of cost how much does this hobby cost me? Well other than the diesel and parking money its the cost of a pencil a sheet of paper and a set of D&D dice (around £5). You can get free basic rules online dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules but if you do become serious then most players end up with a few sets of dice (they are pretty and addictive) as well as a book called the Players Handbook which is around £20 on amazon. Of course you can spend a lot more but most just have the basic book.
AIBU to show you the great joys you could have with friends and family, or am I just another man with a hobby who cares about no one else but himself?
D&D is definitely not just for Nerds, Geeks and Devil Worshippers. would you call Vin Diesel any of these?
Do you want to share your or your partners mystery Hobby?