I think the trick is to change your titles around
Good advice, change is as good as a holiday for some.
There have been times when The Game has been low on the radar, and times when it is an obsession. I've been "into" a few hobbies over the years, and pinball certainly both benefits from things I learned in others, and provides a great release/distraction, perhaps more than the other hobbies, because you can put in as little or as much effort as you like. You can buy restored/cookie cutter games, and take pleasure from them, or spend time repainting a cabinet, swapping a playfield, or have someone do it and enjoy the new quality. It seems to have a lot of variations, enough for many different type of folk to find a niche that works for them.
When The Game isn't attracting me, I just don't go down to that area. Pick up the guitar, change the oil in a car, gosh, even spend some time in the garden with the Mrs. But, it always drags me back eventually, I cannot imagine not having at least a few games always.
With a few exceptions, I have met many. many top people via this hobby, more so than any others, where "competitiveness" seems to dominate. Through this forum and other contacts, I am constantly surprised by the ability of so many to give and share, both skills, time and even bits 'n pieces. Sure, there's crap amongst the dealers and the like all the time, but I have learned to keep away from them, they are good for the hobby in bringing newbies in, so they too have their place in the scheme of things.
In the end, you can walk up to a game, and loose yourself for a few minutes or half and hour in the magic little world under the glass - it is so special in many ways, it's here to stay for me.
