It was a chance meeting.
It was a hot afternoon in the city when the men bumped into each other. They were browsing in an electrical store when it happened. Recognition was slow at first. The first man had been watching the other for several minutes before approaching. The upshot was, after smiles and a handshake, it was decided that they both had time on their hands and could easily sit and chat in a nearby café. This is how it happened that two schoolboys from one country, were absolutely delighted to meet again more than fifty years later in another; and this was how they came to be reminiscing in a coffee house that they both knew.
The first man had moved to the new country some four decades earlier, while the other had done the same thing a dozen years back. In many respects their working lives, marriages and families were remarkably similar. It was soon established that the relatively new immigrant had most recently been a full-time Sales Manager for a medium sized car yard, while the other had spent a number of years as a contract Technical Writer for the mining and resources sector before retiring. Now, having both left the workforce, in the main their time was their own. After spending a couple of hours chatting, catching up and comparing their lives, it became evident that there was a major difference regarding their current retirement lifestyles. The first man had a hobby, while the other didn’t.
He said, “I tell you, you really need to have a hobby.”
The second man said, “You say you post your short stories and poems, tell me how you do that?”
The first man said, “I have set up a simple blog site on the internet where I post items weekly.”
Second man: “Is that a difficult thing to do?”
First: “It was initially. The actual business of creating it was hard going, for me at least. But, I had help from a blog building company online.”
Second: “So, some of your time must be taken up by the organising and posting of your work, as well as any other administration of the site itself.”
First: “Yes, you’re right, but remember, my hobby is writing, that comes first. I’ve developed a system of comprehensive folders to manage that, along with a detailed schedule of upcoming items that enables me to spend as short a time as possible carrying out the business of posting new material.”
Second: “Well, it sounds as though you have that in hand.”
First: “Pretty well, I think.” At this point he handed the other a card. “Have a look some time, the web address is on there.”
Second: “Thanks. I will. As I said earlier, I do have a small open motor boat, with an outboard motor. However, I wouldn’t call it a hobby. There’s the business of getting the cover off, hooking it up to the car, taking it to the boat ramp and getting it into the water. To be honest, I do it for the family; sometimes friends. No, I wouldn’t call it a hobby.”
First: “Doesn’t sound like one. After all a hobby is an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation.”
Second: “That sounds like a dictionary definition.”
First: “It is!”
A short time after this they began to leave, having exchanged their contact information and having agreed to catch up again. As they went out to make their way to their respective carparks in opposite directions, the first man smiled and said, “Get a hobby.”