In the Trenches

I was thinking the other day (a dangerously wondrous thing we humans do), while I was laying a few tesserae, about the differences between a hobby and work. What started me wondering was a "semi-slam" I received about part of my real job. I was told that this part of my real job - a part I really like doing - was a "hobby."

Then today I began to wonder what defines a hobby? Usually we mean that someone is doing something that they really love to do, but not for money. In fact, doing something to make money almost always disqualifies the activity as a hobby. When we start getting paid, it becomes a business or work.

In a cynical way I wonder if a hobby is anything that someone is doing that other people wish they could do too. For example, golf. Golf is a hobby, more than a sport, because most of us don't make money at playing golf - rather we spend quite a lot of it for the privilege. But almost all of us who love to play golf have dreamed of making money at golf. What could possibly be closer to nirvana than making money playing golf? We could only wish for such a gift. If not bestowed upon us, then maybe upon our children, we hope.

In either case, clearly this mosaic art for me is a hobby. I do it for fun, not for money. I thoroughly enjoy myself, and wish that I could make money at it. I dream of a large studio and fame in the mosaic art world.

All of that silliness swims in my head while I lay cut tile after cut tile.