Document the life and death of your special interest here

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There have been a few, off and on. Some that seem to last forever and crop up again now and then, and some that have fizzled out.

Since I was a child, I've had a rock/gemstone obsession. Any time we would go to the beach, I could have cared less about the water, for the most part. I wanted to sift through the sand, picking out "special" stones, searching for little smooth fossils. When I was a little older (preteen years) my mother had begun having a Fire Mountain Gems (jewelry-maker's) catalogue delivered to the house, for her own hobbies (although she never ordered anything) and I spent MONTHS going through the catalogue over and over again, making lists of the stones that I wanted to buy, and, finally, cutting pictures out, sorting the pictures, wishing that I could have them. After a while, I became sort of depressed over the fact that I'd discovered all of these marvelous new stones, but could never have them, so I put the gemstone obsession away for a while, although I would still look for pretty stones in the dirt wherever I went. Then, of course, I reached adulthood, and one day realized, "Wait--I have my own money. I can finally buy these things!" and funneled it into a jewelry-making hobby, because that seemed more socially acceptable than a rock-hoarding yen. But, I only had the spare money to order once. Still, I search for pretty or interesting stones and little smooth fossils everywhere I go.

Beginning around age 15, I developed an interest in fortune-telling that I still engage in strongly in some areas, and haphazardly in others. I tell fortunes with tarot cards, very well. It's how I connect to people--what better way to show a person that I am, indeed, interested in their lives, than to spend on hour talking about just them? Ha! I am interested in other methods, also, like palmistry (cheiromancy) and handwriting analysis (graphology). But, I don't know as much about either of those yet as I would like, as I focused most of my intense learning periods on tarot. I think, next, it will be palmistry, though.

A reading obsession, certainly. I was reading at a 5th-6th grade level in 1st-2nd grade, and by 5th grade, was reading at an adult level. Always a nose in a book, while eating, going to sleep, in class. If I was awake, I was reading. Now, although I do still read books of course, I think much of my reading focus has turned me towards the internet. A particular favorite in books has always been the Foundation Series, by Isaac Asimov. And, tying into that, his Robot novels, along with various other novels like Pebble in the Sky that tie into that same world.

Some of my more mercurial interests have been:

A couple year obsession with anime and manga; specifically, my favorites were Serial Experiments: Lain, and the entire .hack series, which I became especially interested in. In both of them, I think, it was the escapism that drew me in. And, the chance to create your own world.

An interest in creating animations using Adobe Photoshop, two years back. I spent months creating elaborate banners, for free, for every member of an internet forum that I frequented. Anyone who requested received one. I created them for hours and hours per day...until the day that my computer was knocked over and broken, and I had to go back to an older one without Photoshop. The program had been loaded on my computer by someone else, and I didn't have the hard copy...so, even when I did buy a new computer, I no longer had the program, and I couldn't get the hang of using GIMP (free software). So, that interest died a frustrated death.

An interest in developing ambidextrous characteristics. I've always used both hands very well, but was still right hand dominant. I spent an entire school year of one class that focused mostly on note-taking (that was incredibly boring!) making the class interesting by writing everything with my left hand. By the end, I could write extremely well. I haven't practiced in a while, but, when I try, it's at least still extremely legible.

Learning about attachment parenting, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, etc, when pregnant with my first child. Obviously, still parenting my children. But the intensely focused learning period is over, at least for now. (Before I had my first daughter, I'd never even held a baby! So, this learning about parenting obsession helped incredibly.)

Learning about addiction, and depression. (for my husband.)

Currently, my interest is in Asperger's!

My special interest in medicine took a similar path.

My biggest special interests are born, but they never die.

Anatomy/physiology: Age 3.
Cedar Point: Age 5.
I Love Lucy: Age 12.
Neuropsychiatry: Age 15.

RIP, Music interest. This is weird. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to rule the world as a musician.

As a child I wrote songs even using big words like corporation, education, communication, salutation, etc.

I got into KISS and taught myself how to play the guitar.

I taught myself theory by reading books on the subject.

I've co-owned a recording studio and even played in a few bands (MOON, Future Fuzz, Knee Deep)

I've recorded singles and albums with the bands and also recorded solo albums.

About two years ago I decided to take up writing again and started selling my instruments.

I only have a few guitars left but my primary focus these days is work (BOO!) and creative writing.

I went through this special interest when I was pregnant, too. Now that my oldest is growing up, that interest has shifted to parenting a child on the spectrum. I feel that I know just about everything there is to know in regards to natural pregnancy and birth, breastfeeding, et cetera. And, not planning to have more children, my interest in these topics has dropped off a lot.

Also sealed away: my interest in the long history of prostitution. That included anything and every thing on the subject; ancient to present; books and films; anything else I could get my hands on. I burnt out with that one after about 3 years, but it is still of occasional interest.

Currently, I am trying to find the time for a bird obsession. It irks me that I should see a bird and not know what it is called... the same with trees and flowers, to a lesser extent. Looks like I have many happy hours of research ahead.

btbnnyr; love your turn of phrases, you always make me smile.

Obsessions, I've had my share.
Very young; dinosaours, I would ask for books for Christmass and study the print off them. I would sketch the pictures as practice. I always wanted to do paintings of dinosaours as life like. This was taken over by...

Then in grade 4 someone found a snake skull at the soccer goal posts at school. I convinced them to give it to me, and that started a skull collection that lasted for about 15 years. Any animal that died within half a mile of home became part of my collection (just the skull). Around 19, I decided to grow up and left this obsession behind. I no longer have any of them, but I remember them dearly.

I took up shooting a 22 riffle for several years (young teen). I was a very good shot, and I'd practice most weekends. Gun laws in Australia killed that off.

Oh, nearly forgot; got into Dungeons & Dragons at school (year 9). This became a very strong obsession for the next 20 years. It finaly died because our group members got married, moved away, and we who remained because few in number.

Around 18 I moved in with my dad and took up surfing. My brother left an old 9.5' mal behind when he left home, so I inherited that. (I still have it). Apparently my uncle made the board when he worked for Haden Kenny in his teen years (mid 60's some time).

Discovered cars... I loved the old 50's cars with fins. I bought a 1959 Pontiac and drove it everywhere. I owned that for 24 years and loved every minute of it. I eventualy sold it because I destroyed the fond end and couldn't afford to fix it. It was fully registered and I drove it most every weekend.

I started work and got into computers. Programming became an obsession, I still do it from time to time, but I find it too frustrating to take up full time again.

Around 30 I decided to try oil painting. My aunt does amaizing painting, and I figured I would probably be able to do that too. I think much of my work is better than her's. But her water is so realistic I'll never match that.

Getting into music and playing drums in an amature band atm. I was hoping this would become an obsession, but no much how much I practice and learn, it just seems like hard work. I enjoy it, but I can't call it an obsession.

I can relate to so many things you guys said.

Not sure if this qualifies, but for a time I wanted to be a writer. Of course, the inability to stay focused on a topic long enough to get more than 2-3 chapters was one issue or sometimes I got so muddled down on the details of the story that I felt it was too big a project to handle. Finally, I took a creative writing class. I enjoyed it, but in the end, I produced what I thought was a great work, but (and I admit this in hindsight) it was utter crap. The reaction others had to my work pretty much disillusioned me on the idea of every amounting to much as a writer, and I gave it up for the most part.

I have recently self diagnosed and this explains a BIG part of me, I have had many obsessions, my friends all know it as part of me, friends have also commented that they think they have been an obsession of mine at times! I have to many to catalogue, the main ones are:
Short term ones (less than 10 years, usually only last a few months)
Playing guitar/bass
Sewing
Ants
Learning to drive
Attachment parenting
Various collections (books, stamps etc)
Reading teen romance (age 11-14)
Physics
Electronics
Massage
Plumbing
Insect eating plants
Cross stitch
Various computer games
Studying nutrition

Long term (usually over 10 years)
Hard house music
Knitting
Working on my allotment
Reading
Researching anything
Collecting
The band The Kinks
The band Everclear (seen them every time they have played in Manchester)


I am currently obsessing over researching aspergers, getting my children to progress through the reading scheme (they are willing participants in this) doing outreach work with my department in primary schools and watching Bones (not for the possible aspergers connection, just because I like forensic drama and I have watched all of CSI Las Vegas)
I am also actively doing all of the 'over 10 years obsessions' it can be really exhausting though...

I can dig out almost anyone with large enough an online presence in Taiwan, but usually I don't do it because it feels wrong. And I really think my friends would freak out if they know I know they won a violin contest at age six and so on. But I have absolutely no bad intentions. Just honing my skills and satisfying my need for obscure knowledge

I've developed a sudden interest in the Civil War. I have no idea why, but I can't read enough about it. I also had a jewelry making phase, a metal working phase and a wood working phase. I had to make stuff, then it just went away.

i also had a jewellery making phase. I also like obscure facts. reading my list back i realise that there are many more things i haven't listed. I've also added another one this week, which is trying to develop an irrigation system for my allotment. I'm thinking of putting my previous electronics obsession to good use and make a solar watering system

Obscure facts- pretty good at trivial pursuit. Great memory for old tv shows, songs, movies, in other words stuff that don't matter except in a trivial way.

it is scary to talk about, but maybe i should just to grieve appropriately? scary because one day they are there and then one day they are gone.

nail polish (not typical for my gender): december 2004 - september 2012
billie jean by michael jackson: june 2012 - october 2012
my jean jacket: 1995 - 1997
detroit 1-8-7: december 2012 - march 2013

there are more, but i will stop there for now.

the sci-fi movie the thing is still going strong after almost a year.
down colorful hill tops the list dating back to 2005.

i worry one day that they will just 'turn off' like the others did.