How do your family/friends etc. feel about your hobby?

[a727469]

In another forum I posted this in reply to someone and it was suggested I follow my own comment and start a new topic. So, here it is!


My wife has been extremely tolerant of my hobby for many years even though she has no interest. Frankly if my wife said no more radios that would be a very big problem😢. We each respect each others hobbies.
Off topic but maybe there should be another topic for discussion as far as one’s husband, wife or significant other and how they feel about the hobby and the money spent. Might be some interesting comments 😵‍💫

 

[rf_patriot200]

My Wife was the only one to protest, and that problem was Solved over 20 years ago !

 

[pb_lonny]

I had an ex who had a major problem with it, that didn't last.... My wife is supportive as I support her hobbies and interests.

I have actually written a blog post about this and the need for balance with them: Why Your Hobbies Are Important – Finding Your Passion

 

[bearcatrp]

No issues for me. She does her thing, I do my thing.

 

[Randyk4661]

When my mom and dad were alive, the three of of us would listen for hours to police and fire calls. During storms and just general listening.
We heard a undercover stakeout in the apartments behind our house. We watch the bad guy go looking for the police by driving around the neighborhood.
We had a 24 hour radio dedicated to our Karen neighbor's cordless phone. This woman would call the city on us and the neighbors on the street and complain about everything that wasn't to her liking.
Other family members knew what we were doing and didn't seem to care, or atleast they never said anything to us.

Today, I work with some young adults that think I am a real jerk for listing in to any of the radio stuff. I have no business doing so.
I am violating their privacy by listening to the police and fire and other departments
They don't understand while I listen driving for work in Los Angeles, a scanner helps me avoid trouble traffic areas.
And that pursuit that was coming up from behind me, told me to get out of the way.

 

[AZMONITOR]

Forty-five years ago, a lady friend I had tolerated my six radios, four scanners and two HF receivers. Today, I am alone with about 67 radios, mainly scanners, but numerous ham radios (2m, 220, 440, and HF). Nothing is likely to change for the rest of my days.

 

[MUTNAV]

When my mom and dad were alive, the three of of us would listen for hours to police and fire calls. During storms and just general listening.
We heard a undercover stakeout in the apartments behind our house. We watch the bad guy go looking for the police by driving around the neighborhood.
We had a 24 hour radio dedicated to our Karen neighbor's cordless phone. This woman would call the city on us and the neighbors on the street and complain about everything that wasn't to her liking.
Other family members knew what we were doing and didn't seem to care, or atleast they never said anything to us.

Today, I work with some young adults that think I am a real jerk for listing in to any of the radio stuff. I have no business doing so.
I am violating their privacy by listening to the police and fire and other departments
They don't understand while I listen driving for work in Los Angeles, a scanner helps me avoid trouble traffic areas.
And that pursuit that was coming up from behind me, told me to get out of the way.

My reasoning is that you aren't really violating anyones privacy at all... It's no more than listening to a loud conversation, they need to not talk so loud if they want privacy (or use a more secure communications means, like a cell phone or encryption).

When a person pointed out that I was being nosey, I pointed out that the supermarket checkout lane has entire magazines that were nosy about other peoples lives and business.



Thanks
Joel

 

[CrabbyMilton]

I get annoyed because sometimes if people see me with my scanner they ask if I'm a cop, firefighter, of do you work for the airport type questions. I politely say that this is a scanner and no I can't talk on it.

 

[Randyk4661]

I remember at a hockey game once, I was listening to security. Some kids were throwing trash down to the lower levels from above.
Since I was sitting close by I grabbed my Regency HX1200 scanner and stood up and looking at the upper level and pointing pretended to talk into my scanner at who I thought could be throwing the trash.
These three boys were watching me while I did this. The trash throwing stopped.

 

[kg4ehv]

My Wifes interest goes as far as " what did you buy this time?"

 

[tweiss3]

My wife enjoys listening to EMS/Fire when it's important (road trip, etc.), and she puts up with my obsession.

 

[mark40]

For the 34 years of our marriage, I've always had my own space to set up multiple scanners. However in the living room there is a 365CRS set on the end table, next to where I sit, monitoring the county fire paging and local ops freq. for my dept. and 2 adjacent depts. I keep the volume low so as not to be intrusive while watching TV together. However if my pager goes off and I depart, she does listen in. In the car she doesn't seem to mind if I monitor the fire paging, but would not be fond of scanning everything else.

 

[spongella]

My XYL still likes hearing CW from my shack when I'm tuning around. It's been almost 50 years of that.

 

[jazzboypro]

My wife doesn't mind.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I get annoyed because sometimes if people see me with my scanner they ask if I'm a cop, firefighter, of do you work for the airport type questions. I politely say that this is a scanner and no I can't talk on it.

I used to run across Nosey people like that, and tired of explaining it to them so I started using a Ear mic and keeping the radio on a inside pocket.

 

[PACNWDude]

My family and friends used to think of radio as me being "geeky" until it allowed for a very comfortable living, and exceling through economic depression.

I get very little argument or ridicule now.....now I am hoarding everything from LoRa gear to WWII Hallicrafter boat anchors now. (Some of those look good as decorative items though, so they are in common areas of the house.....offsets the brand new shiny versions).

And it translates to older electronics/stereo equipment as well, I never gave up my Pioneer or Technics record players. Now, they are in fashion again, right alongside Software Defined Radios.

 

[rf_patriot200]

My family and friends used to think of radio as me being "geeky" until it allowed for a very comfortable living, and exceling through economic depression.

I get very little argument or ridicule now.....now I am hoarding everything from LoRa gear to WWII Hallicrafter boat anchors now. (Some of those look good as decorative items though, so they are in common areas of the house.....offsets the brand new shiny versions).

And it translates to older electronics/stereo equipment as well, I never gave up my Pioneer or Technics record players. Now, they are in fashion again, right alongside Software Defined Radios.

Agreed !

 

[bkantor]

My wife is supportive as long as I keep my radios out of "her space" - which means most of my radios are in the garage, basement and my home office Although she doesn't listen, every time the lights flash or we hear fire trucks outside she tells me to check the scanner. I think she is happy that I have a hobby that keeps me home and happy - 37 years in, she's a good woman!!

 

[rf_patriot200]

My wife is supportive as long as I keep my radios out of "her space" - which means most of my radios are in the garage, basement and my home office Although she doesn't listen, every time the lights flash or we hear fire trucks outside she tells me to check the scanner. I think she is happy that I have a hobby that keeps me home and happy - 37 years in, she's a good woman!!

Many XYL's have "She Sheds" compared to Our shacks lol.

 

[a727469]

Great responses. Although I already realized that this is a male dominated hobby, it is too bad there are not more women in the hobby or responding. I also know that women have hobbies that we might not care for or understand. I won’t get anymore into genders🙎‍♀️👨‍💼😉