When is a Hobby “outgrown” versus losing yourself?
I grew up as a gamer. I have many memories and great experiences from it. I’ve made friendships, I’ve had great times building my gaming PC and love to fiddle with tech. I feel like it’s a bit of my identity. But I’ve also found that I mostly play a mindless game of NHL or playing Balatro on my phone or just watch YouTube videos on speedrunning or something. My partner of a few years is not a gamer (she does try, we’ve played through it takes two and most of split fiction) and is far more social and outdoorsy. I love being out with her and enjoy our activities don’t get me wrong but it’s also not like my default mode. And our friend group leaning to her side doesn’t play like Mario Party or something as I’ve played with my friend groups who well frankly are now too busy. Now I end up playing a new game alone for a bit and falling into old habits of what I’m used to. I end up buying a game and not playing it much, so it feels like I’m spending money on the idea of being a gamer rather than being one. But I also hate the idea of just letting go of it or selling the stuff or even just packing it away. We’re also moving in together soon and idk I just feel like the essence of me won’t be in our shared spaces if there isn’t gaming or tech there. But I’m also just not using it. Maybe because I’m busy with work, maybe it’s mental state but it’s starting to become a pattern even when I have free time and I just don’t know if I should leave it in the past.