Beyond Bass Fishing..... What Defines You.....????

[Crow Horse]

Bass fishing and all that it entails can be all consuming yet there's another part of us that remains hidden from view here. With that in mind, what defines you and what are your interests going beyond bass fishing?

 

Currently, my most time consuming and most rewarding pursuit is our cat rescue & sanctuary named Kallie's Kats. We've taken in sick, injured, impossible to adopt, feral, trapped, and those with behavioral issues. We tend to their needs accordingly and provide  a safe and very active home for them to live out the rest of their lives. We aren't crazy cat people. We're just addressing a need and provide love, a safe & healthy environment, and excellent veterinary care. Currently (and we're at our maximum) we have 39 cats in our home. All but one are rescues of some manner. 6 are FIV positive, one amputee, one that is FIV+ and has PCP (plasma cell pododermatitus) and 3 severe CH kittens (cerebellar hypoplasia) that require constant & lifelong care. I wear many hats during the course of the day: janitorial, PT trainer, referee, therapist, and BFF. It's lots of work but incredibly rewarding. Some of the cats who display a certain aptitude, I'll train with non verbal hand signals. We work closely with our vet and the Humane Society. All are neutered or spayed. I love it! After nearly 2 years of working with a feral named Abby, she now sleeps on my chest with her head tucked under my chin every night. The gift of trust is the most precious gift that they can give to me and I protect it fiercely. I am their Kahu.

 

In addition to our cats, we have 6 goats (one is a rescue that is blind) and one goose. The goose, Phoenix, just showed up about 9 years ago and stayed. I guess he adopted us. Occasionally we'll have an avian visitor that will need some help.

 

When time & weather allow, usually in the spring or early summer, I'll walk the town roads picking up roadside garbage. It boils my blood having to do this but someone has to. I wish people were better stewards of the land. I hope that Iron Eyes Cody is smiling.

 

I love to tinker and build things. When I was younger I was building suspensions, swapping motors, & modifying my 4x4's but no longer. Now it's smaller, less physically demanding projects and most revolve around fishing and my yak.

 

I have an intense interest in all things of spirit,, the physics of the metaphysics, and learning as much as I can about all religions. I'll meditate when time allows. I also have a great interest in particle wave theory (at a lay level).

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[12poundbass]

For me right now, it’s raising our 14 year old son. That means getting him to and from football and baseball practice, and his games. Besides bass fishing we hunt. He bow hunts and we both turkey hunt. When we aren’t running him around, the three of us just spend time together. The wife and I have always made it a point to have a date night either Friday or Saturday. Eventually there will come a time where we’ll have more free time once he’s driving so I’m sure I’ll need to find something to keep me out of trouble.

[Jar11591]

Bass fishing is certainly what influences my day to day thoughts and behaviors more than anything, but I am a few other things. 
 

I’m 33, have an amazing girlfriend (future wife) and live with her and our 3-dog pack in a nice town just south of my favorite place: the Adirondack Mountains of upstate NY. 

 

I am also an introvert, an outdoorsman, a gardener, a gamer, a baseball enthusiast, an environmentalist, and I strive to live a quiet, simple, peaceful life and I try to do what’s “right”. When I’m having a rough time, I usually retreat to the mountains for a reset. I just feel home in the mountains. It’s primal. One day I shall live deep in the mountain wilderness. But today is not that day. 

I am a huge foodie. I love to cook, almost as much as I love to eat. I love trying new cuisine, especially from other parts of the world. I also love to travel, and my love of food and fishing usually determines where I travel to. 

Also love a cold beer from time to time, like a few times a year. Usually a nice IPA that’ll make your upper lip quiver. 

And I am a son to a great mom and dad. 
They’re older and having health issues, and I’ve had to assist them with a lot the last couple years. I can see they’re aging, and it really hits me sometimes. I couldn’t have asked for better parents and consider myself insanely lucky to be born to such people. 

That’s pretty much it. I’m a simple guy who tries to live a simple life, keep lots of time open for my hobbies, treat my fellow man decently, be a good partner to my girlfriend, a good dog dad, and a good son. 

[bowhunter63]

Tackle collecting ,Grilling . Being a Grand pa and of course a few Miller Lites to keep things honest .

[Skunkmaster-k]

50 minutes ago, Crow Horse said:

we have 39 cats in our home.

Have you bought a litter robot yet ? They’re the bee’s knees. 

[Swamp Girl]

54 minutes ago, Crow Horse said:

When time & weather allow, usually in the spring or early summer, I'll walk the town roads picking up roadside garbage. It boils my blood having to do this but someone has to.

 

It makes me grit my teeth too, but I also walk the roads. Thanks for loving all that feather and fur!

 

19 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

I’m a simple guy who tries to live a simple life, keep lots of time open for my hobbies, treat my fellow man decently, be a good partner to my girlfriend, a good dog dad, and a good son. 

 

You're the best.

[Catt]

Can not answer without getting in trouble with management 🙄 

[A-Jay]

Beyond Bass Fishing..... What Defines You.....????

 

Several years ago, I came across an interview done by Stephen Colbert.

It really hit me pretty hard.

This is part of it.

 

"To exist is a gift, but existence is inseparable from suffering.

We don’t get to choose only the joy and discard the pain—gratitude demands all of it.

The heartbreak, the loss, the struggle—they don’t just happen to us; they shape us.

We try to escape suffering,

yet it is through suffering that we become the most human we can be.

It teaches us love, resilience, and the depth of our own existence.

Maybe the question isn’t why we suffer,

but who we become because of it."

 

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

[BayouSlide]

The process of growing old gracefully. I have the growing old part down pat but am still working on the gracefully.

[Mike L]

Defining myself is an easy and yet a hard question to answer. 
I consider myself a “car guy” as I’ve been restoring and showing muscle cars for 32 yrs especially my National Show winning ‘65 GTO. 
 

But the more I thought about it the more I think it’s more of a hobby which really doesn’t “define” me. 
 

10 days ago my first granddaughter informed us that she is expecting her first child, which will be my 3rd Great Grandchild!

Then last Sunday her brother, my oldest grandchild announced that he is expecting his third which will be my 4th Great Grandchild!!

 

So…

Being a father of 2, Grandfather of 5 and now Great Grandfather of 4 it is clear what defines me…

The defining key word in all this is Father

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Rockhopper]

I have dedicated over half a lifetime to caring for people.  It brings me a lot of joy and fulfillment in my career.  

 

I am a father of three and dedicate the other half of my life to putting as much energy into them as possible.

 

I have been coaching youth baseball for most of my adulthood, and have been involved with the game since the age of 5.

 

I am an avid outdoorsmen.  I love all forms of hunting, I love to ride dirtbikes, I restore classic cars, have been into rock crawling and jeeps most of my life.

 

I am an artist and have designed many tattoos for people over the years, among other things.  I play guitar and do ok on the drums too.

 

God, family, and the outdoors really defines me.

[Mobasser]

I'll define myself as hard work. At 67, I've got aches and pains from the hard work I've done in my life. But, I'm proud of it. I was taught to work hard by my dad and grampa. That's how they lived, and I'm proud I've followed that path.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Can not answer without getting in trouble with management 🙄 

 

No Religious posts leaves me out of this discussions 

[Jig Man]

16 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

No Religious posts leaves me out of this discussions 

Yes me too.

[DogBone_384]

Husband, Father, son, Firefighter, friend.

 

That defines me.

[Crow Horse]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

"To exist is a gift, but existence is inseparable from suffering.

We don’t get to choose only the joy and discard the pain—gratitude demands all of it.

The heartbreak, the loss, the struggle—they don’t just happen to us; they shape us.

We try to escape suffering,

yet it is through suffering that we become the most human we can be.

It teaches us love, resilience, and the depth of our own existence.

Maybe the question isn’t why we suffer,

but who we become because of it."

 

So true. Painful experiences, whether they are physical or emotional, are great teachers and the impact of those experiences is in direct correlation to the wisdom and growth we receive. Those experiences we deem as negative sculpt who we are today. This is a core understanding of the human experience. We are always given a choice, either to assume the victim role and learn nothing or to truly feel the experience, acknowledge it,  release the pain it caused because it no longer serves you and honor the wisdom presented to us.

[Crow Horse]

2 hours ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Have you bought a litter robot yet ? They’re the bee’s knees. 

No, I couldn't afford it. However, with over 30 litter boxes to clean daily, I have assigned myself the title "Lord of the Litter Box"!

 

We might just have the western hemisphere's largest litter box. I made it to accommodate the 3 CH kittens. It measures 3.5' x 4'. Photo was taken while I was building it. Truck for size reference.

[Rockhopper]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

No Religious posts leaves me out of this discussions 

When someone asks what defines you, answering God I would not consider a religious post.  OP wants to get to know the fine people here.  Answering God is not pushing religion on anyone, just simply answering the OP's question.  Folks here should be adult enough to understand the difference.  I mean, the word God is literally in every post you make.

[Crow Horse]

Kudos to you guys and gals who have strong religious connections. I admire and respect all who choose that path in life. They are all honorable paths, regardless of which one you're on.......

 

[Hoosierman]

Motorcycles.......fast motorcycles and BFS reels.

 

 

[Catt]

5 minutes ago, Hoosierman said:

Motorcycles.......fast motorcycles and BFS reels.

 

 

 

That's my Pastor 😉

 

 

[WRB]

Fishing has been in my life since an infant and a way of life so it’s hard to separate from what defines me.

My family mon, dad, brothers all gone now were very competitive and that shape me.

Racing boat, cars completing in sports from water skiing to gymnastics shape me both physically and mentally.
Career in aerospace from the Mercury program, military aircraft and weapon systems to last Shuttle flight was 50 years covering a lot of changes in a short time period and shaped me a great deal.

Outliving our only son is a grief no parent should ever experience that too many go through and can’t say it’s character building.

Tom 
 

[Swamp Girl]

Two homes ago, I had a bee garden. There were literally thousands of bees sipping and humming the summer away.

 

At my last home, I restored the original diversity of a woods, working with a Maine Forester.

 

At my current home, I'm less ambitious, but I have built a fire ring, laid a flagstone path, built eight raised beds, created a Japanese garden, built three raised mounds, etc. I've planted scores of trees and bushes and hundreds of flowers.

 

I've also walked, paddled, and cycled thousands of miles and have spent months in the wilderness.

 

However, the main focus of my life has been working with hurt children. 

[clayton86]

Fishing isn’t as big for me as it was in the past and everyone knew me for it. 
 

this past year I’ve gotten back into playing paintball. Not into the tournament scene like used to be but go to a “local”(1.5hrs away) field and do open play and practices with the pro team. 
 

this time of year everyone knows me for coyote hunting though. Once end of march when season ends and warmer weather I’ll be back to the guy who fishes and plays paintball every weekend. 

[GreenPig]

245 lb Sheepdog