Hobbies?

Right now I'm basking in the sense of accomplishment. I've finished the first draft of my first ever screenplay.

It's by no means producible. It needs a lot of work. Even then it may not be worth making. But I'm thinking it over constantly--there are a couple of scenes I need and right now I'm not sure how I'll do them, there is a character who proved to be pretty much unnecessary and I'm trying to figure out if I can get rid of him without causing major problems, and I'm not entirely happy with the ending. All of this is stuff I think about during my day, when I'm at work and can't do any writing on it. Not without getting into trouble, anyway.

I alternate thinking about the screenplay with thinking about whatever song I'm recording. I spent today considering the guitar solo, and just a few minutes ago laid down one that I like. I may change my mind about it later but, for now, it'll do.

All of this helps me to preserve what's left of my sanity. It's insulation from a world that sometimes becomes oppressive or just freaking miserable and stressful. If I didn't have these refuges I'd be either in a sanitarium or dead, I believe.

To me this is natural, restful, even sane. It makes perfect sense.

But to other people I seem to be eccentric. I'm not sure why. I think most people think of hobbies as coin collecting or making ships in a bottle. Not writing screenplays or recording music. To me it's just a matter of degrees and inclination--I have no urge to collect coins (though I'd love to collect cash) but I don't think the guy who does is crazy. I understand. The joy a coin collector feels when he finds that rare dime that's worth quite a bit of money is akin to what I feel when I play back a song I've recorded and hear the same thing I was hearing in my head.

It's something that can't be described. It's something that can't be matched. There are no drugs that could duplicate the sensation.

And it's something that lasts, too. I listen to some of my old tunes, reread some of my old stuff, and get that same feeling--maybe not a strong but it's enough. A maintenance dose, as it were. Until something new is finished and ready to be unleashed on the world--the big score, the high that makes it all worthwhile.

Well, it makes sense to me, anyway. How about you? Do you know what I'm talking about?