Koi Hobby Burn Out

[RayJordan]

I have never burned out on koi - but some koi people..... yes.

For me there have been so many levels to focus on. Koi keeping, Pond technology, Koi Health (KHA), Selecting koi, showing koi, helping with koi shows, giving koi presentations, going to Japan, hosting japanese koi breeder visits, helping a koi breeding cull baby koi, becoming a koi judge. Still so much to learn and understand.

It is surprizing to me when someone who has kept koi a few years thinks they have learned it all and decides to move on to another hobby for a new challenge. To each their own.

[Nancy M.]

Wow, lots of responses. First off I am not bruned out on the hobby, but thanks everyone for your support. As I said I was talking to a friend ( who is suffering from burn out). I have to admit that I do get tired of the politics within the hobby. And I relate with Ruth, I have made my self sick at our last 2 shows, because I am overwhelmed with wearing so many hats. ( as anyone who as ever been show chairman can relate to). I have decided to take a backseat in our club over this next year. I am hoping that other members will step up to the plate. But I will continue to be fully active in the hobby, outside of the club.

I don't think that someone who suffers from burn out thinks they have learned everything in a few years. I think this person, is going through changes within the hobby. And needs a breather from all the BS. I think this person needs a little empathy from all fellow hobbiest.

[Chagoi]

Nancy...I agree..a breath of fresh air. You know there is an old saying and as we all get older...take time to smell the roses...no matter what hobby or business it comes down to your frame of mind and how you choose to deal with your stress. I can relate running a koi farm and business...ask yourself hourly...are you having fun yet? If you aren't then change something so that you are having more fun...why do you think breeders that you and I know like beer? Is it the taste or less filling?

[RayJordan]

Sorry, I reread my post above and it was not what I intended. Here is a revision.

I have never burned out on koi - but have burned out on some koi people..... yes. It is a sad fact that the vast majority of a group will let a few individuals work themselves into the ground doing almost everyting. Trick is to know when to step back from leading to a follower role. Hopefully another will step up to the plate witht he right encouragment.

For me there have been so many levels to focus on. Koi keeping, Pond technology, Koi Health (KHA), Selecting koi, showing koi, helping with koi shows, giving koi presentations, going to Japan, hosting japanese koi breeder visits, helping a koi breeder cull baby koi, becoming a koi judge. Still so much to learn and understand.

A seperate issue is some just move from hobby to hobby. It is surprizing to me when someone who has kept koi a few years thinks they have learned it all and decides to move on to a new hobby for a new challenge. To each their own I guess.

[koi4all]

when I first started keeping koi I felt like packing it in every time I had a set back .now I cant get enough of them.


rick

[JosephandGabby]

I had a devastating PH crash a while back, which definitely made me think about quiting. But after I calmed down for a few months, I realized it was an opportunity to buy even better koi than the ones I lost. But yes, I definitely see how someone can get burnt out on this hobby. Like any hobby, it's best taken in moderation. Don't let this become your entire life and you can probably enjoy it forever...

[Ruth Rice]

Ray and Nancy, you bring up some good points. Our shows have gotten so big that it requires so many people to pull it off. Each year we are having more and more trouble with people committing to help.
When I first started going to shows, you couldn't keep me out of the lecture room. I wanted to learn all I could ( not all necessarily correct information but we learned as went). Even though we do not show, I began to see what makes a good fish and have more appreciation for them. Education was at that time the focus of a show for me. I rarely get to attend a whole lecture now.
Bigger is not always better ......all the time.
Of course we now have the internet and I do get information that way. I also enjoy going to other seminars, classes and shows. Yes there is still a lot to learn.

[luke frisbee]

Now SHOW burn out isn't really koi burn out, is it? Isn't "show burn-out" really just tired of the humans you have to deal with?
But then if you are interacting with people that aren't good people within the hobby then i could see being burned out on the whole shebang...but not the koi?

"Koi Burn out" would be tough...i have yet to get tired of looking at my koi...in the Summer when the Filter mats need cleaning every few days I can get tired of that..is that "Filter Burn out"?..
So koi burn out? is that where you get tired of?????? koi?
Well buy some new ones!

[Bern]

"show burn-out" = really just tired of the humans you have to deal with?


You got that right!.

rgds BERN

[Ruth Rice]

Luke there is a big difference between koi and show burn out for sure. Most of our people who work the shows are super . It's just frustrating that more people don't volunteer so those who do wouldn't be run so ragged. That's why we have tried to stay to help because not many just magically appear at the end of a show..........well rarely. But you still have all that work to do and yes your feet are killing you from working the show all weekend and it's usually hot and you need to get home so you can go to work the next day and, and and......
Most of the people problems that arise come about because lack of communication.
I have show clean up burn out BAD
SHUD up RUTH