I’m a non-climbing girlfriend - will it work?

Fritz Nuffer wrote: Skiing and surfing come to mind. Maybe following the Dead around. 
Help me out if I’m missing something obvious here, but I do think climbing occupies a different echelon as an all-consuming lifestyle compared to most hobbies. Not to say that it’s any better or more worthwhile because of it.

i know some mountain bikers that lived in their car and traveled around just like a dirtbag climbers. 

Fritz Nuffer wrote:

Those examples still are of people getting paid to pursue their passion. I would respectfully contend that most dirtbag climbers know they don’t have a chance of earning a living off climbing. Do you have some examples of people sacrificing “normal” life to participate in other hobbies without hope of remuneration?

Skiing and surfing come to mind. Maybe following the Dead around. 
Help me out if I’m missing something obvious here, but I do think climbing occupies a different echelon as an all-consuming lifestyle compared to most hobbies. Not to say that it’s any better or more worthwhile because of it.

No thank you.  I'm sure your certain of your position and I haven't the time to convince you of anything else.  You win.  Enjoy.  Namaste 

Blakevan wrote:

No thank you.  I'm sure your certain of your position and I haven't the time to convince you of anything else.  You win.  Enjoy.  Namaste 

Hmm. :-/ Sorry if you thought I was gunning for an altercation. 

 I would like to hear some examples of similar levels of dirtbag dedication in other activities if anyone else wants to chime in.

        I love climbing like I love my dog; I’ll never love you that way. 

Fritz Nuffer wrote:

Hmm. :-/ Sorry if you thought I was gunning for an altercation. 

 I would like to hear some examples of similar levels of dirtbag dedication in other activities if anyone else wants to chime in.

Paul Erdős.

Many grad students live a dirtbag life while pursuing their research singlemindedly. I have a friend who lived in an unheated dirt-floor basement in upstate NY while pursuing his doctorate in math. And he had a roommate who was also a math grad student.

PRRose wrote:

Paul Erdős.

Many grad students live a dirtbag life while pursuing their research singlemindedly. I have a friend who lived in an unheated dirt-floor basement in upstate NY while pursuing his doctorate in math. And he had a roommate who was also a math grad student.

I don't know Paul. But the grad-student example does not fit the '... examples of people sacrificing “normal” life to participate in other hobbies without hope of remuneration.'  

Though it is getting close, it isn't quite there IMHO.

PRRose wrote:

Paul Erdős.

Many grad students live a dirtbag life while pursuing their research singlemindedly. I have a friend who lived in an unheated dirt-floor basement in upstate NY while pursuing his doctorate in math. And he had a roommate who was also a math grad student.

The point was knowing that it will never bring a paycheck. 

Bill Lawry wrote:

I don't know Paul. But the grad-student example does not fit the '... examples of people sacrificing “normal” life to participate in other hobbies without hope of remuneration.'  

Though it is getting close, it isn't quite there IMHO.

I gave examples where "normal" life and the passion have merged. That is even more dirtbag than pursuing climbing as a mere hobby with a nice comfortable home to return to.

How about a slim hope of remuneration? That would cover many budding musicians, as well as athletes. Life in the low minor leagues is pretty dirt baggy.

There are many adults who pursue amateur sports with great passion and intensity--adult hockey players, cyclists, marathoners, and triatheles can all be pretty intense people. Climbing just isn't that special.

BTW, Paul Erdos was the Fred Beckey of mathematics.

Arguably the hottest couple in climbing is Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. She doesn't climb at all and lives in New York City. He's a climbing lifer and lives in Wyoming. It can work.   

PRRose wrote: BTW, Paul Erdos was the Fred Beckey of mathematics.

I am indeed impressed ... dirt-bagger-y for mathematics. :-)

More generally, if nothing else, this thread has been a reminder of the human capacity for voluntary suffering. 

PRRose wrote:
BTW, Paul Erdos was the Fred Beckey of mathematics.

Oh my, I never thought of it that way but it's terribly accurate.

you might have a chance if you adopt 2 kids - one to binge on netflix with you at home and one to be a belay slave for your eternal love. win win win win.

Musicians, I have feed and housed a few in my time, not as many as climbers, but plenty.  

If Sanni can't do it, you can't either

The best part about these type of threads is all the men telling us how their women feel about it.

OP and Cole are the same person duh

If he calls himself a climber, climbing isnt just something he does. It's part of who he is. He isnt going to quit and you may end up resenting him for it. If he does quit or hold himself back for you he IS going to resent you for it. It can work I guess if you both can willingly compromise and you can truly support each other in your respective life goals. Good luck.

Btw my wife HATES my climbing. It's a real problem.

Darren Mabe wrote: OP and Cole are the same person duh

i'm not that clever of an internet troll. I only dabble, as I love jokes but don't like being a shitty person

unlike Traddie mentioned, rather than comment on my GFs take, she jumped in on the thread for me!

all jokes aside. it's an interesting topic. the other angle of the OP. how to make life work when you have a significant other relationship you are fully invested in, a job you care about, friendships, or whatever else it is, plus you're wanting to train indoors all the time for the off chance you can get outside, and you're trying to get at least 100-200 pitches in per year.

I haven't figured it out yet. still workin on it, but it certainly feels like less of a conflict than it used to be. partially due to getting more efficient with training and being outside. mostly by having such a supportive signifiant other.

Dana Bartlett wrote: Climbing is amazing.
Climbers are very special.

Amen sister!  we are #blessed

Karen Hammersmith wrote:

Amen sister!  we are #blessed

I don’t think you understand the real Dana