What do you say to your audiophile friends who say you just listen to your equipment more

It's interesting how some of my friends sit down and listen and they still don't get it. Occasionally, a friend will sit and you play something he or she has heard hundreds of times and you can see it happening. They are hearing that song for the first time. They are amazed by the depth and width of the sound stage. Drawn in by the bass beat and clear mid range and detailed highs. Sometimes startled by the clarity and realism of the lead singer. I love it when they get it. It gives us one more thing to talk about!

All of my non-audiophile friends are exactly like my extended family. They all think I'm bat-s**t crazy. I've stopped trying to convince them long ago. There isn't a family member who even owns a CD player ... not even in their cars. They've all entered the modern world of I-phones and earbuds.

Being single for over 20 years, I've brought a lot of newly acquired female acquaintances over to the house. Upon first going into the living room, which is now my dedicated listening room, they always get a weird look on their faces and then ask the same question which is ..."why do you do this?" I always answer the same way. I gleefully say, with a smile ... "because I can." :-)

Frank

     I am a music lover. I listen to mostly classical music, but also jazz, female vocals, and  classic rock. The gear matters; however, I have (mostly) learned to be content with low high-end affordable equipment such as Triangle floorstanding speakers, reference Marantz electronics, Kimber cables, VPI turntable, Denon 103 cartridge, etc. I say “mostly”, because I look on Audiogon almost daily for what is available and also read the forums. But I can appreciate stuff without having to own it. Contentment is an attainable choice, perfection is not. 
     These days, 5 years into retirement, my  wife and I enjoy traveling and supporting certain needful non-profits (Church, schools, indigent ministries, etc.). My wife and friends don’t understand the need for more gear. I have two friends who listen intently, and we often share listening sessions. Mostly, however, I listen alone. I look forward to early morning sessions with Bach and empty house moments with the volume turned up, exploring genres other than classical. I love music. I love the way it can move me and go straight to my soul. I love the palate of emotions that it brings, but I have become content with the gear. That may mean that I am not an audiophile, just a music enthusiast, but contentment is a choice.
John Dean

I'm in this for the gear as much as anything else, and no one can tell me I'm doing "audiophilia" wrong.

I'm a System Builder, not just an audiophile. Been doing this for about 35 years, since my early 20's. I have chosen to focus on a different aspect of the hobby, one that involves a great deal of variety of sound through building systems, which is one reason why I have some speakers for sale at the moment. I have allocated my time, money and energies to an alternative aspect of it that gives me far greater pleasure than experiencing the same system every day.  

My non audiophile friends know I'm a musician and concert sound mixer/producer so the audio geek thing makes sense to them. However, none of them gives a damn about my gear issues unless I'm using said gear to entertain them somehow, and even then the "short attention span because they don't actually care" eventually kicks in. Social situations like dinner parties or the like really aren't conducive to "active listening" nor should they be...people wanna drink and chat, and my jumping up and saying "listen to this!" lasts about 10 seconds. An organized "listening salon" thing where friends just sit and listen doesn't ever happen and that's fine with me. I've done "house concerts" featuring myself and some talented singer/songwriter friends, and those are great and everybody pays attention to a degree that makes it more intense in some ways than a more public show...all good.