Having been seemingly born with a strong belief that life is to be lived, not simply endured, I have tried many an avocation over the years. Only a few have survived the test of time. In addition to music (30+ years), the mainstays are computer gaming (20 years; mostly first person shooters and flight simulators; I even build custom machines for the task), backpacking/fishing (40 years; the two are synonymous in my mind), the San Jose Sharks hockey team (since their inception 10 years ago; even hold season tickets; front row, upper deck, visitor's blue line) and hang gliding (12 years; Advanced Pilot rating, approaching 1,000 hours; currently goal is to fly 100 miles (longest to date is 65 miles)).