So it turns out that it is ,
1)time, and 2)money, followed by family, church and other activities. also let me ask you this. are most of the guys who shoot competitivelly married or single. Because if I tell my wife, I am dissapearing for the day to go compete more than a few times,on her day off, I am in for a world of crap. Little things like dinner, laundry, and the like, will cease to function at their curent levels. I may wear the pants, but she washes and irons them. Getting married at 50 has spoiled me, My wife works, cooks 3 meals a day, "she leaves my breakfest and lunch prepared, drives 1 1/2 hours each way, and cleans constantlly, "no maid" I don't rock the boat, unless it is something I really want to do. All she asks is my preasence when she is home. And has gone to gun shows, "hated them" has no interest in guns, "she used to",And getting up early and driving then standing around all day, is something that doesn't scream "fun" to me. My reward is the shooting itself, a trophy, "although pretty" doesn't make it any more or less rewarding.I would rather save that money and buy another gun or gun related toy.
Skiing had the same appeal to me, I hate getting up early to face the below freezing temps, and stand on top of a mountain, still half asleep. Then get shot out of a cannon and try to avoid killing myself while navigating rocks trees and other people who have thought it was a good idea.In life you are competing all the time, I don't want to compete when it comes to my hobbies and the things I enjoy to escape from the hectic life around me.I tried that with the GYM, and it was a big dissapoinment. Just because you enjoy something for 30 years, doesn't mean that you are going to like doing it on a schedule. Once you take the fun away and make it something competitive, it changes the concept.
I don't want to, "break chops" ", any more so I sufice it to say, that people know what they enjoy, and will find a way to do those things.
So cowboy shooting or race guns shooting or pole vaulting Karete' etc are all great if you are interested in competing, I just love guns. I like to look at them touch them, and take them apart to see what makes them tick.I also enjoy altering an occasional gun to improve or change something that I may see that I feel confident doing. I don't knock anyone for what they enjoy,God bless them, as long as they don't try to get me to do it with them.