Hobby "Breaker", Breaks or going on Hiatus from the hobby

I've never left the hobby. I don't see any reason why I would.

How does one actually leave the hobby though? Do you have to get rid of your dolls or is it just good enough to shove them all into a closet and just stop visiting dolly related meetings and websites?

 

I never left, but I did take a break for a couple of years. I moved out of the place where I was living with another doll person, into a place where one person was scared of dolls and the other criticized me for leaving any projects out for more than an hour. I couldn't really get into doing much with them while I was there, so they slowly fell by the wayside, though never got put away. I got busy with other things, too, and DoA fell by the wayside as well.

But I didn't really even consider selling the dolls during that time, and still took care of them even while they were just sitting on shelves largely untouched. When I moved out, they all got carefully packed into their boxes, and instead of going to the storage unit where almost everything else I owned landed, instead went to a pet-free room in the house where I was living temporarily. They also didn't move down in the truck with everything else, but went in a separate trip in my car to be stored in another friend's house until my arrival, and didn't get brought over until I had space ready. And when I did get them out and on the shelves, I realized I'd missed seeing them... but still didn't have time for them, sadly.

What changed things for me was when I got my tax refund back this past year, and decided that I would use it to finally buy the body I wanted for one of my floating heads. I did some research, went to a meetup to see the body in person, and realized how much I'd missed the whole thing. And with that head now on a body (and only one floating head left), I've discovered what was fun for me about this again, in creating and altering characters, and though I still don't have a lot of time, I'm finding ways to sneak it in here and there anyway! It's nice to have the creative outlet again, and I'm looking forward to my upcoming projects with them! Though I never fully left, it still does feel nice to be back.

 

I left the hobby and returned. I was a huge fan of BJDs but because of the cost I only collected Pullips. So I saved up the money and kept watch on the forum and chatted with everybody while playing with my Pullips. When I got my first BJD I was so disappointed by her lack of posability and how difficult it was to find properly sized clothes that I completely lost interest. It wasn't until after a move recently that I found her in a box and decided to sell her to get the doll that I *really* wanted, but was $100 more. Now I'm waiting for her and I'm completely sure that she'll be perfect.

 

I did.
I left after having a doll head stolen from me during what should have been a sale transaction. I lost about 200 dollars, and being in high school at the time, that was my only doll money. I felt so cheated and upset that I left the hobby.

A few years later, I am now a junior in college and I realized that I still love this hobby. I got my dolls back out, sold a few and started over with a few new ones. I am happy I came back, I love this hobby. I am trying to do thing differently now, with fewer dolls and higher quality clothes etc. Trying to save up and buy better instead of more. It's hard! And I'm still a bit sad that I lost that money.

But I'm glad to be back, I had so many new dolls to discover in my lost time!

 

I really hear what ur saying. I have struggled with this hobby being way too important and emotionally draining for me. I love dolls so much and the only thing that keeps me away is feeling horrible about spending money. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by my wants and when I find myself asking relatives to borrow money for dolls, I know it is time to pull back. I have always loved dolls...my whole life and still have my childhood ones...so this is not a new thing for me. I doubt I will ever quit collecting! Like u, trying to manage better.

 

I left for awhile. Sometimes life gets complicated and hobbies need to take a back seat.

 

Same here. I've left for a year or two, but I still kept my dolls and all their stuff packed away in boxes. I knew they'd be there waiting for whenever I wanted to jump back in; they have infinite patience. Since coming back I've gotten involved in meetups and have made friends with some really awesome people. BJDs have become my favorite creative outlet.

I remember coming back from a hiatus once and thinking what are pukipukis and why does everyone have one???

 

I left six years ago but I was packing my room and didn't realize I still kept some of my previous BJDs items. That brought along a whole wave of nostalgia and before I knew it, I was jumping straight back in again. The scene's changed so much that it's really intimidating but the amount of gorgeous new sculpts that came up is terrific!

 

I left the hobby due to real life kind of kicking my butt a few years ago--I couldn't justify/afford it! I've come back and drifted in and out a few times in the last year, but unfortunately I haven't been able to get back in touch with the local community really. :c Still, I'm back to making stuff for my dolls and eyeing a few dolls I'd love to pick up now that I don't have to worry about money so much... xD

I doubt anything could make me leave the hobby permanently-I still have the dolls I've had since I first got into it (in 2008!).

 

I didn't leave the hobby so much as...take a break. I had promised my parents I would save money for university. I was perfectly fine with that, because I definitely wanted to go to university and I wanted to help out as much as I could before I got to that point. I was in my early years of high school, and I'm now nearly done with university.

It's very frustrating though to look at company sites, and DOA threads and everything when you know you shouldn't spend any money. So I stopped coming on DOA, and limited myself to the time I spent lurking on company sites. I continued to play with my Hound of course! At the beginning of this year, I got sucked into a few lines of fashion dolls, anddddd I came swooping back to the BJD sites. I stayed away from DOA still, but I looked into BJDs more often and talked with a few people online about them. Then I bought my DC Agatha...and here I am. lol!

It'll probably be a long time until I'm able to buy another BJD, but if I get a part time job while at university this upcoming semester, I think I'll start putting some money aside for one. Or maybe just a body for my poor floating head that I've had for 4-5 years...

 

My ability to partake in the hobby was disrupted for a while. It was a break essentially. Some family things happened that were out of my control. I was displaced, then bounced around with my dolls in tow, of course. Even after things had settled down, I had a hard time reengaging, though I was still very interested. I guess, because it reminded me of a time in my life and a disposition that I'd had that was gone, so it made me rather sad. Over time and little by little I came back in.

It was a bit of a shock to see how things had changed. I had a lot to study, for lack of a better term. I've been back for about a year now and very glad that I am. ^_^ The dolls that were on my wish list when I left aren't being made any more, but it's okay because now there are so many more I love to fill their places. @_@

 

Have you taken a break from this hobby?
I have yes.

If so, why and for how long?
I had things happen in my life that called for me to focus my finances else where! Getting married, getting a home and having babies does that to people! Man...it's been so long I can't remember! I think the last Sculpt I remember being brand new was a Luts Breakaway at the time. If that means anything year wise.

If you've been gone for a number of years like I have, do you find it intimidating to catch up on all the new companies and sculpts?
I couldn't believe how many more people were in to this! Now there are SO many companies and the prices changed so much! Sculpts I love aren't sold anymore and even the terminology used has changed or been invented for things. I have been scrambling to catch up because I forced myself to not look at anything to do with dolls all these years (it hurt too much :< ). It's exciting at the same time. So many chances to fall in love again!

 

hmm... yes i've taken a break/lost interest before! but even now im not very active on this forum, im more active on FB. DOA is a bit too slow paced for me ^ ^
I appreciate dolls in my own way, i dont take a lot of pictures like most people do~ but i like coming up with concepts for new dolls. :>

 

I took a break for a few years. It wasn't a complete break, but mostly. I would occasionally redress my Hound or do something with him, and I checked some company sites every once in awhile, but that was it. It was frustrating not having any money to buy things, and with highschool and the start of my university life, I just didn't need that extra stress. I've come to terms with it though, not being able to buy new BJDs (other than my DC Agatha a few months back), but I'm hoping to get a part time job while at university this upcoming semester. If I'm able to, I'll start slowing saving up for a body for my Elysium Lud-N. Or a new doll.

 

I haven't ever taken a real break. I've had periods where I didn't bought new dolls, but otherwise I still owned dolls, bought stuff for them, visited forums and generally doing doll related stuff.
Maybe I will someday, life can throw a lot of stuff one's way after all, but my interest in dolls is as strong as the day I received my first.

 

I took a break from the hobby (Hence my hiatus) for 2 months and came back just very recently due to college apps.

 

I left for about five years. Initially I was in the hobby despite not owning a doll, but the whole not having a doll thing killed it for me (poor high school student, etc.), and I got back into the hobby last year when I bought my very first doll.

 

I don't see myself leaving the hobby itself, but I have taken breaks from the community. I still loved my dolls during those periods, but there are times when I've just needed to limit the forums I spend time on online, limit the things I do (and I have to travel about an hour to the nearest doll meets to me, which means I've missed quite a few during times when that just wasn't feasible)...

I can't foresee actually falling out of love with the hobby as a whole, but I definitely sometimes take breaks from facets of doll collecting, just as I take breaks from facets of all my hobbies, and usually it's because there's something else I need to focus on in my life.

 

I have and haven't at the same time. I take breaks from buying (either there is no spare money or I feel guilty for the ammount of dolls just purchased). I've taken breaks from the forums and doll sites. One, it's hard not to buy when you are viewing so many pretty dollyyysss :'( Two, Sometimes the forum moves so fast that I can't keep up as I do have to do other life things. It takes me a while to read and to organise my thoughts so taking part in a fast moving thread is difficult for me personally...
Also there was a time when the house I was living in was so crowded with junk aswell as people that I didn't want to photograph my pretties, and there for not get them out of thier box. I supose you could also say I took a break when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. My eyes were heavily effect and not only was finding time where I was well enough difficult, but I couldn't see my dolls properly or visually enjoy them. When I was scared that my vision wouldn't return I was actually thinking of selling all my dolls, because... can a near blind person really tke part in this hobby...? I was very confused and upset. I didn't sell my dolls and my vision did recover to a point, and I find my dolls comforting when I have to go to the hospital. Doll meets are difficult for me now as I can't go alone, and it's quite embarressing personally to have to take your mum or carer with you as well as damaging your self worth and confidence.
While I foresee periods where I take a break from the doll community and photographing them, I don't think I will ever leave the hobby completly, but like someone else said I will just pop in and out socially. I always have my dolls around though, safely in thier boxes. But sometimes lifestyle changes and other hobbies push the resin people aside

 

Come to think of it, I usually take breaks from time to time in all my hobbies or games I play. Some are short, some are longer. There's only so much time you have to spare, and switching 'priorities' just keeps it interesting