Lava Lord:
This is a question that has been gnawing at me and I would like to ask the opinon of this esteemed gathering !!
When is time to long or long enough to enjoy wargaming? When does one stop? I humbly wait your thoughts. :hat off
Dr.Mojo:
I don’t picture myself ever getting bored of wargames and miniatures. Furthermore, to the eyes of the people you care about, having a hobby makes more sense as you get older. At least I hope so, because I’m 23 and they give me the looks yet…
Thommy H:
Why would you ever stop doing something you enjoy that hurts no one?
Admiral:
Why stop? As one gets married and gets children there will be less time for the hobby, but eventually the kids will move away from home and you will have grey hair. Then there will eventually be more spare time which partially can be invested in the hobby. As long as you are careful not to dedicate all your spare time to the hobby and forgets your loved ones, and as long as you don’t ruin yourself by buying miniatures, there is no hurt in continue collect, paint and wargame.
I look forward to a time when I can teach some of my future children the craftsmanship and joy of this hobby, and I also plan to get Dreadfleet and some Specialist Games or historicals ready in some years time so that I and my brother can spend some time along with our dad playing board games. I plan to continue this into the grave, smiling to the end and letting those children and grandchildren who wants the collection inherit it.
This hobby is a great way not only to keep your mind and hands occupied with craftslike or even artlike doings, it is also a great way to associate, be with your friends and hobbyist siblings, and make new friends. The span across generations that exist in our Swedish tournament circles is purely positive, and shows the hobby’s ability to make young and old associate and play games together in a time when generation gaps have been the norm for decades.
Why retire? Everyone takes pauses from the hobby, but I can’t see why one should retire. As one gets older perhaps some more interest will be interested in historical wargaming, but through and through I can see this joyous hobby lasting a lifetime. Retiring entirely would in a way be to throw away much of the invested time and effort.
Vardan Painkiller:
My oppinion exactly, i hate when some small minded ppl ask when i stop being interested in wargaming cos its for teens, but same ppl who ask me dont have any real hobbies, asides from going out few times a month and watching youtube.
Hobbies make ppl live longer!
Groznit Goregut:
I say when the joy is gone.
I used to play DnD and played with a group where half of them were friends, and the other half was their friends that I didn’t always get along with. After a while, it just became a chore to go to games. It was hard to schedule with the Mrs. and kids. When I was there, I didn’t enjoy myself due to the other guys. I finally realized that I was not having as much fun as it was worth the effort. That’s when I quit.
I say if it’s lately more of a chore and not worth playing, then put it down for a while. Don’t sell your minis, though. Just not play for a while. See if someone who misses you tries to get you back in. Maybe you change your play style and only play friendly games with the guys you want? Or maybe you just need a break. Not playing for a few months…especially at the holidays, is absolutely fine. Give it a break and see how you feel.
I understand what you mean, though. I can relate in the fact that I recently gave up my Orcs and Goblins after 10 years of playing. It just wasn’t fun to fight an uphill battle anymore. If these CD’s or maybe my Empire don’t bring me out of the funk, then I’ll just take a break for a while, too.
Thommy H:
Another option is to not have children and just do whatever the hell you like forever.
cornixt:
Another option is to not have children and just do whatever the hell you like forever.And give up the chance for captive wargaming opponents? Lunacy!
Thommy H
Admiral:
Not that I try to force or persuade anone now, but since the point of life is family and children the choice is a clear one in my eyes. And I look forward to it, with all its stormy moments and disadvantages as well as bright times.
Speaking from my local point of view of neighbours and friends: Since many people seem to behave and feel better as they get girlfriends or wives and also children, it can almost be seen as self-improvement of character for some. I know quite some bachelors who would not only be better off with wives and kids, but actually longs for it but are too timid to get started.
LOL at Cornixt. I was about the bring up that point, although “captive” wasn’t part of it. 
Thommy H:
Hey, I’ve got a wife…
Kera foehunter:
When you reach the age of 27… But for men it around 19 …
Admiral:
Hey, I've got a wife...I know, my comment about self-improvement wasn't directed at you, but was rather a general philosophical observation for anyone who finds it of interest, since the topic was up. It wasn't meant as a snide comment or suchlike. Please bear with me, I'm just an excentric and absent-minded guy. :cheers
Thommy H
Thommy H:
When you reach the age of 27.. But for men it around 19 ..Hey, I'm 27!
Kera foehunter
Kera foehunter:
Hellow… that would refer to a woman. Men was 19
Grimstonefire:
Wargaming I think is a part of the hobby best spent with like minded people you are friends with. If friends move on to other things and you don’t fancy branching out then I guess that is time to call it a day on that aspect.
If however you are like me and the modelling/painting itself IS the hobby then just keep going as long as you can hold a paintbrush and paint satisfactorily. Or failing that just pay someone to paint for you and build up an empire of soldiers! It never ends.
Incidently, as this is in ‘Chaos Dwarf discussion’, my first thought was ‘chaos dwarfs don’t ever retire, they get killed off when they are no longer strong enough’. Survival of the meanest. 
Thommy H:
Or they turn to stone, of course.
Animatone:
Lava Lord,
I don’t know how to answer when it comes to your question, but life often has a way of making those kind of decisions for you if you don’t make them yourself. So if your time gets all consumed by whatever else it is you’re up to (wife, kids, job, life etc.) and you find yourself never interested enough to pick up your figures and play a game or two here and there, then there could come a time when you never feel like picking them up again! And that’s okay as long as you’re happy with whatever else it is that you have now filled the gaming time in your life with.
I personally see everything in life as an ongoing commitment of sorts, where we all naturally will slow in our paces and be enveloped by things we otherwise would not wish to be consumed by if we don’t actively tell ourselves what it is that we want want out of life and how it is that we are going get it. So if gaming isn’t on your life list because you feel it takes away form the more important things you want to accomplish and or commit yourself to, then hang up brushes and shelf those books until a time comes where you feel otherwise, but until then don’t beat yourself up about it.
All these things will be waiting for you when and if you choose to come back to them, however the people we commit ourselves to in life… they may not. The same can be said for a lot of other things we often have to tend to in life, so enjoy what little senseless things you can when you can, and hold on to all those other things that matter the most and (more often then not) will take up all your time and efforts when it is they come.
Best of luck man answering that one, but I often wonder the same thing.
As for myself… I’m 31 years old, no wife, no kids, still a student, no home and no real life other then my work (and exercise I guess), but it’s something that brings me more joy then anything else I’ve ever known and I can’t wait for the time when I can actually play games again and not just troll forums and blogs and stockpile mini’s for the apocalypse. But until then I guess gaming is just not high enough on my life list right now, I wouldn’t mind if it was, but obviously it’s not the right time, however I’m happy with the life I have so I can’t complain. The figures are all just in a box waiting, and reading about all the things I don’t have time to do still brings me a enough pleasure to keep the flame alive.
Take care
Lava Lord:
Another option is to not have children and just do whatever the hell you like forever.And give up the chance for captive wargaming opponents? Lunacy!
Thommy H
cornixt
LOL
Da Crusha:
you can retire when its not fun anymore. I don’t have any plans on retiring from wargaming any time soon. the tournament scene is another thing, I find them less fun lately. my GF of 7 years doesn’t disapprove so i work on miniatures as often as I can. Im 30, no kids.
moogoodoo:
Another option is to not have children and just do whatever the hell you like forever.some one who dose not have kids then
Thommy H