My Name Is James Thomson, and I Suffer From Chronic Curiosity

Why I Fall Hard for Rivers, Trails, and Whatever’s Next

I have a problem. I’m finally ready to admit it, and I can’t think of a better place to come clean than right here on my own blog.

So… what is Chronic Curiosity?

Glad you asked.

In my case, it means that every few months, I switch hobbies. Something new catches my eye—A shiny post scrolls past on Facebook or Instagram and BAM—I’m halfway down a brand-new rabbit hole before I even realize what happened. One minute I’m content, the next I’m researching gear, watching YouTube videos at 1 a.m., and convincing myself that this—this right here—is the thing I’ve been missing all along.

It usually goes a step further. I’ll sell off most (or all) of my current hobby “stuff” to finance the next obsession. This serves two purposes: it keeps me from going completely broke, and it helps ensure I don’t make Kim too mad. She may not fully understand the new direction, but with a deep sigh and a raised eyebrow, she reluctantly approves. Marriage is a compromise, after all.

If you’re wondering how deep this runs, here’s a partial list of hobbies I’ve fallen head-over-heels for over the years: playing drums, guitar, blacksmithing, leatherworking, 3D printing, laser engraving, RC cars, off-roading, fly fishing… and honestly, let’s just say the list goes on and on. Some of these I’ve circled back to more than once, only to shelve them again a few months later when something else starts calling my name.

Here’s the part I don’t love admitting: I’m tired.

I’m not tired of doing things, but I’m tired of constantly starting over. I want to stick with a few hobbies long enough to actually become proficient at them—to move past the beginner phase and into something deeper, more rewarding.

Right now, that short list looks like this: fly fishing, fly tying, off-roading, RC rock crawling, coffee roasting, and precision rimfire shooting. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that some of these don’t compete with each other at all. Fly fishing, fly tying, and off-roading can easily merge into one big, cohesive mega-hobby. We’ve got a Jeep and a side-by-side. I can load up rods, waders, and fly boxes and go just about anywhere I want. I live within driving distance of world-class trout water.

So why can’t I focus?

Kim says I probably have undiagnosed ADHD. I think she’s right. What I don’t fully understand is why, at 57 years old, I’m still a little afraid to admit that out loud. Maybe it feels like an excuse. Maybe it feels like a label. Or maybe it just forces me to confront the fact that this restless curiosity isn’t going anywhere—and never has.

But maybe that’s not a flaw to fix.

Maybe chronic curiosity is just the thread that ties rivers to trails, fly rods to tire tracks, and past passions to future ones. Maybe the trick isn’t trying to kill it—but learning how to aim it.

That’s what this space is for.