Can An Occupation Be Addictive?

[Maine farmer]

I caught myself saying that I can quit farming any time I want to now that the debts have been paid, but I just don't want to yet.   Then I was reminded about the old joke where an alcoholic says "I'm not an alcoholic, I can quit any time I want to.  I just don't want to."

 

Could I be  addicted to farming?

[LaurieAG]

Good point Farming guy but maybe not an addiction.

 

I have found myself that sometimes, especially with semi complex but basically massively monotonous tasks, you get into a rhythm that can be very therapeutic because it takes up just enough of your mental capacity to stop you from thinking about anything else but the task at hand.

[exchemist]

I caught myself saying that I can quit farming any time I want to now that the debts have been paid, but I just don't want to yet.   Then I was reminded about the old joke where an alcoholic says "I'm not an alcoholic, I can quit any time I want to.  I just don't want to."

 

Could I be  addicted to farming?

An addict has withdrawal symptoms. If you go on holiday for 3 weeks, what happens? Do you get jumpy and anxious and want to ring up and check all the time, or do you relax and put farming out of your mind? 

[DrKrettin]

I caught myself saying that I can quit farming any time I want to now that the debts have been paid, but I just don't want to yet.   Then I was reminded about the old joke where an alcoholic says "I'm not an alcoholic, I can quit any time I want to.  I just don't want to."

 

Could I be  addicted to farming?

 

That was e.g. Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot.

 

I'm not sure that addiction is the right word, but when I was farming, the style of life had a kind of all-encompassing nature which seemed to exclude anything else. There was always something that needed doing which seemed more urgent and more interesting than anything not related to the farm. Especially during lambing, when I didn't even bother to answer the phone - it was just not important. Fixating on a strenuous task can become all-consuming.