My interests vary both qualitatively and quantitatively.  I puruse some interests with great passion (*****); I puruse others with little more than casual interest(*).  Here's a graded list:

(*****)  Book Collecting requires much storage space.  I hope to be able to build custom book shelves for my burgeoning library collection.  I have several thousand, mostly hard-bound.  Some are antique; my oldest is a three-language text published in Rome in 1623.

(****) Reading requires more time than I have.  Recent reads are Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge and Return of the Native; Johnson's Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; Horace's Satires; Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop; Scott's Ivanhoe and John Cleland's Fanny Hill.

(****) Programming requires more time than I have.  I have written thousands of stand-alone and integrated programs in TI Extended Basic, GW Basic, Quick Basic, Turbo C++, HTML, a little assembly and Visual Basic.

(****) Computing: I compute everything from Pi to annuity projections.

(***) Web Surfing: I'm thrilled when I stumble upon a useful or interesting website.

(***) Researching (anything): Don't dare me to find it!

(**) Construction: I'm self-taught, and I don't have much experience.  However, I've built a patio, a utility room, a storage building and a 4-car, 2-story garage (ongoing).

(***) Investment: My primary interests here are my 401-k and a partnership in the Pike Investment Group.  Stock evaluation for potential earnings and appreciation are primary concerns.

(**) E-texting: I'm currently working on Bret Harte's The Luck of Roaring Camp.

(****) Retirement Preparation: Target date is Dec 1, 2003.  I wouldn't say I have burnout, but I'm looking forward to more free time for my personal and family interests.

(*****) My Wife, Nancy: My most treasured relationship.   She makes every day an adventure and gives direction and purpose to my life.   Nancy is a former secondary school teacher-turned registered nurse.