Carving wood on a lathe is truly a multifaceted endeavor with many flavors. One flavor it is not is vanilla. There aren't many indifferent woodturners. It's an all or nothing undertaking; so much so that we refer to 'the addiction' and throw out one- liners (sometimes sadly true) about "you might be a woodturner if". For many reasons it's a good and positive thing and surely nothing wrong, to absorb ourselves in the craft, but is there a safe limit? I think so, but it's different for each of us.
Understand that I'm warning here about destructive excesses of a hobby and I exaggerate to make a point; the business side is a different matter. Years after visiting a highly thought of leading edge radio ham the pitiful consequences of riding a hobby still haunt me. Every room in his house, including kitchen and bathroom were filled with the latest and most expensive gear. His yard was an antenna farm, the walls were festooned with awards and shelves sagged under winner's cups.....and his wife and two children (probably adopted) were shabby, wan and defeated, the house was filthy and himself was totally engrossed in calling CQ-dx when he should have been calling the employment agency.
I wake up now and muse (or troll upstream) no further. This can never happen to any of us, but if someone is nearing his limit it can't hurt on this Sunday afternoon to play ball with the kids, take a ride, cook out with friends, talk meaningfully with the wife and inhale the smell of roses. As with drinking good whisky, enjoy the hobby responsibly, but live outside the lathe and the internet. There is a larger life outside our shops and our lathes will be there tomorrow.
It's the bit dog that yelps, but If any of you think an apology is warranted, consider it done. I'm more COC than Pollyanna. :)
Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter