I too wanted to be in the business world when growing up, but Mom had other ideas and wanted me to be a teacher, went thru college, but this was years ago, and a teacher I am not nor a leader. Wish I had been more firm, but???? Love keeping records and learning crafts It was so frustrating, but in those days we sometimes did what our parents thought we should do.

I think me and Marie had the same Mom. lol I loved art and drawing and wanted to go to art/advertising school.. but my parents said there was no future in it and sent me to Nursing school when I was still 17. I'm not a nurse today. I was too shy, too naive and had no idea what I was doing back then. I don't know that art school would have went better.. but I like to think it would have.

I still like being creative/crafty... but when somebody squishes your dreams it changes things.

Sorry for raining on your thread Beeohio. :)

Plants! I love just about any plant, but grow tons of tropicals - they are my hobby, my psychiatrist, my tanning booth, my addiction and my sure road to the poor house!

Fabric stores attract me, too, and art supplies even more--even though I don't do much with art. I've always loved paper! And anything to do with rug hooking. I have some of my wool stash sitting out in clear bins this week, and it makes me feel good just to see them.

Kitchen stores attract me, even though I don't do much cooking these days. And I have an inexplicable fondness for hardware stores. Book stores are my #1 candy store, though, for sure.

Mine is fabric too and I almost am "just collector" of fabric. Really need to get busy and make all those quilts I dream of (and purchase for)! But in some ways, I have lived my dreams as I have taught sewing, worked in a fabric store, taken oil painting classes as well as ceramics .... . and never used my secretarial training for very long. Life IS what you make it. Nanny

Note.... spell check is now working!

It has changed over the years. When I was younger it was stores with kitchen things. Later it was dolls shops and now it is electronic stores or office stores. I call it getting my fix. The urge to buy in those stores are stronger in electronic stores and office supply stores. I want to buy every new gadget I see. I do buy a new computer every 2 or 3 years whether I need it or not.

As a kid growing up (and it still is) I love paper and books.
I wanted to be a teacher, because of all the paper and books; then I realized as a teenager that I don't care for kids, so teaching would not be the chosen career.

I still love books, pens, paper, binders....binders full of papers!
Heck I love to *hand-write* my recipes out!!

Love tropical plants as well. I drool over the lush rainforests, etc. I can spend so much time browsing in our local nurseries just feeling the relaxation.

When I was young I loved new coloring books and crayons. I still like them! I recently bought myself two new ones about horses. I love to shop for fabric also, I have a great stash of fabric. I love reading books and have lots of books. I hate to part with them. I used to love gardening but that is pretty much a thing of the past for me.

Sue

"Kitchen stores attract me, even though I don't do much cooking these days. And I have an inexplicable fondness for hardware stores. Book stores are my #1 candy store, though, for sure."

This is me exactly!

To add to the "rain", growing up my passion was singing and acting on stage. It was who I wanted to be, until the day my mom told me it was "only a pipe dream". It crushed me and took me YEARS to be able to dream about a future again. For some kids it makes them stubborn and determined, for others it makes them sad and insecure.

When I was a little girl about 6 or 7 my neighbor lady (who considered me a step-daughter) took me to the office she worked in in downtown Chicago.
It was exciting and then she took me to heaven the supply storage closet. Wow all those nice smooth pure white tablets and pencils and pens etc. I went home with new pencils and tablets. In school we only used a cheap paper tablets. I've always loved office supply stores.

I love hardware stores.....I think because I have wonderful memories of my Grandpa taking me to the hardware store and treating me like I was an adult....asked my opinion on what nails or nuts and bolts were the best.

I enjoy home improvement stores.

I loved to play school when I was a child. I have taught school for 25 years. I also love to look at plants. Hostas and spring flowers are my favorites. Since we are still fixing up our 60's ranch, I like to go to hardware stores. I'm not sure if I will still enjoy them as much, if and when we ever finish this place.

It's kinda sad that our generation was so influenced by our parents. Mine said I could be a nurse or a teacher, so I picked teaching and went to college to study elementary ed. I never taught a day. I like garden centers the best followed by book stores. I love kitchen stores too although I wouldn't qualify as a good cook.

I love House Plans. I drew house plans from the time I was in junior high school. I re-arranged my bedroom countless times on paper. I 'built' several new homes for DH and me -- on paper. My math skills are nil, so I was not about to become an architect, but I can look at a blueprint and see what a house will look like and how it will (or won't) work for daily living. (Love the House related forums on GardenWeb.)

I'm pretty good at navigating -- maps and directions. My mother may have taught me that. She'd take me to Marshall Field's in Chicago and have me find my way from the furniture department (upper floor) to the State Street exit.

I'm NOT a good 'decorator' -- at least not the important small stuff that puts finishing touches on a room. I can envision the look I want, but am timid about hanging pictures, etc. (Not timid about painting a whole room a glossy Hershey Bar brown, and liking it.)

I enjoy reading and writing. I'm a visual learner. Journalism was my major.

Thank goodness for you artsy-craftsy people and for the Math Able!

I love all crafts-I used to sew my own clothes, curtains,etc. Tried quilting but it's too hard/tedious. I love knitting but absolutely cannot get the hang of crochet. Needlepoint, especially stamped cross stitch. Again, tried counted cross st. but got lost trying to follow the pattern. I collect doll house furniture for a set I started back in the 60's-Petite Princess.Almost done finding all the pieces, except for the elusive kitchen.'ve seen pieces here and there but too expensive for me. And I'm no decorator. My house is eclectic. Most pieces of furniture were gifts, hand me downs or found cheap in thrift stores,etc.Even found thrown out furniture in my neighborhood, like a park bench for my backyard. Comfy but not real "together".

Jannie, my house is exactly as you describe - I can afford to buy new stuff, but I'm too 'chintzy'/cheap - I prefer to have furniture and accessories in my home that have been pre-owned and 'broken in' but not broken down.

I purchased a new mattress set 15 years ago, but other than that, if the item can be sanitized and I like it, I get it! If I need something specific and can't find it used, I will buy it new, but that's not the norm for me.

Because of my buying 'habits', I have money to take a vacation every year and BUY PLANTS! LOL