I hear this about both writing and owning a bookstore. I’ve never thought of either vocation that way, so it’s interesting to me that some do. It makes me smile and think, “Good luck.”
Owning a bookstore is much more than a hobby. Writing a book is more than something you do when you retire. Writers need to write. Bookstore owners live for their store. That makes work/life balance all the more difficult. For a while after acquiring my bookstore, I wanted to be here almost as much as I wanted to be at home.
Even now, it’s my second home, and I don’t feel right when I’m not there for more than a few days. Vacations are great, spending time with my children is incredibly important to me, I’d love to be able to travel more—but this store is my life’s work.
It’s not a hobby, and it’s definitely not a retirement plan. Maybe I’ll do this until I die, or maybe, eventually, I will decide it’s time to give it up and move on to a life of leisure. Until then, though, if you come in my store, you’re coming into my life.
The Next Chapter Books and Art 