I think that assuming people meant "pure career" was a misstep on my part.
I wasn't, myself, specifically thinking of things that had to go into "being successful", but when I think of "having a successful life" I know I wrapt fannishness in with that - having something to love, something to be enthusiastic about, having friends, being creative, doing something well, being useful to others.
It can't make my life successful alone, just as neither work nor family (including my parents and siblings) nor church nor writing could. But if I were miserable and utterly incompetent at my hobbies, I wouldn't feel successful, either.
*shrugs and waves and flails* I'm - I guess I spoke too strongly because I'm just gobsmacked that other people (so many other people!) didn't including being fannish as part of what made them successful.
Possibly less obnoxiously worded...
I wasn't, myself, specifically thinking of things that had to go into "being successful", but when I think of "having a successful life" I know I wrapt fannishness in with that - having something to love, something to be enthusiastic about, having friends, being creative, doing something well, being useful to others.
It can't make my life successful alone, just as neither work nor family (including my parents and siblings) nor church nor writing could. But if I were miserable and utterly incompetent at my hobbies, I wouldn't feel successful, either.
*shrugs and waves and flails* I'm - I guess I spoke too strongly because I'm just gobsmacked that other people (so many other people!) didn't including being fannish as part of what made them successful.
*is still possibly confused*
- hg