Can you ever see yourself 'NOT' playing Poker?

I recently asked myself this question..... it's a weird one isn't it?

The reason I ask myself this is because so many people I admire and respect, both as players and as people have walked away from the game which they once really enjoyed and/or made a killing out of. For those who read my blog from the Stoke Poker Scene then I'm referring to people like Jon Marlow, Parsy, Matt A and they're are probably numerous others that have drifted out of the game. They seem happy without it and find other pursuits more enjoyable now, good for them I say, you probably shouldn't play Poker if it causes you misery that's for sure.

I've found myself in similar situations before, where the cost of playing poker (not necesarily financially) became more than worth the bother, I'm talking about the Stoke Poker debacle, The Ben-Gate saga and my ongoing dispute with Grosvenor Casinos as 3 things that caused me misery over time. Thankfully the 1st 2 are well in the past, forgiven and forgotten and can be put down to experience (or lack of), the latter however is just an on-going indicator of the more shady things a poker player has to put up with over time.

Saying that, I went through a stage where I simply couldn't face going to a casino, even when I was doing well. I became resentful of spending my free time in Casinos everynight, sometimes with people I like but quite often with people I wouldn't give the time of day to and you don't always see it but it can affect you outside of the game. I know Poker has contributed to me losing at least 1 important relationship in my life and whilst they generally don't say it, my family think I have a gambling problem..... crazy really when you wouldn't really catch me never a pit game and I don't tend to bet on anything with the exception of a couple of quid on football at the weekends, but that is a stigma I don't enjoy.... at all.

It's not all bad of course.... how could it be? We wouldn't play if it was all bad right? I'm the 1st to admit to myself that I've wasted a good understanding of the game during it's best years in terms of bringing new people into the fray by not playing often enough, not playing long enough, not building my roll and finding excuses to do other things. That said, I am a winning player, Poker has made me money that I'd not of got from anywhere else that's for sure.

I've not won fortunes or anything silly like that and I'm not going to pretend otherwise, but it's afforded me a few luxaries in life I'm grateful for, such as expensive new TV's, Computers, Laptops and my dream holiday to Vegas and playing in the $1000 buy-in at the 06' WSOP, that is something I am unlikely to repeat and never will forget. You also cannot underwrite the value of friendships made through playing Poker,

I've moaned that I've met some truly horrible people through playing live but I've also met some of the finest people I know and don't take my relationship with these people for granted at all.
But to me.... it really doesn't matter about what's good and what isn't good about the peripheral aspects of playing Poker. What matters to me and what always has been the most important thing is.... MONEY. I could have walked away from the game many times over due to the reasons I listed above but have chose not to and the reason for that is this....

There is a big fat fucking poker-pie and I want my slice. I want my share of the free money flying around. I don't pretend to bet he best player on the planet, but I am good enough to beat the game. Whilst there is money to be made in Poker and I'm still good enough to win my share of it, I simply will not walk away. That is the be all and end all....

But what about you folks? Do you now play for fun? Play for the glory or the money? And can you see yourself able to walk away easily when the time suits you, or are you here for the long-haul?

Ciao

Matt