[KingOtter]

You're describing me as well, and I'm 37.

But I think the phrase 'addictive personality' is a bit of a catch-phrase these days, and people are confusing 'addictions' with 'habits' and 'obsessions'. I think a lot of people develop habits, and just don't know how to unlearn them. And because it is a habit... or a default action... they can't stop and think 'oh my god, I'm addicted'. Nahh, you just have a habit. You can't just erase a habit, you have to replace a habit.

For me, poker is closer to an obsession than an addiction or habit.

And I don't think it is necessarily unhealthy to have an obsession, as long as you don't obsess on it to the exclusion of things like maintaining your job, your personal relationships, your finances.

So maybe less obsession and more 'extreme interest'.

I had been spending a lot of time on online games like EQ and EQII before I found poker. Now I focus on poker exclusively. It IS my spare time.

One thing I'm surprised at is I've been playing for almost 6 months, and I haven't felt the wanderlust that usually pervades my extreme interests much sooner than this.

KO