Don't close the window! This is not another doom and gloom report, believe me, I'm just as sick of them as you are.

 No - this is about how lucky we are to have recession-proof hobbies.

What am I talking about? Well, imagine for a moment that during this economic downturn, your hobby was sailing. You might be in trouble - at the very least, there's a good chance your significant other might not classify a $50,000 sloop as a "necessity." 

But you don't even have to go to those extremes to realize the frugality of fishing and hunting.

In Alberta, we can buy a year's fishing licence for less than $30. Let's go crazy an imagine we don't already have the equipment to drop a line. Factor in $150 for a rod and reel, $60 for tackle/bait/line and $20 per trip for miscellanous (fuel to get to the lake, band-aids for when you stick a hook in your hand, a sandwich and a pop) and you've got one heck of a cheap hobby. That's $240 in start-up costs, plus $20 per trip. 

In reality, the expenses would be much cheaper, because a rod and reel will last many years, and lots of times we don't even need to go out of our way to fish. For most of us, the rod, reel and gear has been long since bought -- meaning our hobby is practically free.

Golf? $60 for green fees and $10 for balls -- each and every time. Movies? $20 for two hours, and it's not exactly a "hobby." Alpine skiing? Well, don't get me wrong, I love skiing, but's it's $100 per day, minimum, when you factor in lunch and fuel.

And for people like us who appreciate the outdoors, we usually have side-hobbies like cycling and hiking - more cheap fun.

Even hunting can be a relative bargain - once the initial expense of a gun/bow, apparel, etc., is absorbed. (Thankfully, gear such a that lasts many years.) And a $40 deer tag can mean five or more days in the woods, easily. Your reward? Meat! 

That is one of the things I love about hunting and fishing - aside from all the intangible benefits (fun, comradery, appreciating the outdoors, memories) you get the tangible benefit of food! How many hobbies can say that?

So pat yourself on the back. While many Canadians are struggling to find ways to pass their Saturdays on the cheap, we can proudly say we've been doing it for years.

Although there is this new Sage fly rod I've been eyeing up...