I dont hide it but dont brag about it either. Not because Im shy about it. more because I look at it as a hobby just like restoring cars. When I talk to people about cars it goes in depth about what cars I have or have had. when the topic of trains or trucks come up I share what I have or have had. its all about finding and sharing an intrest with people you work with or meet. I think a neat part of a hobby is finding out that someone you know or workwith is into the same things you are. I try and remember that not everyone is into what I am. you cant overdue it to the extent that people think your nuts.
When I talk trains I stay far away from "Mr train geek" We all know this type of person, They are blind to the outside world and can only see the hobby they are into. this person might tell you every detail about what they did to detail a steam engine, Tell RR jokes that only a die hard RR guy would understand. or how about the type that is talking into his DCC controler acting like hes a train disbatcher... Yes I have seen this to many times. being in car,semi truck,train,model train clubs over the years I find that there are certain types of people that draw positive attention to their hobby by just shareing the basics of it, lets the person ask questions if hes or she is intrested. IMO the types that are spewing RR lingo and are off in space and are the ones that scare me.... Im a geek,nerd,biker,trucker, but at the end of the day im real and intouch with things.