I have been helping a buddy with a house that was also "improved" by the previous owner. We plan a project, start demolition, and find 3 more projects that must be completed before we can even resume the original. That can be really unmotivating work sometimes.
I bought a foreclosure 7/13/12. Though I knew it needed some serious work I figured I could get it livable in six months. HAH!! Like so many other people find, one job turns into five or six. After totally replacing the roof trusses and all. I gutted the whole thing and started from almost scratch.
The good news is that while it is not completely done (still needs trim and carpet) it's livable and I'm moving in next week. Which of course means I will soon get back to brewing after a five year hiatus.
One of my other main hobbies is bladesmithing / blacksmithing. Being tied up with the house I haven't fired up the forge in almost a year and a half. I hope to be getting back to that as well, pounding on red hot steel is very therapeutic and it goes very well with cold beer.