I had absolutely no desire to move into technical diving. I didn't have the money and I was honestly afraid of the deco obligation factor (being "trapped" underwater).
Then a tech instructor moved to my town and, after a couple dives with him, he "informed" me that I was going to become his new tech buddy. Over the next two years he slowly moved me from recreational (just a DIR fundies class under my belt) to full trimix cert to 330'. He didn't charge me for the instruction, and he got me fantastic deals on gear (also as he upgraded, hes sold me his used stuff cheap. I still dive some of his cast-downs).
Talk about changing my diving life-style! I've done dives I'd never dreamed I'd do, like penetrating deep into a wreck at over 200' ij the St. lawrence River, diving a wall to 300', scootering along a wall at 200' seeing things no human has ever seen... And now I'm mixing my own gases at my house, servicing my own regs, even DM-ing technical diving classes that bring others in our town into the tech diving family.
Yes, I've been bored during deco hangs before. But usually I'm just surprised how quickly the time goes. It can be like making two dives: The deep one, and then kicking around shallow looking at the fishes (which I still enjoy) or practicing skills. Or just hanging on the line, getting into that zen-like meditative state that is probably the most relaxed I ever get.
I'll tell you though, every time I've advanced my skills I've always been nervous. I was nervous about deco obligations. I was nervous about being deeper than 200'. I was nervous about how I'd feel ("trapped!") penetrating inside a wreck. I was (still am) paranoid about going rebreather. But my instructor always moved me at a pace that was just right for me, and sometimes I'm still amazed at how calm I feel doing these dives, even when something goes south I have to deal with - how relaxed I am and how much fun it is. I am always truly suprised to find myself feeling so at ease when something hits the fan. And that calmness has only come from the excellent training I received, and continuous skills practice.
A lot of what is technical diving takes place above the surface, and you have to enjoy that part, too. It's gear intense, with additional equipment, dive planning and gas prep time requirements. There is no doubt it cost more in both time and money.
I also like the
people who tech dive. Most of them are head-strong, have good healthy egos, are opinionated, intelligent, interesting, self-educating, self-motivated, and share the same desire to explore the underwater world at a level I really enjoy. I never fail to learn something form them.
There is a good book out that I think someone interested in technical diving should read (although not specifically diving related) called
Deep Survival. Good insight into the type of person who enjoys this type of experience, and who will do well at it.
Good luck!