I consider myself an enthusiastic programmer, but I simply don't have time to code in my spare time. I have a life besides coding, also! And when I code in my free time, I am mostly hired for it as well. But I do read lots of articles and books in my free time.
The programmer, like the poet, works only slightly removed from pure thought-stuff. He builds his castles in the air, from air, creating by exertion of the imagination.