I'd like to gain a skill that I really enjoyed and then be able to make a living out of it without it becoming too much like work.

For example learn to skipper a sailing boat then make money by taking folk around tropical islands for real money. You would also need to learn the waters, fauna, flora, befriend the locals etc. I mean you don't just want to be a floating drinks platfrom.

The knack is to get paid to do something that you want to do or would do any way.