I have been a handquilter for almost 40 years. It is the part of quilting along with picking out the fabric that I love most. It is something I can do alone, with friends or while watching TV or a movie. I can carry on a conversation and if the project is small enough it is totally portable. I don't bother keeping track of the time involved, making the sandwhich and the binding, if it is from scratch, are the most cumbersome parts for me. I can finish a bed size quilt in a couple of months if I average at least a couple hours a day. Handquilting is something I can do while watching TV, listening to music or visiting with friends. If it is a small enough project I take it on vacation or even to guild meetings to occupy my hands. It makes a great conversation starter. Our foremothers regarded it has a plesant way to socialize while still providing comfort and warmth, for their famlies. It was also a way to express themselves artistically.
Don't worry about the time involved just get started.