I Need Some New Hobbies, What Are Yours?

I've been in a bit of a slump lately, and really want to start up some new hobbies and wondering what sorts of things you all enjoy doing in your spare time.

Recently I've begun cooking, and am really enjoying it along with the bleach recipes member littled has been kind enough to share with me. Joking, don't use bleach.

I'm looking for things that don't have too steep a learning curve to actually begin enjoying, are not wildly expensive and are doable while living in a condo (for now). I'd love to get back into woodworking/tinkering on old cars but space is somewhat limited. I'd love something that encourages meeting new people, and something a little different than hiking/bird watching/stamp collecting.

Tell me about your fun hobbies, what you like about them and maybe even give some pointers!

fly fishing is a good relaxing time as i stay 5 minutes from a good salmon river and reading getting to slow to chase the girls now but i can always get a bike and get fit at the same time

Not sure if this is up your alley or not, but here it goes. As my avatar shows I am a gun enthusiast and an avid shooter. I enjoy going to the range and participating in IDPA and other sport shooting events like sporting clays, and 22lr fly shoots.

The learning curve isn't steep, but the initial cost depending on what type of shooting style interested you would be a little pricy unless you purchased used.

Sport shooting is a fun hobby that really plays heavily on your hand eye coordination and trigger discipline. You also get to meet other shooters from all walks of life. The thing that got me initially was the comradery amongst everyone.

If that doesn't pique your interest, maybe try your hand at home brewing. You can get involved locally with brewers guilds that have brewing events throughout the year where you brew and taste test home brews that you and other members have created.

The initial setup cost to start home brewing is fairly cheap, as you can get a pretty good beginners kit for around $125 and all you need after that is a recipe to follow and the ingredients.

I really enjoy brewing as much as any of my other hobbies, and the learning curve here is also not too bad if you start off with the basics and work your way into the more complicated aspects of brewing. There really is nothing like cracking open and enjoying a beer that you made yourself.

reply to post by Domo1


I bought a bread machine and now make my own bread.

I made a honey wheat loaf last nite. It's yummy.

I've also made my own bread and rolled it by hand and stuff. But it's way messy. Fun but messy.

The bread maker makes it a snap to drop the ingredients into the machine before you go to bed and you wake up to a house that smells like a bakery.

Fresh sliced bread with some peanut and jelly hits the spot in the morning. Even better if you manage to program you coffee maker to make some coffee as well.

yummmm

Some of my bread.

reply to post by Domo1


If you don't have a telescope, I recommend getting one. You can lose yourself for hours, plus, if you have a camera and get an adapter for the telescope you can also suppliment your new astronomy hobby with astrophotography where's there's groups online and sometimes even local meetups for amateur astronomers.

I know one person that has a metal detector and they're always finding interesting things in parks, on beaches, and everywhere they search. They seem to have a knack for finding lost wedding/engagement rings in parks, and other 'romantic' places.

Building and flying your own drones, whether they're quadcopters, planes, or whatever seems a fun pastitme for some. Put a wireless camera on it and your view of the world will increase exponentiallyas well as possibly creating threads here on ATS if one of your neighbors mistakes a home made drone for a UFO.

If you like learning, there's open courses online: 700+ Free online Courses from Top Universities. There you'll find languages, cooking, and some other fun things, plus any and every core requisite University courses that might be of interest, all for free.
It's all, of course, unaccredited, but, learning for the sake of learning is always fun.
Learn Russian and apply yourself to translating all the old Soviet UFO files.

You can take up making complicated artistic kites with colored rice papers and balsa, then sell them online, at local parks, wherever, or just give them away.

You can start your own microbrewery?
I seem to recall that being a trend for some people for a little while, and the results give ample excuse for planning get-togethers and socials for sampling.

As to myself, I enjoy sailing, and disappearing into the wilderness solo as far off-trail as I can get.

reply to post by Domo1
Don't you live in the Pacific Northwest? I would take up searching for Sasquatch, but I'm odd like that!

Something I discovered a few years back is zip-lining. I don't get to go as often as I'd like but when I travel I always check to see if there's any zip-lining in the area. It's a blast! Another thing I like to do is go jet ski riding and riding four wheelers. I don't own either but I'm lucky enough to have friends that do. If you don't have friends that own any you can always rent at a lot of outdoor rec areas.

reply to post by Domo1


Hi - My off-line hobby is cooking / baking. The telescope idea sounds interesting. I read and have a growing interest in photography.

You could always go redneck and join a bowling or softball league.

Of course there is always the great american past time of protesting.

Picking out the weirdos in ATS. I mean, man it's funny and fills in a few hours.

There are already some awesome ideas, now someone needs to teach me how to reply to multiple people.

Originally posted by MadMax7
Picking out the weirdos in ATS. I mean, man it's funny and fills in a few hours.

I found one.

reply to post by geobro


I love lake fishing, I think fly fishing is a great idea. I don't really know how to get started though... I live pretty close to Seattle, and I know there is good fishing over here on the 'East Side'. How do you get started? I want something I can go and do by myself, and have no idea how to cast that type of rod, or even where I can.

reply to post by SpaDe_


But I'm scared of guns! Just kidding. I've got quite a few (and they are awesome). I should have mentioned that.

Home brewing sounds like a good idea. I need to look into it more. My cousin does it but he acts like it's a huge pain in the bottom.

Well, my hobbies/professions are Drag and Mentalism/Magic,

i don't know if those fit into your interest

uhhh I'm into modern yoyo'ing.. go to 0:35

reply to post by littled16

Don't you live in the Pacific Northwest? I would take up searching for Sasquatch, but I'm odd like that!

I do. I think it's cute folks that don't live around here think we need to 'find' one. They prefer LSBHB (Large Sexy Bi-pedal Hairy Beast) just as a little FYI. My buddy GrrrngBlagh is actually cooking us up some fresh hiker he caught last night... Horrible cook, he thinks it's funny to leave the REI labels in. At least he's kind enough to pick out the Gore-Tex beforehand.

Originally posted by Domo1
reply to post by geobro

 

I love lake fishing, I think fly fishing is a great idea. I don't really know how to get started though... I live pretty close to Seattle, and I know there is good fishing over here on the 'East Side'. How do you get started? I want something I can go and do by myself, and have no idea how to cast that type of rod, or even where I can.

just get a cheap rod and practise on the grass without a fly on until you can hit a spot you pick no kidding best way to learn but you will get looks never take your arm past the 12 o'clock position its all in the wrist & practise makes perfect but why not get a set of drums or even better bagpipes and drive your neighbours mad thats fun to

reply to post by Domo1

Home brewing sounds like a good idea.

Is that like moonshine? If you do that then you totally need to join a bowling league.

Originally posted by Domo1
reply to post by geobro

 

I love lake fishing, I think fly fishing is a great idea. I don't really know how to get started though... I live pretty close to Seattle, and I know there is good fishing over here on the 'East Side'. How do you get started? I want something I can go and do by myself, and have no idea how to cast that type of rod, or even where I can.

Go down to the river or lake with your rig, find a person flyfishing and ask them to help.
I am a flyfishing guide/outfitter here in the Rockies and I can vouch that flyfishermen are some of the finest people on the planet. A great community of sportsmen and women. I envy you living in Seattle. Some of the greatest water on earth for all kinds of species. Please practice catch and release. Keeping a few for supper is expected.

Learn to play a musical instrument. I try and learn a new instrument, every year.

Contact your local or state film office and become an extra in the movies; decent pay, great community and can lead to getting actual parts as a standin or bit player. Worked for me!

Become a TV producer by joining your local public/cable access stations crew. This can also lead to a very profitable hobby by making films for festivals, commercials or working crew for other filmmakers. Eventually you will want to make your own films and public access has the gear and people to help you.

www.seattle.gov...

My main hobby is native beading and leather work.

I make jewelry, moccasins, mukluks, gloves, mitts, gauntlets, leather pouches, lighter cases, keychains... you name it.

I also make my own bar soap too... as well as quite a bit of canning and preserving with the veggies and berries from my garden.

Handy dandy skills to have !

Why not teach yourself a useful skill/hobby ?
Something you can put to good use if the SHTF...

reply to post by Domo1


Here is my hobby/small business , I mount and frame Butterflies, insects, spiders etc. It is a very rewarding exercise. You can get very creative. Also make a suppliment income and it needs only a small amount of space. If anyone wants to put up some of my Pictures, feel free as I don't know how.

www.gumtree.com.au...

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