SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

Still trying to get myself moving again. I need to get out and about, I check meetup groups in my area, but there aren't many. I don't have a lot of extra cash, but know I need to get out and meet more new people.

So, give me a list of your hobbies. Maybe something will jump start my interest.

What I have so far:

Would like to take a cooking class.

I'm going to start working out again, but at work so no cost. (This doesn't help me meet new people of course, but will help me feel better) Can't afford a gym membership right now.

Going back to officiating a sport this summer. (that's more for $$ than for a hobby, but at least I'll get out and around people more)

After that, I'm kind of stuck at what I would like to do.

I'm an introvert, so most of my hobbies are to get me away from people.

I really enjoy crafting/making things with my own hands, so you'll see several of those listed.

-Knitting

-Sewing

-Crocheting

-Reading (I gobble books up at a rate of 2-3 per week)

-Cooking / Baking

-Playing guitar (I suck, but its fun)

-Kayaking

-Camping

-Yoga

This year, I've added:

-wire wrapped jewelry making

I'm also going to try (again) my version of the Couch-to-5K in an effort to try jogging again. I need to sit less and move more.

I rediscovered some old hobbies that I had forsaken during my divorce. It took a few years but I'm getting back on the horse(s):

-playing mandolin, alone and in a band

-spending more quality time with the kids doing activities

-reading. I have read about a book a week for the past few month

-writing a book proposal about my brewery business

-spending time researching my next career

-focusing on finances. yes, getting out of debt is a hobby for me

-running

-working out

-participating in ballet with the kids. I have been a non-dancing role in 4 performances now

and at least one new one:

-motorcycles. I got my first, took the course, and have become enthralled with all things two-wheeled

-travel, on the motorcycle, and camping

I hope to add gardening this summer by adding a raised plot and getting the kids involved

I run, which is a pretty inexpensive hobby (just need to buy gear -- racing can get expensive but it's not necessary. And you can meet tons of people through free running groups.)

I hike/birdwatch on nature trails -- also a hobby where you can meet people through groups and is pretty inexpensive -- binoculars and a bird book are all you need.

I read a lot -- use my library card for this!

I took up painting -- acrylic on canvas. Pretty inexpensive as you can find great deals online.

As for cooking -- you can definitely take a class, which gets you out meeting people -- but if money is an issue, you can also teach yourself stuff through youtube videos, how-to courses from the library (The Great Courses has some good ones), and cookbooks that teach you how to cook (like anything from Mark Bittman or Cook's Country.)

If you live near a university, there are always tons of relatively cheap things going on -- film festivals, movies, drag shows, planetarium shows, etc.

I do yoga -- I take one class per week through work, and then do DVDs other days during the week.

What interests you? Your library and other places (nature center, universities, rec departments) can be great resources for low- to no-cost activities!

Your library and other places (nature center, universities, rec departments) can be great resources for low- to no-cost activities!

This!!

Our library is connected to a community center. A few times a year, they put out a free catalog of upcoming courses and classes you can take (for a small fee). Anything from accounting to tai chi, its all listed in there!

I'm an odd person, in many ways, but I actually enjoy studying hobbies more than doing them...

Having said that, I have recently studied:

Bushcraft/camping/hammock camping

Ham Radio

Drawing

Cooking

In the past, I have done home brewing, woodwork, bicycling, and home rehabbing/carpentry.

Most of these have groups of participants you can do meetups with. I only go to Ham Radio clubs at this point, but maybe by Summer I'll actually get beyond "study" and actually do some real-life camping.

Knitting.

Video games.

I used to do triathons. I should try to get back into that. I did a half ironman once.

I joined a hiking meetup for a bit. I want to get back into that.

I pulled out my guitar and I am excited to poorly play it again.

It is hard to do much of anything with a toddler. These are all things I did when I was single and childless.

I've upped my reading also. Forgot to add that to my list.

Yep, I know there are some cheaper things through the town/library. For the most part though, I look at those offered, and nothing seems to peak my interest. That's why I thought I'd see what others are into so maybe something would make me go oh yeah! I'd love that!

TH, I have thought about taking some more classes at a college, I do enjoy that. At this point though, I think that is going to have to wait 3 1/2 more years until my DD if off to college/university.

I volunteer at the local botanical gardens, volunteer for The American Heart Association. Trying to get back into tennis ( I played seriously in highschool/college). Try to get out with my pup and hike local parks. Shop Read. Paint.

I read trashy YA books

LOVE to read, and have written one book already. MBA classes going on right now and I will be done with the program in November. Once that's done, I want to continue work on the sequel to my first novel.

Once upon a time I did a lot of singing. At one point I was performing somewhere every weekend. While I don't think I want to return to that level, getting out once in a while and being onstage again would be fun.

My dulcimer should be arriving any day now and I'm anxious to learn to play it. And I'd like to be able, once I get my own place, to learn to garden.

Animal Tracking - have now certified at level one through cybertracker so I am an advanced beginner I like the way Jon Young and his students teach this.

Bird watching / Bird Language / really an extension of tracking especially the language part. Also animal communication.

Card making - was a stampin up demonstrator for a while for fun not for business. What a blast. Included rubber stamping, also mini scrapbook making.

Pen and colored ink sketching in plein air. Super fun, hard to do, but I now have a sketch book full of sweet little paintings i've done. I love to look at it.

Horses - just connected with a neighbor who as 18 arabians. It's been a long time since I cared for horses, but I go over and groom a horse or two every couple of weeks. The smell is divine.

All my hobbies make me forget the world of little and big problems. They use a different part of my brain and get me into the 'flow'. It is a huge part of me realizing that life is a good thing, they had to my happiness and resilience in the face of stress tremendously.

double post

[This message edited by InnerLight at 4:00 PM, February 2nd (Sunday)]

I spend a lot of free time with my dogs. They're awesome- just a party all the time.

I read a lot. I also have a platonic male friend that I meet up with at least once per week for supper.

In the summer, I do a lot of house and yard work.

I enjoy hiking and birding--both can be done alone or with others. There are hiking meetups and birding clubs. Neither are costly. You can spend a lot of money on binoculars and/or a scope, but you can also buy them gently used and if you bird with a club, several people usually bring scopes and let others look too.

I work out 5 days a week at the Y: Spinning, yoga and weight lifting classes.

I also knit, crochet, sew, cross stitch and bead. You can do these with others--I go to a knitting group at my local library once a week. There are also meetups for crafters.

I like to read too, but I've looked into book groups and most fill up quickly.

Recently I've been having thoughts of beer brewing, bread baking and soap making. Just what I need=more hobbies

In the past I've done ceramics, taken cooking courses, dance lessons

[This message edited by Sad in AZ at 4:46 PM, February 2nd (Sunday)]

Hobbies...

I knit, read, bake and collect recipes

Geocaching is fun and you might be able to find a group for that. Low cost. Our city has a very active hiking group.

I just got back from roller skating. only $11 for 4 hours, can't beat it!

I also do:

yoga - once or twice a week

Barre exercise class through town rec dept so it's cheap

walk

hike

jog

bird watch

reading

garden

kayak

ice skating

things on my to-do list but haven't done them...yet:

belly-dancing

tennis

golf

I'm excited by all of the birders! Why don't you live near me?