QOTD #95: What's your hobby?

So, what's your hobby?
What do you do for fun?
What do you get out of your hobby?
How do you carve out time for your hobby?
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I love crafting beauty. This happens in the form of art, writing, sewing, music, and more. I also love gardening. It goes hand-in-hand with the drive to create beauty, and compliments my passion for plants. I get a sense of satisfaction as I complete a project. I like having a physical result to enjoy, that allows me to look back on the good time I experienced during its creation.

I schedule regular time. I also take time randomly for it. I take away from hours that I could otherwise be working to do these things. With two young children, it's the only way I have found. I'm too exhausted to create after they're in bed.

 

When I started thinking about this, it occurred to me that there is probably a blurred line between what would qualify as a "hobby" to most people versus just what they do to relax.

For instance, watching sports probably isn't really a "hobby", unless you are very extreme in the way you do so. Maybe a guy who tailgates at every home game, has a party for every road game, and who revolves his entire schedule around his team has a "hobby" in doing so. Just rambling food for thought....




My wife complains that I have too many hobbies, and not enough time or money to pursue them all.

The last month or so I've spent most of my hobby time hunting.
Obviously there are benefits gained in the form of food (I don't hunt anything that we don't eat). But honestly, a bigger benefit is just being out in the woods alone for hours at a time. It can be very relaxing, gives you time to think, and you can actually see/hear lots of interesting things in nature. Also, on at least one of my hunting trips each year, I get to hang out with friends at the cabin we all stay at.
For that particular hobby I have to schedule time off of work and coordinate with friends. However, it is also fairly limited, since there are only a couple of weekends for shotgun hunting in IL, and several weeks of bow hunting.


From March-Oct or so, a main hobby is riding my motorcycle.
I find it a stress relief. Also, it is often something I do with my wife (as a passenger) or with friends (fellow riders). Occasionally we will take trips with other couples, even overnight. I also often try to ride to places that are scenic, so it can be enjoyable from a nature perspective.
That hobby can be enjoyed almost any time during most of the year. But I do plan at least two group rides every year that I have to set aside time for, coordinate with my friends, etc.

 

In no particular order...

• Martial Arts (Kenpo - Chinese & American, Judo, Ju Jitsu, Aikido)
• Reading (Fantasy, Science, History, Mystery, Psychology, Sociology)
• Sports (Biking, Swimming, Basketball, Archery, etc...)
• Art (pencils, paints, 3D pieces)
• Science (Physics...chemistry, math, genetics)
• Dancing (any music...even country now...love rock and trance)
• Music (concerts, drums, etc)
• Travel
• Cooking
• etc...

It all depends on my mood and where my brain goes with it...I can't "force it" to do anything. No plans, I just wing-it.
I'm not obsessive. I'm not consistent.
I'm invested and intense for some time...then I move on...and later I come back to it.

Which probably throws a lot of people off. They can't categorize what I am. (Ladies hate this, it seems, I don't know why...)
Funny, same goes at work...I don't have a particular role...I just do it, whatever they throw at me. Pisses them off too, don't know what I'm doing because they can't keep track...even though they asked.

 

Writing.
Reading.
Cooking.
Eating.
Traveling.
Video games.
Rock collecting.
Skincare.
Makeup.
Anime and manga.