What are your interesting hobbies

TimeToLose8 · 2021-12-27T13:30:25+00:00

I seem to have a lot of time on my hands now (post retirement). I'm doing some volunteering but I'm looking for an interesting hobby I can pick up and put down where I can use up some of this time. I cook, read, sew etc, but I'm looking for something more. Hopefully that doesn't cost a lot to get going. I have spent a fair bit of time on free MOOCs (massive open online courses) - there are a lot out there, and of course I could do another one - highly recommended. It would be interesting to see what some of your more unusual hobbies are. And, hopefully something will take my fancy.

lovemyaussie · 27/12/2021 13:50

My dog is my hobby, walking, training, agility...... but I imagine you're looking for something a little less intense!

MacavityTheDentistsCat · 27/12/2021 13:55

One of my hobbies is learning to read Hieroglyphs. It's quite a challenge but very satisfying.

thatsallineed · 27/12/2021 13:57

I collect vintage brooches - lots to be had at car boot sales etc, and eBay etc. Ones from the 50's & 60's are becoming very collectible now, but can still be had for a quid or two each.

niceupthedanceagain · 27/12/2021 14:00

Tarot reading and collecting beautiful and rare decks (I also opened an online shop selling indie tarot decks).

Houseplantmad · 27/12/2021 14:10

@TimeToLose8 where do your source the online courses? They sound interesting!

Could you volunteer at somewhere related to a course and specialise? A neighbour of ours volunteers at a stately home and is the art specialist on the team. She is constantly learning and sharing her knowledge which sounds very satisfying.

What about future proofing your body and taking up strength training? Have a look at Train with Joan in Instagram who is inspirational. Blast with Annie Deadman is a good starting point. Or rowing - a good team activity with health benefits. Wild swimming - a recently retired colleague in her 70s is doing this and has made loads of friends. You get my drift!

Stompythedinosaur · 27/12/2021 14:14

I'm learning to fight with a 14th century longsword - it is loads of fun. I also keep bees which is fascinating but nothing to do at this time of year. Tablet weaving is nice and relaxing, we also play a lot of board games.

Immaculatemisconception · 27/12/2021 14:24

[quote Houseplantmad]@TimeToLose8 where do your source the online courses? They sound interesting!

Could you volunteer at somewhere related to a course and specialise? A neighbour of ours volunteers at a stately home and is the art specialist on the team. She is constantly learning and sharing her knowledge which sounds very satisfying.

What about future proofing your body and taking up strength training? Have a look at Train with Joan in Instagram who is inspirational. Blast with Annie Deadman is a good starting point. Or rowing - a good team activity with health benefits. Wild swimming - a recently retired colleague in her 70s is doing this and has made loads of friends. You get my drift! [/quote]
I googled MOOCS, the courses are all there.

Chikapu · 27/12/2021 14:29

I junk journal, you don't need a lot of stuff to get started (you can use old packaging etc to make the journals) and it's fun to be messy and creative.
YouTube has a ton of videos on how to get started etc.

Lovemusic33 · 27/12/2021 14:33

I do online course too 😊

Other hobbies include…

Foraging (and cooking what I forage)
Walking (done with the above).
Photography
Paddleboarding
Gardening/growing food

I also have many semi finished craft projects that I will probably never get around to finishing

ComtesseDeSpair · 27/12/2021 14:37

My ex and I dedicated our spare time to the ambition of licking every Anglican cathedral in the UK. We broke up before we achieved it, and now I just run, lift weights and read, which is less unusual but also involves less travel.

Several of my friends geocache, which I occasionally think about joining them in. My brother collects swarms of bees (or rather, he learned to keep bees, and now regularly gets called by frantic homeowners to round up bees doing scary things in their garden.)

WakeUpLockie · 27/12/2021 14:42

I do lots of coursera courses, which I know you mentioned. Also singing lessons (an a lapsed singer so rediscovering that), watercolours, I did a pottery course but not for me. Love DIY/upcycling etc. Walking. Nothing super interesting. Would love to take up cello or saxophone but worry about the neighbours! I just got a telescope for Xmas, so I’d better use it 😄

Jurisimo · 27/12/2021 14:43

I decided to have a go at showing my dog! Loved it so got another and show that one now too!

I also do needle felting (animals!) which I now sell a few of too!

MajorCarolDanvers · 27/12/2021 14:45

I'm volunteer as a scout leader.

Love it. I've made new friends and learnt new skills. I'd thoroughly recommend it.

merryhouse · 27/12/2021 14:48

Bellringing.

I really want to know if @ComtesseDeSpair really actually meant "licking"...

LaurieFairyCake · 27/12/2021 14:54

I'm going to a local college to learn silversmithing

Loving it sooo much

EducatingArti · 27/12/2021 14:56

Archaeology!

PollyannaWhittier · 27/12/2021 14:59

Geocaching, volunteering with the Wildlife Trust, volunteering with Guides and Brownies, spinning (fleece into yarn, not on a bike !)

Andante57 · 27/12/2021 15:01

Learning Korean. It’s difficult but enjoyable.
However when I tell people I’m learning Korean a sizeable number of them burst out laughing - why, I have no idea. I find it very patronising and annoying.
Have any of you experienced people laughing at your hobbies?

Shadowboy · 27/12/2021 15:06

@ComtesseDeSpair

My ex and I dedicated our spare time to the ambition of licking every Anglican cathedral in the UK. We broke up before we achieved it, and now I just run, lift weights and read, which is less unusual but also involves less travel.

Several of my friends geocache, which I occasionally think about joining them in. My brother collects swarms of bees (or rather, he learned to keep bees, and now regularly gets called by frantic homeowners to round up bees doing scary things in their garden.)

Licking?! That’s an interesting hobby especially in these current times. What bit do you lick?

qazxc · 27/12/2021 15:06

Craftivism
I'm also a member of lifelines which befriends death row prisoners through letter writing.

Tinylittlecabbages · 27/12/2021 15:09

@niceupthedanceagain

That sounds amazing! What is your website?

GTAlogic · 27/12/2021 15:26

Photography. Taking and editing them and also creating (what I laughingly call) digital art with them using textures and overlays.

ComtesseDeSpair · 27/12/2021 15:31

@merryhouse

Bellringing.

I really want to know if @ComtesseDeSpair really actually meant "licking"...

Definitely licking, for those who queried it. It was more a “well, here we are at this cathedral, what shall we do now?” and ex’s suggestion was to lick one of the walls. Had I picked a more highbrow partner, we might have travelled the country’s cathedrals taking brass rubbings or compiling a list of martyrs buried in the grounds when we got there. But I didn’t, so we didn’t.

Although yesterday he sent me a Christmas photo of himself on his new yacht in the Bahamas, so perhaps I should have stuck around beyond the cathedral-licking days as he went up in the world

Original poster

TimeToLose8 · 27/12/2021 15:31

Wow
What a great shed-load of ideas. I hope this helps others as well. I actually dont know where to start with these ideas.

As for MOOCs, try Coursera or OpenLearn (thats the free arm of the OU). Some are text based, some have videos. I paid (not much) for a winetasting course, learned calculus again, studied the science of food, tried philosophy, morality and the study of happiness. I'm a bit of a butterfly I think, but this does keep the mind going.

OP posts:

HoliHormonalTigerlilly · 27/12/2021 15:34

@ComtesseDeSpair why would you lick cathedrals??