Does cooking count? Recently I got a cast iron skillet, and I've been having a lot of fun trying out a lot of new recipes. Tried making a steak w/ red wine pan sauce for the first time, and for my friends. I messed up the sear on the steak, but the sauce was a hit. I find that it's a good excuse to learn, save money, and invite friends over (granted I ask for some grocery money).
If you are in a relationship, or dating around, those one off classes, e.g, cooking, dance, pottery, are a nice date and way to try something new.
Does cooking count? Recently I got a cast iron skillet, and I've been having a lot of fun trying out a lot of new recipes. Tried making a steak w/ red wine pan sauce for the first time, and for my friends. I messed up the sear on the steak, but the sauce was a hit. I find that it's a good excuse to learn, save money, and invite friends over (granted I ask for some grocery money).
If you are in a relationship, or dating around, those one off classes, e.g, cooking, dance, pottery, are a nice date and way to try something new.
My Nerd Flag flies *high*! I collect fountain pens. Not for just looking at, or for "investment", but to actually use. Handwriting's not an issue, since fountain pens usually improve one's handwriting, for some strange reason. Doesn't matter if you're lefthanded, either....I am, and I've never found it a handicap. There are groups on Facebook, etc., that foster letter-writing, especially in February (International Correspondence Writing Month, or InCoWriMo). Also conventions in various cities, and countries! The fountain pen community is very diverse, all ages and levels of education, and super friendly and helpful and encouraging to newbies.
Some people want to write, letters or journals...some learn calligraphy...some draw....it's all enjoyable.
Also, while one can spend hundreds, if not thousands, on "collector's pens" that really can't even be used, there are *plenty* of pens under USD10. Ink, whether in bottles or cartridges, is generally inexpensive (depending on brand), and lots of fun to play around with, especially since nowadays there are many inks with shimmering, sheening, and other interesting properties.
Last but not least, I've always said that those of us who can write (and read!) cursive handwriting, and are able to drive stick shift, will be the overlords eventually.
Repairing and working on vehicles is pretty fun and unless your vehicle's brand new, there's likely some kind of work or maintenance you can do on it. Offroad driving. Whether in a truck of some kind or a dirtbike or an ATV or side by side, whatever, any kind of offroad driving is fun as fuck.
Sailing. Even if you don't own a sailing yacht there are plenty of yacht clubs around that you can easily get into if you'd become friends with some of their members. They will welcome you aboard and you can learn sailing from them.
Downhill skiing is another one. The equipment is kind of pricy but many resorts have rentals for first time skiers. It's easy to learn (I've been skiing since I was three years old, my dad been doing it since he was two), you'd get to stretched out those calves, and it's usually a good time.
Lockpicking is a fun one. Unless you're trying to fuck mortis locks, the tools are cheap. For about ten bucks you can get a pick and a tension wrench and a couple of shitty padlocks to practice on. Then it's a cheap hobby from then on out, just need to buy locks to crack.
First time I managed to open a lock from poking at it felt like the first time I popped a shell on a computer. Very rewarding. It will take some time before you get the first one, but it's worth it.
Also, it's come in handy twice over the last few years helping out friends locked out from stuff.
This will depend completely on the area you live in and also probably your assigned-at-birth gender, but:
- Someone mentioned woodworking, working with hand tools is very meditative and successful carpentry will instantly reverse years worth of trans ideology's effect in a man. Wood is unbelievably expensive these days though.
- Other miscellaneous repair shit. People are awful at fixing things, a multimeter, a soldering iron, and some basic tools will fix 99% of all electronic tools and hardware people throw away. You will immediately realize why humanity uses so much resources when you start taking things people are throwing away apart, seeing how not-broken they are.
- Gardening/landscaping
- Even if you are by a computer, play instruments. The thing is that then integrates the woodworking and electronic repair bit because then you can start fixing/refinishing/adjusting your own instruments which saves money.
- Foraging, that really depends on the area. At minimum you can probably collect dandelions or something, you can eat the petals off those things you know. Make wine with it too.
- Cooking, which then is helped along by gardening and foraging
That's the problem though, is that if you live in a bughive city your options for sane activities away from people will be extremely limited, vs. suburbia, vs. the country.
I think people can find things to do with themselves naturally, it's just that in the city you wind up with activities that literal motherfucking prisoners are limited to, like working out and doing really basic games/crafts. Imo that really says something.
Use your honing steel often between sharpening too, it's that ribbed metal rod everyone blows off that straightens the edge on the blade.
Well thats the point of learning to properly sharpen. Its tricky but you can get your edge straight without one. But learning to do that and getting a feel for consistent pressure and angle is the fun part of it.
Paintball is a lot of fun if you have some disposable income. I'm more into the faster pace stuff but people can really get into the scenario/larp types of games (if you think that's more your style, I'd recommend airsoft). A great way to stay active, learn and socialize.
I used to play a lot when I was younger, even asking to help the refs of my local field to help which helped me learn more.
It is expensive though. If you can you and some friends could just grab a cheaper marker with some paint and some friends and head into the woods and play.
I remember in my early 20s there was this dude that would show up with a 30 rack of beers and would share with me. Another time we saw a kid (age 10?) getting picked on by his friends for not wanting to play, maybe a birthday party. So, one of my friends went over and asked if he'd like to play with us and let him use his marker (I don't remember what it was but I remember it was expensive looking in a shiny purple). The kid agreed and had a blast. For the rest of the day he was eager to play with the other kids.
Absolutely. Used to have more free time in college to cook, but nowadays I mostly take some time on the weekend to prepare a lot of food for the week. Making food for yourself and saving money is pretty gratifying.
Lockpicking is a fun one. Unless you're trying to fuck mortis locks, the tools are cheap. For about ten bucks you can get a pick and a tension wrench and a couple of shitty padlocks to practice on. Then it's a cheap hobby from then on out, just need to buy locks to crack.
First time I managed to open a lock from poking at it felt like the first time I popped a shell on a computer. Very rewarding. It will take some time before you get the first one, but it's worth it.
Also, it's come in handy twice over the last few years helping out friends locked out from stuff.
Mainly reading, but I did check out some YouTube videos. Most important part is understanding the internals of the lock, and why exactly it opens. Instead of just poking at it. It's one of those things where reading is probably the better way to go.
