I seem to have misplaced my hobbies.
Or rather, they have gradually left me, as neglected friends will do. Maybe they're off partying with my missing goals.
I used to have easily defined hobbies, starting with reading. That was my number one hobby for decades. I've been diligently courting that hobby and it has been returning to me during this year. (Thank you GoodReads for helping me track my reading diligently.)
Music, another persistent hobby.
When I moved to the Delaware shore in October of 19-ahem, by December I had purchased a second-hand piano to help me while away the hours, living at a beach-y, resort-y area during the dead winter season. I'm not a great piano player, but I started learning when I was 5, so I can play complicated classical pieces full of mistakes... for my own fun. Anyway, it was a great purchase and stayed with me all of my 12 years in Delaware. For the last 6 years, in apartments in Indianapolis, Beijing, and now in a house in Vietnam, I continue to tell myself I will get an electronic piano (easier for transportation), but that has yet to happen.
I would sing along in the car on every drive to and from work, to and from the store, anytime I was alone in the car. Now I walk everywhere, and I only occasionally sing in the shower.
The Theatre. Hobby and avocation.
For 20 years, I was in about 2 plays a year, plus helping out with other plays in other ways backstage. TWENTY YEARS. Then I moved to Indianapolis, and got a job that meant working late some days, and it would have been mean to commit to a play when I couldn't guarantee to make the rehearsals.
In China, my theatre bug was somewhat mollified by doing children's drama camps. I really enjoyed working on scripts for those, but the camps themselves were... well, the Chinese idea of live theatre is different from the western idea.
With no music and no theatre, I suddenly realized yesterday that my hobbies are now...
Brace yourselves ...
Planning and Tracking.
I've always enjoyed planning things - trips, meetings, packing, cleaning, everything there is to ever do can be planned. I'm a great planner. (It's genetic. When we asked my mom to use their house for our wedding, she immediately grabbed a pen and started making a list of things to buy and things to do in the house. Any time any guest ever comes, she does this.)
For decades I kept track of my activities in a Franklin Planner. Until I moved overseas and had less to track. Now I still use a planner, but also my smart phone - so many apps! So many things to track! I have my fitness tracker, a habit tracker, GoodReads for books, and a private notepad that I use to track my own lists of things, PLUS my paper planner.
So now I get to quietly slide into some kind of Type A Psycho who plans the heck out of every day and every activity, and then tracks it to death online. Old age is gonna be FUN!
How have your habits changed over time? Have they? Does "planning" even count as a hobby?
For you, I think I would call planning more of an obsession.
ReplyDeleteWell that's true. And if I fritter away planning on little things, then I don't plan OUR time to death, which would kill you.
DeleteI'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that, no, planning doesn't count as a hobby. Mind you, I get the appeal of fiddling and organizing, I genuinely do. But to call that kind of micro-focusing a "hobby" might be (let's see... how do I say this gently?) a stretch.
ReplyDeleteYeah. >sigh<
DeleteI love my time writing, too, but since I'm counting that as my job, I don't also count it as a hobby.
I have always done what I like . Hobbies continue too .
ReplyDeleteI think that's a good distinction. If I'm doing what I like, it doesn't matter if I can classify the thing I'm doing as a hobby or not. Thanks!
DeleteMethinks you need some coloring books... (You know, the complicated ones they make for adults.)
ReplyDeleteI have a couple coloring things. I get stressed about doing it "right" or "wrong". I'm a mess!
DeleteRed,
ReplyDeleteHobbies do get sidelined for one reason or another. For me, it's been photography since DH's retina attachment surgery more than a year and a half ago. Mewsic is one of my passions that keeps me sane when the world is coming apart at the seams. One hobby I'd love to get back into is writing. I loved creating children's stories when my kids were small but you know how cruel life can be to always get in the way of one's progress. I haven't found my footing to regain that love again. Perhaps in time, I'll find it and if not, I'll enjoy contributing short morsels randomness found on my blog. Come hit the dance floor with me any ole Monday. It's a party you won't want to miss out on each week! ;)
Thanks! I added a note to always look for your Monday blog. I've gotten irregular in my blogging habit.
Delete...I guess blogging is a hobby, too!
Red,
DeleteYes, blogging is a hobby and one I love very much as is evident with my persistent presence. :) I hope you hit the dance floor with me on Monday. This week's theme is songs about things I like about autumn but like I tell everyone if you have tunes to share then we're ready to boogie with you! ;) Have a great weekend!
Planning may not be a hobby but tracking definitely is. Okay, maybe not "tracking" in the sense that you're using it--I know people who are into either geocaching or scent tracking with their dogs.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little disconcerting to realize my own hobbies are pretty much reading and writing. I have an extensive coin collection I haven't done anything with in years that I should probably get back to. I dread turning into my parents whose hobbies are pretty much drinking wine and hanging out with their neighbors, which makes it hard to know what to get them for their birthdays.
See, to me, if I know what someone likes to drink - wine is a great gift! Of course, tangible hobbies would work, too.
DeleteMaybe hobbies come and go? Maybe we have to resurrect them down the track when the climate is right for them? I think that as long as you have something to do in your leisure time that you enjoy, it counts as a hobby (and that includes planning if it gives you pleasure).
ReplyDeleteWell, thank you. I think I'm maybe a bit embarrassed by how much time I spend playing games on my phone. That is probably more "hobby-like", but it's not a hobby to be proud of.
Delete