[strokeoluck]

I'm getting to that point in life where the job is not overwhelming, the kids are a few years from leaving the house, money is not a worry...and I think I need a hobby (or a hobby/casual business). Wondering what you all do for hobbies?

I'm mid-40's and we live in MN. Currently I/we enjoy some of the standard stuff: we like going out to eat, going for walks, car rides, doing some light stuff around the house, taking care of some light stuff for our 4 rental properties, playing poker w/the neighborhood guys, playing golf (son and I; wife and daughter do not), boating (3 month season up here) and traveling (as a family we go on 2-3 trips/year; wife and I do another 3 trips/year thanks to job). When I had my M Roadster my wife would go with me now and then, but otherwise it was a nice stress reliever for me - washing, waxing, driving...repeat. I sold the car so we could make garage space for our 3 vehicles plus my son's golf cart.

Lately though, things are changing. Our kids are in high school; daughter will be gone in less than two years and our son in less than four. Our daughter is driving and we see less and less of her all the time - mostly good; she's happy and very independent. We still get enough family time. We used to run our son all over for his various basketball leagues but he's focusing on school more now, and his high school season is shorter than the AAU season and also frees up our weekends. I don't really enjoy golf like I used to - seems sort of pointless hitting the little white ball around; though I need to maintain a certain swing for business relationship building. The boating has been great but it's a short season and the kids are slowly losing interest as they become more active with friends that can drive, so that's starting to fade a bit. I used to hunt but have lost the desire to kill other living things (not judging others!; and yes, I still eat meat!). I also used to ski and have tried snowboarding but that's hit or miss with the weather and my knees tell me it's time to move on. My stay-at-home wife has always stayed busy with some of her own stuff: cooking (she loves to do it; and is good at it - I have little interest in cooking), cleaning (believe it or not, she loves to do that too), reading, shopping and of course carting the kids all over creation up until recently.

I was recently promoted and things were crazy for ~6 months, but now things are settling down and I find myself with too much free time on my hands - watching too much ESPN, or reading too much, or browsing the internet for too long. All stuff that leaves me feeling a little unfulfilled. I do love to make money which is why I purchased some rentals several years ago in the heart of the recession. It doesn't take up much of my time as I've automated or outsourced quite a bit. However, come spring time I think I'm going to sell them and cash out on the nice equity build up that's occurred since then. But if I can think up a hobby that ALSO makes money, that might be the best of both worlds. I travel about 30% of the time so I'd need some flexibility with whatever hobby I pick up.

Sorry for the rambling but I wanted to set things up for you. I'm not necessarily looking for people to choose the perfect hobby for me, but rather get a feel for what everyone else out there is doing to occupy their "free" time. Thanks!

[UncleWede]

Get more involved in the school, like booster club. That way you covertly keep an eye on what the kids are encountering, yet aren't hovering over them. And they need someone like you with too much time on your hands.

I'm participating in my first booster BBQ clean-up this weekend.

[Taskmaster]

News/Politics - Cars - Videogames and movies, Football (minor)

[m3ray]

I have become very into detailing cars. Wet sanding, compounding, polishing, waxing. I started out slowly, but have gotten very good at it over the last year. Especially paint correction. I find it relaxing and satisfying to see the end result.

I drum clients and cars through barter deals. Or I'll take a modest amount of money for my services.

[2011CrazE89]

I’m very involved in my sons Marching Band. For the first time in their High Schools history they qualified to perform for the State competition at the Tampa Dome next month. My weekends are consumed with traveling with 48 kids, loading/unloading trucks, and moving props from High School to High School. But not too many High School kids VOLUNTEER to practice 12 hour days on weekends. They’re all a great bunch of kids and I’m proud to be part of it.

[DemolitionJim]

hockey

car stuff

the gym/training

shoes

videogames

buying random shit if that can be considered a hobby

[ddk632]

Photography has been a long time hobby of mine. I also skydive, used to SCUBA but it's been a while, and ride motorcycles (when I have one to ride!), and used to ski a lot but after moving to Florida I've only gone once, sadly. Also playing pool is awesome.

I also generally incorporate photography into my other hobbies. I've taken my camera skiing, skydiving, scuba diving, and on the motorcycle. It's a great hobby.

I've never had a hobby that makes money. They all just cost a bunch of money. So can't help you there. Playing pool is probably my least expensive hobby!

If your knees are telling you "it's time to move on" and you have free time, why not get in better shape and hit the slopes again skiing? You're not old man!

[spencers]

hiking, biking, running, gym time

[Whostheboss]

Drawing, programming, gym and Women.

[Revartr]

Is drinking a hobby?

[Lups]

Knitting, cars, fucking up my day by not learning the needed words in English to get the parts I want, I would roller skate if my ankle would finally heal again, I have an annoying dog that keeps me busy, I read a book per day, I cook awesome meals (I know, modesty rocks), I run around saving the world and I play the stock market.

[M_Six]

Photography. It'll take care of any loose cash you have lying around. You won't ever have to worry about how to spend discretionary income, so there's that upside. And you might even get good at it, like David above. Then maybe you can make a little money off it.

[954Stealth]

motorsports, sailing, travel, reading, photography, exercise, parkour, SCUBA diving and I'm working on upgrading my pilot license.

[ShopVac]

Reef Keeping can take up all the free time you'd ever have. Fish and coral.

[roastbeef]

offroading.

[m3ray]

Motorboating too..

You do the motorboat, you old sailor you..

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by ddk632

Photography has been a long time hobby of mine. I also skydive, used to SCUBA but it's been a while, and ride motorcycles (when I have one to ride!), and used to ski a lot but after moving to Florida I've only gone once, sadly. Also playing pool is awesome.

I also generally incorporate photography into my other hobbies. I've taken my camera skiing, skydiving, scuba diving, and on the motorcycle. It's a great hobby.

Originally Posted by M_Six

Photography. It'll take care of any loose cash you have lying around. You won't ever have to worry about how to spend discretionary income, so there's that upside. And you might even get good at it, like David above. Then maybe you can make a little money off it.

All of this ^^

Photography will also work well with travel. Post processing can take up down time in hotel rooms too.

[BEMR]

Get into gambling you'll never look back.

[leJUNd]

flying seems fun

[NEFARIOUS]

Aside from obsessing over my car, I need new hobbies (and the finances thereof to carry it out)... I bought an xi thinking I'm going to be able to go snowboarding and stuff ... But the only thing that kills time lately is hanging out with friends and playing video games (COD, SC), and taking out my GF to dinner (if I had one now).

[ddk632]

Yeah flying interests me as well. I want to get my pilot and instrument license, and also learn how to fly a helicopter, within the next 7 years. Got a few other hobbies to handle before I seriously hit the flying, though. Hence the long timeline.

[Mr Tonka]

RC flying is pretty fun as a hobby. In order to not crash all the time, it takes 100% of your attention when you're flying. Because of this, when you get done doing it for an hour or so, it's really refreshing because you haven't though about all the other crap going on in your life.

With the recent offerings of multi-rotor air craft, you can pair up your photo & videography hobbies with the RC flying for some awesome arial images and videos.