Hobby Time?

[per_solo]

Ok...so, the lack of job thing is starting to get to me...ya know, when I was 21, this would have seemed to be the greatest of all blessings...of course, I was still living at home then.

I'm starting to snap at people, be somewhat more agressive...easily irritable...all of which sounds like just normal "Not feeling well" things, but when I analyze (or overanalyze, you decide), the lack of job is driving me nuts.

Time off is good...and, I keep trapping myself...I'll look at my Apartment and go "Oh, I should clean up some...", but then I decide I should REALLY be spending that time checking mail...examining Careerbuilder, or Monster..in case a job came up that I managed to miss.

The comment made by the closest of friends is that at this point, I need a hobby.

Hobby used to be collecting Comics, collecting movies, shit like that. More recently, it's been closer to "Video Editing", but there have to be shows on that I give a damn about in order to get that, and Limited Basic Cable just doesn't have it..hell, I was actually looking forward to recording the old "X-Men" cartoon, and the day after I recorded an episode, Fox Family no longer ran it, and it's now on Toon Disney. :-P

Something about luck, I'm guessing.

So, suggestions or recommendations for cheap hobbies? I could read many of the books I own that I've never gotten around to...or, I could clean the apt., then start going through a mass purge of pitching crap that's been in totes since 2 moves ago.

I'm debating whether I should take a nap...

I understand those of you working folk have a hard time seeing it, but dear god, the loss of the day to day is maddening..

Comments

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

I think the loss of the day to day is only maddening when you feel that having the extra time is somehow WRONG, and you feel bad about it. That's what a job hunt is like :-p.

Heck, when I left my old job and had a month between that and starting my new job, that was *heaven* b/c I didn't feel bad about having the time, and I knew I'd be making money again.

So, in part you should accept that you have a job -- your job is looking for a job. However, I'll say from experience that looking for a job is not a full-time job. I say you really can only expect to spend 10 hrs/week at it, maybe 20 on days when things are really hopping. So you need to be able to fill the rest of the time without feeling about about having it.

Honestly? I'd look for a hobby that gets you away from the computer, or at least away from the apartment. The only stuff I can think of right now is either fitness or some kind of volunteering, but I don't know if either would work for you. You can also get some self-study guides on stuff that you think might help your resume. And what about writing? You've had several comic/screenplay ideas. Perhaps you should set yourself some time each day to work on those.

[per_solo]

:-) I'd have to agree, that is likely what is maddening...not used to it. Back when I wasn't working, or wasn't working regular 8-5 M-F, it felt fine to have so much time.

*nod* If I'd had time between the previous and the new, that would likely make me feel better.

*nod* I think I've been trying ot cram to much time and worry into..not sure that fixes it, but I do know it is happening.

Not sure on away fromt eh Apt, as there is the whole "cost" gig, but I'm currently going through the bedroom and back closet...lots of totes, and maybe I can organize em, or figure out what I should do.

Self Study guides aren't a bad idea...I heard of a site I need to actually find that had the ability to test out for things you know..not a bad idea.

The writing ideas were ok..the problem I've found is that I have no idea on structure..I can come up with scenes or dialogues, but when I go to actually write, it comes out crap. :-) Still, not some bad ideas.

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

Well, just a thought, but you don't have to spend money to get out of the house. Hanging around at home is just what's going to help you obsess. I was thinking hiking/walking or some kind of volunteer work or whatnot.

[confusedjew.livejournal.com]

i understand. it's how i was before i got my gig at blockbuster. i started having contests on which was the best position on the couch to nap/watch buffy in. sigh...it can drive ya nuts.

[the-pixie.livejournal.com]

Give us a call and we'll lend you a GPS. :)

Oh that could be a life long hobby indeed.

[royalcrow.livejournal.com]

And you would never have to worry about being lost and can tell people EXACTLY where to go. But if I am thinking that the GPS would be used for (gawd just forgot the term) but you go around looking for "buried treasure" by the corrdinates given in newsgroups, websites - seems that Kat's friend told her about his adventures - it was most fasinating hobby, and when you find it - you log it, and place your name/time/date when you were there and hide it for the next treasure hunter to find.

That could keep you going for weeks, because there appears to be lots of stuff just in the local area.. but I am totally sure - just wanted to chime in on something that sounded kewl.

Hugs,
Tony

Re: Oh that could be a life long hobby indeed.

[the-pixie.livejournal.com]

That's *exactly* what I was referring to! :) We're probably the friends that Kat was talking about :) It's called geocaching (www.geocaching.com). Bear actually lost 15 lbs the first year we were out weekly caching...of course, we are still into it, but our lives have gotten busy and we're lucky if we get out once every month or so, so he's gained it all back. There are more than a thousand of caches in the Indianapolis area alone, so just by staying in the area, you can be kept busy for quite some time. Only down side is that if you don't want to walk them all, it may cost you some gas money...but we try to drive to where clusters are and park and walk the rest.

Ting

Re: Oh that could be a life long hobby indeed.

[per_solo]

Hmmm...I've been meaning to do that, ever since I heard of Roy getting one...and, to occupy time,I may take that up. What's the protocol...you find a site, leave something for the next person finding it?

Re: Oh that could be a life long hobby indeed.

[the-pixie.livejournal.com]

It's pretty simple. Go to geocaching.com. Find caches you want to do. Print the sheets on the caches (you can search by area, zip code, map location, etc....of course, if you're addicted like us, you just download everything into your palm so that you always have access to the info :)). Go search out the cache, when you find it, you log into the log book that you were there, and if you want to take something, then you leave something. When you're finished, you get back onto geocaching.com, search for the cache again (using it's waypoint), and then log on the site that you found the cache. Bear said he's willing to go out with you to show you how to do it if you're interested. I think he's off until Wednesday of next week, when classes start.