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I've always managed to find hobbies that never really cost me much after an initial investment. Hobbies that once established were very easy on the budget.
For many years it was landscaping. And it was also years of wood working. All that kind of ended when I moved into an apartment.
Last year, I took a course at the local community college to learn how to play a Native American Flute.
It was the best investment in personal health that I have done in a long time. The sounds that come out of it are amazingly spiritual. I got "Amazing Grace" down pretty well.
The thing I'm truly finding fun with is just playing. Making a tune as I go.
Last year, I sat under an oak tree in a park and played it for the birds. They didn't seem to interested in it but I did have two rabbits... who played and came pretty close to me as I played for them.
This past week, every morning before going to work, I have a Wren perched on my living room window chirping at me. I started playing the flute and together we sing to each other. That little bird, just hops back and forth on the ledge looking in the window enjoying the music.
There are some wonderful hobbies that can be done with very little money and can bring years of joy... thus paying for itself over and over again...
For many years it was landscaping. And it was also years of wood working. All that kind of ended when I moved into an apartment.
Last year, I took a course at the local community college to learn how to play a Native American Flute.
It was the best investment in personal health that I have done in a long time. The sounds that come out of it are amazingly spiritual. I got "Amazing Grace" down pretty well.
The thing I'm truly finding fun with is just playing. Making a tune as I go.
Last year, I sat under an oak tree in a park and played it for the birds. They didn't seem to interested in it but I did have two rabbits... who played and came pretty close to me as I played for them.
This past week, every morning before going to work, I have a Wren perched on my living room window chirping at me. I started playing the flute and together we sing to each other. That little bird, just hops back and forth on the ledge looking in the window enjoying the music.
There are some wonderful hobbies that can be done with very little money and can bring years of joy... thus paying for itself over and over again...
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I invited Bill to have dinner with me last Sunday. He wasn't willing to drive 7 hours to mid Michigan and teased me with his beautiful ribs!!! So, of course I ate alone and had cedar salmon
Thank you for sharing on hobbies.
One of my hobbies/past times used to be sewing. I sewed a lot of my clothes. It can be a bit costly, as the price of fabric is anywhere from $3.50 to $20.00 a yard and 2 to 3 yards are needed per item. It is still less costly than buying the item. The added advantage is the creative enjoyment and satisfaction I get from my sewing. In the past I was very creative and it would be interesting to sell my unique clothing in various venues.
It can require some cost but I need clothes anyway.
So, I have been working on resurrecting my hobby. I am curious to see where I am with it in a month or two.
Being a Bloke, of course, I'm not as manic about it as Women and would leave things to be done later. I can ill-afford Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to go with the rest of my deficiencies.
I gave music up at five. I learned piano way back then but was being forced to practice as I had lessons... It took away from play time w friends so I quit lessons. One mistake I regret today as I love to listen to music but cannot play it myself.
Doing chores isnt hobby in my opinion its things that we must do to live our lives. Dishes, laundry, cooking, cleaning, yard chores are things I have responsibilty to do or they dont get done. I hate dusting! It goes so bad caked on dust accumulates in my home all the time. I just refuse to dust more than any other chore.
I did it to save money... shirts and pants always had some "stitches" on them.
Looking back on it, I did find some peace with a needle and thread that gave me a sense of accomplishment when I was done.
My grandfather and grandmother on Dads side were Taylor and Seamstress...my mom and both my sisters are so involved with quilting that they spend all sorts of time with it and even have a guild group that my younger sister is president of....
But I never learned how to operate a sewing machine...could not use one today if my life depended on it...but with needle and thread I am able to put button on or close up some kind of opening pretty roughly...but put a hem in pants? NO NOT ME
Really thinking of adding to it. To get a six hole flute with a bit deeper sound. Might get more then one... they really are quite relaxing.
What has helped is that my girlfriend is very musically inclined, so I'm learning what key to get to do what I'd like to do with it.
Looking at a few... one is similar to the one I have being made from cedar. The other two are made of poplar...
The more I play it, the more I want to play. Being Memorial Day, I've learned how to play "Taps" on it...
Nowadays, with tremors, making models is a bit to stressful for me... but boy did they bring me loads of peace...
I would love to make a radio controlled airplane to take out and fly but I do not know how to fly it either....but it surely looks like fun....
thanks for sharing...and mess glad your going to get some new flutes from GF....if she is musician then she knows which to buy....and it is gift I assume too making that much better too....LOL
OhmyDonna, I'm always in awe of people who sew their own clothing!
Messenger, you made me smile again thinking about you and your Bird and Bunny Audiences ;-) The new flutes are going to be such a treat for you.
Bill, Desi and Reisen - I think anything you can get into that brings a peace to your mind and doesn't require spending a lot of $$ each time you do it is a great hobby.
I've been working on cleaning up my eating for a couple years now. As a result, I'm really getting into cooking again. It's fun testing new recipes and foods or figuring out a way to make an old favorite a little more healthy.
The other two are kind of do-it-yourselfers. They can be used as they are but they are unfinished. So I got to play with wood today. I sanded them and stained one (black walnut.) And they both of them I applied tung oil to.
So in the end I'll have a cedar one, a walnut one, and a poplar one.
Sunday, I'll sand the two again very lightly and put on a second coat of tung oil... then Monday I may polyurethane them.
Really beautiful and simple instruments...