All of the support groups seem to have an ebb and flow to them. Sometimes, there are just down times where not many members are active. Other times, they're really busy and active. I know that I can't make sense of it. What gets me are the amount of members that just come, make one post, never follow up, and they're gone.

I spend majority of my free time working out, practicing bass guitar, working on my novel, watching TV and movies, or here on DS. I try to keep myself active, but sometimes my depression creeps up on me and it makes it really difficult to keep going. So, I force myself to keep going. I think that allowing myself to become inactive and to brood over things becomes a vicious cycle for me. Anyways . . .

Yeah briman, you do alright - and I admire that. I spend my free time online or reading, no wonder I'm lonely.

I have 2 mini dachshunds, that bring alot of joy, at the present time my sweet female is suffering from a back injury, and I am waiting for the blizzard to pass so the vet will open back up. She had a 50/50 chance of out going either way, I hoped and prayed it would go positive.

I know for me, my first post a few weeks ago was during a crisis, so that may be why some folks stay a short while. Once the crisis has past it's easy to slip back into old patterns, especially if they're comfortable.

I have found that having structure in my life helps me. I try to work out every morning, then work, then I have a couple of events I try to do each week, like working at a ball game or a local wine-tasting.

At home I play computer games, watch tv or netflix, work on quilts or other projects and cook. It's hard to cook when I'm alone, because there's always too much. But, I've found the other teacher's will eat up the left-overs if I bring them to school, so I've gone back to cooking some.

If I find myself getting too down, sometimes I'll go wander...either outside or even in a store somewhere, just so I don't start the downward spiral.

Yeah, I think that's it pretty much heretic....Lonely people are not always the most talkative (which could be part of why they're lonely.)

So that's a great idea to ask about the free time! Lemme see...well lately, I've been spending my free time digging out of snow piles...but that's beside the point, I guess. When I'm indoors just relaxing by myself, I'll hop onto DS and talk to you guys.(I also have a crippling addition to B&H Camera) I always find myself falling asleep if I watch TV.
Other times I'll go to the gym--I just joined a new one so I'm just getting a feel for the place. I like to spend time with my friends from work...I guess our last major group thing was a holiday party at a Mexican restaurant. But I see a number of them on a daily basis at work, so really it's now about me finding friends outside of that.
I also go to school but that's not technically "free time". It does keep me busy and off the streets though! hehe

I spend a lot of my time in bed with the tv in background and on the web some still....DS is a place I usually visit daily...

I also go to the AA meetings I enjoy...that gets me out among others...and I get to get out of house to work now which has not been going on for six months prior...so that is good too but I want to be away from work as much as I can...I do not see it as a perfect fit for me for some reason...just fear about money I think....really fearful because I am pure commission with a draw of 800 twice a month...scares the crap out of me that I have to earn my own money! which also is a positive thing too because doing well means earning monumental amounts of money....but fear rides over me always

Hi everyone.

I have been a member of DS and this group for a year or so now. This was actually the first group I joined because loneliness is one of the hardest things I have to deal with due my disability that has had me bed ridden for years. I'm on DS for hours each day and read the posts here frequently, but rarely post. I guess this is because of my sedentary lifestyle and which does not leave me with much to talk about. I would like to be more active on here again so I thought I would respond to this topic.

Since I am bed ridden I cannot do much. I spend most of my time online here and Facebook talking to people to get some sort of social interaction with other people besides my family whom I live with. I also take college classes online. Other than that, I spend my time listening to music, watching TV and movies, reading, and playing video games.

Great post Heretic :) I was feeling that way my self...
Hmmmmmm, free time. Well I've been putting in a creek bed in the back yard to cater for local flood rains and planting it out to look natural and rainforesty... the kitties love it and a blue tongue lizard has recently moved in, general gardening ... I sew sometimes, photograph, design stuff for t shirts which I hope to use soon when I get back on my feet... play nintendo, catch up on DS, restoring my old house - getting there slowly, play my guitar, drums, write stuff, sometimes if I'm really bored and down and need a change I cut my hair (never go to hairdressers) tho am trying to grow it long again at the moment, I play with my dog and cats, walk, read, watch DVDs, go hiking or to the beach, check out art galleries, meditate, yoga and exercise, during winter I tried to crotchet a Bob Marley Rasta hat, but didn't quite finish so don't know if it worked out yet or not as I made it up as I went along - hope to finish next winter, sometimes I clean stuff out - cupboards, clothes, cars... at the moment I am sanding and re varnishing the kitchen table and chairs...

I never get bored really, tho sometimes i feel I'm bored, usually if I'm doing the same ol' thing and just need a change, but am normally happy enough doing stuff by myself most of the time. I grew up that way, so its a learned way of life I guess.

What do you like to do? :)

PS: I LOVE going to music and art festivals too. But couldn't really afford to go to any this last year :(

Hmmm...noticing pattern here....Lots of stuff being done solo.
I know I need to do less stuff alone--but here's the catch: do you have to go someplace alone to meet other people so you don't have to go future places along? hehe
I mean, what gives with that, right?