Actual non-fishing hobbies:
- Snowboarding: Been at it for 30 years or so now. There were some lean seasons in there when the kids were little. But now that they are old enough to join me, it's give a whole new life to a part of my universe I had thought might fade a bit.
- Rock climbing: I climbed a lot in my teen and college years. But then with the changes of life, I put my shoes on the shelf and hadn't done it for 15 years or so. Got back into it a few years back joining the local climbing gym. I'm nothing amazing, but it's a great indoor low impact way to spend the cold rainy months doing something physically active.
- Yoyoing: Yeah, I get it, it's a weird hobby. But my old man taught me when I was a kid and I just kind of stuck with it. Made a lot of friends, helped a buddy run the world championships for a few years, and at the very least, keeps me occupied when I'm bored and standing in line somewhere.
- Knitting: Now, I'm not much of a knitter, just hats and scarves, and it's strictly a "stuck inside" winter activity for me. But it's a pretty nice way to occupy your hands and it's fun to be able to give people little hats for their newborns or what have you. GREAT way to pass time if you are traveling. Fun fact, I learned to knit because I was annoyed as a Resident Advisor that people could knit in our boring staff meetings, but I couldn't read or yoyo.
Stuff I end up doing just as part of being a husband/father/adult:
- Cooking: My mother and grandmother made sure I grew up knowing how to cook at least well enough to follow recipes. And I can, I just haven't ever gotten a lot of joy out of it. I like the results (feeding friends, impressing the woman who ended up as my wife), but less so the process. That said, recently been learning to use a wok and getting better at the BBQ.
- Construction: I'm no woodworker, but I do a lot of stuff around the house. Next adventure is making some sort of budget deck/patio (out of pallets perhaps?) and after that build a garden shed.
Stuff I'd like to do someday (or get back into):
- Playing music: I've still got my old drumset around and I strum my ukuleles and guitars from time to time. But I sometimes think I'd enjoy getting more serious about it again someday.
- Scuba diving: Always thought it seemed like a cool hobby.
- Boating: My dad had his captains license and I have fond memories of being in the san juans with him on his little C Dory. If I ever had the cash in my pocket, I'd think it was a cool thing to learn and do.