What do you like to do?

[NDallasRuss]

When you're not saving all your money for retirement, what kinds of things do you like to go out and do?

I'll tell you mine: I really like performing arts. I don't have the talent to do any of it myself, but I really appreciate the art, and the artists' abilities. So, see what I consider to be a LOT of performances. In a 12-month period, I'll have seen:
2 National Symphony Orchestra performances (at the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap, which is an outdoor performing arts center/national park here in Northern Virginia)
5 opera performances (4 at the Kennedy Center, 1 at the Met Opera)
8 musicals (5 in DC, 3 on Broadway)

Beyond that, I live in an area near the mountains where there are a lot of wineries and breweries right around us. So, when it's nice, I like to go out to a winery and sit outside drinking wine and staring off at the hills/mountains. You can bring your own food, games, dog, etc. and hang out there for the day. These are a couple of the ones we go to:

Other than that, we live within about 45 minutes of Shenandoah National Park, and maybe about 20 minutes from Harper's Ferry, so we like to go out hiking. While I haven't hiked the full Appalachian Trail, I have hiked along a few different little pieces of it.

Anyway, that's mine. I don't really hunt, and there's not many places to fish around here, so that's what I do. Anyone else?

 

[LesClaypool]

I drink good beer.
I grill out as much as possible.
I never miss an Arsenal match.
I (informally) lead our local Arsenal supporters group here in Tallahassee.
I play in a local band in town and in the worship band at church.
I see concerts as often as I can, usually within 4 hours of home.
And I travel as much as humanly possible.

Not sure if I answered that in the spirit of how you intended, but that's what I do.

 

[ggmike1992]

Touring on my motorcycle, which is what I am currently doing. Spent the last two days (cold days) riding from Tallahassee to West Virginia to attend a get together with the Missus. Was on the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday. There’s just something about being alone and away from civilization. I’ll take my thermos of coffee and stop at various scenic overlooks.

 

[NDallasRuss]

Not sure if I answered that in the spirit of how you intended, but that's what I do.

I think that's exactly the spirit I intended. Everyone likes doing things, and not everyone likes doing the same things. I just figured that rather than talking about stuff we don't like, it'd be good to have the chance to talk about the stuff we do like.

What instrument to you play in the band? Bass guitar?

 

[NDallasRuss]

Touring on my motorcycle, which is what I am currently doing. Spent the last two days (cold days) riding from Tallahassee to West Virginia to attend a get together with the Missus. Was on the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday. There’s just something about being alone and away from civilization. I’ll take my thermos of coffee and stop at various scenic overlooks.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is really nice. It's pretty much the only place on Earth where I don't feel like I need to speed and get places quicker: just roll down the windows and look around.

I like the thought of riding a motorcycle, but could never do it in reality.
a) I know how I drive, and I'd die
b) I know how little attention other drivers pay to what they're doing, and I'd die

 

[RunRonnieRun]

I see as much live music as I can (significantly less than I'd like to with two young kids, but still quite a bit)
I play golf (hopefully more if my four year old continues to enjoy it)
Travel -- also limited, to an extent, by kids but we try to take them fun and interesting places. Intend to do much more of that as they get older and easier to travel with
Read 15-20 books a year

 

[LesClaypool]

I think that's exactly the spirit I intended. Everyone likes doing things, and not everyone likes doing the same things. I just figured that rather than talking about stuff we don't like, it'd be good to have the chance to talk about the stuff we do like.

What instrument to you play in the band? Bass guitar?

Yep - bass guitar. I play a little (very little) bit of classical guitar for fun on my own as well.

 

[NDallasRuss]

I see as much live music as I can (significantly less than I'd like to with two young kids, but still quite a bit)
I play golf (hopefully more if my four year old continues to enjoy it)
Travel -- also limited, to an extent, by kids but we try to take them fun and interesting places. Intend to do much more of that as they get older and easier to travel with
Read 15-20 books a year

As your kids get older, you'll see that it makes those other things that much more fun.

The daughter's 14yo now. She's gotten to where I can take her with me to the things I like to see/do. I've taken her to see Dead Milkmen, Prophets of Rage, and Green Day: she had a blast! I also got to take her on her first international trip this last Spring Break: to London and Paris - she loved it, and she's at an age where she's fun to do those kinds of things with, and she'll remember having been there and seen all those sights (Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey, Eiffel Tower, Mona Lisa, etc).

 

[NDallasRuss]

Yep - bass guitar. I play a little (very little) bit of classical guitar for fun on my own as well.

The daughter likes the thought of learning to play bass guitar - just not in a "supporting" role, so she's seen a lot of Les Claypool videos.

 

[ggmike1992]

The Blue Ridge Parkway is really nice. It's pretty much the only place on Earth where I don't feel like I need to speed and get places quicker: just roll down the windows and look around.

I like the thought of riding a motorcycle, but could never do it in reality.
a) I know how I drive, and I'd die
b) I know how little attention other drivers pay to what they're doing, and I'd die

I completely get this. I’ve been riding on and off for nearly 30 years and consider myself lucky that I’ve only been hit once. I was just sitting at a red light when the numbnuts behind me decided she would run into me. You hear the tires lock up, look around, then catch them in your rearview mirror coming right at you. In the end it was just minor accident with major pucker factor.

 

[LesClaypool]

The daughter likes the thought of learning to play bass guitar - just not in a "supporting" role, so she's seen a lot of Les Claypool videos.

That's AWESOME!

Out of the slim chance you're not already aware of him, you should absolutely introduce her to Victor Wooten too. Here's one of his most famous performances. (There are a million great ones on YouTube though.) I can't think of any better bassist to emulate or look up to.

He's basically the musical equivalent of Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice, and Babe Ruth rolled into one musician...A genuine freak of nature, if ever there was one.

 

[DFSNOLE]

My kids are out of the house now making how I spend free time different than when they were here. Many folks told us we would hate being empty nesters. Those folks were wrong.
I'm not as active as I used to be, mainly due to an arthritic back. So now I piddle around the house and yard. Do smaller projects or spread out the larger ones over time. Over the summer, I repainted, removed the carpeting and installed new wood flooring in our living room, dining room and bedroom. What would've taken me one long weekend, stretched to three but I got it done.
The wife and I have a date night a few times a month involving a dinner and movie. We also plan extended weekend trips several times a year.
Life has slowed down but that's okay.

 

[Nole Lou]

Watch FSU football and basketball, and boxing
Watch movies, at home and in the theater
Gill out, and to a lesser extent, other cooking inside
Fool around with home theater electronics/networking...I am into chasing picture (and to a lesser extent sound) quality on a budget
Go to a bar, listen to a good cover band, and drink
Get an ice cream and walk around outside looking at stuff...farmers markets, festivals, fairs, etc.
See live comedy, improv and musicals
Travel to see cities or natural wonders
Driving to places I've never been...I like road trips

Other than wanting to do a little more traveling, my interests are not that expensive thankfully. I really don't have an interest in cars or collecting guns or anything like that (don't collect anything really), and I don't golf. Not all that into big concerts. No interest in expensive restaurants.

Probably my ideal lifestyle if I could pick how would be to live in L.A. and spend my evenings taking in the local comedy scene every night. That's never going to happen. I could see someday going out there for a week every year or every other year for a binge though.

The thing I've always liked the most, and still do when it happens, is hanging out with my wife and kids making jokes. But one is in college, another leaves in the spring, and I'm down to a few years left with my youngest. So I've actually had to think a lot about where to take enjoyment going forward.

 

[RunRonnieRun]

As your kids get older, you'll see that it makes those other things that much more fun.

The daughter's 14yo now. She's gotten to where I can take her with me to the things I like to see/do. I've taken her to see Dead Milkmen, Prophets of Rage, and Green Day: she had a blast! I also got to take her on her first international trip this last Spring Break: to London and Paris - she loved it, and she's at an age where she's fun to do those kinds of things with, and she'll remember having been there and seen all those sights (Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey, Eiffel Tower, Mona Lisa, etc).

Absolutely. My son is four, and I'm ready to start taking him to see some of the bands that I love. The thought that he has already missed so many of them makes me sad, and I want to do what I can to ensure that he gets to see some of them before they all retire or die.

 

[seminoledq]

I like to travel for experiences, with and without the kids. We take quick trips more than we buy gifts so the kids can experience different places. Neither my wife or I did that as children.
I like to gamble, sports and going to Vegas. Otherwise though I am very cheap so that's a constant battle between the ears.
I like to stay home on Saturdays and watch as much football as possible while grilling or prepping a new meal. Something that takes hours to cook/prep is quality time with mama.
We like to go to breweries, locally and when traveling. Try to sip on some good beers when doing the above cooking.
We like to look at houses online for the upcoming move to FL.
When it's snowing we like to binge watch beach shows on HGTV.

 

[NDallasRuss]

I like to gamble, sports and going to Vegas. Otherwise though I am very cheap so that's a constant battle between the ears.

I have a similar problem. I REALLY like gambling, but I REALLY dislike losing money at gambling. So, I rarely go, and when I do I rarely bet a lot. We've got a casino in Charlestown, WV, which is <30 minutes from me, and I've never been. I've been to the horse track side of the facility, and walked through the casino, but I've never gone for the casino gambling. The last time I went to LV we were there for a few days and I gambled some, but only at places like Harrah's where the minimum bets were lower. It just seems like I enjoy it when it's for less money. When I play the "higher" limits - like $25 minimum blackjack, it starts to get more stressful for me, and I enjoy being there less. I do like the "sit n go" poker tournaments where I can get in for a hundred bucks or whatever and play poker (based on how I do) for a couple of hours.

 

[funksouljon]

I have little kids and with my wife's work, I am the 90% provider from Nov to March. I love spending tie with my kids and showing the world and teaching them. Spend a lot of time at the zoo talking about animals (which conflicts with a growing moral issue about zoos etc). Playing little kid games and reading books. But I miss time by myself in the boring phase of kids who need full support still.

Travel - used to travel a lot, now my anchors slow that down some.
Camping - love to unplug and go to the forest. Not campgrounds but the National and State forests where no one else is around. Also enjoy fishing and am getting into hunting again.
Building/projects/home renovation - full re-landscaping including a huge amount of terracing, renovated our kitchen, 2 of the 3 bathrooms are next
Reading - I miss having more time for this
Education - I enjoy learning, working on my MBA for fun and hope to be able to audit some courses next year at the local college
Golf
Watching college football - will spend all day sat if I could
Softball - my wife and i play a fair amount of coed, 2+ nights a week during season
Motorcycles, haven't ridden on the street in a while, but hoping to rebuild my bike this winter and get on 2 in 2018. I also miss racing but with kids I likely won't race for a while if ever, but miss track days. If the govt knew it was better than heroin, they would make it illegal.
Snowboarding - we moved out here and I fell in love with it. Havent done it in a couple years becuase I have the kids, so hoping I can get them out on the snow some this winter. This is my #1 past time for sure, I would give up FSU football for motorcycles if I had to.

 

[GoNolesTX]

I like the idea here, Russ.

Softball - used to play 3 nights a week, got toned down to 1 though, men's league... coed had gotten to the point of couples bickering at each other
Soccer - now that I've gotten down to a "good" weight for me, I'll be getting in to indoor soccer at least one night a week during the winter
Baseball - probably my favorite at the moment, I have been helping coach a buddy's 11u baseball team out here which has splintered off in to providing individual lessons on the side for a few of the kids... I get to teach and I get to work with kids, total win-win
Learning - I love a good documentary, especially with all the American and world history that we missed out on in school... so much to learn about the world and how certain patterns cycle
Cooking - been tinkering with the indoor smoker and learning that the slow cooker can be used for so much more than just stew or chili or large meats

 

[EveryoneBleedsGarnet]

Is OP implying that there is more to life than cocaine and loose women?

 

[GoNolesTX]

Is OP implying that there is more to life than cocaine and loose women?

Got you.

 

[BelemNole]

I read. A lot.
I ski in the winter. Not as much as I'd like to. Neither of the kids or the wife ski with me so it's tough to go as much as I could.
I used to fish a ton, then I had kids. So far this year I've gone on one trip (it was a good one though). Part of that was the wife breaking her leg. Combine that with the kids sports and I just couldn't get away as easily as years past.
I watch my kids play sports and score their games. Apparently a lot of grandparents are following my gamechanger account - I get complaints when I miss a game. Grumpy old bastards.
I fiddle around with my smoker.
I used to spend a lot of time with my R/C gliders but don't anymore. Not sure why. Think about breaking them out every time I see a red-tail on a thermal.

 

[NDallasRuss]

Softball - my wife and i play a fair amount of coed, 2+ nights a week during season.

I miss softball a lot. When I still lived in Dallas I was in 3 softball leagues at a time. Now, they don't really seem to play softball in Northern Virginia, so I haven't played in forever.

 

[NDallasRuss]

Soccer - now that I've gotten down to a "good" weight for me, I'll be getting in to indoor soccer at least one night a week during the winter.

I used to play rec league indoor soccer at the Inwood Soccer Center back in Dallas. That place was a lot of fun, and they had a bar upstairs overlooking the fields, so you could hang around and drink after your game.

I played one season in a coed >35yo league up here. It was fun, but I was apparently the only person that didn't play college soccer (which was the same as the indoor team I played for in Dallas). I played keeper, but I was replaced for the second season by a guy who played keeper for The U of WV. Oh well!

 

[NDallasRuss]

Is OP implying that there is more to life than cocaine and loose women?

Oh no - let's not go crazy! Hookers and blow should still precede and follow every activity mentioned throughout this thread. Except maybe reading: blow probably isn't conducive to then sitting and reading a book.

 

[DFSNOLE]

I miss softball a lot. When I still lived in Dallas I was in 3 softball leagues at a time. Now, they don't really seem to play softball in Northern Virginia, so I haven't played in forever.

I played a ton in the '80's pre-kids. We traveled all over the southeast occasionally venturing farther. Played in a national tournament in Detroit with the WPB police department. When they asked if I would play with them, I said that with the long hair and beard, I didn't look like a cop. They said that was okay and told everyone I was undercover.

That was on top of 2-3 leagues during the week.

 

[funksouljon]

I miss softball a lot. When I still lived in Dallas I was in 3 softball leagues at a time. Now, they don't really seem to play softball in Northern Virginia, so I haven't played in forever.

Really? Because of lack of population or just no interest in softball? That was one thing Atl had going for it, SSSSOOOOOO many leagues and teams. I played against a guy who used to pitch for Atlanta / Tampa. He was a man among boys and wasn't a jerk about it. His team was tho.

I used to play men's but the uber macho silliness of most men's leagues irritate me. And I just enjoy playing with my wife (phrasing). I find having the women around usually causes the guys to dial it back a bit. I stopped baseball at @12, it does make me wish I had stuck with it more, how much better might I be these days.

I enjoy soccer, but my knees don't. One of the reasons I am starting a PT regiment and going to get back into triathlons.

 

[NDallasRuss]

Really? Because of lack of population or just no interest in softball? That was one thing Atl had going for it, SSSSOOOOOO many leagues and teams. I played against a guy who used to pitch for Atlanta / Tampa. He was a man among boys and wasn't a jerk about it. His team was tho.

I used to play men's but the uber macho silliness of most men's leagues irritate me. And I just enjoy playing with my wife (phrasing). I find having the women around usually causes the guys to dial it back a bit. I stopped baseball at @12, it does make me wish I had stuck with it more, how much better might I be these days.

I enjoy soccer, but my knees don't. One of the reasons I am starting a PT regiment and going to get back into triathlons.

You know, I don't know why it's not more popular. I don't see a whole lot of adult rec sports other than soccer. Youth sports are HUGE, but just not that many organized adult rec leagues. Unless I've just been looking in the wrong place. I work with a guy who's on a softball team, but he has to go into DC for the games, which would be really unreasonable for me.

In Texas there were huge softball complexes and multiple different levels of competition. In Wichita Falls, where I went to college, there were huge competitions with essentially "professional" softball teams that had sponsors like Bud Light, The USAF, etc. These guys would get up there and intentionally go single, single, single, HR, repeat... for the whole game. I loved it - even if the "good" bats were >$300.

 

[Random_John]

I play with my kid, I smoke cigars, and I like to spend what little time my wife and I have together just hanging out.

 

[funksouljon]

You know, I don't know why it's not more popular. I don't see a whole lot of adult rec sports other than soccer. Youth sports are HUGE, but just not that many organized adult rec leagues. Unless I've just been looking in the wrong place. I work with a guy who's on a softball team, but he has to go into DC for the games, which would be really unreasonable for me.

In Texas there were huge softball complexes and multiple different levels of competition. In Wichita Falls, where I went to college, there were huge competitions with essentially "professional" softball teams that had sponsors like Bud Light, The USAF, etc. These guys would get up there and intentionally go single, single, single, HR, repeat... for the whole game. I loved it - even if the "good" bats were >$300.

Everything is bigger in Texas.... We have a fair amount here in Colorado Springs but we don't have winter ball. Instead they have indoors leagues, but I haven't looked at that. They built a new tourney level complex with 6 fields, turf, etc, etc. I like it but makes the ball hop and when you play grass then turf it can surprise you.

I too enjoy watching semipro tourney teams, especially when the women are studs. But hate it when they drop levels to sandbag and play against legit rec teams.

 

[GoNolesTX]

I play with my kid, I smoke cigars, and I like to spend what little time my wife and I have together just hanging out.

Desi's 2nd screen name?

 

[GoNolesTX]

@NDallasRuss Check this softball complex out in Mansfield - mansfield.bigleaguedreams.com. Super fun to play at. The turf takes some of the fun out of it - I'm a purist. I've played all over the metroplex and there definitely the jerk "this is my LIFE" squads, but for the most part, everyone is out for fun and comradery.

The soccer thing, I played at Inwood back in high school (pick up games mostly). Played at Blue Sky in TC until I started seeing buddies totally tear their ACLs on the crap turf. Spectrum was fun in Richardson, but Frisco has a couple facilities that are quality and don't have the teams thinking that they're playing in Liga MX. I love playing defense until folks realize I'm a good 'keeper. Then I get stuck between the pipes with the mitts on.

How the hell did our paths not cross with Tex in the late 90s?

 

[DFSNOLE]

I too enjoy watching semipro tourney teams, especially when the women are studs. But hate it when they drop levels to sandbag and play against legit rec teams.

I didn't play on a semi pro type team but we were all registered with the ASA and USSSA at the level we played. In a sanctioned league, a team could only have a certain number of players registered above the league ranking. By the end, our team and all of the players were nationally registered as "A" players meaning there were few local leagues we could play in as a team

 

[EconSean]

Our son is 8 years old and about 18 months ago he really got hooked on fishing (no pun intended). Growing up in central Florida, I fished nearly every day during the summer, and as much as I could during the school year. Living in Philadelphia and then Pittsburgh, I hadn’t really thought much about fishing. What a mistake that was (at least in Pittsburgh). We fish a ton, so much so that we bought a boat earlier in the year. He loves going out, lake, river, puddle, whatever, as do I, but I really just like us hanging out, enjoying nature together.

He’s just started playing hockey and I’m looking forward to going to open ice sessions around here and skating with him.

Because of our careers, my wife and I don’t get to do as much together as we’d like (or, probably, should). We traveled extensively before Jake was born, all over Europe, and were about ready to try it with him.

I love cooking with my Big Green Egg. My fondness for beer seems to be waning the older I get, and the same with cigars. I have always loved reading, and try to do as much as I can, which mainly means at wrestling and hockey practices.

Damn, when I put it like that, my life seems to revolve around my child!

 

[SeaPA]

I enjoy scuba diving greatly; for a number of years, our vacations were almost always dive trips to Roatan, Honduras. After the boys were born, we stopped going because it was too hard a trip with them. Last summer, they became old enough to get junior certifications & we took them down to Roatan for their first dive trip. They loved it, and I loved the excitement on their faces as they'd spot different things.
I love to play golf, though I don't play all that much any more.
In general, my wife & I are pretty frugal - but we've always splurged when it comes to vacations. We both enjoy travelling very much, and have similar thoughts when doing so. For example, when we've gone on ski trips with groups (sometimes family, sometimes friends), of them want to pack sandwiches to bring to the mountain, and cook dinner. Screw that. Part of the fun of a ski trip, imo, is having lunch in one of the on-mountain bar/restaurants, and eating dinner at a decent restaurant. I'm on vacation, I don't want to cook or wash dishes. You're already spending a fortune on the trip, adding another $25 for lunch isn't changing that.

 

[funksouljon]

Damn, when I put it like that, my life seems to revolve around my child!

Not a bad thing right? But it does make you realize, most parents are boring not because of who they are but because they are parents. All the fun cool stuff I used to do.....

 

[NDallasRuss]

I enjoy scuba diving greatly; for a number of years, our vacations were almost always dive trips to Roatan, Honduras. After the boys were born, we stopped going because it was too hard a trip with them. Last summer, they became old enough to get junior certifications & we took them down to Roatan for their first dive trip. They loved it, and I loved the excitement on their faces as they'd spot different things.

I really wish I'd have gotten into scuba diving. I have family who have been really into it and taken trips all over the Caribbean to dive. I tried it once in a public pool trial they had when I was younger. I liked it a lot, but without my parents being into it, it was difficult for me to be able to take it up. Maybe I'll see if I can get the kid interested...

 

[squiffynole]

A lot in common here.

I played at least 15 years in the local softball leagues, I love to boat and fish and relax by gardening.

Now I'm old and broken down so I obsess on FSU sports.

And I have a new hobby, late at night I bring up Google Earth and explore street views all over the world.

 

[62Nole]

I spend a lot of time at Total Wine. Try to keep the Gentleman Jack stock from aging too much.
Bad habit of going overboard on things that interest me. Have @ 60 Japanese Maples around our place.
Grandchildren are 13, 10, 8 and 7. I used to adore them. Now they are too smart for me so we are estranged.
That means I won't be leaving them my Glocks, Colts or S&W's.

 

[NDallasRuss]

That means I won't be leaving them my Glocks, Colts or S&W's.

I'll be your grandson: I'll send you cards, call as often as you like...

 

[NoleLizards]

...I bring up Google Earth and explore street views all over the world.

I like doing that too! Have always been a map geek.