June 24, 2008
Do You Have a Hobby?
Written by Margo Maguire in Jaunty PostI don’t and wish I did. I love to read in my spare time, but is that really a hobby? When I think of hobbies, things like quilting and knitting come to mind … and painting watercolors, making pottery, that kind of thing. I exercise every day, but I don’t think of it as a hobby. I put a meal on the table every night, but I don’t think of that kind of cooking as a hobby, either, although I could probably get into cooking as a pastime.
I have a friend who makes jewelry, another who collects artwork, and yet a third who’s into gardening in a big way. Her yard always looks fabulous.
But I’m not that interested. I want a relatively maintenance-free yard, one that’s pretty and inviting — a place where I can sit down and read. 
I was never much of a collector, although I collected coins for awhile (I still have those coins somewhere, too!) but I’m not really that into that any more. Not that it was ever a really big interest for me.
In fact, I’d rather not collect anything else. I’ve got so much stuff around here … things I’ve collected for my three kids over the years. It occurs to me that I should probably buy three big storage boxes and put all their school and sports memorabilia in them and let them take it away, just like my mom did with all of my treasures. Isn’t it amazing how much you can accumulate over the years?
I guess I could feel like an uninteresting slug, but here are my excuses.
I’ve been busy raising three kids, and even though I’ve got two just out of college, my third has one year to go. My two sons are home for the summer, which means grocery shopping, cooking, regularly-scheduled clutter-reduction efforts.
I did a lot of volunteering in my community, and I’m burned out. Need some time off before jumping in again.
I work full time.
I’m taking care of an elderly aunt who has no immediate family of her own.
I AM an uninteresting slug!
I want to know what your hobbies are? What are the things you like to do in your spare time?
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Margay Says:
Sleep! Seriously, when I have spare time (which is rare these days), I like to read - of course - and knit, although I don’t knit as much in the summer. But in the winter, watch out!
Christi Says:
Hi Margo,
And I also have a haunted halloween village. LOVE collecting the stuff. Of course it does take a large family room and lots of storage, LOL! It is a lot of work to set them up but I love that part because I make it different each year. the great thing is you can collect slowly over the years - then get it out, enjoy it for a while and then put it back away. No dusting it like some things you collect! 
Seems like it’s been forever since I’ve seen you! I have a couple of hobbies. Gardening both vegtables and flowers. Some crafts. But my favorite is collecting villages. I started my Christmas village while pregnant with my oldest, 24 years ago. It’s now 25 feet long and two layers deep.
Margo Maguire Says:
Sleep! Oh yes, I can relate to that, Margay! Especially when my kids were small. Seemed like we never could get enough sleep.
Yeah, Christi - I keep meaning to stop over, and then somehow the time slips away. This week, for sure!
RobynDeHart Says:
I loathe gardening. I tried to plant things when we bought this house, some have survived, but through a will of their own because I stopped watering and paying any attention years ago. I love pretty yards, but it’s just not something I enjoy.
I watch the Food network for new recipes and technique ideas and I’d love to say I’m a gourmet, but I’m not. I like quick and easy and some days I don’t want to cook at all.
I was a big collector as a kid, but I don’t have many collections any more and none really that are active.
I have one hobby that I absolutely love, but I haven’t done it in forever. Just haven’t figured out how to make the time for it when I have books due or house work to do or a free moment with The Professor. But someday I’ll get back to scrapbooking and get our wedding album done.
Shana Says:
I don’t have a hobby, and I think it’s because I’m too much of a Type A personality. I want to check things off a list. I want to be done with things. So if I had a hobby, say scrapbooking, I’d just be rushing to get the scrapbook finished. That’s not really the way I think most people approach hobbies. I do enjoy doing a lot of things. I just like to finish them and move on.
Margo Maguire Says:
Perfect, Shana! That’s me, too. I have projects to do … and when they’re done, well … they’re done!
Emily McKay Says:
I have tried my hands at many hobbies over the years. The only one that’s stuck around is cooking. I do like to cook and bake.
Other things I’ve tried: sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, furniture restoring and gardening. Most of these hobbies have just resulted in me buying a lot of stuff, fiddling with it for a while and then giving up. But keeping the stuff indefinitely.
Minna Says:
I have started to knit and crochet again. And hey, I know a couple of people who make jewelry, too! The other day I traded some plastic beads I had (and which were totally useless for me) for yarn with these beaders. Pity the yarn was a bit too thin for the afghan I’m making, but I’ll make some gloves instead. Maybe I’ll be able to trade them for some more yarn… Or for something else.
I also make scrapbooks and I like to bake.
Fedora Says:
Ooh, Emily, I do that, too! (I’m not so good at cooking, but baking is fun.) And I’ve got stacks of sewing, knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, and other crafty stuff… The collections of stuff drive my poor husband bonkers. But the one hobby that’s stuck is books–and we’ve got tons of those, too!
Shirley Karr Says:
Free time… hmm, trying to remember what that is.
A few years ago I got involved in making jewelry to the extent I’d set up a booth and sell my wares at various craft fairs and farmers markets. But then I sold my first book and there were deadlines and so many other tasks taking up my time. Add to that chronic wrist/tendon injuries and I’m limited to just making the occasional gift. I still have stock on hand — need to get around to hawking it on Craiglist or ebay or Etsy or something. When I have some time.
Amy Addison Says:
I want a relatively maintenance-free yard, one that’s pretty and inviting — a place where I can sit down and read.
Ditto.
And ditto on getting into cooking as a hobby. Because what I really need is a reason to eat more.
Not so much with the hobbies here. But that’s okay. The non-hobby stuff keeps me hoppin’
Buffie Says:
Hobby? Of course I have a hobby!! Actually I have two main hobbies. One is very easy to guess — reading romance novels.
The other is scrapbooking. I totally love sitting down with my pictures and paper and stickers and markers and all the other stuff. I receive so much joy from seeing a wonderful page complete with memories. It is also a great way from my mother-in-law and I to connect and have some “gal pal” time.
Jane Says:
I’m trying to get into scrapbooking. I love going to JoAnn’s and looking at all the pretty paper and stickers. Hope to learn how to knit one day.