Ask HN: What hobbies have you picked up recently?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37846170

by keiferski • 3 years ago

19 32 3 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

My answer: I don't remember when exactly (probably during the pandemic), but I've gotten very into birdwatching. It is really "easy to start, but hard to master" and the rabbit hole is endless.

The birds near me are mostly crows, pigeons, and sparrows, but occasionally I'll see something more rare. Crows and sparrows are particularly fun to watch, as they are much smarter than I think most people realize.

lusus_naturae• 3 years ago

W.r.t birdwatching, you should get a nest cam and birdhouse, the videos of birds building nests and laying eggs are equal parts amazing and adorable.

I've taken up drumming, it's quite nice. I've also taken up going to various seminars that are interesting to me and connecting with people there, but it's not a hobby per se.

meristohm• 3 years ago

I love watching birds, and recently the robins and varied thrushes have been rooting through the yard like packs of velociraptors.

I don't keep a list or anything, I just like observing the local wildlife, which makes it a really easy hobby to maintain (and I hesitate to even call it a hobby more than just something that brings me a sense of wonder, like seeing stars at night).

This summer I quit videogames, thus making time for other activities like repairing my clothes, thinning our woodlot, planting native meadows in our yard, and reading a lot more again (as I did as a teenager before I had a computer). I also spend more time writing and talking with friends.

Another activity I quit and reversed is acquisition of shit/stuff (depending on perspective. Thank you, George Carlin); I've sold or (mostly, because it's easier) given away a significant amount of what I now see as clutter, physical as well as mental, given how much of my attention was being diverted by all these potential things I could be playing with. I count the "Kondo'ing" as a hobby because it's been going on for the last thirteen years. I'm down to a few boxes of journals, letters, art, and photos, along with similar on my computer, which will probably take another few years to finally reach a peaceful equilibrium.

Back to birds: I left a paint rinse bucket on the back porch last year and found one morning the local Pacific wren floating dead. They had been a regular visitor on the porch, and I feel sad every time I remember the harm my ignorance caused. I'm more careful about things like this now.

rockyperezz4• 3 years ago

Riding a motorcycle. One of the best things money can buy. Depending on who you ask it may not or may not be considered a hobby. But taking a ride out after work is one of the best things for the mind and soul.

As they say, you can't find a motorcycle parked outside a psychiatrist's/therapist's office.

Also with experience, a motorcycle rider becomes a part-time mechanic, a part-time weather expert and part-time criminal.

nicbou2• 3 years ago

I lost interest in riding, but I remember the last 6 years very fondly. I went everywhere with that motorcycle.

Be careful out there. Wear your gear and ear plugs. Tinnitus is forever.

rockyperezz4• 3 years ago

thanks for the heads up, nicbou! What made you lose interest in riding though, if I may ask? My father was also a rider but gave it up to save my mom from worrying when they got married.

codegeek• 3 years ago

Watch out for those left turning cars at intersections. Source: A casual Motorycycle rider.

qup2• 3 years ago

I totaled my first bike on my 2nd day riding. Source: a left-turning car who didn't see me. (Uninsured, of course)

I was fine, thankfully. I'm about to sell my last motorcycle, though. Given current tech, I believe it's time to optimize for longevity.

rockyperezz4• 3 years ago

That's true. I've been riding as if I were invisible to all the cars around me - advice from a couple of motorbike rider channels on Youtube.

Had a couple of close calls already - you tend to realize how incompetent a lot of people are in driving (and how they even passed their practical driving test in the first place...)

seanthemon• 3 years ago

As they say, you can't find a motorcycle parked outside a psychiatrist's/therapist's office.

Because they're in the junkyard with their driver on a cold slab.

giantg2• 3 years ago

"but I've gotten very into birdwatching."

Haven't you heard? Birds aren't real.

I've always been into electronics related projects. I'm currently working on setting up a FLIR lepton on a Pi Zero 2 and mini lcd screen. It's taking me forever.

cenazoic• 3 years ago

I've always been a person with various hobbies, some short-lived, others longer, but the pandemic resulted in what I refer to the trifecta of "old-man" hobbies (I'm a woman).

1 - Advanced Squad Leader. Why? I dunno. I think it started as a challenge - ASL is allegedly one of the more difficult wargames. You play defined scenarios with win/loss conditions. WWII chrome aside, I came to realize it's a great puzzle game.

2 - Scouting memorabilia. This started because I wanted to go through ALL (extinct, defunct, current) the Boy Scouts' merit badges, complete the requirements, and then hand-embroider an accompanying badge. I ended up reading way more than anyone should of early Scouting history (pre-1908/"Scouting for Boys") and associated movements. That led me to discovering the Lone Scouts of America, founded by the first president of the BSA, William D. Boyce, in 1915. They were a separate organization from the BSA until 1924, when the Boy Scouts bought the org. Anyway, I became quite charmed by the LSA - a big part of their program was 'contributing' to their national organ, Lone Scout Magazine, and various 'tribe' papers put out by individual boys. So then I decided to go through THEIR program, and started collecting their various degree pins and booklets, as well as LS Magazine and tribe papers. It's still a long-term goal to get a lot of this stuff scanned and online - there's very little out there.

3 - ham radio. What a rabbit hole this is. They call it a 'hobby of hobbies' - it's definitely led me to sub-hobbies in learning to solder, learning Morse (currently enrolled in the CWOps Academy), electronics, kit-building, 3d-printing, and dreaming of designing my own RF circuits. Note, I have no background in any of this, so it's really been a learning experience. It's really been mentally stimulating in a way I haven't felt in a long time.

ofalkaed• 3 years ago

I have just started playing with guitar building. Years ago I did repair work and wanted to build but the repair work made me hate working on instruments. I still kind of hate working on instruments but I my desire to build never left me and seems to have finally exceeded my distaste for working on instruments.

beardedmoose• 3 years ago

Airsoft and needle felting. Not at the same time of course.

Airsoft is great because it is equal parts kick-ass and camping, it's also exercise disguised as fun.

Needle felting is a more creative outlet that can also be done while watching TV or listening to music. More relaxing for sure.

grepLeigh• 3 years ago

Gardening, crafting, 3D printing.

I also organize Women in 3D Printing meetups.

My hobby energy fizzled out in my late 20s, but I've spent my 30s trying to cultivate deep and joyful interests.

I think what set me on this path was talking to a man in Germany who meticulously noted timings at a train station. He kept a little notebook and went into a great deal of depth about the local trends he noticed. Example: a certain train tended to run 2 minutes behind due to long boarding times at the previous stop, which was due to a wheelchair sports group. I think he tried to advocate for extra attendants on that particular day/route.

mortallywounded2• 3 years ago

I have tried to make time for hobbies but it has never worked out. I guess my only "hobby" is running every day. At least it's not work, is that a hobby?

fragmede2• 3 years ago

running is totally a hobby! there are runners clubs and running competitions. why wouldn't you think of it as one?

mortallywounded2• 3 years ago

Hobbies are supposed to be fun. Running is brutal ;p

vermasque• 3 years ago

Bodyweight workout. Gym and equipment not required.

fragmede2• 3 years ago

I bought this set of resistance bands and it's been great for doing not-gym at home workouts. the only problem is the product name is basically ungoogleable so I have to dig out the manual for the qr code if I want to look up something on their website.

lakotasapa• 3 years ago

Big time into home automation using Homeassistant. Dashboard creation is frustrating at sometimes but outcome is incredible.

c_o_n_v_e_x2• 3 years ago

Having recently moved from Singapore to Australia, I've picked up hobbies that weren't previously possible in Singapore.... namely smoking (meat) and gardening.

asalahli• 3 years ago

Smoking meat is not possible in Singapore? Is it illegal?

c_o_n_v_e_x2• 3 years ago

I lived in a condo. Neighbors freaked over a 20 minute grilling session, let alone a 16 hour smoke.

v-erne• 3 years ago

Lately I have come back to playing board games big time. I used to do this few years ago but then children happened and everything was put on a hold.

Now, that they have gotten older and do not require so much attention I finally manage to attend local group meetups regularlly. And I also find teaching both children news games quite enjoying for both parties (me and them :)).

This also enabled getting back to board games collecting - it was quite pointless without playing them. My collection went past 100 titles quite quickly and is still getting stronger every month.

csixty4• 3 years ago

I took an archery discovery class a couple weeks ago and fell in love. I'm going back for a three hour class next weekend. I love that stillness before firing off an arrow and the control over my body it requires.

Last year I started roller skating. It's way more fun as an adult than as an awkward kid.

thorin• 3 years ago

Music recording, just bought a Focusrite audio interface and a microphone and downloaded Reaper. Getting started slowly with bringing in drums and drum sequencing and editing, effects and mixing. I already have multiple instruments so that's encouraging me to play them more. I've recorded a couple of songs already.

gadders• 3 years ago

Going to Toast Masters. Surprisingly fun, especially table topics (where you have to improvise a talk for 2 mins or so on a random topic).

clubm8• 3 years ago

Poetry.

8b16380d• 3 years ago

Reading is about the only thing I have time for these days. As far as hobbies go, it’s pretty good.

Ask HN: What hobbies have you picked up recently?

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