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A fun hobby is letterboxing or geocaching. Letterboxing is a treasure hunt type hobby. You use clues to find the boxes. It combines treasure hunting with hiking. If you are into photography, you can do that easily while letterboxing. Geocaching is similiar, you use a gps unit to locate caches.
I'm trying to find things to do that I can do alone but that maybe at least get me out amongst people. It's too easy just to stay home and read all the time (or post on C-D, lol.) I am mostly alone, though not lonely, in my early 50's and my only child is grown. I'm long divorced and not looking for relationships--I'm not successful at that sort of thing. Just things to DO. I don't know many people where I live now, and most of my friends are married and/or still have underage kids.
Please don't suggest volunteer work. That's a possibility, of course, but I am looking more for something interesting or entertaining by this question, where there are other people around but where I wouldn't stick out by being alone.
Sometimes there are concerts advertised for the older bands that were popular when I was young. Would it be too weird to go to a concert by myself? I've gone to Atlantic City alone a few times, but that's not something I can do every week. I've also thought of just buying a camera and taking photos at places like state parks or wildlife preserves.
Any other suggestions where a person like me could go and be amongst regular people but not feel completely out of place would be welcome!
Thanks.
Are you retired or home during the daytime?
I do most things alone because if I didn't I would never do anything I like or want to do. When I was younger, friends were tied up with their kids and there were things I wanted to see or do that wouldn't work with kids so I just did them by myself. But, I always saw people at work.
I have been going to movies by myself for over 30 years mainly because I like movies and no one shared my taste in movies including a former spouse. Movie going is really a solo activity anyway since you sit in the dark and don't talk even when you are with a friend or spouse or date.
Since you already like to read (a solo activity), try to join a book discussion group or two. There's give and take conversation in that activity. I love to read and that's what I did after I retired. My book discussion group also goes out to lunch after a meet-up and I bet that some others go out for coffee after a meet-up.
I picked up a camera hobby (a solo activity) in retirement after taking a photography class. Then I joined a local camera club where we have guest speakers and competitions. I discovered I primarily like to photograph birds and have been thinking, maybe I should also join a local birding group, too. I spent my vacation in wildlife refuges, this year. I'm not that great of a photographer but I like doing it and the club welcomes all levels of photographers.
I like learning things so I take classes in a program for retirees. I may attend solo but I'm around people/talking to people and this year I taught a class. Plus they also have local trips (my state and the surrounding states) as part of the program. Well, not only do I get to go on some trips and see places I haven't been to but those trips mean photography opportunities, I might not have considered driving to by myself. Look into continued learning programs that offer classes in things that interest you.
I also like to go to the casino but as you mentioned, can't do that too often. But I take the bus every other month or so which only comes to my town on one day of the week so whenever you do go, you tend to see the same people and it's a long ride and a friendly group.
I guess the point is - What do you like to do and can you turn some of those solo hobbies/activities into activities where you are with other people who also like to do them?
You know, if you like to hunt or fish, you can do those things solo but you can also join a fishing/hunting club. Besides the learning opportunity clubs give you, and the conversation around something you like to do, there are also usually related social activities like dinners and trips and tournaments/competitions and/or community programs like Teach A Kid to Fish Day or manning a booth for the club at the annual town festival/fair where you'll meet even more like-minded people.
If you like to do some kind of arts/crafts activity, see if you can take a related class or two and be with other people who also like to do those things. Usually, the local arts and crafts store either knows about them or gives them so check with them if you don't have an arts center in your town. You can also check into "continued learning" programs where your classes will be with other adults.
If you like to garden, join a gardening club. If you like nature, check into national, state, local and county parks and see what kinds of programs the park rangers have scheduled for the year that you might attend. If you play a musical instrument (a solo activity), maybe you can join a community band. In my town, anyone who likes to play can be in the community band.
If you like history, you might join a group that participates, in character, at living history events.
If you like meeting people but don't want to join a volunteer organization for an unpaid job consider that you might be a great volunteer for community events like the annual town festival or the annual holiday parade or the concert in the park. When the event is over, so is your commitment. They usually give a shout out for volunteers in the local paper and the things you do could be really diverse like manning an information booth to wrangling parade participants in the staging area to telling peple where they can park to selling tee shirts/tickets at the event to handing out stuff to attendees to building/setting up the booths to keeping an eye on the llamas.
You said you like to go to Atlantic City.....so I strongly recommend learing to play poker, and to play it well. It's a fun game and if you are good, you'll make money since there is more of a skill element than any of the other casino games. It's also a social game so you can meet some people while taking their money!
If you like nature and walking you could try bird watching. You can spend as much or as little time at it as you want. You can not go anywhere and just watch your birdfeeders, or you can explore local parks, arboretums, nature areas. If you are looking to not spend it all alone you can go on group bird watching walks usually a couple of weekends a month by the local Audubon club or sometimes park and rec depts sponser a couple or arboretum's. Sometimes cemetaries are a good place to bird and often quite beautiful (are you really alone in a cemetary?
Some medium price binoculars and a bird identification book, a map of parks and nature areas and your good to go.
Thank you for answering. I couldn't think of anything I'd like to take a class in. I've taken writing workshops at different times in the past, and I do write, but that's a solitary, indoor activity, too.
But -duh- your post made me think, "why not take a photography class?" I just did a search and there seem to be a few places in the area that offer them. And of course, I can combine photography with walking/hiking/nature activities.
Thanks again.
Photography is great because there's always more to learn, both alone at home and when around more experienced photographers. You don't need to go overboard with equipment to enjoy photography. Experts say the key to excellent pictures is the photographer, not the equipment. You can get really good stuff on ebay if it is not the latest model. Also, people seem to like to talk to you when you're taking photos, particularly if they are also.
A good opening to talk to another photographer (if they have a nice camera): "Are you using Canon or Nikon?" This is the question I'm most often asked (I use Canon but Nikon is also top-notch).
Photography is great because there's always more to learn, both alone at home and when around more experienced photographers. You don't need to go overboard with equipment to enjoy photography. Experts say the key to excellent pictures is the photographer, not the equipment. You can get really good stuff on ebay if it is not the latest model. Also, people seem to like to talk to you when you're taking photos, particularly if they are also.
Photography can also segue into another great hobby - scrapbooking.
The only thing I am unsure of is trying to do something by myself where it would be "wrong" or a breach of etiquette/an intrusion to do so.
I can't think of anywhere it isn't proper to go by yourself. If anything it's a breach of etiquette to require or expect that people must do everything in couples!
- Go a restaurant or other eatery you really enjoy and bring a good book. Nothing wrong with that.
- Go to a concert - why not? BTW, couples "all over each other" annoy me whether or not I'm with my own significant other (Get a room already and stop blocking my view!)
- Go to the movies and be sure to have popcorn or Junior Mints. Enjoy.
- See local groups' plays and performances.
- Two words: Happy Hour!
- Join a bus tour to anywhere interesting. Check your local free newspaper for clubs that do this; you can also check w/AAA if you are a member.
- Check out local college/university events: you'll find everything from speakers on all kinds of subjects, to political events, to performance and art.
- and yes, do think about volunteering for one-time events such as local fairs or festivals. You will meet boatloads of people and have no lasting commitment to do it again if you don't enjoy it.
Location: Prescott Valley, Az (unfortunately still here)
2,543 posts, read 4,883,835 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801
I'm trying to find things to do that I can do alone but that maybe at least get me out amongst people. It's too easy just to stay home and read all the time (or post on C-D, lol.) I am mostly alone, though not lonely, in my early 50's and my only child is grown. I'm long divorced and not looking for relationships--I'm not successful at that sort of thing. Just things to DO. I don't know many people where I live now, and most of my friends are married and/or still have underage kids.
Please don't suggest volunteer work. That's a possibility, of course, but I am looking more for something interesting or entertaining by this question, where there are other people around but where I wouldn't stick out by being alone.
Sometimes there are concerts advertised for the older bands that were popular when I was young. Would it be too weird to go to a concert by myself? I've gone to Atlantic City alone a few times, but that's not something I can do every week. I've also thought of just buying a camera and taking photos at places like state parks or wildlife preserves.
Any other suggestions where a person like me could go and be amongst regular people but not feel completely out of place would be welcome!
Thanks.
Going to concerts and live bands are better to watch by yourself, in my opinion. Because you don't have people around you talking all darn night and you don't get to enjoy the music or the talent that's playing it. Go! It's more fun, I think!
There are some pretty active quilting groups scattered around the country. It sounds old-ladyish but is actually pretty fun. There are also gardening co-ops in cities - you can have your own little section, and still have company at times but it wouldn't be mandatory.
Then there are book clubs...the reading is solitary, but the meetings are in groups at the local library or sometimes even coffee houses.
If you're physically active, you could probably find plenty of walking or day-hikes, many of which -can- involve groups but don't have to.
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