Hobby Needed

What Hobby Should I Begin?

As I get older, I find myself engaging in activities that leave me drained or activities that could be considered productive, but not fun. Do house work, working online, hanging with the kids are the activities that currently fill my days.

I was recently in Harrisburg, PA and I found myself in a shopping center which had more than one hobby shop. The first shop I went in was a pool and billiards store. Billiards could be considered a hobby by more than just a few, but one which may require a bit more hand eye coordination than I possess. A pool maybe fun, but I really don't consider a pool to be a hobby.

The next store I went into was and authentic Hobby shop. It had stuff for many various hobbies to include:

model trains
RC cars and planes
model building
Doll houses
scrap booking
collecting
and many others

Being in my forties now, my problem is, what type of hobby can someone my age begin to engage in that will be able to fit into my lifestyle?

RC Planes

I like the idea of RC planes. My step dad, actually had an RC Plane business, The Hidden Hanger, which is located outside of Hummelstown, Pa. From what I can remember, this is not only a very time consuming hobby, but it also requires quite a bit of capital. Well hundreds of dollars is not a chunk of change that I would sneeze at. And when you think that often times, pilots end up wrecking their planes when trying to land, I don't think this hobby is something that I want to try just yet.

Model Railroad

Model railroading is another hobby which I have been considering as a hobby. I was at the local Hobby Shop, which specializes in Marklin Trains, and I was amazed at the intricacy of the railway sets that can be made. Being in the store, I was reminded of some sets which I seen in the past such as several sets that were outside such as a neighbor who had a railroad running around a pond in his front yard. I had seen another guys yard in Boiling Springs, PA, where the yard which was a courtyard type yard, not bigger than a quarter acre, which was covered with a model railroad landscaped yard.

I have also seen quite a few businesses such as restaurants that incorporate model trains into their decor. These businesses are usually very family oriented, and are a big hit with the young children. Two of these are Moccias Train Stop of Schwenksville, PA, and Jimmy Johns of West Chester, PA.

Model railroads are much more than toy trains, however, so if I do want to get involved in this hobby, much like the R/C planes, a considerable investment will have to made. But unlike R/C planes, unless I am going to blow up my railroad like Gomez Adams, the investment should continue to entertain my family and I for years.

Bicycle Touring

These two hobbies however, seem to involve very fine motor skills, and don't seem like they would be very physically demanding hobbies. In my youth, I had been a bicycle racer, but with the onset of parenthood, I had to give it up. Bicycle touring, is a hobby, that I have long been wanting to try, and this hobby, does involve a bit more physical activity which I am looking for in a hobby. It does require an initial investment of a decent touring bicycle, but once that initial investment is made, I should be able to spend quite a good bit of time riding my bike in the local and distant communities. A tandem bicycle or a bicycle for two, would enable me to share this activity with my wife, who currently has a weight loss goal, which would more readily be met if she were to start riding with me.

Three Hobbies

Well these are just three hobbies that I have been considering as potential activities to engage in during my "free time" to help me reduce my stress. I know there are many more hobbies that would fit the bill, so I will continue to look and consider other hobbies. I wonder if I can have more than one hobby?