What Are Your Non-Gaming Hobbies/Interests?

[Reynard]

Rules: No gaming answers of any kind. No video games. No board games. No Sunday crossword. Nada.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of various forms of gaming? When and how did you find yourself interested in that? If you can, describe the joy it brings you.

I write fiction. I want it to be professional but that has never really seemed in the cards. When I am doing it as a hobby, rather than dreaming of trad publication, I experiment with form and genre.

I think I am going to finally start archery this year. We moved up to my in-laws farm and have lots of land. Just have to avoid accidentally shooting the cows...

 

[Bagpuss]

I'm not sure I understand the question? Non-gaming hobbies, is that a thing?

 

[Pedantic]

I make drinks and desserts!

I have an espresso machine, I have an ice cream maker, I have a seltzer tap, I have a wall of flavoring agents and I'm playing around with making new steps and shrubs all the time. I'm always shoving affogatos and experimental fruit and spice ice creams at my friends.

 

[CleverNickName]

I have a few hobbies, yeah. When I'm not working or playing D&D, or playing video games, I dabble in any of the following.

Gardening: I like to grow my own herbs, tea, and veggies.
Brewing: I like to make my own beer and mead, too. And that got me started on...
Food preservation: I make lots of pickles, jams, and kimchi, and I've gotten into pressure canning now.
Cooking: I love to cook. I also read and collect cookbooks, I participate in cooking contests, and I'm writing a cookbook.
Fitness: I work out 7 days a week, and keep meticulous logs to track my progress. Since I started in 2019 I've dropped 50 pounds, and lowered my cholesterol by 150 points, and kept them both low for 4 years counting.
Fishing/Crabbing: My buddies and I go to the coast a couple of times a year for crab, salmon, and clams.

 

[jdrakeh]

Experimenting with less popular computer operating systems (e.g. weird Linus distros, FydeOS, etc).

[Edit: Watching as many giallo films as I can.]

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

COLLECTING: seashells; turtles; sci-fi/fantasy/horror books; CDs; guitars & pedals; gems, beads & jewelry

MUSICIANSHIP: singing; cello for 20 years (now abandoned); guitar & bass guitar

COOKING: mostly entrees & sides in a variety of cuisines. Very few desserts or baked goods

ART: pencil sketches; pastels; acrylics; found object sculptures

 

[Ryujin]

Rules: No gaming answers of any kind. No video games. No board games. No Sunday crossword. Nada.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of various forms of gaming? When and how did you find yourself interested in that? If you can, describe the joy it brings you.

I write fiction. I want it to be professional but that has never really seemed in the cards. When I am doing it as a hobby, rather than dreaming of trad publication, I experiment with form and genre.

I think I am going to finally start archery this year. We moved up to my in-laws farm and have lots of land. Just have to avoid accidentally shooting the cows...

Indie Films - Backing them. Mostly those of friends I have in the industry, but not exclusively. I've been promised a couple of producer credits, somewhere down the line, have an associate producer credit that will likely hit in a few months, and have several "special thanks" credits out there.

Leather Working - Pretty basic. Did a little maybe 35 years ago, left off of it, then came back to it around 10 years ago. Mostly hats but I've also made some bags (mostly small), a couple of masks (see avatar), some goggles, and a quiver for myself.

Chainmailing - The metal sort, not the annoying paper sort. Also been doing this for a little over 12-13 years. One of the skills that I picked up when I was approaching 50 and thought it was time I learned some stuff. Mostly costume grade, made with aluminum, but I also made a welded stainless steel shirt for myself.

PVC Bow Making - I'm a middling archer, at best, mostly because I don't really have anywhere to practice. I do, however, make the occasional bow out of PVC plumbing pipe. They're usually in the range of 25-30 pounds draw and I've made about a dozen of them, over the years, but don't actually own any of them myself. They were all gifted. Some are wrapped to make them look like more than they are, but most are undressed pipe like this one.

Friends keep telling me to monetize these hobbies, but then they'd be work rather than hobbies. With that comes stress, hatred of the thing, pleasing clients, and more stress.

Photography - I did a little over 20 years as a semi-pro motorsports photographer, making a pittance. Now I just shoot for fun and to document my occasional travels.

 

[Richards]

Well, other than reading novels (mostly science fiction, fantasy, plus the occasional mystery/police procedural or horror/suspense) and collecting comic books, I also draw, ink, and color farewell caricatures for departing members of my squadron and other squadrons with which my office associates. I've been a comic book collector since 1979 or so and a caricaturist since around 1994.

Johnathan

 

[Lidgar]

Building models (mostly WWII armor dioramas).

Painting and other art.

Hiking/walking.

 

[Zaukrie]

Golfing. Hiking. Travel. Wine tasting. Gardening, flowers and food.

I'd say remodeling, but we're nearly done.... I'd say writing, but I've done little lately, same with the guitar.