Learning something new... But what?

[SnowleopardVK]

My FLGS has had problems this past month or so with ordering new stuff, so I'm forced to find some non-RPG things to entertain myself with.

Unfortunately I've been through all my books and video games enough times that I'm bored with them. So I've decided I want to learn to do something new.

My initial ideas were to learn to play guitar or sew, but I don't have either a guitar or sewing equipment. Since those two, I've been stumped. (Ran out of ideas fast. Clearly I'm not so good with the real world. >_>)

So does anyone have ideas of interesting things to learn. Hopefully things that would be vaguely possible to a university student on a budget.

 

[Mark CMG]

You can get a useful enough sewing kit from a dollar store and some inexpensive materal from many hobby or fabric stores, in their discount sections. Hobby Lobby is where I grab fabric when I need it, often as various colored table coverings for minis games. Of course, felt is usually best for this but when the price is right (a couple/few dollars a linear yard at 60" wide), I've snapped up some patterned fabric that would work well for various planes, like one that looks like lava and rocks or another that looks like heavy jungle. Anyway, grab up a yard or two of something you like and get some sewing tips from online, then make a few dice bags, simple enough for a beginner, I should think. Good luck!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Guitar is somewhat pricey to start off in, but its rewards can last a lifetime- I've been playing since 1988. Ditto any other instrument.

Buy a sketchbook, a good mechanical pencil and a quality eraser. Doodle.

Listen to music...especially if you're doodling.

Take up a solo or team sport: running, swimming, or volleyball are all easy to start with. So is bike riding, though it costs a bit to get started

Check out your library, community activity center or community college and you will find they offer classes/activities for all ages, often online: languages, arts, crafts, literature...

 

[Jack7]

Some good suggestions so far.

I'd just add - if you're looking to learn something interesting (mentally) then go to free lectures. Most colleges offer free lectures given at night or in the evening. Don't know how many free and fascinating lectures I attended as a kid, and still do if I have the time, though usually I just listen to them on CD nowadays.

If you're looking to learn something physically useful then learn to Vad. I vadded all the time in college. I learned to vad as a very young kid, but had some of my best vadding experiences on the campuses of the various colleges and universities I attended. Lot of colleges even have vadding groups, or they did when I was younger.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

You can get a useful enough sewing kit from a dollar store...

Did not know that. I'll have to make a trip over to the local one next time I go down to the south end of town.

Guitar is somewhat pricey to start off in, but its rewards can last a lifetime- I've been playing since 1988. Ditto any other instrument.

I knooooow... That's why I want to learn, but I still worry about whether I can afford it.

I already know how to play the flute actually, and I sing, so I'm not completely new to music at least.

Buy a sketchbook, a good mechanical pencil and a quality eraser. Doodle.

Listen to music...especially if you're doodling.

These two are actually things I do already.

Take up a solo or team sport: running, swimming, or volleyball are all easy to start with. So is bike riding, though it costs a bit to get started

I own a decent bike. One of my coworkers (who is a big bike enthusiast) has said is surprisingly good bike for someone who just rides it casually. On sports in general though, I'm not very athletic, and it's nearly winter. The next few months are going to be a little cold for outdoor sports.

Check out your library, community activity center or community college and you will find they offer classes/activities for all ages, often online: languages, arts, crafts, literature...

I have no idea where my local community centers and community colleges are, but I'll give the library a try. I didn't know they offered stuff at libraries.

If you're looking to learn something physically useful then learn to Vad. I vadded all the time in college. I learned to vad as a very young kid, but had some of my best vadding experiences on the campuses of the various colleges and universities I attended. Lot of colleges even have vadding groups, or they did when I was younger.

I Googled it, and yet I still have no idea what vadding is.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

That's why I want to learn, but I still worry about whether I can afford it.

You can get a new POS acoustic guitar for $100 or less, and crappy electrics starting at $120. You can find decent used guitars for not much more. A decent new guitar can be found in the $250-500 range.

What really costs is G.A.S. At its basest form, Gear Acquisition Syndrome is an affliction of the wallet brought on by the desire to buy new accessories- like pedals and amps- to achieve certain sounds. As such, it hits electric guitarists hardest. However, as you progress, you may find yourself yearning for additional guitars- again, always justifiable for sonic reasons- and THAT is when it gets pricey. I have more than a dozen pedals (some of which cost more than entry-level guitars), but I'm also at double-digit guitar ownership...some of which cost a couple thousand.

(And the sky is the limit: I know of production- not collector, one-of-a-kind- guitars that cost upwards of $35k!)

I have no idea where my local community centers and community colleges are, but I'll give the library a try. I didn't know they offered stuff at libraries.

It really depends on the city. I'm just now looking into that myself. They have programs for yourself, but you could also look into reading books to kids and similar community activities.

I Googled it, and yet I still have no idea what vadding is.

Urban exploring.

 

[nedjer]

http://tombetthauser.tumblr.com/eh, sewing and embroidery, dudes!!!

There are not enough hours in the day to even begin to get started on all the free cool stuff that's demanding to get done. Parkour, dance, paper sculpture, drawing, drawing maps, designing boardgames, kickboxing, street art, . . . I'm going now to do as many of those as possible at the same time while listening to loud music

 

[Dykstrav]

I'd suggest that you give cooking a serious look.

Either you can make something awesome and have leftovers for the next day or two (tikka masala, beef bourguignon, fish and chips, and pretty much anything Thai are my favorites there), or you can cook for friends and make a fun night out of it--you make the barbecue, roast pheasant, or whatever and your friends bring the wine and possibly dessert. That's actually just as much fun as gaming to me.

If you already cook, try new dishes or a new cuisine. You can easily spend half a year learning a new cuisine (Korean, Mexican, Italian, whatever) or a new method (baking, broiling, roasting, whatever) or even just one new dish. My wife loves soup, and I spent over a year learning new soups until I've isolated about five favorites that she really loves. I also taught myself how to bake cakes so I could make wedding cakes, and I learned to make candy as gifts. On Thanksgiving, nothing quite beats bringing a homemade cheesecake to the table (especially one sweetened only with honey). People also love getting truffles or ganache-frosted cakes as Christmas presents.

My group doesn't like me just for my GMing, in case you can't tell.

 

[Thanee]

I was also going to recommend cooking. It's a very useful skill to have.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Jack7]

I've been cooking since I was a kid. It is a superbly useful skill.

If you like real world adventure of a milder type than Vadding you might take up Geocaching. It's fun and sometimes even challenging, depending on your target.

You can learn a lot of useful skills doing it too, if you don't already know them.