What Do You Do That's Different From Normal?

[Jack7]

I'm going to be on vacation this week.

The wife and kids have went on a Mission's Trip up north. I'm here at the house alone, except for my Great Danes. I've already finished most of my work for the month, and gotten out three papers for clients. Well, a report and two papers actually. So technically I don't really have anything to do this week, aside from just what I wanna do.

I plan on getting some things done. Yard and hauling piled limbs where the land has recently been cleared. May have to replace the battery in my tractor. Some writing even, but mainly just research for my novels. No big deal. Nothing under deadline, that's all finished.

But I've decided to take the week off. I admit I'm a workaholic to some degree and not only do I enjoy work, but it also relaxes me. However I'm trying to get better at relaxing, recreating, and entertaining myself. That is dedicating time to just relaxing, recreating, entertaining myself, and even what to do on vacation.

This week I'm gonna take short hops to nearby locales, I've gotten some DVDs of old shows I wanna watch (the original Star Trek, Wild, Wild West, Daniel Boone, and Kung Fu), I'm gonna explore some, Vad a few places I've already scouted (an old abandoned Ranger Watchpost, and part of an abandoned dam and waterways complex with some underground tunneling), maybe even geocache some or go see a movie (any recommendations?). At night I'm gonna go up to the observatory if the sky is clear. I'm not even going to any of my meetings or my training this week. I'm trying to totally relax and do only what I wanna do.

I'm also gonna read some, meditate, and go to a nearby monastery and hang out with the brothers for a day. And attend Vespers on Saturday since I'm now starting to undergo the conversion process to become Greek Orthodox. I'm looking forward to that, it's been a long time since I attended Vespers.

But I've also been trying to think of new things to do to relax and recuperate and even things I might do on future vacations, or at times when I can recreate. I don't take many but I've decided to change that when I can and to just generally relax and recreate more.

So, (and I know gaming is an obvious one for this site) I'm starting to make out a list of things I can do to relax and recuperate from work.

What do you guys and gals do for recreation?

What do you do in order to relax, what do you do for recreation, and entertainment, and when you're on vacation?

Can you give me some good ideas to add to my list, or maybe even something to try I've never thought of before?

Lookiing forward to your suggestions. Right now I'm gonna go play with my dogs awhile.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Dogs- and other pets, of course- are GREAT for R&R.

What do you guys and gals do for recreation?

What do you do in order to relax, what do you do for recreation, and entertainment, and when you're on vacation?

Beyond what you listed above, I design jewelry for a hobby. That's an expensive one, but it lets me mess around with combos of color and shape and light...and once its made, you get to show it off! If you get good at it, you can give it away as gifts, or even go pro.

Other than all the aforementioned, music is my main outlet. I listen to LOTS & LOTS of music. In addition, I actually perform it as well.

In a sense, I didn't have much of a choice- my Mom was a music teacher, and everyone in my family's 2 previous generations view learning an instrument as part of a well-rounded education. Even those who didn't learn an instrument D).

As a result, I sing, play cello, and guitar (classical/acoustic/electric/bass). Singing is mostly singing along with stuff from my music collection, and cello has mainly fallen by the wayside...

But playing the guitar? THAT's enjoyment for you. Either learning to play some old faves- "House of the Rising Sun", "Pipeline", "Hey, Joe" and "Space Oddity" were among my first- or even making up your own stuff is simply fun, fun, fun!

So I'd say, learn an instrument. Guitar is the most popular in the world, in part due to its portability. Besides that, there are many other ones out there that are a blast- harmonicas are portable, and a well played one is a joy. Flutes are evocative. Saxaphone is funky. And ask any band- a good percussionist is worth his weight in gold (and they get to sit around HITTING THINGS).

Best of all, if you have any skill at it whatsoever, playing an instrument is a great ice-breaker and friend-maker. In some ways, its nearly as universal a "language" as math. I know people who take an instrument when they travel for just that reason.

 

[nerfherder]

Road trip across Europe with a couple of buddies to a famous racing circuit, and drove our cars round it.

 

[Jack7]

Had a great vacation. Did a lot of different types of things.

Only thing I really didn't get to do was go to the new movies theatre. The film I wanted to see, Clash of the Titans was sold out.

Gonna fix that when the family and some people from our church go see Iron Man 2.

This was the list I eventually developed detailing the things I'm gonna try and do more of in order to relax, recreate, and vacation. Some activities overlap into different categories. If you can think of other things of interest to add, other than what Dan and NH already suggested, then let me know.


ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATION, RELAXATION, AND VACATIONS


Entertainments – active and passive

Role Play Gaming
Wargaming
Building and Playing with Models
Miniature Constructs
Alternative and Parallel Reality Gaming
Playing with Figurines (Army Men, Cowboys and Indians, Superheroes, etc.)
Virtual Reality Gaming
Video Gaming
Computer Gaming
Chess
Cards
Other Games


Recreation – primarily active

Vadding/Urban and Rural Archaeology/Exploring Underground
Expedition
Playing Sports
Athletic Endeavor
Swimming
Watching a Game or Competition
Climbing
Kayaking
Fishing
Sailing
Hang Gliding
Flying
Light Exercise
Astronomy/Star and Moon Gazing
Geocaching
Playing with Children and Grandchildren
Playing with Dogs, Pets, and Animals
Hiking
Riding Horse
Chopping Wood/Yardwork
Writing for Fun or Entertainment
Scientific Experiment or Project
Playing Piano
Drawing/Sketching
Invention/Design
Prayer
Meditation
Ritual
Mass/Sacrament


Relaxation/Recovery – primarily passive

Watching Television
Seeing a Film/Movie
Visiting Library
Visiting Museum
Visiting Science Center
Research
Visiting Airport and Squadron
Visiting Fire Dept/Rescue Squad
Scanning Radio/Communications
Checking Personal and Entertainment Sites on Internet
Seeing a Play
Walking in Woods
Being Out of Doors
Drawing/Sketching
Reading
People Watching/Going out in Public
Going to Park
Listening to Music
Drinking Wine
Dining Out
Going to Concert
Attending Opera
Walking in Woods
Prayer
Meditation
Ritual
Mass/Sacrament
Extra Rest/Sleep/Dreaming


Vacations – primarily active

Vadding/Urban and Rural Archaeology/Exploring Underground
Expedition
Camping
Fishing
Travel to Previously Unvisited Location
General Travel
Exploring in Vehicle
Exploring on Foot
Exploring Nature/Tracking and Watching Animals
Going to an Entertainment Center
Visiting Historical Landmark(s)
Visiting Lake/Ocean
Visiting Mountains
Visiting Deserts
Visiting Wilderness Areas/Safari
Visiting a Theme Park
Visiting Another Locale, City, State, or Nation

 

[Diamond Cross]

Play ropgs, read comics, and enjoy science fiction and horror.

I'm not kidding. Despite the success of movies, these things are still not considered normal by society as a whole.

 

[Jack7]

The wife and I went to see Iron Man 2 today, and I had a blast. Enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. The new theatre is really nice too. Built-in restaurant, IMAX showings, place for the kids to have birthday parties, nice arcade, each screening area had reclining seats, liked the overall design. My kinda movie joint. They should do good business.

I'm liking this thing of spending more time relaxing and recreating. I've noticed over the past week, after my vacation time, that I have been more productive than those times in which I just work and work and work. I'm more relaxed, less frcition, I can think better, sleep better, and therefore work more efficiently.

After the film we went out to a nice restaurant that a buddy owns, and got treated pretty good there too.

Then we came home, I played with my dogs, finished my last work out of the day and watched Night of the Raven (Wild, Wild West). I feel like a million bucks.

Since the kids went to the house of some church friends for an overnight birthday party, I get to put in some "quality time" with the little lady tonight. Only thing I didn't get to do today was go to Vespers, got out of the movie too late. But it was a Bristol day stem to stern.

Speaking a' which, night falls and duty calls folks.
Hope you enjoyed your own day.

 

[Jack7]

Got rained out of most of the planetarium show, got rained out of Freedom Weekend, and even got rained out of attending the Scottish Games.

Did get to see a coupla films, read some, get on the internet, meditate some, monitor the police bands, and go vadding last night in the rain. (Vadding is always better at night and in the rain.) But as far as all of the activities I had planned, not much of a bright spot there. So my Memorial's Day Weekend mini-vacation stinks so far. Got a party with my squadron tomorrow but weather has been lousy for most other things. hopefully it'll clear tonight.

Hope all my American brothers and sisters have a good Memorial's Day.
And thanks to all of those who have gone on before and sacrificed for me and mine. I much appreciate your service. And your example.

Jack.

 

[Mark]

What Do You Do That's Different From Normal?

Sometimes I wear my shoes inside . . .

Spoiler

. . . my socks.

 

[Darth Shoju]

I have OCD, so there are a number of things that I do that are different from normal.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Is posting here normal?