<p>Hey parents, I am a HS senior inquiring your perspective on social activities for the non-religious adult/parent. More specifically, activities for an adult whose social life has been comprised largely of (Christian) church-related activities, for the majority of her/his life. </p>
<p>So to you non-religious parents, what are some of the most fulfilling social activities in which you regularly participate?</p>
<p>If there are any parents who have made this conversion, tell me about your experience in restructuring your social life. What differences do you see between then and now, in terms of fulfillment, etc?</p>
<p>I run competitively and am part of an active running/social group (beer is frequently involved). My husband (one foot in the grave at 65) cycles with various groups.
When we aren’t doing these sports, we are at Physical Therapy or getting MRIs for all our injuries. We also enjoy supper group with friends from church (involves lots of alcohol).</p>
<p>I think the OP is asking a serious question that deserves a serious answer.</p>
<p>Many people’s social lives revolve around their religious organizations. I have a sister who has been unable to work for the past several years because of a disability, who has no family living nearby, and whose long-time best friend moved away recently. If it were not for her church, which she greatly enjoys, she would be very isolated. Her church is the center of not only her spiritual life but also her social life. </p>
<p>I don’t have an answer to the OP’s question, but I think it is a legitimate question.</p>
<p>Am I an “old folk” the OP was asking about or is asking about my 93 year, church-going mom? I’m not even sure my mom would want to call herself “old folk”. She’s pretty “with it”.</p>
<p>I’m used to being teased by my kids about being ‘old’ so don’t mind this question. Also it’s pay back because apparently in my early years of school, I brought home a story I wrote and picture I drew to go with it. The story was about a ‘very old man’ and who had a white beard. He was 45 I wrote. </p>
<p>To answer the question, some ideas that come to mind include volunteering (many regions/cities have websites now that cull together volunteer opportunities that match one’s skills and interests), taking up a new sport- hiking, biking, walking, skiing, bowling- joining yoga or a fitness class, taking a class at a community center (e.g. an improv acting class, language class, creative writing, cooking etc.). I once took a stone carving class and it was a blast. </p>
<p>I think the key to this situation though is meeting new people outside the church (having friends to do stuff with is probably the most fulfilling and leads to all kinds of fun activities). So in choosing activities such as classes or sports above, think in terms of ones that will be interactive where one can meet new people.</p>
<p>I definitely vote for taking up new hobbies. I’m learning bridge which is introducing me to a whole new set of potential friends, and being a ton of fun.</p>
<p>I have a friend whom I’ve always admired. She is active and involved and seems to have a very good life. Once I sat down and listed the things she does and what I discovered and have since tried to emulate, is that she did something in each of these categories:
A sport - tennis
A job - working for her local Chamber of Commerce
An art - Ikebana
A class - studying for a business degree, parttime
A charity - can’t remember off the top of my head what she was involved in then - something in the art field I think.</p>
<p>It just seemed so well-rounded and fulfilling that I’ve always remembered the list. Now that I think of it, it’s not unlike the list of ECs we would expect a college applicant to have.</p>
<p>DH and I are somewhat like MOfWC and her H sans the competitive aspect - we exercise, we get injured, we pile up medical bills. We also like wine tasting - not drinking, tasting, which involves driving around some pretty countryside. We travel relatively a lot (for our busy lives). I waste a huge chunk of my free time on CC, and DH moderates a science forum and answers college and HS kids’ chem and biochem questions.</p>
<p>I’ve been a member of a charitable group for 16 years. I usually hold an office and really enjoy our monthly meetings as well as our social events. Through this group I have made some really good friends as has my husband. I have a large close family in the area and we enjoy getting together frequently. I enjoy my home and I love to go to garage sales. I used to garden and worked as a landscape designer for 8 years, but I have gotten away from that but hope to return. As others have stated I like my daily (or twice daily…) visit to CC. We are planning on getting a large cargo van so we can take our rocking chairs with us where ever we go.</p>
<p>A good friend of mine volunteers at the local theatre. She gets to see the plays for free and chat with the playgoers as she helps them find their seats.</p>
<p>That is…when she has the time in between her tennis club, ski club, massage therapist business, and on and on.</p>
<p>The title of this thread reminds me of conversations my sister and I would have with my mother. Whenever she said, “When I was a little girl…” my sister and I would always interject, “…when dinosaurs roamed the earth.” It always earned us a tickle and a poke in the ribs.</p>
<p>I’m taking it that the OP wants suggestions of other things for his parents to do after he goes away to college. Many people I know get a dog, which seems to be a very good substitute for the empty place in the home. I think volunteering is also a great suggestion. Whether it’s in libraries, animal shelters, at the local theater, art museum, hospitals - volunteers are always needed.</p>
<p>It’s also fun to take adult classes in cooking, art or computers - or give classes!</p>
<p>I have a new puppy … and I am starting dog agility with her. We are also looking for a beach house. And since I am running the pet store for at least another three or four years, I am still very busy.</p>
<p>My parents are in their 60s/50s, and they are not religious. They play in orchestras, garden, Mom takes art and gardening classes and paints. Crabbing and fishing, reading - pretty much everything you can’t do if you are working FT.</p>
<p>We all like to travel - but I won’t get to go with them in another year… :/</p>
We travel relatively a lot (for our busy lives). I waste a huge chunk of my free time on CC, and DH moderates a science forum and answers college and HS kids’ chem and biochem questions.</p>