<p>I work part-time with preschoolers. It’s much nicer when you can hug/play with them and send them home to someone else. I enjoy my job.</p>
<p>Decided that I was tired of being overweight/out of shape and staring down the barrel of my 50th birthday (this July) so last year started eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. I’ve actually started running (some might call it a slow trot) three or four times a week for the first time in my life. I started out walking a lot and then just sort of sped up:)
Amazing how that works if you stick to it. Lost 50 lbs.</p>
<p>I love to read and always have a book going. </p>
<p>I am addicted to thrift store shopping (see the My Good Deal of the Day thread) so stop by there whenever I can.</p>
<p>We’ve built a new home near the coast of our state where we plan to live permanently
once S2 is launched (he’s a college senior). In support of that we’ve been working like crazy fixing up our old house to sell. It’s on the market…all fingers crossed. </p>
<p>Spring is here which means plenty of yard work to be done…esp. when trying to sell house! </p>
<p>I spend way too much time on CC and other websites!</p>
<p>I am a stay-at-home dad and I will be an empty nester in the fall. I am debating between going to grad school versus spending a year doing the myriad backlogged tasks in and around our house, traveling with DW, volunteering, and visiting fledglings at their colleges.</p>
<p>I’ll be empty nesting in the fall. Spouse and I saved up and timed our sabbaticals (we are both profs) to coincide with the nest emptying. I was hoping that by being away that first year, surrounded by an entirely different life, it will be easier to cope. </p>
<p>After that, I think I will work more than I do now, and do a lot more work related travel that I tended not to do as a parent (e.g. to conferences, invited speaking engagements, going to my coauthor’s towns etc.). </p>
<p>I think I’ll also turn a lot of my ‘parenting energies’ toward my undergrads. I love teaching freshman and they sometimes feel like my kids. </p>
<p>But I need a hobby! There was a great thread awhile back on this. I’ll have to revisit it for ideas.</p>
<p>Dog agility. I love working with my new dog, getting out to training class once a week, doing the fitness things for both of us so we can trial on the weekends. Of course I am still working more than full time at the shop …</p>
<p>OTOH my husband decided that he wanted to be a high school lacrosse coach when he grew up … but he’s not quitting his day job. He is just taking on a second job that pays practically nothing. But … he’s happy!</p>
<p>I can’t imagine that I’ll ever quit my full-time job, but my fantasy is that after spending 15 plus years driving KIDS to music lessons, rehearsals, I’ll get to spend some time actually making music myself. I want to resume the violin lessons I dropped in college, and get good enough to try out for our community orchestra. I’ve been fantasizing about it for years!</p>
<p>Still working full-time and wishing I could be more enthused about exercise. The best things I’ve done is to run the bookclub at library and get involved with local professionals to help with bullying at middle and high schools. I’ve been able to help friends with their ailing parents, as I’ve been thru that before. I know just about every ALF and SNF in the area, and have the time to be a tour guide.</p>
<p>I’ve been going to more professional meetings. For the first time ever, I completed all my CEU’s well in advance of deadline. I started gathering info for an article or book, but realized the topic was covered. I haven’t published anything since before the worm came into my existence.</p>
<p>Must say, envy my friends who have kids living locally. I’d love a future where I could be a hands-on grandmom.</p>
<p>I love being in an empty nest and only hope it can continue uninterrupted. No grandkids yet, so cell phones make my somewhat distant kids feel nearby.</p>
<p>In the time I’d otherwise have spent transporting kids to activities or cooking better meals (dh is happy enough with anything), I read a lot, play sudoku, and excavate the basement as part of my master plan to be out of here in the next 6 years.</p>
<p>I have a huge home makeover planned. Already selected the painters and am choosing room and carpet colors. Start date will be after DD leaves, she doesn’t want any disruptions her last year at home.</p>
<p>I set up two large aquariums and “adopted” inhabitants from pet store. I need something to feed and clean up after.</p>
<p>I am already noticing improved relations with our many childless acquaintances. Even though we always made a point to discuss issues unrelated to children, there was always a bit of a barrier given that our schedule was dominated by DD activities.</p>
<p>Work full time if you feel that your day is not filled. I work full time, exercise 2 hours, have a great hobby and love to go to museum very often. My problem is that I do not like many regular/normal activities. It must be much easier for some who love to read, watch TV, cook, shop, clean house, gardenning, then they do not even need any kind of hobby as after work activity, I envy them.</p>
<p>BTW, I also have huge home makeover plans, I just do not have any plans participating in them, I will let professionals to take care of it. And on top of that, my grandkids are very far away in different state, but we take them for couple weeks in a summer, always look forward to that.</p>
hobby: an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation</p>
<p>ummmm … many people would consider reading and gardening hobbies. Cooking can be a hobby, for people who expend more time and talent on it than I could. What’s “easier” for people who like these activities? Is it necessary to turn even leisure time into a competition?</p>
<p>I am so glad to read that I am not the only one who is looking forward to the quiet life next year when my youngest goes to college. I do keep my nursing license current, just in case my current plans aren’t enough for me. I cannot wait to schedule (or not schedule) my day as I want to. I will read books, do needlepoint, experiment with interesting cooking methods and recipes, take an adult Ed class, clean out closets and declutter, diet and exercise etc. I am looking forward to this.</p>
<p>Actually in addition to reading CC and doing the NY Times crossword puzzle I actually work full-time in a high pressured job…I do have more time for theatre and museum visiting and get to see both d’s a lot. Don’t think that just because they leave for college you are done. At least in my case even through older d’s grad school, I was still being sent papers to proof-read, usually at 11 PM. Actually - I often proof-read job and grant application cover letters…etc, etc.</p>
<p>"ummmm … many people would consider reading and gardening hobbies. Cooking can be a hobby, for people who expend more time and talent on it than I could. What’s “easier” for people who like these activities? Is it necessary to turn even leisure time into a competition? "
-They do NOT need to look for a hobby to fill after working hours that were filled by a kid before. I had to look for something new for myself, otherwise, I would end up depressed as I do not like any activities that people are usually engaged after work. That is why I said that it is easier for people who love them, they can just continue doing more of either reading, watching TV, shopping, cleanning, gardenning…when kids are gone to college… these are nice hobbies, but they are not mine.</p>
<p>MiamiDap - I think what you are saying is for people who already have a hobby when kids were growing up, they could spend more time on it once kids are gone. But for someone like you who didn’t have a hobby before, you needed to look for one once kids are gone. It is given that other people’s hobbies may not be interesting to you, and they could be moutain climbing, parachuting, deep sea fishing, or travelling.</p>
<p>Don’t forget that your hobbies may have changed! What I loved to do before I had my kids left me slightly bored once D1 left. I am eagerly looking forward to ditching two board memberships in the next year before D2 leaves the nest. I know a lot of people volunteer with their extra time, but I have volunteered A LOT in the past 20 years and I am looking forward to taking a break. I’ll still have to deal with my aging mom (and I suspect that my inlaws are at the point where we’ll have to start thinking more closely about them) but I am looking forward to having some time to be selfish and do what I want (which I’m not sure what that means anymore.) I’m working full time and love my job, but I’m excited about the possibilities. I’m thinking that DH & I will take at least a few long weekend trips a year that we wouldn’t not.</p>
<p>But I promised I wouldn’t adopt another cat like I did after D1 left.</p>
<p>Yes ,travel is a lot of fun .my son will be starting grad school in Columbus ,Ohio . There is a really snazzy hotel there run by OSU students ,The Blackwell .We will spend a night there and then move on to the Red Roof Inn . I am looking forward to the Amish country in Middlefield .</p>