VH, I am doing that as one of my current gigs, too! 
My former boss keeps trying to hang on to my expertise, so this is a good way to keep my toes in the water without getting dragged into the politics.
Am also working PT at my synagogue. I make next-to-nothing, but itās mostly print communications and web work, which makes me happy, and thereās a greater good to it, too. They are happy to have someone who knows her way around a computer, can write and is detail-oriented. All those years of project management at benefit consulting firms prove useful here!
Like the OP, Iāve been thinking about where to focus my energy outside of work. Iāve picked up kayaking through our State Conservancy and local REI programs (one and two day trips fully equipped and arranged by others - just show up and go). Lots of folks over 45 years of age participate - nice camaraderie.
Iāve joined the YMCA and try to go at least twice a week - love the swimming exercise classes.
I also want to learn to QUILT! I have beautiful quilts that were made by great aunts and other relatives who are no longer alive. I remember as a child watching them hand sew these masterful pieces. Problem is I have no skill or patience ha ha!
I like the suggestion of earlier posts to make an āIām interested in doing this listā, try things and see what sticks.
Iāve always wanted to quilt too. They use to have an evening class at local HS. I bought several quilts from the instructor. Iāll look on online for other classes.
I am a quilter! On and off for 25 years. I have done about 12 bed -size quilts and many throws/lap quilts. It allows me to indulge my ācreativeā side yet still be as perfectionist as I like (or not!)
āIāve always wanted to quilt tooā - Just do it! I am NOT a quilter at all, never had a calling for it. However, my D. has cut outs of many old T-shirts that she attempted to put into quilt herself. Of course, it never happened, she has been terribly busy for the past 9 years. So, I did it for her and presented it as a gift. She loved it, great memory for her! I wish I had a better sawing machine, it was pretty much not working, but I pushed thru and still enjoyed the process! The T-shirts were cut out in such an irregular way that no place would have taken them. There are places where you can send you T-shirts and they will make a quilt for you. I also made a pillow case with one cutout and still have one more for a pillow case. It is not my hobby at all, but have several and I love them all. My full time job is the greatest of my entertainment though, I will not find a replacement when I retire, it is not possible.
My family is being interviewed for a little local neighborhood magazine. They feature a different family every month. My husband runs marathons and did an iron man. My son and he bike and swim all the time. My other sons played football, tutor kids, and do other stuff. I work a lot and I read and walk on the treadmill. 
Apparently it was too boring. I guess I am glad I did not tell them the whole truth. Here is momā¦she eats Cheetos and drinks white wine and likes to sit around in a large vineyard vine t-shirt with no makeup on. I applaud you for trying to find a hobby.
Iām a quilter! Go to Missouri Star Quilt Company and watch some of their videos. Jenny does an outstanding job teaching basic skills and they have tons of pattern geared toward beginners. Iāve sewn since I was 14, but only came to quilting in the past four years. No need to buy an expensive machine with lots of bells and whistles ā one with a good straight stitch and a 1/4" foot will do fine.
Local quilt shops offer beginner classes if you want to try something small before investing in a lot of materials and supplies. They usually have machines you can use at the class, too. I suggest that folks learn a few simple blocks and make placemats or a table runner as a beginnerās project. Itās not too huge, you learn to make blocks and bind, and they are small enough that you can quilt them yourself. My personal rule is to learn at least one new skill with every project.
Re: t-shirt quilting: the quilts REALLY need to be backed with a fusible lining. I use Pellon 911. Itās lightweight, and gives the tshirt block enough shape that the ends wonāt curl or stretch. Most folks say to apply the Pellon before cutting the shirts, but I just cut the t-shirts into blocks much larger than I need, iron on the fusible, and then trim to the block size I want.
Itās possible to quilt (topstitching the top plus batting and backing) on a regular domestic machine, but it can be unwieldy. I will use my machine for quilting up to a crib size quilt. For anything larger, the local quilt shop has long arm machines that I can rent. They can also point you in the direction of professional long arm quilters who will quilt your work for a fee.
Warning: itās addicting! And not as cheap as folks think! I made a t-shirt quilt for a friend recently and supplies/longarm rental were $200, not counting the t-shirts.
One hobby I recently picked up is crowdsourced, ācitizen scienceā (or, in my case, ācitizen humanitiesā) research, mostly on Zooniverse. When Iām bored, I can transcribe a civil war telegram or find word variants in an Elizabethan letter. I figure that contributing to academia, no matter how imperceptibly, is probably better than scrolling through facebook.
@CountingDown: Thank you! Great information you have shared!
Late to thread, but I donāt have time for a hobby. I am always on CC! (At least Iām not bugging my 2 HS daughters about college, or not as much as before.)