Continuing a Twitter conversation from yesterday … Years ago, in grad school, I agreed to go on a date with an attractive, tall, bald, black student I met in my “History of Social Thought” class. Before we met up, in a getting-to-know-you-kind-of way, he asked: “So, what are your hobbies?” Dumbstruck, I couldn’t think of anything. I giggled and asked, “Does drinking and boozing with my friends count?” I laughed because I thought it was funny, but he didn’t. Maybe he thought I was boring. Or a loser. Or, possibly, an alcoholic. So, then I kind of felt inadequate and insecure because I didn’t think I was doing anything with my life besides hitting the bottle and going to classes.
In my own defense, I like painting, photography, drawing, running, journaling, blogging, indie film appreciation, kickboxing, going to museums and plays, etc. But, I’ve never considered any of that stuff hobbies. It’s like what one of my Twitter followers, flyguytray, mentioned yesterday, “[...] that’s like not what I do to fill time — that’s what i do to enjoy life.” Very well said! It’s like, you know, collecting stamps or whittling. I’ve never done either; I don’t like the idea of going out of my way to do something I wouldn’t typically do just for the sake of calling it a “hobby.” Does that make sense?
By the way … Speaking of “doing things” … I recently renewed the Time Out New York subscription I let lapse a few years ago because I’ve been in a rut lately, doing the same things and going to the same places. Spring/Summer is a good time for renewal. You know? Switch stuff up a bit. I miss summer soooooooo much. :( Getting on a boat and sailing blue waves on a sunny day sounds like FUN. In Chicago, I did the Daylong Boat Cruise on Chicago’s Inland Waterways several times with the absolutely lovely David Solzman. Here in New York, a few friends and I combined two fabulous pasttimes (“drinking” and “being on a boat”) a couple summers ago. But, I haven’t been on the water since. So, I’m researching sailing lessons in Manhattan. Looks like NYC Sailing School offers Fun Sail for only $149. I’ll still keep looking. If I find a bunch of totally inexpensive, reasonably priced options, I’ll let you know. This summer, I might be “straight floatin’ on a boat” like Andy Samberg and T-Pain.
Hat tip to LaLoDAVIP for the video link; if it doesn’t show above, click here. Hmmm … Anyone else weirded out by the “what are your hobbies” question or is it just me? Also wondering: Anyone else aching to do something new and/or return to a favorite pasttime this summer? What are some of the things YOU do to enjoy life?
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
winetastings!
That's one of the questions that gets asked often enough that I have a ready answer for it “reading, cooking, and travel” but I also don't like the word 'hobby.' It suggests some sort of designated 'play time' for doing something which might be seen as slightly shocking or unusual by the guys at the office (and I do mean 'guys', because I place the era of the hobby as several decades ago–nowadays there are very few leisure activities you can enjoy which would completely shock your co-workers). I bet if you asked people who collected stamps, they would also say that they enjoy doing it (otherwise, I imagine most wouldn't do it).
That's one of the questions that gets asked often enough that I have a ready answer for it “reading, cooking, and travel” but I also don't like the word 'hobby.' It suggests some sort of designated 'play time' for doing something which might be seen as slightly shocking or unusual by the guys at the office (and I do mean 'guys', because I place the era of the hobby as several decades ago–nowadays there are very few leisure activities you can enjoy which would completely shock your co-workers). I bet if you asked people who collected stamps, they would also say that they enjoy doing it (otherwise, I imagine most wouldn't do it).
Not so thrilled with the new comment system. I had to repost my comment above because it didn't show up the first time I did it (luckily going back to the previous page was enough). I don't want to register with them, so I have to keep giving them my email address anyway to post. Threaded comments are nice, but as far as just working it seems to work less well than the old system.
I could not agree with you and @flyguytray more; I have never been able to properly process the “hobby” question, because I so do NOT consider things I do in my spare time “hobbies” so much as I consider them “things I could not imagine NOT doing every day,” e.g., reading all the time, on pages or in pixels, listening to constant soundtracks, writing, critiquing, gourmet cooking, etc. I don't think of these things as “hobbies” at all, so that question always kind of throws me off. (Especially, I might add, in the context of a date, in which it always reminds me of the awkward “So um what's your major?” of dates in college, another question to which my response was usually, “Whaaa…how do I answer this?” Ha.)
I love your “Fun Sail” suggestion, and thanks for the tip! I've been thinking about getting back into sailing, as well, and this summer seems like the perfect opportunity to do it. I've also been thinking of taking trapeze lessons, to get over my fear of heights and also just because it sounds quirky. Ha.
I ask “what do you do for fun?” It's somewhat in the same vein as what is your hobby. I ask because I want to know how the person takes time for themselves. I've had men respond with nothing, or that they go home and veg in front of the television. I'm turned off by them. Books, food and music are my vices and I attachment myself those those things in many ways: open mics, concerts, dinner at ethnic restaurants, etc. I can do boring by myself. I ask the 'hobby' question because I'm looking to expand on friends or a new partner.
video games, sports, cartoons….
then I usually have to show my drivers license to prove I'm actually 41
=P
Oooh, good choice!!My love of wine is well documented. :)
THANKS for the feedback!!! :)
I'm not wedded to Disqus. I thought I'd try it out for a month or so to see if it worked out well for everyone who comments on the site. Jury's still out.
I LOVE threaded comments. But, I don't like it that their system marries email address to the profile.
I think people speak more freely when they can do it anonymously. For example, if I write a post called “Does your current partner irritate the shit out of you sometimes?”, it's nice to give you guys the space for release / freedom to say “YES, yes they absolutely do!!!” without having your name and entire Disqus profile attached to that.
I want to strike a balance between: (1) giving people who WANT to leave anonymous comments the ability to do so and (2) adding functionality for threaded comments.
Still researching a bunch of option. Might stick with Disqus if it works for most people here. If you guys hate it, I can always go back to the old system.
At present, this site has more than 11,000+ comments. You guys have a lot to say! And, not only do I like hearing it, I actually want to let you do it in a way that works for you.
Hell, if I just wanted to write stuff w/o any interaction or feedback, I'm restrict myself to writing and publishing print newspaper and magazine articles — but even THOSE have gone online (with comments!) too.
Hmmm … guess I could've made this a full post instead of SUPER long comment. Might bring it up later and/or do a “Does the new comment system work or suck” poll in the near future …
You said, “there are very few leisure activities you can enjoy which would completely shock your co-workers.” Ahhh, spoken like a true New Yorker. :) Come home with me to rural Illinois next time I visit, eh? ;)
You said, “there are very few leisure activities you can enjoy which would completely shock your co-workers.” Ahhh, spoken like a true New Yorker. :) Come home with me to rural Illinois next time I visit, eh? ;)
Best damn answer to that question I've heard in a while: “I ask because I want to know how the person takes time for themselves.”
I used to be addicted to arcades. We don't have a system at home, so I'm reduced to played others' wii games. LOVE that stuff. Almost threw my back out playing boxing …
when you ever get the chance to do some serious wine tasting…
GO WEST…… Napa Valley……
lamesabassman……….. and the food……. hellacool.
'tis good to explore……but the way you got your logo is the way you will find your comment system…..
lamesabassman….. it's out there…. waiting…… any move forward is a good thing…..
does anybody shoot pool anymore…….
lamesabassman…… yeah … the Wii Boxing will hurt you….. am typing with my toes…
Hah! I never lived in New York, but I was indeed assuming an urban environment (because I know you live in a city!). I've lived on the west coast some, although now of course I live in the Netherlands. I was most certainly not talking about the rural town I grew up in (which I think might make Illinois look good), although by now I imagine I have such a reputation nobody would be shocked by anything this devil-spawn might do.
Your reputation is a good thing! :) How does that saying go? “Good girls rarely make history” … or something like that. :)