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+--- Thread: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? (/showthread.php?tid=8674)
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Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - WRXtranceformed - 01-11-2010
Well, probably a by product of my intermittent ADD or just the desire to always be "fooling" with stuff, but the other day I got this inner burrrnniinnggg (not the kind you can get rid of with a prescription) to start up some kind of project. I was thinking about it and I have a few requirements, but for the most part I'm open to any suggestions that you guys have. I'd really just like to get something going that can occupy my free time other than drinking and video games, but that wont break the bank.
What I was thinking about regarding rules:
1. Relatively inexpensive. I use relatively lightly, because if something was really fun and wasn't a total money sink I wouldn't be opposed to $500+ budgets for enjoyment. Let me make this clear though, I do NOT want to buy up old bikes or cars and work on them. My goal is to get my car paid off before its term is up and pick up a used C6Z in 3ish years as a new project car, at that point I'll be completely committed to a new project unless my mind has changed again by then. Until then though, I want to focus on paying off what I got and not picking up a hobby that's going to drain me financially.
In fact, that goes even to something that could potentially earn me money, like stock trading. I have a portfolio of blue-chip stocks that just sit and earn dividends, and traditionally in the past I've been against "day-trading" but it's something I could be convinced to try if it's actually fun to do. That's just an example.
2. I like to be able to change things, modify things to make them better, faster, etc. just like a lot of you guys. The first thought that came into my head was nitro cars or RC helicopters or something, but I'm not convinced I could see myself being out in a parking lot with a remote control driving those things around. You get the idea though!
3. I am a nerd at heart, I like Star Trek and other nerdy things. I used to paint Warhammer figures and stuff like that when I was a kid. So dont hold back on the nerdy suggestions.
4. I'm also artistic and enjoy painting, drawing... stuff like that.
One of my resolutions this year was to get back in the gym and drink a LOT less than I do now, but that's my primary motivator is to keep myself occupied with gym / church / community service stuff as much as I can in my free time. I think a new hobby would help me do that. So I know those are pretty broad criteria, but I wanted to leave it that way because I know a lot of you guys have some pretty diverse interests! What do you think, TIA :thumbup:
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - .RJ - 01-11-2010
Cycling and Photography are good ways to spend money and break stuff.
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - CaptainHenreh - 01-11-2010
Skeet and Trap
The most fun you can have with your clothes on.
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - BLINGMW - 01-11-2010
I've been thinking about ultralights and flying a lot. That interest you at all? Sometime early this year I plan on doing a intro lesson with one of these places in Lynchburg:
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or
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And seeing if that does anything for me. Maybe more lessons, maybe working on a sport pilot license, maybe building/buying/renting an ultralight, who knows. :dunno: Maybe it won't be that interesting.
How about rockets? Like, building ones like this guy:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rocketryphotography.com/rockets/Rockets.html">http://www.rocketryphotography.com/rockets/Rockets.html</a><!-- m -->
and taking pics, measurements, fiddling with fuel and design and going for distance, I dunno. Nerdy, not too expensive, and there's probably clubs for it too. I mean, model airplanes and such are fun, but this just seems potentially more challenging and rewarding.
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - ScottyB - 01-11-2010
i have way too many hobbies so allow me to jump in....
i was into R/C since about '90 and stayed in it until i graduated in '05...had 5 different cars/trucks. R/C cars are an endless money pit if you really get into them or a tremendous waste if you find out you don't like it a week after you buy the kit. i never saw that there was much middle ground. nitro R/C is exciting but you need a big space to wind out something with that power. electric is easier/cleaner but less fun IMO and just as expensive. the big thing that ended it for me: being in a lot or a field by yourself sucks. you want friends to race with and its either hard to get people together or hard to find a venue to race at. planes/gliders, rock crawlers, and boats are a bit different and can be fun by yourself but you get the idea. don't get me wrong though, they are fun and an electric rock crawler might be great for your living space - you could set up a trials course in your living room :thumbup: or goof around outside (or at a build site, heh)
![[Image: xc-1-rock-crawler-body.jpg]](http://www.rcnitrotalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/xc-1-rock-crawler-body.jpg)
scale models are fun - i do 1/24 cars and 1/48 WWII warbirds. you don't need a ton of space, its pretty cheap and you end up with some sweet custom stuff that makes neat conversation starters in your home or on your desk at work. i get bored though so i do about 1 every 2 or 3 years nowadays.
mountain biking is great and i'm hoping to dive deep into that this year. you get speed, excercise, see the country/nature and the bikes themselves can be really techy and tricked out. there are so many flavors of bike that you can find whatever you need for your riding needs these days. lots of clubs around charlotte i bet.
i also do homebrewing, keep a reef aquarium, and flyfishing. let me know if you have questions about those (they get detailed and i'd make this post a ridiculous novel if you let me go on about them).
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - Mike - 01-11-2010
Will sell you my RC car for dirt cheap. I think I paid around $500 for it... It's pretty beat up and has some axle issue (should be simple as axles are like $3), but I've replaced it and it's still popping out of the joint, but I'd let it go dirt cheap. Fast as fuck until you crash it. You said you wanted a project...
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - D_Eclipse9916 - 01-11-2010
My hobbies involve cycling, gym, skiing, of course drinking, buying and selling car parts (I enjoy this and make plenty of money).
With the warmer weather down there, outdoor hobbies would definitely be on my top priority list. This summer I plan to: Mountain climb, do a marathon, take up adult league basketball, maybe even get back into horseback riding.
Getting into sports is a great way to meet people, enjoy yourself, and be healthy.
I have a lot of interests so its just a balancing act of what I do, and I think everybody is like that, you just gotta find those things. As I start to want to do stuff more instead of always going to bars, ive noticed myself joining young professionals dinners and groups, skiing more, working out more etc etc.
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - Apoc - 01-11-2010
Bikes, photography and guns all seems to be popular here as well as things I like.
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - WRXtranceformed - 01-11-2010
I loved the one time I went skeet shooting, that was fun as hell! Great suggestions so far too, I knew you would have some good ones Scotty haha! I have tried to keep an aquarium going but my fish keep dying after I had it going fine for like a year
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - ScottyB - 01-11-2010
WRXtranceformed Wrote:I have tried to keep an aquarium going but my fish keep dying after I had it going fine for like a year
been there :lol: it can get pretty time consuming and expensive, that's why i kind of left it out. its cool when it works though!
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - Goodspeed - 01-11-2010
+1 to everything Scotty said. R/C is a great hobby, and I'd bet there is a hobby shop with a paved track or dirt course in your area that hosts club races. This is the current hot rod, box stock and it'll stay that way save for maybe a Novak ESC and some hotter motors. The car I had before this was a Tamiya TL01, FRP chassis, lots of carbon bits, adjustable coilovers, CNC'd aluminum wheels and a Mustang Cobra and Supra bodies, it took every penny I had during my childhood :lol:
![[Image: IMG_0218.jpg]](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/Stubbs_aka_Goodspeed/IMG_0218.jpg)
I'd love to try airplanes next, if you're at all interested I'm planning on picking up a cheap foamie from JKAerotech. Really inexpensive, simple, .049cc motors, etc.
![[Image: 8.jpg]](https://img-srv.dtcbuilder.com/engine/builder/images/2/7/7/8/5/6/file/8.jpg)
Also really want to get into mountain biking. I did it for a year in HS gym class and found myself decently good at it at the time, and it was incredibly fun.
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - WRXtranceformed - 01-11-2010
There are some awesome mountain bike trails around where I live and my buddy is always looking for someone to go with, but I have this problem where I despise bikes and riding a bike. I may start coaching youth soccer again soon, I always had fun doing that
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - Goodspeed - 01-11-2010
WRXtranceformed Wrote:I may start coaching youth soccer again soon, I always had fun doing that
![[Image: chris_hansen.gif]](http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/2/chris_hansen.gif)
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - Sijray21 - 01-11-2010
- another vote for camera/photography
- web design/creating your own site
- road and/or mountain cycling is fun and healthly although not as cheap as you specified. could start with a cheap bike and build up
- competition shooting (small caliber to fit your budget) - i may venture down this path since i think it would be pretty cool to shoot out of a scope down to a target at a far distance. smaller caliber rifles keep the cost down for ammo, but are less exciting. the project in this case is your ability
- cooking. i like making delicious food, my kitchen just sucks and does not motivate me to do so.
my main hobbies for reference:
alpine skiing
adult baseball league in the spring/summer
road cycling
motorcycling
golfing
guns
video gaming/electronics
photography
i feel a good project for you may be home renovation, but that doesn't come cheap. this is an investment and something that could appeal to your artistic side and money-earning interests. plus it makes living at home nicer. another one i would recommend would be sports if you're looking to spend more time in the gym.
cycling is a very fun method of cardio that will compliment weight lifting at the gym. relatively inexpensive (much more than $500 initially), but once you have the gear, bike, and tools you can pretty much do this almost any and every day you want to. the hobby can also take you places you normally wouldn't travel to around your area. to satisfy your dorkiness just get an onboard computer and play with the results from your ride (i do this).
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - Steve85 - 01-11-2010
Since you DJ and love music in general is there a way you can get into creating your own music?
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - ScottyB - 01-11-2010
Goodspeed Wrote:This is the current hot rod, box stock and it'll stay that way save for maybe a Novak ESC and some hotter motors. The car I had before this was a Tamiya TL01, FRP chassis, lots of carbon bits, adjustable coilovers, CNC'd aluminum wheels and a Mustang Cobra and Supra bodies, it took every penny I had during my childhood :lol:
what's up tamiya buddy? the bullhead is such a classic...probably one of the few R/C's that if you keep it stock and nice you can almost make money off them in 10 years time. i had an FF01 (their first FWD chassis) that i ended up putting a BB kit in, HPI double deck carbon fiber chassis, HPI wheels and tires and a tamiya tuned spring kit. i wish i held onto it...those FWD chassis are rare now. actually i wish i held onto my original RC10 too....dammit.
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - Kaan - 01-11-2010
R/C cars arent cheap AT ALL. my TC3 that i raced at Linnville hobbies while i was at JMU was expensive as hell to keep up. And i know there isnt crap for tracks in the NOVA area. Not that he is in the NOVA area... i'm sorta itching to do some dirt stuff if there was a track around NOVA
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - Apoc - 01-11-2010
Sijray21 Wrote:- web design/creating your own site
Another good one. I just went back and actually read the requirements and I think this fits quite well. If you're nerdy and consider yourself creative and love to tinker, it's a great way to combine them all. It's also a great skill to have should you ever decide to get a real job. :wink:
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - WRXtranceformed - 01-11-2010
More great suggestions. I forgot to mention that I play golf avidly now (for the past two years). I just had a custom set of KZG clubs made for me last year and they are sick. The weather stays warm enough that we can play most of the year down here, except for lately. That is obviously a very expensive sport even with the deals and hookups we've found down here. I really can only afford (and have time for) 1-2 rounds per week at most. DJing has been the other big thing that I've gotten into, I could definitely make my own music I just need to pick up a copy of Ableton or something like that.
Home improvement is a great idea too, I've got a bunch of projects just sitting around that I need to do. I've been planning some custom trim for my "basement" / entry way for a while, and I'm currently researching an electronics setup for my bedroom with my new TV.
For some reason I really like the idea of building an RC helicopter or plane. I may hop into a hobby store and see what they have there.
Re: Itching for a new hobby, any suggestions?? - Steve85 - 01-11-2010
Golf...For little money, you can make your short game a hobby. I went from a 16 to a 7 using Dave Pelz short game bible and going to the range a lot, never hitting the ball farther than 125 yds. You'll become deadly inside 100 and get up-and-down more often than not when you miss the green.