Like many people these pandemic-days, we find ourselves in quarantine. For an introvert, at first, being home all the time was paradise. It was all smiles, daytime booze, and no pants! But, it didn't take long for me to start feeling like maybe I was being a little complacent; and dare I say it: lazy. Like, I could be exercising. Or, I could be cleaning. Or, I could be painting the hallway. Or, I could be providing upcycled-t-shirt-facemasks and sack lunches to the homeless.
A friend suggested I work on my "hobbies."
Hobbies? Hahahahaha!
Yeah, thanks, "friend". Way to make me feel like a total loser.
Turns out I don't have many “hobbies” in the conventional sense – due to the fact that they require an abundance of time, nerd-ery, energy and dedication….all qualities in which I am highly lacking.
Over the years, I tried to pick up some hobbies. I learned to sew. Kinda. I learned to quilt. Kinda. I started collecting mounted jackalope heads (still only have the one). I learned to make jewelry. I took up photography. I learned to knit. Kinda. I learned to crochet. Kinda. I made my own laundry detergent (that counts, right?). I made toilet paper roll art. I painted. I drew.
And there was this one time when I decided to collect beer bottle caps! Oh, yeah. It was a brilliant endeavor that cost me nearly nothing because I employed (without pay, of course) others to collect them for me. I currently have 1,568,265 (or so) in my possession. Someday, I’m actually going to use them to refinish table tops and make millions of dollars! (Just like I planned to do 5 years ago.)
I think I've digressed, as usual. Let's get back on track...
I started ghost hunting. I practiced yoga. I learned how to read palms…and tarot cards. I became one with nature, and crystals, and herbs, and moon phases.
The list goes on, people.
After a little contemplation, and just as my brain started to shut down... it hit me.
Maybe my hobby is finding hobbies. Or, maybe my hobby is starting seemingly creative shit and never finishing it. It’s a process, people.
I’d like to be able to say that my hobbies include hiking mountains, scuba diving, robbing banks and other exhilarating activities. But, alas… I am one boring-ass mofo. Suffice it to say, I don’t really have any "hobbies". However, there are some things I love to do and can probably manage to spend my quarantine time more wisely on:
- Reading. I learned to love reading from an early age. Growing up, my mom took us to the public library every week. And while my brothers were busy catching up on MAD Magazine and my sister would opt for the picture books and puzzles, I would find a quiet corner and get lost in another world. When I was about 10 years old, I picked up my mom’s copy of Gone with the Wind and I never stopped reading novels since.
- Traveling. It seems like forever since we really, truly traveled. Back when we had the RV, we tooled all over there place; albeit sometimes the accommodations were a little crowded and the shared toilet resulted in the feeling of too much togetherness. For the most part, traveling for pleasure is wonderful! I love being a tourist… visiting new places and learning local cultures.
- Loafing. As in lounging – not making bread. (Although, I do love a nice, fresh loaf of french bread, too.) I like to veg-out in front of the TV… or in bed with a good book… or on the beach with a piña colada. Or on my backyard patio with a refreshing iced coconut-rum-and-water. You get the gist.
- Floating. I love feeling weightless. So, when I’m in the pool, I will float and float and float. And, I’ll ask Hubber to carry me like a newlywed because I’m so light and dainty!
- Eating. That’s why I’m soft around the edges. I will try anything once. Except for insects, dung, dolphins, dogs, cats, rodents, skunks and buzzards. (I reserve the right to add to this list in the future; even big girls have standards.) If quarantine has taught me anything, it's that you can make goulash out of pretty much any kind of leftover. And, don't let your Hubber try to tell you that what you made is not goulash. He doesn't know shit about goulash.
- Gardening. This might be a true and actual hobby, y'all! I started a veggie/fruit garden a few years ago and have since added a butterfly garden, a few rose bushes, hibiscus, and other wonderful stuff! I guess I'm proud to say that I'm making real inroads in this area. :)
I was going to add mixology to this list so that I could sound like a sophisticated barista/barwench. But, I thought twice because it might make me seem more like a lush. Which I am not. Usually.
Feast your eyes on some gorgeous shit from my quarantine-era-garden below. Enjoy.
