What to do to fill in the time

[jennypenny]

@HSpencer--So glad to see you post! You should post an update on what you've been up to.

@pss, Aug_E_Expat--I hate socializing for the sake of socializing. It needs a purpose. I do a lot of volunteer work, but I don't do anything year-round because it does become a job and gets stale. I find I do best with short-term and seasonal activities like the Thanksgiving food drive, retreat weekends, helping with races, and working the CSA farm. The one long-term commitment I have (teaching a religious class) has new participants every year and summers off. Both help keep it from getting stale. Some people I know teach or volunteer at schools. Others mentor to various groups like disadvantaged kids or small-business owners. Another family we know takes in exchange students every year. Where I live, history buffs keep busy by volunteering to be a docent at a museum or participating in reinactment activities.

Yesterday, I went to an event honoring a former big pharma exec who spent the last 20 years mentoring to high school girls, encouraging them to enter business and science fields and helping them with internships and job placement. He said it kept him connected with his former world in big pharma, but in a way that wouldn't kill him and was much more rewarding.

Volunteering can fill that void you describe, but you have to be honest about what you're good at and what you like. I've always been bothered by people being hungry, so I gravitate towards those activities. Honestly, I have no problem filling my day with personal projects and enrichment. I try and limit the time I give to other activities to two days per week. I don't think I have the same need for socializing that you describe though.

[Tyler9000]

I wonder what percentage of school-aged children dread summer breaks from school. With their basic needs (food, shelter, utilities) covered for them, they must be paralyzed with fear of what on earth they will do all day when not provided a desk, a schedule, and endless math problems to fill their time. The older ones, especially, were thankfully broken of their childish recess habit years ago and more fully understand the corrosive impact that non-productivity has on the brain. Luckily, a rare few may be able to score summer school or full time summer jobs, but the rest will be left to their own devices to ride their bikes, build a startup lemonade stand, or sit in the park talking with one another. I hope they're OK.

(end audition for the Onion)

I think fear of free time is natural and real. However, I believe it's a symptom of years of creative atrophy. Kids live for freedom, yet over time we're worn down and conditioned to fear it, and when we do experience it after a long lapse it can be painful at first. Like waking up from the Matrix, the muscles you haven't used in years may be sore for a while. But stick with it and exercise the creativity you were born with, and you'll never look back.

[riparian]

I don't even have a job and I don't have enough time for all the things.

If you're bored build a house, change an unjust law, take care of a destitute elder, go to grad school, do research, write books, grow and hunt all your food, tan hides, sew a quilt, cut wood to last a few winters, volunteer, etc.

[HSpencer]

@Jacob and @Jennypenny

Nice to be on again, and I am amazed at your remembering me from the past. Hoping your all doing very well and thanks for not having a "fruit basket upset" over my "intended" comical, but possibly seeming stupid post!!!!
After all, for many of you, the worst that can happen is to have to once again put up with me!!!

Cheers
Herb Spencer

[sshawnn]

After all, for many of you, the worst that can happen is to have to once again put up with me!!!

Cheers
Herb Spencer

Ha! You have been missed. I look forward to reading your rants again as a way to "fill in the time."

[McTrex]

Welcome back HSpencer,

Always nice to see old-timers (forum-wise ) back and to read what they've been up to.

[leeholsen]

there's all sorts of stuff to do.

learn multiple languages, learn a musical instrument.

find somethings you'd like to try. for instance, my goal is to retire someplace near a mountain adn/or lake and i could see myself taking part time work on a golf course, yacht club or retail shop. i've always loved gemstones and could easily see myself working a year part time in some rock shop learning about all the rocks, gemstones and geodes.

this is the great part about ere(and the internet), is you can search for things and try things out until you find things that you'd like to do every day instead of what you have to do. i like programming but would much rather play trumpet every day; maybe you'll fund out you'd much rather play the violin every day.

[retiredat47]

I have a home-based business that can keep me as busy as I want, and I also do community service and volunteer work. Even though I live in an apartment, I also have a container garden during the warmer months.