Hope this isn't a thread already, my quick search didn't turn one up so I thought I'd ask...what do you do, besides backpack?
Living in the Sunshine State is great and all, but it doesn't leave all that much in the way of backpacking. Some nice sections over by Ocala, but not much to write home about.
My other big hobby, which I take even more joy in than backpacking (off with my head?), is surfing. But I like to get out and canoe, play ice hockey, slackline, and boulder/rock climb.

What else are you guys into?

Edited by dbriggs9 on 07/29/2011 15:07:30 MDT.

*Racquetball
*Nature Photograpy
*Woodworking
*Birding
*Reading natural history and nature writing
*Avoid attending social events with my wife

My favorite hobby by far: traveling.

But one can't really be constantly on the road or on the trail (that can get expensive) -- so I spend most of my time on my third hobby: surfing the net and generally doodling around on the computer.

Edited by ben2world on 07/29/2011 16:51:31 MDT.

I'd tell you, but some of my other hobbies so not PC that it would offend the sensibilities of forum members.

Prehistoric technology, metalsmithing, and lapidary....

I combine my avocation (backpacking to those dark, dark, non-light-polluted skies with my vocation, astronomy. The combination is stargazing, which is why my trail name is . . .

Stargazer

Skiing in the winter and playing guitar in my down time....well trying to anyway. Keep meaning to learn how to sail, but never seem to get around to it.

Edited by csteutterman on 07/29/2011 17:21:51 MDT.

"I'd tell you, but some of my other hobbies so not PC that it would offend the sensibilities of forum members"

Aw c'mon, Joe. We haven't had a good flame war since Dean F. deployed to Afghanistan.

Besides backpacking..
Crafts like knitting, sewing and felting. Taking pictures, but I would not quite call it photography. Cutting with a torch and a little welding. Plants, wild ones, planted ones, to eat or not. Cooking and feeding people. Going to the flea market. Learning a new language. Hiking. Biking (again). Not having a TV helps..

I tend my herb garden, work on my plantation of blueberries (I am obsessed with them). I like to sew, I cook a lot (my specialty is vegan baking and regular candy making) and I blog about my family life/cooking (www.gazingin.com). I like to go on road trips with my family. I herd my children. I love going to farmers markets. I love walking on rail to trails, even like biking them. We go 4 wheeling as well and enjoy shooting as well.

I'd say Match.com but a hobby is something you're supposed to get enjoyment out of, right?

Cycling - great enjoyment from that (and it predates my backpacking). When I get the time, bicycle touring (have toured Scotland, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Arizona, (then) E. Germany and a bit of Vermont on my bike, heading to northern Germany in a couple of weeks for an 8-day ride with a buddy.

Collecting vegetarian/vegan cookbooks. I have a bunch. I might actually go back to being a vegetarian some day and I want to be ready.....

Figuring out what I have that I'd rather have in cuben, and then getting someone to make it for me.

Mountain biking, snowshoeing/snow-sports when days get short, and beachwalking when visiting family in California. Hope to add photography to the list.

Traveled for several years (1 or 2 weeks at a time) and enjoyed it, but stationary for my new job, so trying gardening/horticulture.

I'd like to travel over longer time periods but conflicts with buying a home- just can't see leaving for months while simultaneously paying a mortgage.

Edited by hknewman on 07/31/2011 00:09:30 MDT.

Other hobbies...
Chinchilla ranching,
Walking the dogs twice daily,
Trying to find out what you can't cook in a wok,
Introduction to Sahidic Coptic by Thomas Lambdin,
Taking care of computer problems for family & friends (gotta quit saying "yes, I'll look at it").

Gardening (vegetables and yard)
Home repair and maintenance
Exercising at the gym
Movies
Making my own gear

Work/chores cut into my free time, like for so many others.

MYOG. Seem to be busier with this during the winter. Long nights, not so nice outside.

Car camping, year round.

Always building, fixing, modifying something. Could be rebuilding an engine to building a boat, or even making curtains.

Keep busy.

music (ex musician)
cooking
wine
baseball
football

hiding from my wife so I don't have to do chores

Play soccer 4 times per week
Referee soccer games
Watch soccer on TV
Read about soccer on the internet
Movies
Reading, mostly history and biographies.....


Wanted to get this in.........before I leave to attend a soccer game tonight......

So Dave, I take it you like soccer....................................


had to get that in!

Well... I have loads of hobbies but what I have time for varies depending what is going on. Right now I am dealing with a 13 month toddler who's walking and I am running around after. There is a great deal of overlap with my work, as I am lucky enough to have a job that is my passion.

Here are the hobbies I enjoy fairly frequently...

- canoeing (this is a big part of my life - moreso than backpacking right now with having such a wee little one in tow)
- writing (aside from recipes/cookbooks which is part of my career I write for pleasure)
- photography and photo editing
- sketching
- reading books
- cycling
- day hiking
- yoga, pilates
- cooking (also baking, drying foods, making cheese and yogurt, bread making and pasta making)

And these I do as time permits...

- needlework (I prefer difficult projects that have 80 to 100 colors/shades and it becomes painting with thread)
- making beaded snowflakes
- gardening (although this year I seem better at growing weeds and dead grass)
- sewing (and making gear)
- painting (not the house kind but watercolors, acrylic, oils - on paper or canvas)
- antiquing (I love to go to antique shops and I collect old keys and teacups)

Edited by Laurie_Ann on 07/30/2011 19:04:51 MDT.

Let's See...
Playing with my dogs
Hanging with my Husband
Playing video games
Reading
Watching Documentaries and any channel to Discovery
Shopping (usually for backpacking stuff)
Researching new backpacking gear and clothes, of course!