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Update on Finding a Hobby

A few months ago I posted about trying to find a hobby.  I honestly haven't made much progress on that.  I thought this week with my time off would be a good time to really start exploring some of those things.  I decided to start by reviewing the original list and updating it/narrowing it down some.  The original post and list can be found here.

After reviewing it, I have narrowed it down further from 25 to 10. I have also made some notes on a few of them.


  1. Archery - I like the idea of this, but I think it is a really expensive hobby.  I'm leaving it on the list for now, but I don't know if it will ever happen.
  2. Board Games/Gaming - I'm combining this one with Entertaining, because for me these two go together.  I think I will try to start up a monthly game night.  People can come over to our place and we will play games and hang out. 
  3. Dancing - I could start belly dancing again.  Lessons are still ongoing.
  4. Hiking-Yes, I miss hiking.  I don’t know that I can camp anymore because of back issues, but maybe I could start taking a monthly day hiking trip.
  5. Learning a foreign language-Yes please!  I'm starting to review Japanese.  This one is directly related to my life as I am going to Japan in December.  Although  I don't know if I will become fluent in Japanese.
  6. Playing an instrument (clarinet or violin) - I have a clarinet so I would really like to do this, but lessons are pricey.  However, I did spend several hundred dollars on the clarinet so maybe I should do it....
  7. Running - I would really like to run a 5K.  I get injured every time I start training for this though.  Maybe the 1 millionth time is the charm?
  8. Tennis - This is a maybe.  I would have to find somewhere and someone to play with.  I doubt I can convince Ben.
  9. Yoga - There are several yoga studios in town.  Again, this is a money and time issue.  I could have so many hobbies if I was rich!!!!
  10. Fencing - This is extremely pricey, but there is a studio that teaches close by.  

Digging a little deeper into some of the hobbies (the ones that require lessons/money):

Archery - lessons start at about $100 in my area.  This does not include gear.  I'm not ruling it out, but it will go on the back burner for now.

Dancing - At DanceFX in Athens, Georgia, I could take Burlesque at 3 PM on Sundays.  There are other options, but this is the only class that appeals to me.  Prices are $50-$65/month depending on how long the class is.  

At Canopy I can take Trapeze dance, but wouldn't be able to start until Summer is over and they are also quite pricey at ~$150 for a 10 week session.  

At the Healing Arts Center I can do Belly Dancing Mondays at7:15 for $60 for 6 weeks or $14 drop in.  This is the one I have done before. 

Clarinet - At Chick Piano I can get lessons for $25 for a 30 minute session and a $20 one time registration fee.  I would also need to purchase a cleaning and care kit for m clarinet and a music stand and I'm sure a music book.  However, This might be doable if I can space out my lessons to every other week or even every 3 weeks.  I could even do once a month if they would let me.  I would learn very slowly at that rate, but since I'm just doing it for my own enjoyment I don't necessarily think that would be a bad a thing.  

There are a few other options, but this seems to be the most reasonably priced.

Tennis - Athens-Clarke offers tennis clinics for $15, but since I would be doing this as hobby only I could probably just buy a racket and some balls and find someone to play with.  The finding someone to play with would be the hard part.

Yoga - I have several options for Yoga in Athens.  I'm going to focus on 2 different studios and only point out the classes that work for my schedule.

At Five Points Yoga I have several options:
Tuesdays at 6:15 I could do Flow Yoga
Wednesdays at 4:30 Gentle Flow, 6:15 Hot Power Flow, 6:30 Alignment Yoga
Fridays at 4:30 Flow Yoga, 6:00 Gentle Flow
Prices are $99 for monthly unlimited, or $115 for 10 class card, or $17 drop in, or $65 for 5 class card.  Assuming I would only go once per week I could do the 5 class card which would be $13/class.  They also offer a new client $40 card so I could take 2 weeks and try lots of different classes.

Keep It Simple Yoga has Hatha Yoga at 6:00 on Tuesdays or Gentle Yin Yoga at 6:00 on Fridays.  For me, the best pricing would be the $13/drop in.  

There is another yoga studio in Athens, but a lot of the classes are on hold for summer.  

And finally:
Fencing -   Athens Fencing Club offers lessons at $110 month with a beginner special.  All equipment is included in rental.   Its a maybe.  I think it would be fun, but I just don't know if I can afford it.  

I have all the information compiled.  The next step is deciding and when and what I will try.  I will create a schedule for that and update it soon.  

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