I'm triggered to write this post after seeing a friend posted a photo of this Panda Lego sort of puzzle thing she bought. She wrote that it helped in getting distracted from the echoes in life. I told her that I want it too! And when I want something, I just have to get it. But of course, she bought it from a special shop and I'm too far from civilization at the moment. Ordering it online will take weeks and waiting, that it may arrive or not, will just give me all the stress and worry.
Anyway, this is not just about the toy. It just makes me think of other fun things that I can do that don't really require me to actually have friends or spend a lot of money. Things that I can do by myself. Things that I can do to avoid overthinking at night and eliminate those evil idle time. This time, I just want some variations. I am looking for other things that will spice up my domestic living which doesn't necessarily have to do with being with people.
Some of my favorite activities (free or cheap) that I enjoy doing on my own:
Cycling to the beach to see the sunset or walk along the shore - this is by far my favorite afternoon activity. It's that time of the day to unplug, take it slow, and get away from my keyboard. I like taking photos of the stunning sunset and post motivational quotes for my Instagram page too.
Cooking - a lot of people in this town think that cooking something grand is such a selfish thing. "What's the celebration?", "Are you going to eat just all by yourself?", "Would you share with us?". I get this small talk from the nearby store. Sometimes it's fine but sometimes it secretly annoys me. I am just being polite. Anyway, so I just answer, ahh yes, I will eat these alone for days. And I like cooking healthy meals too because it makes me feel really good. I am also thinking of doing something like #sundaybigbreakfastsunday or something when I will cook some big breakfast, like an English breakfast, Mexican breakfast, Vietnamese breakfast, French toasts, pancakes and eggs, and all kinds of breakfast from all over the world. Then I'll take a photo and post how I eat good food alone and there's nothing wrong with it.
Reading books - I'm guilty as I bought a lot of books that I haven't finished reading until now. Reading has been my favorite hobby since I was a kid. It takes me away from all the pain of life and lets me immerse myself in the characters of the book. These days, my Feedly app lets me read interesting articles and annoying news before going to bed, but I kind of miss holding an actual book. Something that doesn't need to be charged or won't be stolen out there. To distract me from all the real-life responsibilities and anxieties, maybe it's time to take a book to the beach and start really reading.
Watching movies - I don't have a TV by choice and for years now. Watching movies is something that I do in moderation. I only watch a movie whenever I'm done with everything or I've been productive for the whole day. It's kind of my way to reward myself. Otherwise, if I will just watch TV the whole day, it will just make me feel guilty. It's bad for my mental and physical health too. Not having a TV or Netflix subscription actually helps me to stay curious. There are just way too many things to do outside in nature or to try in this short life. The sky's the limit!
Gardening - my friend asked me how come I don't get bored now that I don't really have a proper job or anything. And how come I've been able to live on my own away from everyone else. I say, gardening. The kind of happiness you get from living simply. I don't have a grand garden, yet, but I like having some plants around to take care. Gardening lets me do something outdoors, it's tiring yet fulfilling. It helps me get away from the mechanical things and other conveniences of modern life, not to mention that I have something free from my backyard to add to my dish.
Blogging - this is part of the routine now. The only way to feel good about my day is to write. I can get things off my chest and bravely share my woes to the world. And every day, there's always something to write about. Living close to nature helps me reflect deeply and pour my creative juices through writing. It's not just a hobby, I also make money off it. Writing here on Steemit helps me earn some cryptocurrency, and for more than a year now. I just wish for STEEM or Bitcoin to go up to ease my anxiety of paying the rent and bills. We are all waiting here, aren't we?
Washing My Scooter - Okay I know it sounds mundane to some but I actually like it. I like my scooter to look slick and new all the time. I have to clean all the mud and dirt thoroughly that came from riding the rough roads around here. It feels weird because washing my scooter makes me feel like a man. It's like being obsessed with something that does not have to do with someone. This is now one of my new hobbies!
Diving - I like scuba diving but I admit it's an expensive hobby. If I have clients who will dive, I can easily join them because my partner dive centers luckily let me dive for free. But, I can always grab my mask and fins to snorkel or free dive somewhere else. There's nothing like being in the deep and not breathing for a moment. Underwater is addicting and surreal.
Here are some of the other things I'm thinking of adding to my simple living lifestyle.
Crossword puzzle - this hobby sounds granny. I used to enjoy helping my grandfather solve crossword puzzles in the newspaper back in the day. Now I like to have a crossword puzzle book or something to bring with me anywhere like to the bar or coffee shop downtown where I can sit, avoid eye contact, and stretch my mind for a while. I think it would be fun!
Jigsaw puzzle - I think this is a wonderful and engrossing activity. I want to spread the puzzle on the kitchen table and just solve it every night. It would be nice if I can find something for free or something that I can rent. Maybe I should start buying and rent it out afterward, for other misanthropes and introverts out there. I'm just not sure if there would be any of this type in this community though. Everyone seems to love each other (bitterness there!).
Start a natural collection - there are lots of rocks, leaves, dead corals around here. Maybe I should start something like a natural collection. Then I'll start recording, taking photographs, and identifying each sample. I think this would let me get busy outdoors, visit different beaches or other places. It would be interesting!