Unpopular opinion: walking around a city park with a thermos of coffee counts as a hobby

I was sitting at home last Tuesday staring at my empty wallet after paying the electric bill. My youngest was napping and I had 45 minutes of free time. So I filled up an old thermos with diner coffee I made at home, walked three blocks to the city park downtown, and just sat on a bench watching dogs chase squirrels. Did it again Thursday. Then Saturday morning. Now I do it twice a week. Costs me maybe 50 cents in coffee grounds. No gear to buy. No membership. Just a bench and a warm cup. Anyone else do stuff like this or am I just describing being old?

2 comments

2 Comments

robin83613d ago

Used to be one of those people who thought hobbies had to produce something or involve buying a bunch of gear... You know, like knitting a scarf or building a model airplane. Then last spring my car broke down and I was stuck at home with nothing to do but stare at the backyard fence. Grabbed a mug of cheap brew and sat on the porch steps watching the neighbor kids play tag. Did it the next day too. Now I get why people like this. It's not about being old or lazy. It's just quiet time with your own thoughts and a warm drink. No pressure to finish anything or be good at something.

lee.lucas14d ago

Absolutely embrace it. I started doing basically the same thing but with a beat-up book from the library and a thermos of instant hot chocolate during the winter. The bench has become my throne. Nobody bothers me, the squirrels put on a show, and I've learned the names of the regular dogs just from listening to their owners yell at them. It sounds ridiculous but it's genuinely the most relaxing part of my week now. The low cost and zero prep work just make it even better.