Having a wide variety of interests and hobbies begins by taking opportunities to explore and discover the town, the state or world that you live. As a child living in Wexford, Pennsylvania, I was fortunate to have parents, grandparents and other relatives give me many opportunities of exposure and insight to try various hobbies. Their passions inspired me, their motivation and encouragement empowered me, to continue learning, growing and expanding my tastes and interests.
Does it excite you to try an ethnic food with ingredients you haven't tried before? Does playing a musical instrument sound like fun, even though you will have to practice to excel? Do you enjoy learning about historical or archaeological discoveries? Perhaps, one of your interests has many facets or stages to the learning process, especially when it comes to making a craft or refinishing an old piece of furniture.
What is your artistic style? Do you enjoy modern, traditional, transitional or perhaps art nouveau? Your decorating style enhances your mood, inspires or calms you, motivates you to be creative or logical. Your choice of colors gives you direction, while the way you place your furniture in your home can create a feeling of permanency, flexibility, depth, and culture. Do you enjoy fresh smelling scents, candles or potpourri simmering? What do you want to feel when you step into your home after returning from a long and difficult day at work? Can you smell fresh scents, reminiscent of clean air, pine, and leather or a floral aroma, taking you back to the memories of running through a field of fragrant flowers?
Do you find yourself being drawn to blues, greens and yellows or rich, lustrous reds, oranges, and browns? Living a few hundred miles from the beach, you may decide to redecorate a room or rooms in your home to fit one of your favorite vacation destinations. A trip to the local zoo with camera in tote will find you snapping pictures of the most gorgeous creatures with devastating crowns of color. On numerous occasions, my homes have been inspired by such creatures, such as the gold crowned crane. The intensity of its colors creates a calming, inspiring and relaxing atmosphere in my home.
Moving to a new town or state, whether it is 700 miles away or 4000, the opportunities for finding new hobbies are endless, as long as your mind is open to the risks of new experiences. Along the way, you will find out new things about yourself, your tastes and your style. Depending on where you are moving to, and where you are from, culture shock can set in quickly, particularly if you have a hard time adjusting to the new way of life. It can be a confusing and bewildering time, particularly if you are a northerner moving to the south.
Joining local groups to quell the long and quiet after work hours, can help ease the transition from home to your new area. Find a local singles or couples organization or a church that you feel comfortable going to. Think about what you like to do. The answer tells you where to start. There are book and poetry clubs, dinner, wine and beer tastings, pool and holiday parties, traveling to festivals and events, and tours through historical communities. If you like sports, check out marathons, walking, pets, tennis, ping-pong, or Bunco, just to name a few.
If by chance there isn't a group that interests you, create one! There may be others who are too timid or don't have the time to organize one. Advertise on the community board at your housing development or at your company, if it is allowed, on , or the classifieds in your local paper. Are there any clubs or associations in your field of practice or industry that you can join? Many of these professional organizations have charity balls and holiday galas, another perfect time to meet people and learn about your area. A social networking site called , is a great starter and most cities have several of these groups going on. Most of the groups are free, although a handful of them charge a nominal fee.
If you enjoy collecting items, there are plenty of estate, garage and moving sales in any area to peruse the new finds and learn your way around the streets and towns. After work, if possible, take a drive around to see the sights around your office. You may seek out a new bakery, a specialty-clothing store, a gourmet coffee shop, a outdoor gear place or a Mediterranean restaurant. Perhaps you are looking for better deals on outdoor, hunting, clothing or equipment. Check out the mom and pop stores first, as you will find or can negotiate a better deal.
Gardening activities do not have to cease just because you live in an apartment or do not have a balcony. Growing seeds near a sunlit window will allow you to plant a variety of containers with herbs, flowers and vegetables. Having a small porch or balcony that receives sunlight for most of the day are great for dwarf container plants, but this depends on the region in which you live. Wouldn't it be a treat to wake up in your home and open the door to your balcony to find several mandarin oranges or a small bunch of grapes in a pot ready to be picked for breakfast? If you tire of having an abundance of fruits or veggies, you can give them away, freeze or can them. There are books that provide you with the basics to gardening in an apartment that will be of great help to you. You don't want to get in over your head or overwhelmed with too many details and directions or unrealistic expectations.
Taking your hobbies and interests to the next level may involve traveling or finding available resources online and checking out material at the library. Talks, shows, seminars, and networking with people who share your common interests are chances for further exploration. Who knows, you may find another interest along the way that inspires you.
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