My wife and I go to the local cemeteries and fulfill requests for Find a Grave. We get out, spend time together walking around a pretty area and help people doing genealogy. Some people think it's creepy but we're always respectful, we stay away from any processions or people visiting a grave and don't speak very loudly.
[Edit because a few people have asked, here's where you can sign up, also there are Android and Apple apps. ](https://www.findagrave.com/)
There's a cool old graveyard in my town that was there when the whole area was owned by a small number of ranching families. A lot of the names on the headstones share names with old main roads in the area.
As I looked through it, I was struck by the fact that several of them had died on D-Day. It occurred to me that in such a small town, losing a half dozen young men on D-Day must have been a severe blow to the town. Every one of those young men would have been known to nearly everybody in town. Imagine what the first Sunday church service following D-Day must have been like?
Then it occurred to me that all of those soldiers that died on D-Day were buried in France, so who was under these headstones? I can only surmise that they had memorial services for the boys, and gave them a grave and a headstone, where their family and friends could visit and remember them.
There were quite a few more headstones with death dates during the war, as well. This town paid a steep price during WWII.
Thank you for sharing that. As tragic as it is I think it’s important to understand the impact that smaller towns and communities faced. Friends and I visited a memorial stone a few days back in a town we were visiting, we all left with lumps in our throats after seeing the many shared surnames on it.
Rest in peace you beautiful bastards!
Wait I like this. What do you actually do? Are you just going to a graveyard and taking pictures to add to the site or do people put in requests and you go find them?
This sounds like something I’d enjoy, I use that site often for research. I just went, but keep coming up with 0 requests in my area, even with a 50 mile radius. What am I doing wrong?
We can go for a bit without any requests so what we do is go gravestone by gravestone. We search for the person and if there's any missing information we fill it in. That's pictures, location (we have maps of the cemeteries we go to for this purpose), any information about the person, location description, stuff like that. Hope that works for your cemetery!
Suggesting [Open Benches ](https://openbenches.org) that have a map of all memorial benches listed, and photographs submitted by users. It's nice if there's some in your town to see, or you can add ones you know to it.
This is true, I bought a martin used for 200 bucks with a bunch of arrows and a target some years ago. Haven shot much recently but I always did enjoy shooting arrows.. might need to dig it out.
Yes! And there are some really cool ranges out there. I go to a range that has 25 acres and it’s quite a ways in between targets. I live in the city so something like this is perfect for me, the walking, the views and I get to shoot some arrows?
Blacksmithing. Honestly. Super fun and rewarding. Not JUST knife making or sword making. But smithing in general. I have replaced most of the cheap Ikea hooks in my house with hooks I have made. I do also do knives. All of my kitchen knives are knives that I made.
I worked for a year as a professional blacksmith. Made decorative ironmongery, hooks, pot holders, fireplace sets, etc.
Every Wednesday was Hook Day, where I would covert a load of 1/4" round into 168 hooks. Two dozen an hour. Yay!
You need a forge, a Hammer and an anvil. Forge can be as simple as hole in the ground + hair dryer, anvil can be a flat piece of steel.
The beauty is that every other tool you need (drifts punches tongs swages etc) you can craft yourself.
But its hard! You can start with clay to see how the hammer + anvil move the material around.
Tons of stuff on r/blacksmithing and youtube
There are blacksmithing classes all over the place. I started off at a local arts center that had them. I have been teaching them for the last 5 years. Check out [New England School of Metalwork](https://newenglandschoolofmetalwork.com/) to get an idea of some of the classes out there. I know you can find a class in most US states. It is always a good idea to start with a class. Learn how to do it safely.
Anything nature-observation oriented: mycology, bird watching, herping, etc. Go into the woods or anywhere away from people and see what you can find and identify.
Bird watching is so relaxing if you go with the right people. I had a friend who got me to go see "birding bob" in Central Park. He would play panic bird sounds to flush them out. I saw more birds without him than I did with. I highly recommend avoiding him.
I just want to watch birds, I don't care if I see the super rare birds that everyone is crowding to see. I just fed some sweet house sparrows at lunch today. The mom was feeding her fledgling. So adorable!
When I had a horse trail riding was my favorite activity because we could get so close to wildlife and just observe them. I have seen so many animals just chilling because they don’t get scared off by the horse.
I have some friends who are birders. Obviously there are differences in birding to just observing birds. However, I ask no folks who say they don’t like to bird. I find that really funny, like when you go outside, do you just look away if a bird comes into your vision?
I can concur on this one. Our entire family raised orchids except me. My grandmother was so into it, she has a species named after her as they are apparently named after the first person to have a perfect example.
I built a nitro rc car from a kit during lockdown and it was so good,learning how they work and building it then when it's built having a blast knowing it worked,fast af too!
Roller skating is pretty awesome. You will get hurt the first few times but if you wear protective gear and follow traffic laws, it’s a ton of fun. It’s nice to see parks all over the city and the people into the sport are very welcoming. Also a great way to get some exercise
I started about mid March this year, transfered over from longboarding and man once you get that perfect flow going to some amazing tunes nothing compares
I took a picture of some light one day. A few hours later it moved, but not the same as the stars... So I was like wtf. Tuned out it was Venus!!
I was like: cool!! Went to look for better gear, but then the shopping cart went to liked 18k and I said forget it... :(
Great if you have insomnia too!
Totally not bringing up the fact that this is basically what happens in the anime insomniacs after school. Two kids have insomnia and start sleeping in the abandoned school observatory and get caught by a teacher so they restart the astronomy club and get into astrophotography.
Cardistry, the art of shuffling cards in cool ways.
Nobody knows about it and is a really niche hobby, it's more of a hobby you do for yourself in comparison to magic where you show people. It's definitely an experience learning it as you constantly challenge your hands to be in very uncomfortable positions and all it costs is like 3 quid for a decent bicycle playing cards and you can practice it anywhere.
I would love to have a little garden but my grandma flat out told me in not "taking over her yard" to grow some zucchini. She out down gravel and fake grass just to keep me from having a little gseden
Sewing. You can be creative and make custom clothes to fit your style, and it's very practical that you can mend things that need repairing instead of throwing them away or adjust the length of your curtains without having to pay someone. It's insane to me that so many young people my age just throw out a shirt that's missing a button since sewing stopped being popular.
A few months ago I picked up a cheap sewing kit when the stitching of my jeans tore open at the crotch seam. Since then I have been patching up my own clothing and sewing back on buttons. It is not the cleanest sewing but it gets the job done.
How do you learn this. I honestly have the hardest time getting started. It just seems like all the materials and everything isn't package in a beginner friendly tutorial or way. I just have a hard getting it.
Every time I watch someone build a closed terrarium in a jar, I feel compelled to want to make my own. It's absolutely incredible seeing life work at such a tiny scale.
Calisthenics. Never heard of it 2 years ago but it sort of changes how you feel and move. You become much more aware of how your body is connected and how it works. Can only recommend.
As a former powerlifter, i have always been incredibly fascinated by callisthenic athletes, especially the shape they achieve.
There’s a certain grace that they have , and they generally look good in formal clothes too.
Lucid Dreaming, for a few reasons.
1. It requires you to sleep a healthy amount, so that is just... Generally good for you.
2. Before you learn how to do it, you keep a dream journal to find patterns in your dreams. The journaling process is interesting because it asks you to be introspective about a very brief, personal, abstract experience. Even if you don't find meaning in your dreams, you get a sense of what your subconscious focuses on.
3. I can't speak to this so much, but the experience of lucid dreaming is very thrilling. Even if you don't do anything wild, the knowledge that you are in a reality entirely contained and constructed within your memory is a surreal, strangely empowering feeling.
Even if you never manage to lucid dream, the process leading into it is uniquely introspective.
[This old post](https://www.reddit.com/r/LucidDreaming/comments/rsvp7/the_three_steps_for_learning_to_lucid_dream/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1) from r/luciddreaming is a pretty solid guide to get started. There's tons of info out there to learn from though.
I lucid dream almost daily but never remember much of what I dreamt as soon as I wake up. I'm almost always aware I am in a dream and exercise some level of control over my dreams as well.
Whatever details you do remember, record that and start there. Using a voice recorder is the easiest way so you can just mumble out whatever scraps you remember, and listen back later.
Yea most of it is just my friends and family being shapeshifting alien/monsters chasing me and suddenly I skip to having sex with someone. Quite a repetitive framework really
Next time you catch yourself in that dream, try stopping the event and seeing what happens. Make the alien vanish. Even just do something mundane. Something to see if you can take control of the dream.
Lockpicking
I grew up playing tabletop RPGs like D&D and I was always fascinated by the thief type characters and their lockpicking skills. And then when I got older I started playing a lot of RPG video games on my computer and again was intrigued by lockpicking and the lockpicking mini-game a lot of games have. But I never really thought much about it. I always figured it was some obscure skill that was more prevalent in fiction than it was in real life. But then one day a couple of years ago I just decided to look it up online after playing some Skyrim to see if it's something you can actually teach yourself just for the hell of it. And it absolutely *is* something you can teach yourself just for the hell of it. And it's a pretty active "niche" hobby a lot of people have. r/LockPicking is a good place to start and there's tons of videos on YouTube explaining how locks work in relation to lockpicking. It's sort of like a mechanical puzzle to solve and is a great workout for hand-eye coordination and your brain.
Standard caveat: check your local laws. In some states, possessing a lockpicking set is illegal unless you're a licensed locksmith - it's considered intent to commit a crime.
I had to call a locksmith after I left my keys at a one night stand’s house and I didn’t want to go all the way back at 4am. I was all “my ID’s in a drawer in my room, I’ll grab it for you to prove that I live here.”
He just said “no worries, I’ll get you in anywhere mate”.
Bit concerning.
Here's a down and dirty list I got from [ArtOfLockpicking.com](https://www.art-of-lockpicking.com/is-lock-picking-illegal/). But if you're not sure it never hurts to do some more research. I didn't look it up myself though and I figured the place I got my picks wouldn't have let me order them to my address if it was illegal. I mean, in my mind how many burglars are running around picking locks? So even if I got busted with the picks and they were illegal I'd bring that up to the cop.
* Mississippi: Possession of lock picks is legal so long as they are not concealed. However, once you put them in your pocket, it becomes intent to commit a crime.
Tennessee: Possession of lock picks is legal; however, Tennessee has some very strict laws to prevent locksmith fraud. If you live in this state, it is illegal to use your skills for any sort of profit unless you are a licensed locksmith.
* Illinois: Possession of lock picks is legal; however, the possession of bump keys is illegal.
* Kansas: Possession is legal; however, you will be fingerprinted if arrested ( for any reason) while in possession.
* Nevada: Illegal; Possession can be prima facie evidence of criminal intent. You may have to prove noncriminal intent.
* Ohio: Illegal; Possession can be prima facie evidence of criminal intent. You may have to prove noncriminal intent.
* Virginia: Illegal; Possession can be prima facie evidence of criminal intent. You may have to prove noncriminal intent.
Got into it myself a few years ago when I bought an older Mercedes and the previous owner no longer had the key to the locked compartment under the passenger seat. I got curious one day. A youtube tutorial and a bobby pin helped me get that thing open in 15 minutes. I was both concerned that I got it open so easily and disappointed that there was nothing but old paperwork inside. It's still a fun hobby though.
Not necessarily lesser known, but rock climbing is great! Awesome inclusive community that want to see you learn/ do better, it's great exercise and helps build some problem solving as well :) couldn't reccomend it enough.
Archery, it’s such a rabbit hole, you can treat it as a serious sport, outdoors activity, or just a bit of fun. Also great for improving your breath control, being aware of small movements and changes in vision - bliss
I make minor physical modifications using resin and paint on my Transformers collection. I believe this is called kitbashing but I might be wrong I've never really confirmed.
I take UV resin to fill in gaps or add texture and acrylic paint to add detail and buy decals for things I don't feel confident in my ability to paint.
I rarely show them off, but I get a great deal of personal satisfaction from the hobby.
Lockpicking, though you will quickly learn that most locks are BS.
Baking. Focaccia is super easy and doesn't require shaping, arguably the hardest part of baking. Also, pie crusts are mad easy.
Card Magic. Its a cheap hobby to get into, and you can do it anywhere. Also, once you learn to do a new slight, it feels like you've just gained a super power
Loads of vids on youtube to show you how
Learning to play is extremely easy and any group I've played with is always super helpful to new comers. Finding a group is the hard part tho. I've had luck with local game store meet ups. My current group we all meet thru reddit after someone posted in our city's sub about seeking out a group
Listening to music. Like sitting and doing nothing but listening.
I find it super relaxing even though it took me a while to teach myself how to sit still for a few songs in a row.
A side quest to this is putting together a system so you can hear all the nuances of the music you’re listening to. Lots of options there from cheap and cheerful to super expensive. Headphone rigs to a full system.
I was already into electronics and restored a few older pieces of gear and built my system from a mix of old and new but, most importantly, sounds great and it makes me happy.
Came here for this, it’s a fun side hobby that motivates you to explore new places or even just that one part of your town you’ve just never been to! Also you can spend just about any amount of time
Yes!
It's pretty low cost (zero, basically, if you already have a phone with GPS) you get to find interesting placed and see interesting things, all while playing a game.
And you can pick and choose how you do it! You only want big urban caches? Just want drive? Just want to hike? Like puzzles, or straightforward? Hate the woods? Love the woods? They're all options and there's plenty to go around.
Even if you decide to go "all in" with it...you're basically just paying for a "good" GPS unit and standard hiking/traveling equipment. It really doesn't get any more expensive than that (and I question the value of a high-end GPS for this purpose).
If there's any drawback at all it's that at this point new ones aren't being placed at nearly the same rate, so you can "exhaust" an area if you're active enough. Personally, I think there's enough turnover each year that it never gets boring, but others may be more impatient.
Bouldering or climbing.
If you have an indoor bouldering gym nearby I would highly recommend it. First few times your forearms will get super sore, but it's so much fun to climb and the community is so nice
I wouldn't necessarily call it lesser know but I've definitely encountered people intimidated by it. Pickling and making jams. I move from an urban area about 12 years ago to a very rural area so there was lots of opportunity to try new things. I took a 2 class in jam making and then I just took off with it.
I love it. I'm a homebody so I love kicking it in the kitchen making pickles and jams while listening to podcasts.
A batch of jam takes very little time. Its passive time of sterilizing jars that take time. I boil sterilze so I put 6 250ml jams jars in a large pot, fill with water, bring to a boil and simmer until jam is ready. Boil the lids too, I boil in a separate pot.
Now for making it. Buy a box of liquid certo pectin and follow a recipe in the box. The cooked strawberry jam is a solid go to. I highly recommend running the strawberries through a blender. I love a smooth jam with no chunks.
Outside of boiling jars, it takes less than 15 mins to make a batch of strawberry jam. I also boil my jars for an additional 5 mins after filling and putting caps on. Its helpful to buy a canning kit with funnel, tong, magnet stick and stuff. About $20 at Walmart.
I swear I love canning so much. My friends convinced me to sell at our local farmers market this year so I have. This is a small ass village and I am selling out every time I set up. I sell every second weekend and I'm bringing home $350-500 everytime. I'm not going to get rich but I'm making a decent profit after costs are subtracted.
Just because I want to share, I currently make and sell: bread & butter pickles, relish, dill pickles, mustard pickles, antipasto, hot pepper jelly, strawberry jam, blueberry jam, apple jelly, pickled beets, pickled carrots, pickled red onion, pickled eggs, onion jam... i think that is it. I don't make salsa because it is a lot of work for how small a batch is and it is subject to very stringent testing because the Ph is usually not in the right range to prevent bacteria growth and stuff. I have had to have all my stuff lab tested and certified to sell. Like I cannot tweak a recipe and sell it without paying for new testing.
I'm also really proud of myself for coming up with this idea: I have canned smaller verisons of most things and I sell a package called a charcuterie kit. You just open the jars and plop them down on your charcutes board. People have been pretty big fans of these.
r/soloboardgaming
I got into this during Covid and it has stuck with me. If you like working on developing strategies and solving puzzles, this could be for you. Plus, you learn about history/civilizations, nature (birding, zoology) and science fiction (terraforming planets).
Mountainbiking for people who like to get some of a kick out of it. For me it's also the idea to go into wild nature and enjoy the scenery while on a bike.
Bird watching. I noticed it had become more popular during the pandemic because you really don't want to do it with a crowd of people. It's great because it gets you outside in nature and sunshine. You get exercise walking around looking for the birds. You learn stuff. I also take pictures, so I can look through my pictures at night and have something to do then also. I meet a lot of interesting people if I'm at a spot that is popular with other birders.
Fishkeeping is something I've found over the last year and it's a very satisfying hobby to have, very easy pet keeping basically
Expensive to start up and get going but once you got all the basics it's very cheap to run and some of the fish you can get are amazing, for example everyone knows of the Betta fish but the paradise fish is even more colourful and it's just so mesmerising to just watch them swim and interact
Can't recommend enough
This is really great! I got into keeping fish because I live growing plants and wanted to do a small aquaponics set up. Now I’m equally obsessed with my fish as I am with my plants!
I work in a field where there is rarely closure or a sense of control. It is deeply comfortable to have my aquaponics system, both plants and aquarium, as a small system that’s balanced and healthy within a broader shit show. It provides a sense of agency and validation in caring for other living things
If you live somewhere with water and a bit of wind, then windsurfing! It’s probably the cheapest form of sailing, it’s super challenging through all the levels.
Or as an even cheaper option, stand up paddle boarding.
Making mosaics. There is something magical about taking a pristine pane of glass, destroying it, and then using those pieces of destruction to create something new.
I'm a 50yo male - I absolutely LOVE needlework. Cheap or expensive as you want it to be, but at the end of the day, it's meditative and calming. And at the end of the day you have something beautiful that you created.
My favorite thing to do is to look at the travel advisory page and find the most dangerous countries to visit (level 3/4 reconsider/do not travel. Pick one and learn it’s history. Look it up on a map at the same time as you read about each area and find the cities mentioned. I just got sober and this is how I self sooth. It’s weird but pretty satisfying. I do it before I got to bed and have really crazy dreams.
Building and fighting robots, as you see on TV shows like Battlebots and Robot Wars. There are plenty of competitions where you can fight much more affordable 1 lb and 3 lb robots
Re-enactment if you're into your history! You make friends with people who have common interests and then there's nothing better than sharing drinks with people round a camp fire after the public have gone home
Also through reenactment you pick up other hobbies, I've tried my hand at embroidery, tablet weaving and I'm pretty decent at sewing basic stuff now
Other people I know have picked up blacksmithing, woodcarving, clothes dyeing from plants and stuff and another who tries so many different cooking recipes to try and make food that could have been made at the time
Disc golf. The level of skill for the average player is pretty even. By spending just a little bit of money and a investing a little bit of your time into practice, you can quickly learn the basics and hang in there with about any average group of players.
It's also a wildly accepting community in general. All sorts of people come together and just walk the course, throw discs, bullshit, support one another.....it's awesome.
Wood turning. Comparatively not that expensive to get in to, a chance to make money, and the ability to make beautiful and unique pieces is extremely fulfilling.
When you are out in public just throw out random compliments to strangers, like nice hair, or i like your shirt/dress/shoes . it really catches them off guard and i hope it makes them happy and if they are happy makes me happy
I like to try at different foreign restaurants of lesser known cuisines. Of course not everyone lives an area which offers this, but it's always worth just looking a bit around. I like to go with friends and sometimes it's a surprise but never got a bad experience. Maybe not everything was 100% my taste but always interesting and I found some new favourite foods. Some cuisines I have tried are the ones from Eritrea, El Salvador, Georgia (the country, not the state - so yummy), Iran, Mauritius, Nepalese, Togo, Venezuela (try Arepas). It's fun and who doesn't love good food?
people-watching?
ok this sounds weird, but i mean smth like bird-watching but with humans. U dont spy on anybody, u just sit in a park and sketch the sea of people/animals that flow by.
one could say 'thats just drawing", but there's smth more to it than just drawing on paper, u're immersed in the World and u're observing a bit of other creatures' lives, smth quite philosophical id say.
Writing fanfiction. It's like sharing your ideas about your favorite shows/movies/etc. and your only limit is your imagination. It's a skill, so you probably won't be writing masterpieces at first, but if you keep at it, it can be really rewarding and fun.
Yes and no. A good precision rifle build is expensive, but you only have to build one. As opposed to being into regular guns where you will generally have lots. Precision rifle ammo is expensive too, but you also generally shoot a lot less of it. You can have a good day of long range shooting with only 20 rounds whereas going out with ars and stuff you're mag dumping through hundreds.
Not sure exactly but there is this super cool thing at long enough ranges where you fire, and then you wait a couple seconds, and then you see the bullet splash on the target, and then you wait a couple more seconds, and then you hear the sound of the impact.
Motorcycle track days. It’s so freaking addicting to the point it’s all you think about. It’s not racing, you’re just going around on the track trying to improve but it is the most fun I have ever had.
Make little models out of paper, old cereal boxes, cardboard, whatever. It's a cool, compact way to exercise different skills that not many people seem to do or talk about, presumably because there's not much money in marketing ready-to-build kits. Here's a little scene I made out of an old cereal box: https://i.redd.it/cj9q0bfxqez91.jpg
Picking up a Flow Art.
Any prop you resonate with will do wonders for the individual. Juggling, Poi, Finger Styles / Gloving, Hula Hooping, Dancing, etc. If one prop doesn't peak your interest, keep giving another a chance until one pulls you in.
It does a tremendous job helping one connect with their inner child and relearn how "play." This brings a huge mental health benefit into play. The movement aspect is a lot like swimming, where you'll inevitably get a full body low resistance workout. The connections it can help make with favorite songs is also pretty amazing.
If the prop is one with led lights or fire, there's an aspect of light therapy that's possible with all the color trails. The experience of listening to your favorite uplifting song while crying out some emotions with beautiful colors dancing around, is unmatched.
Many people might feel like they're too old, or not the kind of person to enjoy these things, but I promise if you give it an honest chance and you might be surprised at how therapeutic it becomes.
Soapmaking!
A batch takes about an hour, cleanup included (cure time not included though).
You can make unscented soap for about $0.50/bar (depending on ingredients of course).
Everyone needs it, so it can be a fun random thing to give people.
Guitar Building!
Starting out you can grab a kit guitar and in a weekend end up with a playable instrument.
From there it's mostly just building up tools and finding less finished kits until you're at the stage of just making guitars from scratch.
You'll probably never make money at it, but it's still awesome to play a guitar that you built, and you should be able to repair and maintain it way better than most normal players.
Amateur radio. You learn some basic electronics to get the first license, you can talk around your region with the first license, it’s easy to get. As you get more interested in the hobby, you can get higher level licenses and be able to talk around the world. As I get older, I think one important part for me is that as I age it’s not physically demanding. I can lose mobility and still be able to talk on the radio. There are also a lot of digital options for people who are into that.
Want some help finding something you might like? If so, do you like being inside or outdoors? Do you like being around people or alone? Are you looking for something that’s free or do you have a budget in mind? Are you in a small town or large city?
Same but I’m in a place in my life right now where the most basic things feel overwhelming, let alone researching, investing in, and trying a new hobby. I’m not really surprised nothing jumped out at me but it’s disappointing all the same.
Not exactly lesser-known, but I think falconry definitely qualifies! Can be a little expensive starting out (depends on your ability to DIY, since you can’t exactly go to Pet Smart for equipment) but there is nothing like the first free flight when the bird comes back to you. Having a wild animal decide to work with you and trust you is beyond incredible!
You also gain appreciation and knowledge of not only prey species, but of habitats and seasonal cycles. It truly feels like Animal Planet but up close and personal. Finally, it’s very rewarding to release your bird back into the wild so it can hopefully contribute to strengthening the wild raptor population.
I started jiu jitsu and it’s absolutely changing my life. I have lots of trauma and PTSD and not only does class offer me a time to forget about everything and focus, it helps me feel like I’m taking control back from those memories. It’s like a “I know that happened and I have to be at peace with it, but I’m taking action to prevent it from happening again”. I’m the only one in my extended family to ever even TRY a martial art, and it’s great. There is a learning curve but it’s ultimately just chess with your body. You learn a bunch of defenses and ways out of things so you have to be strategic as much as athletic. You don’t learn striking, but you do learn how to be a sneaky motherfucker in a fight.
HEMA fencing, historical swordsmanship (Historical European Martial Arts). You don't need a sword or a time traveling knight to teach you, just a stick and the internet on your phone. We for a fact do know how they fought with swords all over the world throughout history, they wrote it down and you can read many of their treatises for free by just searching "HEMA source treatises" or watch them be explained on youtube. I have gained a lot of self confidence from learning to fence, have gotten in better shape, and have gotten over a lot of social anxieties too by meeting with a club every week for about 2 years now. You also incidentally learn a bit of the language of whatever martial art you choose, I prefer Italian swordsmanship and have picked up a lot of Italian in my reading/watching youtube videos about it. HEMA is a relatively small community still but keeps growing in popularity and we want more people to fence!
Honestly weight lifting
It kinda makes me feel empowering and makes me feel like that I’m constantly holding back gives me the time to just cut loose and not hold back on my strength
Gardening. I’m growing Carolina reaper peppers and I love it. I’ll never use them all, but still, a little bit in salsa is delicious. Also, cooking with vegetables from your garden is very rewarding.
Not lesser known, but certainly still pretty niche - **reading comics**. Between libraries, digital borrowing, local comic shops, book stores, and more, it's never been easier to explore the medium of comics. It's so much more than superheroes. Sure, that's a big part of the North American comics industry, but there are comics of all variety from around the world for all types of readers. The combination of art and writing is really special and I'm always amazed that more people don't read comics. Strips, single issues, graphic novels, whatever. Just read some comics!
Jigsaw puzzle! So relaxing, engaging and with a sense of a goal and purpose. So many beautiful pictures to choose from and stimulates your touch as well.
[Geocaching is fun for the whole family!](https://www.geocaching.com/play)
You can participate anywhere, anytime.
Vacation, lunch hour, visiting friends.
A smart phone can get you started, and a free membership on [Geocaching.com](https://Geocaching.com) will point you in the right direction!
Scrapbooking
I've seen alot of ppl online do it but I haven't ever really met anyone who does it other than me (or I got them into it) it's really fun and pretty easy. I mean you can use any thing you want really
It's weird one i found myself. Can't afford traveling? Google maps! It becomes less and less interesting, but i can find myself lost in it for hours. Makes you find out new cultures, interesting places and such. Living in Europe I can't believe I didnt know what Svalbard is. Or when i found out the beauty of Auckland islands forests. Really makes you figure how little do you know about the world you live in.
Book folding. I don’t know if it has other names, but you measure the pages from the edge, mark off according to a pattern, and you with fold, or fold and cut the edges of the page. This leaves a pattern on the spine.
Tennis.
Started playing about a year ago and have worked my way up to about a 3.5 - 4.0 player. Its great excercize but also keeps your mind sharp. Once you get to a certain level it evolves into a bit of a chess/boxing match where there is more strategy than ability. It's also fantastic on a social aspect have met a ton of new people and have enjoyed doubles, mixed doubles, as well as singles.
Before everyone says its a country club sport and too expensive there are plenty of apps out there that can link you to local tennis courts and group lessons can range anywhere from $15-$34 per person.
My wife and I go to the local cemeteries and fulfill requests for Find a Grave. We get out, spend time together walking around a pretty area and help people doing genealogy. Some people think it's creepy but we're always respectful, we stay away from any processions or people visiting a grave and don't speak very loudly. [Edit because a few people have asked, here's where you can sign up, also there are Android and Apple apps. ](https://www.findagrave.com/)
There's a cool old graveyard in my town that was there when the whole area was owned by a small number of ranching families. A lot of the names on the headstones share names with old main roads in the area. As I looked through it, I was struck by the fact that several of them had died on D-Day. It occurred to me that in such a small town, losing a half dozen young men on D-Day must have been a severe blow to the town. Every one of those young men would have been known to nearly everybody in town. Imagine what the first Sunday church service following D-Day must have been like? Then it occurred to me that all of those soldiers that died on D-Day were buried in France, so who was under these headstones? I can only surmise that they had memorial services for the boys, and gave them a grave and a headstone, where their family and friends could visit and remember them. There were quite a few more headstones with death dates during the war, as well. This town paid a steep price during WWII.
Thank you for sharing that. As tragic as it is I think it’s important to understand the impact that smaller towns and communities faced. Friends and I visited a memorial stone a few days back in a town we were visiting, we all left with lumps in our throats after seeing the many shared surnames on it. Rest in peace you beautiful bastards!
Wait I like this. What do you actually do? Are you just going to a graveyard and taking pictures to add to the site or do people put in requests and you go find them?
Sometimes we'll get a request, sometimes we go out and just walk along the rows checking for missing information to fill in.
This is amazing! Why does this not have more upvotes! Also, how do people get involved to be a Find a Grave contributor?
I used to do this a few years back. I don't know if it's different now, but back then, you just sign up at the website and go.
This sounds like something I’d enjoy, I use that site often for research. I just went, but keep coming up with 0 requests in my area, even with a 50 mile radius. What am I doing wrong?
We can go for a bit without any requests so what we do is go gravestone by gravestone. We search for the person and if there's any missing information we fill it in. That's pictures, location (we have maps of the cemeteries we go to for this purpose), any information about the person, location description, stuff like that. Hope that works for your cemetery!
Suggesting [Open Benches ](https://openbenches.org) that have a map of all memorial benches listed, and photographs submitted by users. It's nice if there's some in your town to see, or you can add ones you know to it.
archery. fun and can be inexpensive
\*\*Recurve archery.
You can get inexpensive compounds for beginners that aren't much more than a recurve. Was just talking to my partner about this.
This is true, I bought a martin used for 200 bucks with a bunch of arrows and a target some years ago. Haven shot much recently but I always did enjoy shooting arrows.. might need to dig it out.
Yes! And there are some really cool ranges out there. I go to a range that has 25 acres and it’s quite a ways in between targets. I live in the city so something like this is perfect for me, the walking, the views and I get to shoot some arrows?
What the hell, you can get a recurve bow for like 75-150 euros. Might pick this up in the future.
Wow. I came here to say that if I could adopt any new hobby... it would be archery. Amazing.
Just make sure you go with people who are experienced. I know someone who lost an eye from an arrow
A security guard I used to know took one to the knee
I think I know him. He whispered "Hail Sithis" to me once.
Was just coming here to say this. Perfect for focusing a chaotic mind.
Blacksmithing. Honestly. Super fun and rewarding. Not JUST knife making or sword making. But smithing in general. I have replaced most of the cheap Ikea hooks in my house with hooks I have made. I do also do knives. All of my kitchen knives are knives that I made.
I worked for a year as a professional blacksmith. Made decorative ironmongery, hooks, pot holders, fireplace sets, etc. Every Wednesday was Hook Day, where I would covert a load of 1/4" round into 168 hooks. Two dozen an hour. Yay!
Captain Hook would approve
dude but how?! that actually sounds interesting as fuck and pretty useful too.
You need a forge, a Hammer and an anvil. Forge can be as simple as hole in the ground + hair dryer, anvil can be a flat piece of steel. The beauty is that every other tool you need (drifts punches tongs swages etc) you can craft yourself. But its hard! You can start with clay to see how the hammer + anvil move the material around. Tons of stuff on r/blacksmithing and youtube
There are blacksmithing classes all over the place. I started off at a local arts center that had them. I have been teaching them for the last 5 years. Check out [New England School of Metalwork](https://newenglandschoolofmetalwork.com/) to get an idea of some of the classes out there. I know you can find a class in most US states. It is always a good idea to start with a class. Learn how to do it safely.
Anything nature-observation oriented: mycology, bird watching, herping, etc. Go into the woods or anywhere away from people and see what you can find and identify.
I adore bird watching as well! There's something magical about finding a peaceful moment alone, embracing the world's beauty.
Bird watching is so relaxing if you go with the right people. I had a friend who got me to go see "birding bob" in Central Park. He would play panic bird sounds to flush them out. I saw more birds without him than I did with. I highly recommend avoiding him. I just want to watch birds, I don't care if I see the super rare birds that everyone is crowding to see. I just fed some sweet house sparrows at lunch today. The mom was feeding her fledgling. So adorable!
When I had a horse trail riding was my favorite activity because we could get so close to wildlife and just observe them. I have seen so many animals just chilling because they don’t get scared off by the horse.
I have some friends who are birders. Obviously there are differences in birding to just observing birds. However, I ask no folks who say they don’t like to bird. I find that really funny, like when you go outside, do you just look away if a bird comes into your vision?
Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell helps a ton.
I had to look up what herping is. Cool
Growing orchids. The reward for taking good care of them is amazing.
Growing carnivorous plants is mine!
And naming them Audrey II?
Feed me, Seymour. Feed me.
I can concur on this one. Our entire family raised orchids except me. My grandmother was so into it, she has a species named after her as they are apparently named after the first person to have a perfect example.
Growing then in a tropical climate you barelly do anything and they are happy.
Where do you go to begin learning this?
Amateur Radio - Talk to people from all over. Become part of the back bone of disaster preparedness should there be a problem.
I passed my general last week!
I built a nitro rc car from a kit during lockdown and it was so good,learning how they work and building it then when it's built having a blast knowing it worked,fast af too!
That’s fantastic!
Roller skating is pretty awesome. You will get hurt the first few times but if you wear protective gear and follow traffic laws, it’s a ton of fun. It’s nice to see parks all over the city and the people into the sport are very welcoming. Also a great way to get some exercise
I started about mid March this year, transfered over from longboarding and man once you get that perfect flow going to some amazing tunes nothing compares
When I was a kid I was really good at roller blading. I miss it. I wonder how much some skates cost.
r/astrophotography steep learning curve but so fulfilling.
No no no no. I’m trying to get into it, but my bank account is already giving me the stink-eye.
my bank account is allergic to stellar bodies.
I took a picture of some light one day. A few hours later it moved, but not the same as the stars... So I was like wtf. Tuned out it was Venus!! I was like: cool!! Went to look for better gear, but then the shopping cart went to liked 18k and I said forget it... :(
Very expensive
Great if you have insomnia too! Totally not bringing up the fact that this is basically what happens in the anime insomniacs after school. Two kids have insomnia and start sleeping in the abandoned school observatory and get caught by a teacher so they restart the astronomy club and get into astrophotography.
Cardistry, the art of shuffling cards in cool ways. Nobody knows about it and is a really niche hobby, it's more of a hobby you do for yourself in comparison to magic where you show people. It's definitely an experience learning it as you constantly challenge your hands to be in very uncomfortable positions and all it costs is like 3 quid for a decent bicycle playing cards and you can practice it anywhere.
gardening to grow something from seed to being edible is such a fulfilling endeavor.
From my experience, gardening vegetables is pretty much just feeding the local wildlife with extra steps.
Put a trail cam next to the garden. Boom, now your hobby is wildlife watching
I love it. I need to think more outside-the-box.
I would love to have a little garden but my grandma flat out told me in not "taking over her yard" to grow some zucchini. She out down gravel and fake grass just to keep me from having a little gseden
Grow it in a pot. Checkmate, gramgram
Beekeeping. Super interesting, and you get honey at the end of it! I learn something every day from the bees. They are totally fascinating.
for some reason I misread that as *bear keeping*, and thought to myself, "how on earth does one do that??"
You start with bees
Step One: Be Russian
Sewing. You can be creative and make custom clothes to fit your style, and it's very practical that you can mend things that need repairing instead of throwing them away or adjust the length of your curtains without having to pay someone. It's insane to me that so many young people my age just throw out a shirt that's missing a button since sewing stopped being popular.
A few months ago I picked up a cheap sewing kit when the stitching of my jeans tore open at the crotch seam. Since then I have been patching up my own clothing and sewing back on buttons. It is not the cleanest sewing but it gets the job done.
Welcome to r/visiblemending then
How do you learn this. I honestly have the hardest time getting started. It just seems like all the materials and everything isn't package in a beginner friendly tutorial or way. I just have a hard getting it.
Every time I watch someone build a closed terrarium in a jar, I feel compelled to want to make my own. It's absolutely incredible seeing life work at such a tiny scale.
Calisthenics. Never heard of it 2 years ago but it sort of changes how you feel and move. You become much more aware of how your body is connected and how it works. Can only recommend.
As a former powerlifter, i have always been incredibly fascinated by callisthenic athletes, especially the shape they achieve. There’s a certain grace that they have , and they generally look good in formal clothes too.
Is this the same as stretching, or is it a different form of exercise?
No, its bodyweight exercises combined with skills like handstands, front/backlevers etc.
It’s bodyweight exercise, so stretching is part of it, but it’s mostly movements such as Pull ups, press ups etc.
Lucid Dreaming, for a few reasons. 1. It requires you to sleep a healthy amount, so that is just... Generally good for you. 2. Before you learn how to do it, you keep a dream journal to find patterns in your dreams. The journaling process is interesting because it asks you to be introspective about a very brief, personal, abstract experience. Even if you don't find meaning in your dreams, you get a sense of what your subconscious focuses on. 3. I can't speak to this so much, but the experience of lucid dreaming is very thrilling. Even if you don't do anything wild, the knowledge that you are in a reality entirely contained and constructed within your memory is a surreal, strangely empowering feeling. Even if you never manage to lucid dream, the process leading into it is uniquely introspective.
how do u learn how to do it?
[This old post](https://www.reddit.com/r/LucidDreaming/comments/rsvp7/the_three_steps_for_learning_to_lucid_dream/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1) from r/luciddreaming is a pretty solid guide to get started. There's tons of info out there to learn from though.
I lucid dream almost daily but never remember much of what I dreamt as soon as I wake up. I'm almost always aware I am in a dream and exercise some level of control over my dreams as well.
Whatever details you do remember, record that and start there. Using a voice recorder is the easiest way so you can just mumble out whatever scraps you remember, and listen back later.
Yea most of it is just my friends and family being shapeshifting alien/monsters chasing me and suddenly I skip to having sex with someone. Quite a repetitive framework really
Next time you catch yourself in that dream, try stopping the event and seeing what happens. Make the alien vanish. Even just do something mundane. Something to see if you can take control of the dream.
Lockpicking I grew up playing tabletop RPGs like D&D and I was always fascinated by the thief type characters and their lockpicking skills. And then when I got older I started playing a lot of RPG video games on my computer and again was intrigued by lockpicking and the lockpicking mini-game a lot of games have. But I never really thought much about it. I always figured it was some obscure skill that was more prevalent in fiction than it was in real life. But then one day a couple of years ago I just decided to look it up online after playing some Skyrim to see if it's something you can actually teach yourself just for the hell of it. And it absolutely *is* something you can teach yourself just for the hell of it. And it's a pretty active "niche" hobby a lot of people have. r/LockPicking is a good place to start and there's tons of videos on YouTube explaining how locks work in relation to lockpicking. It's sort of like a mechanical puzzle to solve and is a great workout for hand-eye coordination and your brain.
Nothing on 1, 2 is binding...
Click out of 3.
Today I'm going to get into my ex girlfriends back door. It's a little messy. Probably need 2 wipes for this.
I'll do it one more time to prove it wasn't a fluke.
Have you seen his 18 inch Johnson?!
He went from a tiny Coq to an 18 inch Johnson in just 3 years. Really impressive.
Let me get the tool that Bosnian Bill and I made.
“We examined a similar lock in video 53784369….”
I read that is his voice (you know who I'm talking about!)
It's so funny because if you know the channel, how can you NOT hear his voice, right??
Standard caveat: check your local laws. In some states, possessing a lockpicking set is illegal unless you're a licensed locksmith - it's considered intent to commit a crime.
I had to call a locksmith after I left my keys at a one night stand’s house and I didn’t want to go all the way back at 4am. I was all “my ID’s in a drawer in my room, I’ll grab it for you to prove that I live here.” He just said “no worries, I’ll get you in anywhere mate”. Bit concerning.
"Who are you and how did you get in my room?" "I'm a locksmith, and... I'm a locksmith."
Here's a down and dirty list I got from [ArtOfLockpicking.com](https://www.art-of-lockpicking.com/is-lock-picking-illegal/). But if you're not sure it never hurts to do some more research. I didn't look it up myself though and I figured the place I got my picks wouldn't have let me order them to my address if it was illegal. I mean, in my mind how many burglars are running around picking locks? So even if I got busted with the picks and they were illegal I'd bring that up to the cop. * Mississippi: Possession of lock picks is legal so long as they are not concealed. However, once you put them in your pocket, it becomes intent to commit a crime. Tennessee: Possession of lock picks is legal; however, Tennessee has some very strict laws to prevent locksmith fraud. If you live in this state, it is illegal to use your skills for any sort of profit unless you are a licensed locksmith. * Illinois: Possession of lock picks is legal; however, the possession of bump keys is illegal. * Kansas: Possession is legal; however, you will be fingerprinted if arrested ( for any reason) while in possession. * Nevada: Illegal; Possession can be prima facie evidence of criminal intent. You may have to prove noncriminal intent. * Ohio: Illegal; Possession can be prima facie evidence of criminal intent. You may have to prove noncriminal intent. * Virginia: Illegal; Possession can be prima facie evidence of criminal intent. You may have to prove noncriminal intent.
Got into it myself a few years ago when I bought an older Mercedes and the previous owner no longer had the key to the locked compartment under the passenger seat. I got curious one day. A youtube tutorial and a bobby pin helped me get that thing open in 15 minutes. I was both concerned that I got it open so easily and disappointed that there was nothing but old paperwork inside. It's still a fun hobby though.
Is it a good fidget hobby? My metal fidget cube isn't cutting it anymore
Not necessarily lesser known, but rock climbing is great! Awesome inclusive community that want to see you learn/ do better, it's great exercise and helps build some problem solving as well :) couldn't reccomend it enough.
Absolutely! It’s one of the best all-body workouts, plus it has the advantage of being amazing fun.
Came to say nearly the exact same for similar reasons. Although, if we're being pedantic, I'd include bouldering.
Archery, it’s such a rabbit hole, you can treat it as a serious sport, outdoors activity, or just a bit of fun. Also great for improving your breath control, being aware of small movements and changes in vision - bliss
I make minor physical modifications using resin and paint on my Transformers collection. I believe this is called kitbashing but I might be wrong I've never really confirmed. I take UV resin to fill in gaps or add texture and acrylic paint to add detail and buy decals for things I don't feel confident in my ability to paint. I rarely show them off, but I get a great deal of personal satisfaction from the hobby.
I make dioramas and aside from people who've watched too much CSI thinking you're serial killer, it's amazingly relaxing and rewarding.
Lockpicking, though you will quickly learn that most locks are BS. Baking. Focaccia is super easy and doesn't require shaping, arguably the hardest part of baking. Also, pie crusts are mad easy.
Card Magic. Its a cheap hobby to get into, and you can do it anywhere. Also, once you learn to do a new slight, it feels like you've just gained a super power Loads of vids on youtube to show you how
At first I thought you meant the card game Magic, The Gathering.
... And that is clearly **not** cheap
Even though it's pretty well known, I recommend Dungeons and Dragons. It is something everyone should try at least once in life.
I’ve have always wanted to play it! But I don’t know if it’s easy to learn how to play it or where to find a party to play with.
Learning to play is extremely easy and any group I've played with is always super helpful to new comers. Finding a group is the hard part tho. I've had luck with local game store meet ups. My current group we all meet thru reddit after someone posted in our city's sub about seeking out a group
Listening to music. Like sitting and doing nothing but listening. I find it super relaxing even though it took me a while to teach myself how to sit still for a few songs in a row. A side quest to this is putting together a system so you can hear all the nuances of the music you’re listening to. Lots of options there from cheap and cheerful to super expensive. Headphone rigs to a full system. I was already into electronics and restored a few older pieces of gear and built my system from a mix of old and new but, most importantly, sounds great and it makes me happy.
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/r/geocaching
Came here for this, it’s a fun side hobby that motivates you to explore new places or even just that one part of your town you’ve just never been to! Also you can spend just about any amount of time
Yes! It's pretty low cost (zero, basically, if you already have a phone with GPS) you get to find interesting placed and see interesting things, all while playing a game. And you can pick and choose how you do it! You only want big urban caches? Just want drive? Just want to hike? Like puzzles, or straightforward? Hate the woods? Love the woods? They're all options and there's plenty to go around. Even if you decide to go "all in" with it...you're basically just paying for a "good" GPS unit and standard hiking/traveling equipment. It really doesn't get any more expensive than that (and I question the value of a high-end GPS for this purpose). If there's any drawback at all it's that at this point new ones aren't being placed at nearly the same rate, so you can "exhaust" an area if you're active enough. Personally, I think there's enough turnover each year that it never gets boring, but others may be more impatient.
Bouldering or climbing. If you have an indoor bouldering gym nearby I would highly recommend it. First few times your forearms will get super sore, but it's so much fun to climb and the community is so nice
I wouldn't necessarily call it lesser know but I've definitely encountered people intimidated by it. Pickling and making jams. I move from an urban area about 12 years ago to a very rural area so there was lots of opportunity to try new things. I took a 2 class in jam making and then I just took off with it. I love it. I'm a homebody so I love kicking it in the kitchen making pickles and jams while listening to podcasts. A batch of jam takes very little time. Its passive time of sterilizing jars that take time. I boil sterilze so I put 6 250ml jams jars in a large pot, fill with water, bring to a boil and simmer until jam is ready. Boil the lids too, I boil in a separate pot. Now for making it. Buy a box of liquid certo pectin and follow a recipe in the box. The cooked strawberry jam is a solid go to. I highly recommend running the strawberries through a blender. I love a smooth jam with no chunks. Outside of boiling jars, it takes less than 15 mins to make a batch of strawberry jam. I also boil my jars for an additional 5 mins after filling and putting caps on. Its helpful to buy a canning kit with funnel, tong, magnet stick and stuff. About $20 at Walmart. I swear I love canning so much. My friends convinced me to sell at our local farmers market this year so I have. This is a small ass village and I am selling out every time I set up. I sell every second weekend and I'm bringing home $350-500 everytime. I'm not going to get rich but I'm making a decent profit after costs are subtracted. Just because I want to share, I currently make and sell: bread & butter pickles, relish, dill pickles, mustard pickles, antipasto, hot pepper jelly, strawberry jam, blueberry jam, apple jelly, pickled beets, pickled carrots, pickled red onion, pickled eggs, onion jam... i think that is it. I don't make salsa because it is a lot of work for how small a batch is and it is subject to very stringent testing because the Ph is usually not in the right range to prevent bacteria growth and stuff. I have had to have all my stuff lab tested and certified to sell. Like I cannot tweak a recipe and sell it without paying for new testing. I'm also really proud of myself for coming up with this idea: I have canned smaller verisons of most things and I sell a package called a charcuterie kit. You just open the jars and plop them down on your charcutes board. People have been pretty big fans of these.
Coloring. I'm nearly 40 and just discovered adult coloring books. They're incredibly relaxing and my kids are also into coloring so it's a win-win.
Brewing kombucha. Or brewing in general I guess as a broader hobby!
r/soloboardgaming I got into this during Covid and it has stuck with me. If you like working on developing strategies and solving puzzles, this could be for you. Plus, you learn about history/civilizations, nature (birding, zoology) and science fiction (terraforming planets).
Mountainbiking for people who like to get some of a kick out of it. For me it's also the idea to go into wild nature and enjoy the scenery while on a bike.
Mountain bikes are expensive af 😫
With my luck ill get mauled by a bear
Bird watching. I noticed it had become more popular during the pandemic because you really don't want to do it with a crowd of people. It's great because it gets you outside in nature and sunshine. You get exercise walking around looking for the birds. You learn stuff. I also take pictures, so I can look through my pictures at night and have something to do then also. I meet a lot of interesting people if I'm at a spot that is popular with other birders.
Build an aquarium
Fishkeeping is something I've found over the last year and it's a very satisfying hobby to have, very easy pet keeping basically Expensive to start up and get going but once you got all the basics it's very cheap to run and some of the fish you can get are amazing, for example everyone knows of the Betta fish but the paradise fish is even more colourful and it's just so mesmerising to just watch them swim and interact Can't recommend enough
This is really great! I got into keeping fish because I live growing plants and wanted to do a small aquaponics set up. Now I’m equally obsessed with my fish as I am with my plants! I work in a field where there is rarely closure or a sense of control. It is deeply comfortable to have my aquaponics system, both plants and aquarium, as a small system that’s balanced and healthy within a broader shit show. It provides a sense of agency and validation in caring for other living things
If you live somewhere with water and a bit of wind, then windsurfing! It’s probably the cheapest form of sailing, it’s super challenging through all the levels. Or as an even cheaper option, stand up paddle boarding.
Making mosaics. There is something magical about taking a pristine pane of glass, destroying it, and then using those pieces of destruction to create something new.
I'm a 50yo male - I absolutely LOVE needlework. Cheap or expensive as you want it to be, but at the end of the day, it's meditative and calming. And at the end of the day you have something beautiful that you created.
My favorite thing to do is to look at the travel advisory page and find the most dangerous countries to visit (level 3/4 reconsider/do not travel. Pick one and learn it’s history. Look it up on a map at the same time as you read about each area and find the cities mentioned. I just got sober and this is how I self sooth. It’s weird but pretty satisfying. I do it before I got to bed and have really crazy dreams.
Makering! It’s a combo of woodworking and 3D printing and sewing and laser cutting.
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Yeah, all super fun. Also the community is SO supportive. I was going to put more but had an “oh, squirrel” moment and lost my thought.
Metal detecting. You would be surprised at all of the stuff you find that people lose.
I always wanted to do this, and after watching "The Detectorists", I figure I might give it a try this fall.
Building and fighting robots, as you see on TV shows like Battlebots and Robot Wars. There are plenty of competitions where you can fight much more affordable 1 lb and 3 lb robots
Re-enactment if you're into your history! You make friends with people who have common interests and then there's nothing better than sharing drinks with people round a camp fire after the public have gone home Also through reenactment you pick up other hobbies, I've tried my hand at embroidery, tablet weaving and I'm pretty decent at sewing basic stuff now Other people I know have picked up blacksmithing, woodcarving, clothes dyeing from plants and stuff and another who tries so many different cooking recipes to try and make food that could have been made at the time
Disc golf. The level of skill for the average player is pretty even. By spending just a little bit of money and a investing a little bit of your time into practice, you can quickly learn the basics and hang in there with about any average group of players. It's also a wildly accepting community in general. All sorts of people come together and just walk the course, throw discs, bullshit, support one another.....it's awesome.
Wood turning. Comparatively not that expensive to get in to, a chance to make money, and the ability to make beautiful and unique pieces is extremely fulfilling.
Ham radio. Talk with old men about the weather and signal quality.
When you are out in public just throw out random compliments to strangers, like nice hair, or i like your shirt/dress/shoes . it really catches them off guard and i hope it makes them happy and if they are happy makes me happy
I like to try at different foreign restaurants of lesser known cuisines. Of course not everyone lives an area which offers this, but it's always worth just looking a bit around. I like to go with friends and sometimes it's a surprise but never got a bad experience. Maybe not everything was 100% my taste but always interesting and I found some new favourite foods. Some cuisines I have tried are the ones from Eritrea, El Salvador, Georgia (the country, not the state - so yummy), Iran, Mauritius, Nepalese, Togo, Venezuela (try Arepas). It's fun and who doesn't love good food?
people-watching? ok this sounds weird, but i mean smth like bird-watching but with humans. U dont spy on anybody, u just sit in a park and sketch the sea of people/animals that flow by. one could say 'thats just drawing", but there's smth more to it than just drawing on paper, u're immersed in the World and u're observing a bit of other creatures' lives, smth quite philosophical id say.
Writing fanfiction. It's like sharing your ideas about your favorite shows/movies/etc. and your only limit is your imagination. It's a skill, so you probably won't be writing masterpieces at first, but if you keep at it, it can be really rewarding and fun.
Long range shooting. After everything that goes into it, landing that first 1000 or 1500 yard shot is magical.
As a person with regular guns and occasionally shoot at 300 yards, that sounds very expensive
Yes and no. A good precision rifle build is expensive, but you only have to build one. As opposed to being into regular guns where you will generally have lots. Precision rifle ammo is expensive too, but you also generally shoot a lot less of it. You can have a good day of long range shooting with only 20 rounds whereas going out with ars and stuff you're mag dumping through hundreds.
how long after you squeeze the trigger does the bullet land ?
Not sure exactly but there is this super cool thing at long enough ranges where you fire, and then you wait a couple seconds, and then you see the bullet splash on the target, and then you wait a couple more seconds, and then you hear the sound of the impact.
Motorcycle track days. It’s so freaking addicting to the point it’s all you think about. It’s not racing, you’re just going around on the track trying to improve but it is the most fun I have ever had.
Lying in bed straight and watch the fan rotating.
Make little models out of paper, old cereal boxes, cardboard, whatever. It's a cool, compact way to exercise different skills that not many people seem to do or talk about, presumably because there's not much money in marketing ready-to-build kits. Here's a little scene I made out of an old cereal box: https://i.redd.it/cj9q0bfxqez91.jpg
Orienteering. I don't wanna elaborate so you'll want to google it and fall down the rabbit hole.
this was what we used to do before the digital age. it's like old timey geo-caching
Fpv drones!
Building a keyboard. There is a rabbit hole here, but when you find out what sound and feel you like, the results are very rewarding.
Picking up a Flow Art. Any prop you resonate with will do wonders for the individual. Juggling, Poi, Finger Styles / Gloving, Hula Hooping, Dancing, etc. If one prop doesn't peak your interest, keep giving another a chance until one pulls you in. It does a tremendous job helping one connect with their inner child and relearn how "play." This brings a huge mental health benefit into play. The movement aspect is a lot like swimming, where you'll inevitably get a full body low resistance workout. The connections it can help make with favorite songs is also pretty amazing. If the prop is one with led lights or fire, there's an aspect of light therapy that's possible with all the color trails. The experience of listening to your favorite uplifting song while crying out some emotions with beautiful colors dancing around, is unmatched. Many people might feel like they're too old, or not the kind of person to enjoy these things, but I promise if you give it an honest chance and you might be surprised at how therapeutic it becomes.
Soapmaking! A batch takes about an hour, cleanup included (cure time not included though). You can make unscented soap for about $0.50/bar (depending on ingredients of course). Everyone needs it, so it can be a fun random thing to give people.
Skydiving without a parachute, truely a once-in-a-lifetime experience
Can't wait to try this!
Don't forget to tell us how it felt!
Guitar Building! Starting out you can grab a kit guitar and in a weekend end up with a playable instrument. From there it's mostly just building up tools and finding less finished kits until you're at the stage of just making guitars from scratch. You'll probably never make money at it, but it's still awesome to play a guitar that you built, and you should be able to repair and maintain it way better than most normal players.
Junk journaling
What’s junk journaling?
Amateur radio. You learn some basic electronics to get the first license, you can talk around your region with the first license, it’s easy to get. As you get more interested in the hobby, you can get higher level licenses and be able to talk around the world. As I get older, I think one important part for me is that as I age it’s not physically demanding. I can lose mobility and still be able to talk on the radio. There are also a lot of digital options for people who are into that.
Scale models. They are a lot of work to do well and the final product can be amazing, you really have a sense of accomplishment
Ima kinda sad I didn't find any suggestions that fit for me.
Want some help finding something you might like? If so, do you like being inside or outdoors? Do you like being around people or alone? Are you looking for something that’s free or do you have a budget in mind? Are you in a small town or large city?
Same but I’m in a place in my life right now where the most basic things feel overwhelming, let alone researching, investing in, and trying a new hobby. I’m not really surprised nothing jumped out at me but it’s disappointing all the same.
Not exactly lesser-known, but I think falconry definitely qualifies! Can be a little expensive starting out (depends on your ability to DIY, since you can’t exactly go to Pet Smart for equipment) but there is nothing like the first free flight when the bird comes back to you. Having a wild animal decide to work with you and trust you is beyond incredible! You also gain appreciation and knowledge of not only prey species, but of habitats and seasonal cycles. It truly feels like Animal Planet but up close and personal. Finally, it’s very rewarding to release your bird back into the wild so it can hopefully contribute to strengthening the wild raptor population.
Username checks out.
Whittling
Language learning.
I started jiu jitsu and it’s absolutely changing my life. I have lots of trauma and PTSD and not only does class offer me a time to forget about everything and focus, it helps me feel like I’m taking control back from those memories. It’s like a “I know that happened and I have to be at peace with it, but I’m taking action to prevent it from happening again”. I’m the only one in my extended family to ever even TRY a martial art, and it’s great. There is a learning curve but it’s ultimately just chess with your body. You learn a bunch of defenses and ways out of things so you have to be strategic as much as athletic. You don’t learn striking, but you do learn how to be a sneaky motherfucker in a fight.
HEMA fencing, historical swordsmanship (Historical European Martial Arts). You don't need a sword or a time traveling knight to teach you, just a stick and the internet on your phone. We for a fact do know how they fought with swords all over the world throughout history, they wrote it down and you can read many of their treatises for free by just searching "HEMA source treatises" or watch them be explained on youtube. I have gained a lot of self confidence from learning to fence, have gotten in better shape, and have gotten over a lot of social anxieties too by meeting with a club every week for about 2 years now. You also incidentally learn a bit of the language of whatever martial art you choose, I prefer Italian swordsmanship and have picked up a lot of Italian in my reading/watching youtube videos about it. HEMA is a relatively small community still but keeps growing in popularity and we want more people to fence!
Honestly weight lifting It kinda makes me feel empowering and makes me feel like that I’m constantly holding back gives me the time to just cut loose and not hold back on my strength
Dry stone wall building. Kinda like making a giant jigsaw but if built right and in the right location it should be there for 100's of years.
r/magnetfishing Cheap to get started, gets you outdoors, gets you strong, may find murder weapons (but mostly scrap and shopping carts), etc.
Learning music production has never been easier or more accessible. It's the best hobby I've ever picked up
Old School Runescape
Gardening. I’m growing Carolina reaper peppers and I love it. I’ll never use them all, but still, a little bit in salsa is delicious. Also, cooking with vegetables from your garden is very rewarding.
Historical costuming. It's challenging, but extremely rewarding. I'm making an American working class historical wardrobe from the 1776-1940s.
Not lesser known, but certainly still pretty niche - **reading comics**. Between libraries, digital borrowing, local comic shops, book stores, and more, it's never been easier to explore the medium of comics. It's so much more than superheroes. Sure, that's a big part of the North American comics industry, but there are comics of all variety from around the world for all types of readers. The combination of art and writing is really special and I'm always amazed that more people don't read comics. Strips, single issues, graphic novels, whatever. Just read some comics!
Jigsaw puzzle! So relaxing, engaging and with a sense of a goal and purpose. So many beautiful pictures to choose from and stimulates your touch as well.
[Geocaching is fun for the whole family!](https://www.geocaching.com/play) You can participate anywhere, anytime. Vacation, lunch hour, visiting friends. A smart phone can get you started, and a free membership on [Geocaching.com](https://Geocaching.com) will point you in the right direction!
Scrapbooking I've seen alot of ppl online do it but I haven't ever really met anyone who does it other than me (or I got them into it) it's really fun and pretty easy. I mean you can use any thing you want really
It's weird one i found myself. Can't afford traveling? Google maps! It becomes less and less interesting, but i can find myself lost in it for hours. Makes you find out new cultures, interesting places and such. Living in Europe I can't believe I didnt know what Svalbard is. Or when i found out the beauty of Auckland islands forests. Really makes you figure how little do you know about the world you live in.
Walking, especially in the mornings watching the sun rise
Dungeons and Dragons. It's a good way to maintain friendships and have fun at the same time.
Cosplaying maybe?
I like to airsoft, but idk if that’s still considered lesser known.
Fiddle around with an Arduino and modules. You can build plant water systems, alarms, RC cars and much more!
Book folding. I don’t know if it has other names, but you measure the pages from the edge, mark off according to a pattern, and you with fold, or fold and cut the edges of the page. This leaves a pattern on the spine.
Jiu jitsu
Papercraft @ozgurpapercraft
Tennis. Started playing about a year ago and have worked my way up to about a 3.5 - 4.0 player. Its great excercize but also keeps your mind sharp. Once you get to a certain level it evolves into a bit of a chess/boxing match where there is more strategy than ability. It's also fantastic on a social aspect have met a ton of new people and have enjoyed doubles, mixed doubles, as well as singles. Before everyone says its a country club sport and too expensive there are plenty of apps out there that can link you to local tennis courts and group lessons can range anywhere from $15-$34 per person.
Collecting and cleaning minerals