What is a new thing, a new something that you have recently gotten into, or that you have been a long time participant in, that you find very entertaining and fun and time consuming and distracting?
What things would we need to purchase to get into that thing?
How did you get into that thing?
Meshtastic.
I got some meshtastic devices, but I don’t really see the use case outside of sending text messages to the nobody else that is connected to the meshtastic.
It’s the HAM radio of texting.
Collect and categorize memes. You already have everything you need so the bar to entry is low.
Hockey, started in my late thirties, couldn’t even stop at the time.
Great exercise.
What do you need to purchase? Gear.
Not a purchase but I started an affair with a married woman. Boy it’s a rollercoaster!
Yeah that is really awesome. They are so passionate in bed.
Fleshlight. As far as getting into it spits enough.
!homelab@lemmy.ml can easily become very involved.
But for other activities, fishing, watercraft (motorized or not), woodworking, ham radio, and civic advocacy (ie public transport, housing, anti-corruption). All of these can easily be a lifetime’s worth. All but the last one do require obtaining equipment, but the best part is that the equipment is often readily available on the used market.
If you had to pick one of those for a newcomer to get into, which one would you recommend?
It very much depends, I think. Ham radio was really helpful to me during 2020 because it was a social activity that was compatible with distancing requirements, and is a great way to talk with people afar. As in, other continents but also local folks as well.
Fishing, watercraft, and woodworking all have different prerequisites, like a nearby body of water or the space for equipment. They also require some logistical planning, like fishing licenses, how to identify and prep fish, and where to source wood. These things are often easier to learn if you know someone who already partakes in the activity.
But for civil advocacy, that one has no tangible result that you can put in the living room, earns no awards or points, and puts you directly in the public spotlight, ugly as it may be. And yet, despite all that, it has the potential to impact the greatest number of people in the most accessible way. Paraphrasing a Greek proverb, to commit to this endeavor knowing full well that it will never serve to yourself a benefit, that is a sign of a great and virtuous citizen. Such actions speak loudest.
All the activities I’ve listed are activities that hone personal development, and can be passed on to another generation, just in case you wanted even more engrossment. I’d say the greatest challenge is just getting started, taking that first step, whatever the activity may be.
Mistakes will be made early on, but this isn’t amateur aviation or bomb disposal where the consequences are dire. Sometimes you just have to send it and keep at it.
Of the grandparent commenter’s list, civic advocacy, hands down. It is infinitely the most important.
And (at least for me) the most rewarding!
'Tis the season for over-the-top programmable RGB holiday light displays choreographed to music.
https://kno.wled.ge/
https://www.xlights.org/(I haven’t gotten to the “choreographed to music” part of the hobby yet.)
You need a bunch of WS2812 or similar LEDs, esp32 microcontrollers, wires, power supplies, mounting hardware, etc.
I thought about something like that because I live in a geodesic dome home and it would be really great to be able to program my house to look like a gumdrop for Christmas, or a pumpkin or a skull for Halloween.
I’m just worried that I would annoy the shit out of my neighbors in the process.
You live in a geodesic dome house. Clearly, you already don’t care what anybody else thinks!
(That’s kinda awesome, BTW.)
I like it for a lot of reasons, but the lack of right angles makes interior decoration a nightmare.
Almost every angle in the house is like 60 degrees, which doesn’t play well with mostly rectangular furniture.
Ah, well, in that case, furniture-making should definitely be among your new hobbies.
I wonder how long it would take me to be able to build the beetlejuice style furniture I would need for everything to fit in my house, lol
Gameboy Advance
Cross stitch :)
I used to sink hours into home brewing. If you like fancy beers, you can make your own with little more than a stew pot and a bucket.
Classy stuff. Right up there with prison toilet wine. If only someone could come up with an idea for beer with citrus in it… lol.
Fuck fermented bread soda.
Well, everybody’s entitled to their opinion, and mine is that you’re acting like kind of an ass.
What’s your problem? Let people enjoy stuff that has no effect on your life. You sound miserable internally and to be around, maybe go reflect on yourself a bit
Get a jet Ski.
And a second one
I bought an analog camera (Canon EOS 300) for like 15 euros at a thrift store a year ago and luckily it worked. It has kinda kick-started my interest in photography. Analog photography is quite expensive tho, so a better recommendation would be to buy a cheap used DSLR. Personally I bought a Canon EOS 40D at MBP for like 80 euros, but anything like it would probably be fine.
A camera from 2008 doesn’t sound like something that would still be relevant today, but honestly it’s a great device. It’s kinda like an old manual car in camera form. If you know what you’re doing you can absolutely take amazing photos with it. It has all the buttons and options you might need, just not the fancy new stuff like face tracking autofocus, sensor stabilisation, EVF, etc.
My dad (who is a more professional photographer) let me use his professional grade lenses on this thing and the results are absolutely stunning. But even something like Canons 50mm lens is very decent. Will it beat anything modern? Probably not. But you sure can learn and take stunning pictures with it. Since then I got a more modern camera as well, but honestly the 40D still keeps surprising me. It takes a bit more effort to get something good, but it is also super rewarding.
The best thing about digital photography is that you can keep trying your shot with different settings for exposure, aperture etc. it’s a great way to learn what works best in what situation.
R36S handheld retro game console. You’ll be investing in SD cards & alt software while searching for roms & ports of games you already have.
It’s pretty great.
already have one actually really like it next game on the list is Zelda a link to the past
The why not welcome yourself to the wonderful world of boutique flashlights! !flashlight@lemmy.world
Gun, bullets, gun range.
Then reloading equipment for all your center fire fun.
Lego. My son is 8 yo now and I really enjoy building sets with him, or even alone. There are lots of advanced sets issued for adults and I’ll buy the 5000 piece model of our local suspension railway soon 🚟…
If you’re willing, I’d love to see photos when it’s built!
I will remember! Might take some time though.
I have never had the patience for Lego.
I remember trying to do, like, when I was a kid, and just getting really frustrated at the directions, and just making swords and other fun stuff instead.
Which is weird because I really enjoy assembling Ikea stuff, and I’m very good at it.
