Hobby recomendations

[SadieKate]

I love the idea of wood toys for needy children. As a team, I bet you could turn out some wonderful stuff and spend time together. Flybye is abosolutely right that giving to others only gives back to the giver.

[RoadRaven]

The problem with walking for me, I am not passionate about walking and therefore feel there is no purpose per se... bear with me... what I mean is that I don't walk for fitness, I walk somewhere because I need to be somewhere or do something.

The same could be said of cycling - I wouldn't just hop on my bike and tootle around - I bike because I want to lose weight, want to be with my family and want to race.

So I doubt a man committed to not walking and choosing to tinker inside is going to decide to walk just for walkings sake.

An idea like SadieKate's is most excellent. Get him interested in the idea, and the idea will drive the movement. Walking has a purpose to achieve an interest. Does he like the dogs? Perhaps time with you and helping with the dogs could be the purpose to walking.

Of course, once walking becomes a pleasure, then walking just for walkings sake might become a habit.

Knot's idea of international/styles of cooking each day is a great one - I'd love that in my house

Also Flybye's idea of doing for others through a hobby is very cool - you could be involved in the design, and together you could distribute the end products... In fact, you could go walking in parks, reserves, the beach... wherever there is wood that trees have discarded gather these bits and use them to make interesting toys... do you have a creative streak in you? Maybe you could sculpt in wood alongside him as he works the wood into whatever he creates?

What about movies... going out once a week to a movie that is not "box-office"... go to a boutique movie theatre, and challenge yourselves into arty, political or different movies... and then walking under the stars somewhere while you talk about how fantastic or how rubbish it was...

[singletrackmind]

Geocaching is a wonderful idea....
Geocaching.com
I use it to get my kids out and about, and it works! We started out small and close (some a few feet from the car) and went from there. Now they get so busy trying to find a cache they walk a couple-few miles without realizing it. And have a great time. Together you could make some small wood doo-dads to leave as a signature treasure or just little thing-a-ma-jiggies work great too.

I LOVE the wooden toys idea, too.

We also like Project Linus, though that's blankets. They can either be bought or made. We make polar fleece ones, which are pretty easy. You get to shop for patterns you think kids would enjoy.

Feeding the birds. We're constantly calling out to each other to see what's going on at the feeders and stand there watching from the window for a few minutes each day. Buy or make a/some feeder/s. Check with your department of conservation for free plans. Just make sure they're squirrel proof!

Make bird and bat houses together.

Mall-walking/window shopping/no buying allowed. Perhaps a small drink or treat in the food court for people-watching together?

Dinner together at the table, no tv or radio.

Our art museum has a free family art day where you get to see exhibits and create something from the inspiration. We take a picnic which we eat outside, then go in a see what we can make.

Well, what else do the two of you like to do?

[li10up]

How about model trains? I lot of time could be spent together putting together a whole country-side scene with roads, hills, trees, building, people, roadside businesses, etc. The trains don't even really have to have that much focus. I've seen what some people can do with that and it's pretty amazing.

[Zen]

Sandra is right, he does need to get out of the house. Take those dogs for a walk in the park or an easy trail. Energy begets energy and sunshine definitely has an effect on depression. Unless he's had an injury or a diagnosis like herniated disc or spinal stenosis his back pain could be tied into depression as well.

Silver had a great idea too. Ham operators are often used on large organized rides. That would give him a great feeling of being needed & useful. Plus it would tie in to something you're doing.

[sundial]

Would he be interested in helping pets get to their forever homes?

I am active in german shepherd rescue and often I transport dogs to their homes or meet another volunteer that transports. I can't tell you what a real charge I get knowing some family is eagerly waiting for their new family member. Often these dogs are castaways and were sitting on death row. But because of a brave soul that canvases dog pounds, these dogs are sprung from jail and are on their way to their new families.

Pets are very therapeutic and the rescued ones are even more grateful and try even harder to please.

Here's one that I transported. Look how happy she is!



To become a volunteer for transport, check with your local rescues and find out if they need someone to help transport. You can google a specific breed to find a rescue in your area or check for a specific breed rescue on www.akc.org

[Zen]

Rescue transport is a great idea.
Anything that will get him out of the house and actually interacting face to face with people.

A rescued dog isn't necessarily a definite breed. The organization I foster for goes to shelters in West Virginia and Ohio that have high kill/low adoption rates and rescue dogs according to personality.

[sundial]

I suggested purebred rescues because they are more prevalent than all-breed rescues. Any good rescue is a worthy cause and they are often in need of good volunteers.

[Trek420]

He likes HAM radio he could volunteer with the local bike club on tours, charity rides. You ride, he's there in the SAG wagon on the radio.

Gardening, he can start with gentle excercise such as container gardens, indoor plants, move it outside. There raised bed can give him something to rest on while working. Eventually it could become quite the workout such as cultivating, pruning etc.

Gardening can be as strenuous as you want to make it. My Mom's 85 and while she has health issues, who wouldn't at the age, she's in great shape for her age and credits gardening. Her one problem is she recently grew a pumpkin too heavy for her to take indoors and needs help with the heavy lifting. But there are all kinds of adaptive devices from tool kits with a built-in chair to sit in while gardening

Related to that there's allllllllll kinds of shopping; tools, plants, gloves you name it. And if you're growing fruits and vegetables you can justify the spending with saving on the grocery bill


Plus adds to the value of your home.

This garden bounty could not help but improve his health or inspire you to enjoy gourmet cooking together.

Photography, painting or art. Lots to see and document in a garden.