I'm bored

No seriously.

The race car is ready to go. The garage is clean. The house is tidy. Bills are paid.

How do you sit back and enjoy the time doing nothing? Work is a bit slow (no, I won't get laid off. Almost disappointing, as there is a large 5 figure severance attached to being let go, but the work is entertaining when we are busy).

I'm trying to find more ways to earn money with my spare time as that is the main bottle neck for me doing "more". At the same time, acquiring currency is something that takes time no matter what, there rarely are immediate solutions, and I am content with "saving" as required. I'm doing pretty well after the past couple of years of bitching about low pay (I am really happy I stuck it out now with the way the current economy Alberta is).

So, what do you do when you are bored? The internet is honestly getting boring... I love to read and gather information. And I've read so much.

If you mention kids... thats at least 4 years off. I'm 27 this year, the girlfriend is 23, so she needs some more "her" time after graduating before we get to that point lol.

Thoughts? A big problem is cash flow. I devote a lot of time/money to racing when time/money is required. I am looking for things that are cheap. I don't mind working out, but I'm not really big into physical sports. I have snowboarding gear and a company account that pays for "health and well being" so basically infinite lift tickets.

I miss video games, but modern video games aren't aimed at me it seems. I'd like to get back into RC cars, but there is the money thing.

I need something that I can do in my spare hours to earn money it seems. If the garage wasn't full, I'd try to start flipping cars again.

Come and sand on the Tunatruck

HiTempguy wrote: ...I miss video games, but modern video games aren't aimed at me it seems...

Build a MAME cabinet. I don't think you will make any money off it though.

I would give you more info, but you said you like to figure stuff out.

You need to find people who are up to something.

Hit the slopes. That is what my wife, kids and I do for a good part of the winter. I am almost 48 and we still enjoy getting out every weekend, plus the occasional night skiing to avoid winter hibernation.

I am also a little bored and there simply are not a lot of auto enthusiasts in my area. This winter it has been too damn cold to lay on the garage floor and work on cars. I have a buddy's 81 Scirocco that we are re-prepping for Rally-X this season, but I towed it out of the garage a couple of weeks ago so I could work on my DD. I'm hoping it warms up so I can get to work on it.

Volunteer with the NASCC? This past weekend was the huge ice race up in Lac La Biche and the ERC is always looking for help as well. Once the racing season at Castrol gets going - the NASCC loves corner workers, as does the EMRA.

McTinkerson wrote: Volunteer with the NASCC? This past weekend was the huge ice race up in Lac La Biche and the ERC is always looking for help as well. Once the racing season at Castrol gets going - the NASCC loves corner workers, as does the EMRA.

Kinda surprised it took someone this long to mention volunteer. And it doesn't even need to be motorsports related. I like teaching or helping people. Any GRM members need a hand wrenching in your area?

aircooled wrote:

HiTempguy wrote: ...I miss video games, but modern video games aren't aimed at me it seems...

Build a MAME cabinet. I don't think you will make any money off it though. I would give you more info, but you said you like to figure stuff out.

I did this for my dad a few years back. It was a fair amount of fun and only cost a few hundred bucks to do. Then take an old PC, load a bunch of emulators, and build or buy a stick system (I used a tank stick).

McTinkerson wrote: Volunteer with the NASCC? This past weekend was the huge ice race up in Lac La Biche and the ERC is always looking for help as well. Once the racing season at Castrol gets going - the NASCC loves corner workers, as does the EMRA.

In the summer time, I will definitely look into this. I usually try and devote spare time to the rallying side of things first. Currently, everyone has their crap together! With the Cochrane rally coming up on the 14/15, I took last weekend to make sure the rally car was up to snuff, or else I would have been out at the lake

I actually was a little burnt out on volunteering from my last go. As everyone knows, volunteering is tough. I love to help when I can!

Edit- And being serious about it, many people don't quite understand the cost of volunteering. It adds up quickly.

HiTempguy wrote: Edit- And being serious about it, many people don't quite understand the cost of volunteering. It adds up quickly.

That is a good point. In that case, whore yourself out for pizza and beer to other race teams who need a hand wrenching and prepping their cars?

In reply to HiTempguy:

Costs of Volunteering - Every year Tall Pines costs me between $300 and $500 and 3 days of holidays and I can drive there in about 3 1/2 hours. That is including subsidized accommodations and a free meal at the banquet. That is cheap. But yes volunteering can be pricey in $$$$'s and time.

Man this is unimaginable to me, there's so much stuff I'd like to do if I had free time. Build stuff, read books, make software, cut and upload videos, play videogames, I have backlogs of all of those to do...I could only be bored if I ran out of money and needed some to get that stuff done.

GameboyRMH wrote: Man this is unimaginable to me, there's so much stuff I'd like to do if I had free time. Build stuff, read books, make software, cut and upload videos, play videogames, I have backlogs of all of those to do...I could only be bored if I ran out of money and needed some to get that stuff done.

Inorite? Except... I don't have backlogs. I have stuff I want to do, and I do it. Its the way I am, and the way my family raised me. I am responsible for myself, if I want it, make a plan, and go get it (the plan is almost working too well haha). Its tough sometimes to really hit home that since 18 (well, actually 16 if you include the car building, rally-x, auto-x, and volunteering for rallies), I was doing 10-12 rallies a year while in post-secondary, flying around North America for 6 years. I had zero free time, and when I did, I played the backlog of video games I had. I'd go to school, do assignments/study all month up until a rally, fly to rally (easily taking up 4-5 days of a month dealing with each rally), and then rinse repeat. I worked over 1000 hours of overtime in 2012/2013, so spare time was limited (and was used for racing).

I've just never been in a situation to be bored for extended periods of time. Last year was exciting as I worked on building a great relationship with the girlfriend and that hopefully continues Money will be really sweet come August when some loans are finished up. But in the meantime, I'm just trying to entertain myself beyond the 4-5 rallies (plus a vacation) this year with stuff that doesn't cost mondo $$$$$$.

Like I said, I'm just bored. I'm excited for that stuff, but I want to be excited for stuff in my day to day life. It doesn't have to be astronomical. I just feel like I am missing out I suppose. Might be time for a recalibration. Possibly having a 1/4 life crisis? Who am I to complain right? #FWP