What do you spend your free time doing ?

All my time is free time now, I’ve done my share of volunteering and child care after retiring but now my GC are grown and the Great Grands have Nans to babysit, no elderly relatives left now so I’ve a lot of time on my hands in Winter especially once the garden is sorted.
I read, walk, cross stitch is now difficult and requires much patience of which I’m short. I may do some knitting as a new Grt Grand child is due today ?and I can knit without too much concentrating. I’d like a nice new interesting hobby too so I’ll watch this thread with interest.

Last winter I spent some time each day learning French on line with Duolingo. It's gone by the wayside during the summer as the garden gets my full attention, but I will pick it up again now the nights are drawing in. In the winter I like to crochet, cook (make marmalade etc), read and take the dog to the park for some fresh autumn air.

I have never knitted or crocheted and now have a bit of mild arthritis in my hands but do like cooking , so planning to try some different recipes over the colder months, as we tend to be creatures of habit as far a food is concerned .

My winter interest is family history, however you would probably need a subscription to Ancestry or Find My Past for instance. Perhaps a Christmas present?

@Germanshepherdmum , that's a great idea . I had looked at this once before but didnt want to pay another subscription. ( already have NT and cheap health club membership for swimming ).

Always planned but definitely doing this year sorting two hat boxes of family photos and putting them in an album with a family tree. on wet days
Like quite a lot of others, I do my family tree so will be rejoining Ancestry.
We ended up in an area where we had, relations we never knew about,on sunny days visit some of the odd little villages to see where they lived and forget about household commitments.
I also plan to find and buy any missing death certificates as younger members of the extended family ask me about two health issues, cancer and diabetes that they are being DNA screened for.
Knitting is not my thing I can crochet and one GD has put in a request for a crochet angel[any pattern suggestions would be welcome}. I did her a felted robin and angel in the past.

Apart from ‘essential’ housework, (there’s always jobs I could be doing, but don’t want to!) I go to aquacise several times a week, I walk with a friend weekly, I read, I sort out bits and bobs of stuff if I’m in the mood (paperwork, finances, etc).

Never watch tv in the day, but like to settle down in the evenings with it, not that there’s often much of interest.

I used to be far more involved with the GC, school pick ups, meals, dancing and football lessons etc, but older now so not needed. A mixed blessing, miss them being young, but actually don’t miss the school trek or the meals.

At the moment sorting out the vegetable and flower seeds I have before browsing online to order what I’m missing.

I look after grandsons two days a week. I go to an art class once a week, visit mum and friends, read, embroider and garden. I enjoy my life

I walk every day and play a lot of bridge, both face to face and online. I also keep up with our five children and DH and I like going away on short breaks. I also do some volunteering

Oh, yes, GSM, I thoroughly enjoy researching family history.
As you like to spend time outdoors, Sandytoes, do you go out in winter observing buds and shoots - looking for the signs of next spring? Guided walks led by experts can be a starting point if you’re interested.

I’m not a knitter or crafter but think I will get my sewing machine out after years of being in the cupboard . Possibly make new cushion covers and catch up with some alterations . I also have boxes of family photos , I have been nominated by my siblings as the curator of our family photos , diaries and old letters of our parents .I have had them all since 2019 ! So a project for this winter .
I have decided to leave most of the gardening tidying and cutting down till spring to encourage and support wild life hibernation and winter foods .
I’m thinking of joining a local walking group for a weekly walk now my hip is replaced to encourage me to get out !
We have a silver cinema cheaper rate that I will use, quite happy to go alone . I have realised that my group of long term friends are diminishing. Two dear friends have died over the last three years , and two have moved nearer to their families. It’s very true that you need friends of varying ages but difficult to make friendships as we get older. We do have a very active WI that I joined recently , not sure it’s for me as it’s very craft orientated, but the talks have been interesting so far .

I’m still feeling a little “lost” since the lockdowns. Before then I spent 3 full days each week looking after the GC ( one day in each of 3 households.) Now they’re all at school and their parents mainly work at home so only the occasional school pick up is needed. I’m trying to catch up with friends and spend time with DH as he’s working much less now. I’ve discovered a monthly French conversation group at the library but am still struggling sometimes to fill my time. I’ve got a bit too interested in housework for my own good!

I confessed to a facebook game on the thread " what do you waste time doing " so to balance the scales I also volunteer at our community fridge, look after toddler grandson at least one day a week, paint and do various activities with U3A (eg table tennis and walking). feel better now!!!

I love doing nothing and can happily do crosswords and read and be very lazy but do have lots of hobbies so idle hours are few. I garden and belong to a gardening club which I help to run, I attend to two choirs, not a great singer but love singing and how good it makes me feel. Out village choir has people aged from eight to eighty six and many are apt to go off key but no one cares as together we make a good noise, sixty to seventy people can raise the roof. Many come for the chat and company.
My writing and reading groups meet monthly so have to spend a lot of time preparing for them , I am a volunteer at the local library and help run the village hall.
Gosh it looks a lot when written down but does not take that many hours. Yesterday I bought the materials to take up lino cutting again. I hope my arthritic fingers can cope, haven’t done it in decades. I hope to make some cards. Oh yes and I am learning Dutch with duolingo.

I have done child care and get called up on occasionally but there is more time for me. I garden even in the bad weather Monty style with herbs taking cutting etc.
I never get bored cooking and baking and I pickle a lot of my grown veg I have been making two different chutneys the last few weeks. I hate food waste if I can pickle it I will.
I make fruited liquors from fruit I grow or forage just made an orange one but had to buy the fruit. Some for us when I make cocktails for a special meal or for friends as my family don’t drink.
I have always enjoyed butterflies and moths and paint them. I use different materials to make them 3D then mount and frame them. It is enjoyable but tedious and not getting any easier with my arthritic hands. I do keep busy I am never bored there is always something to do.

I can definitely recommend U3A.A great way to meet like minded people.I go to an Art Appreciation group,Social and Local History and hoping to join a craft group.I also enjoy reading and doing puzzles.OH and I try to get out each day for a short walk and take in something interesting or scenic.
This afternoon we are visiting an Arts Centre.
BUT
There are days when I don’t feel like doing anything.I have to be honest.
Barbarax

I run an online business 3 shops) selling antiques and vintage. I also do embroidery, patchwork and read SF.

I forgot learning Spanish. I do an hour every day.

Reading (am in a Bookgroup), drawing, theatregoing, exhibitions and helping to run a music club. I’m also in a little band so work on new songs.
That all looks very busy, but I have days of absolute nothingness, particularly at the moment with a reaction to covid booster…