The only hobbies I have pursued much in recent years are travel, backpacking, and photography. In 2010, I hiked Mount Whitney, which is something I had wanted to do for probably 40 years. In 2011, my wife and I went to Jerusalem for her nephew’s wedding. In 2012, my son Micah and I went to Utah to see the annular solar eclipse, and while there spent time in Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks. In 2017 we went to Idaho to see the “Great American Solar Eclipse!”
I guess I could also include woodworking and building things in our yard, as I have done lots of that. I hope to include a page with tips on how to make a deck, garden room, and various landscaping features on a shoestring budget.
Other hobbies have languished for years, and sometimes decades, including drawing and painting, restoring cars, model railroading, and playing the piano. I collect stamps, but I’m not sure why, as I have not put any in books for probably 30 years. Coins yes, stamps no.
My wife and I both like to watch birds and animals, both in our yard and on outings. Our yard is a local haven for birds, ever since I built a stream bed and pond. We have squirrels, rabbits (or hares) and dozens of kinds of birds – even hawks and a road runner. We have taken a few trips to the Monterey Bay area, Washington, and Utah. On these trips we saw and photographed lots of birds, sea lions, seals, porpoises, and whales.
Micah and I have been working on genealogy, which is also an interest of my father and my sisters. Most of the work on my father’s side was done by his older brother, although it had been begun by my grandfather’s uncles back in the late 1800’s. Other family members also got involved and found connections in Europe that go back centuries. It is all very interesting, and it would be fun to visit some of the places our ancestors lived.