Ask HN: What are your hobbies? What do you do when you are not programming?

From the money I saved from programming I have bought an old shop and turning it now into an art gallery and a party space.

In the last few months I learned lot about plaster boards, concrete, garbage disposal, construction law, etc.

Today at evening is the opening. My friend and colleague is a haykyo photographer. He is exhibiting his photos, 40 people will come.

Quoting me, from five years ago (since I don't think I could say it any better today):

Rock Climbing, Surfing and Traveling (to do the first two) have always had a higher priority for me than programming computers, which would rank as my 4th hobby that also happens to pay my rent.

I think the fact that most people classify those activities as "hobbies" says a lot about the lives we construct for ourselves: Spend 50 weeks per year doing something unpleasant so that you free up a couple weeks to do something you actually enjoy. If you enjoy your hobby as much as you say, why not find a way to devote at least half your time to it?

I foster kittens for the local SPCA until they're old enough to be adopted.

I read a lot -- over 100 books in 2014. What can I say? Commuting by train gives me plenty of time... It's also time to think: I've planned and written two novellas, none published. I'm also a shitty writer. :) No full-length novels, yet, but someday... Working on two new ones now, hopefully one will turn into a real novel. We'll see.

In the last few years, I've taken up running and writing. I've run 10 half-marathons. My fiance is a triathlete, so I help her train for her Ironman competitions.

I go to Nerd Nite (sf.nerdnite.com or eastbay.nerdnite.com for you Bay Area readers). Last night's was awesome -- who knew baseball, salami, and dynamite were such interesting topics?

I cook as often as I can. I play guitar (very badly). I'm teaching myself piano (also very badly). I'm planning a wedding and house-hunting at the same time. It's so stressful, but the good kind.

My fiance and I like to hike and go to the SPCA and play with the dogs. We people-watch at the park when the weather is nice. We plan monthly board game nights with a close group of nerdy friends, and weekly happy hours (even though I don't drink) with our more socially-minded friends.

It sounds like I do a lot, but that's because most days, when that clock hits 5:00, 5:30, maybe 6:00, depending on how busy I am at work, I'm out. My philosophy is that work stays at work, and everything can wait until 8am tomorrow morning, except major emergencies, which happens maybe once a year. Work hard, play hard, do both separately. That's my philosophy.

I turn a small profit by buying broken dirtbikes and fixing them to sell. Working on a machine with my hands and not a keyboard is therapeutic.

Vodka is my main hobby, but I also dabble in beer and various cheeses.

Music consisting of playing lead guitar in a band. Learning Voice, Drums and Piano as well. Have goal of performing live acoustically on guitar and vocals.

I write fiction and make experimental music. (This bleeds into programming time, because I also make generative fiction and generative music).

I buy and sell stuff from craigs list to ebay when i am not programming, its so much fun to see people buy stuff for a higher price... also i use dealmoon.com to buy stuff for cheap and sell it for a higher price....

I'm in the hospital taking care of patients. And I do design for fun.

I ride dirt bikes and race motocross. I also have a KTM Super Duke that I ride and commute with. I'm trying to find a way to make a business that has to do with my hobbies but not actually open a shop. On top of that, I trade stocks, futures, and options but nothing big, a couple grand to play with.

I am learning to cook. I also work on bicycles for myself, friends and family (I used to be a bicycle mechanic.)

Lately I hike, play some video games, and I've been building bows.

Last summer I rode a motorcycle all the time--but I sold it this winter.

I also mix in pool and poker when I have time for it--I'm a high-level player of both, better than I am at programming (my day job)!

I love collecting old video game systems and games trying commodore 64 software on a real commodore 64 Playing with my raspberry py and arduino and Basic stamp exercise. Reading about old technology old computers.

I play piano and guitar. I've been trying learn how to paint recently.

Brewing and consuming beer.

I go mountaineering. It's very challenging and teaches you life skills outside of a computer.

I'm playing deep, interesting video games.

Kerbal Space Program is one of my favourite.

Also I walk a lot in Paris and around.

Spend time with my kids and wife.

Reading, exercising and when weather allows, jumping out of perfectly good airplanes.