Alone and Alive

I was talking with a friend the other day about hobbies. She has spent her whole life working and now is disabled and unemployed. She really never had any hobbies. She spent all of her time working, raising children and taking care of the house. Now she reads for recreation, but is becoming board.

When I became a widow I was frantically busy with work and raising a child alone. Now that Thomas is away at college, I have been looking for other interests to fill the time that used to be filled with band concerts, football games and Boy Scouts. I have renewed old interests and may find some new ones.

One of my requirements is that any hobby I chose must have some personal contact. I want to be able to engage in hobbies that bring me in touch with like-minded people. One hobby I have enjoyed for years is entering sweepstakes. Most of that activity is done alone, however I have joined a sweepstakes club that meets once a month. So I am doing something I like and meeting new people.

What kind of hobbies do you enjoy? What kind of hobbies would you like to try and how will that hobby help you deal with your free time as a widow?