The Glade 4.0

Hey all,

As you may have heard, I am living by myself, in an apartment, about 15 minutes from work.

For going out, I have 1 day a week I have a Pathfinder game, and usually one evening of Karaoke.

The other 6 are generally free, with the breakdown being:

M: Jackshit to do but hang out on internet
Tu: Same
W: Same
Th: Pathfinder with friends (some good, some mildly annoying)
Fr: Alternating weeks there's a Savage Worlds game (with most of the same friends)
Sa: Rarely a Pathfinder game or other activity
Su: Jackshit to do but hang out on internet, Karaoke at 9 with friends (mildly annoying)

I want to get out and do more and meet people and have a life that orbits further from my workplace.

I <3 my job, I <3 the people I meet there, but I need more activities and socialization.

And Michael, while awesome to go to dinner with, can't take the caloric intake (nor do I need it) of seeing me 5-6 times a week.

I am putting up a poll, taking suggestions for items not on the poll, and explaining my options:

1) Kendo - I have wanted to do kendo for ages. Go Rin No Sho (A Book of Five Rings) has been in my possession for a decade or more.
2) Fencing - More ethnically appropriate and similar enough but kind of preppy.
3) Another Martial Art - likely would do Tae Kwan Do.
4) Cooking - I actually have little experience cooking. I've made Tom Kha soup more than I've made a grilled cheese. Would be good to practice and possibly have little tete a tete parties at my place.
5) Photography - edited in because while it's expensive, I don't actually own a normal camera that's worth a damn, so expense is more justifiable.
6) Board games - there's a sacgeeks.com that has a board games (think more Carcassone and less Trivial Pursuit) meetup Tuesday in midtown. I went once. Good people, but some drama, and I am drama allergic.
7) LARP - a friend is in a local duchy for Amtgard. Technically, I could try SCA, but I don't think I have the wisdom or patience of Michael to deal with kids, so it would take a very cogent argument for this.

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Once, I was a ranger
Then, I was a warlock
And a mage
And a paladin
Now, I seek to be myself

Why not video games?

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Los Angeles Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

"I love this **** team right here."
-Jonathan Quick

A good question!

I have an XBox 360 and I have a friend or three whom would play video games with me (at my place or their place).

I have a WoW subscription I have not logged into in months.

However, I am trying to add noise and conversation to my life and my skills... I am feeling very two dimensional and want more to talk about.

I have debated taking up Photography which would get me out of the house at least.

I have added that as a poll option.

_________________
Once, I was a ranger
Then, I was a warlock
And a mage
And a paladin
Now, I seek to be myself

I voted LARP because of all the things listed, that's the one I enjoy the most(well, the only other option on the poll that is interesting to me is board games. I don't like martial arts, cooking or photography and I hardly see the point in learning how to fence. I mean, honestly...when are you ever going to use fencing skills in the real world? At least with karate or judo, they can keep you safe if you get attacked, but fencing? 0 real world application).

_________________
Los Angeles Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

"I love this **** team right here."
-Jonathan Quick

I have no idea what LARP is?
So I voted for cooking...ladies love a guy who can cook...and if you can find a local cooking class, all the better! Then you can throw small dinner parties.

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

You love good food, learn to make it.

If you're really interested in fencing, consider the SCA, rapier is very popular and there are a lot of people to meet and get to know. Usually Wednesday nights here in Sac.

_________________
The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

I'm a big fan of fencing. It's a nice sport, can be competitive/non-competitive as you like it, and 3 different competitive weapons offers a variety of styles for different personalities.

Every fencing salle I've been to starts beginners off with Foil... I would personally suggest starting with Epee, and branching back to Foil if you need to. Less rules to learn, and more focus on the thinking game and accuracy than the wild acrobatics and fast reflexes of Foil.

I fenced all three weapons competitively for a while, but then I moved away from my club and kinda stopped. The university I'm working at now is in a town with several clubs, and I'm hoping to get back into it again.

I honestly found it a lot more fun than other martial arts, but then I've always liked swords. It meshes very well with LARPing and that combat if you want to pick up those two together

::Edit for Michael's addition:: I would suggest learning to fence and then getting into SCA rapier, as opposed to the other way around. Classical fencing (epee) will make you exceptionally competitive in the SCA, and most SCA groups I've messed around with really lack the fundamentals of sword play. Just a suggestion. The two do go very well together, and offer slightly different outlets- you'll get great exercise doing the fencing thing, and most groups drill quite hard. The SCA fighting is a lot more fun, but a lot less serious (imo).

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Darksiege: You are not a god damned vulcan homie.

Kendo. It's alot of fun and pretty social, many beers after practice. But the gear can get pricey.

Find a good Jiu-Jitsu (Brazilian or otherwise) school

NephyrS is correct about the dynamics of earning fencing. I was considering the social aspects of your dilemma as much as the martial artistry.

I'm just getting back to going to the Wednesday meetings, which are now in a small state of flux.

_________________
The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Buy a guitar. Join a Rock 'n Roll Band!=D

Video games, stare at the Internet, listen to music? Interesting that you have board games but not video games.

What about volunteer firefighting? Is that an option in your area?

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

DE, he lives near me. While a great idea in some areas, volunteer firefighting is not really an option here. It is a pretty urban and suburban area. Rural is about 20 minutes away in some directions, but still covered by county services. Firefighters are public employees. Interestingly, people who try to volunteer may be investigated as potential arsonists.

_________________
The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

I've seen suburban volunteer fire departments before, but if it's not workable it's not workable.

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

Cooking isn't a bad idea. The classes can be pretty sociable, and moreover, it's a useful skill to have. You kill two birds with one stone, there. Also, as mentioned previously, it goes over well with the ladies. It doesn't help you get them, but it impresses the ones you bring home.

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Buckle your pants or they might fall down.

That's a good point. Especially if it extends to skill on the grill. Being able to throw some seasoning on a burger or a steak on a gas grill is one thing. Being able to slow-roast or smoke ribs, or make your own BBQ sauce, and stuff like that.. another story altogether! When you can invite not just the girl, but her friend and her friends' boyfriend over for some bratwursts with red and yellow peppers sauteed in beer over charcoal.. you're going to score some major points.

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

Also, if you enjoy fencing and marial arts, I'd suggest taking up shooting. Even if you have no interest or intention of using a gun for self-defense, it's a challenging physical skill. Archery is also a possibility!

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

This, I always get good reactions if it comes out that I can cook anything.

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"...the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?" -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Cooking, and regular visits to Denver.

Magic the Gathering. Learn to play. Get a regular play group. Find a local game store to hang out and play/trade.

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"It is true that democracy undermines freedom when voters believe they can live off of others' productivity, when they modify the commandment: 'Thou shalt not steal, except by majority vote.' The politics of plunder is no doubt destructive of both morality and the division of labor."

BJJ We need a few more rollers.

The local game store is Great Escape. Hurley and Howe, back behind the Old Navy store.

_________________
The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

What about volunteering? You could help out with a cub/boy scouts group or maybe coach?

How much money can you use? What about taking an art class like glass blowing or creating your own neon sign?

Deeger,

Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, or Royal Rangers are all out.

I was in 4-H and I have no intention of being the childless guy who is helping kids because even 20+ years ago, parents and kids thought it was creepy.

And cooking is the most danger I am willing to expose myself to... glass blowing and neon art is right out.

(Though I did like the Matthew Perry movie with Neve Campbell... not <3 it, but I've watched it more than once.)

Thanks everyone for the input. I shall try to keep people informed of my progress.

_________________
Once, I was a ranger
Then, I was a warlock
And a mage
And a paladin
Now, I seek to be myself