So, what are other hobbies you have apart from chess?

Title. What else do you enjoy to do in your free time apart from playing chess? Give input please!

Movies: I belong to a movie club that meets every Wednesday to see movies in my local Public Library, I also go to regular movie theaters and see movies there. I also have an extensive DVD movie collection.

Books: I don't know if you can call me an avid reader but I am a "constant reader" as Stephen King would say, as I read a little bit almost every day. Usually novels in the SF and Horror genres but also Historical Fiction and Thrillers.

Cycling: I'm part of a bicycle club that together takes rides around the city, usually at night because it's too hot in the daytime. Riding together makes it less dangerous since cars see all of our lights together.

Drawing: I like to draw. It's tied to my love of comic books.

Music: My other great passion. I don't play an instrument but am an avid music fan. Genres from classic rock to heavy metal and also movie soundtrack music.

Cool! I do play an instrument (I think my profile picture is enough to know what exactly hehe)

I also read a lot, mostly mystery and teen fiction, though I don't like romance, so I usually try to root it out, I prefer stories where the MCs are just friends because... I think I identify more with it, all my life I have had more female friends and I prefer it that way

I also write, I haven't published anything yet though, but I'm planning on writing a novel, and I have a ton of short stories I want to write and publish too (One of them is an alt-history where countries have always fought war like a human-chess game, really cool, I want to write it like a battle in WW2 in this way)

I would love to draw! But my art is way too horrible I have decided to dedicate myself to music, I work better in that area (And I'm not that good either hehe)

I want to get into Kpop Dancing too, but I am not really good at that

Sorry if this is too much info, I'm just happy to share my life with the world

I work part time.

Chess is my principal hobby. I am a confirmed woodpusher.

I love to read. Tolkien, and Pratchett are my favorite authors. I love fantasy (the Hungry City Chronicles by Philip Reeve and Lockwood and Co. by Jonathan Stroud my latest).

I am a self taught "naturopath" . Healing with non drug therapies always seemed like a better way to me.

I adore classical music especially from the Romantic period. I sang opera in college, but the voice is pretty much gone now.

I like to chat with friendly folks on this site.

Cool! Who is your favorite composer?

I like Beethoven, the Brahm's symphonies, and Tchaikovsky. Usually I really just love the piece I am currently listening to. I have a cd of Wagner bits from the Ring cycle scheduled for a listen next. I like my music LOUD. If Beethoven is not rattling the windows it is not loud enough.

Dittoes to fellow Geezer Grandpa_patzer. 

   I have to listen when my wife's out of the house, or with headphones.  One of my current favorite composers is John Williams. His musical sountrack scores carry on the traditions and influence of so many of my older favorites that I have used his popularity to introduce students to Stravinsky, Holst, Wagner, Beethoven, et al,  ...but my taste in music is very eclectic, ranging through Ravi Shankar and the Indian masters, through other "world music", Rock, Jazz (hot and cool), Country/Western, etc.  My father introduced me to the classics (couldn't stand Rock & Roll), but also Gilbert & Sullivan, Spike Jones, Tom Lehrer, and P.D.Q. Bach.  My older brother plays the classics, learned jazz, etc. in the Navy of all places, has had a career of public performance and private teaching (piano).  

Love John William's score to the first Superman movie, and his Star Wars scores. Epic films usually have great scores. Danny Elfman comes to mind.

I love animals. I have 2 dogs, 2 cats and a tank full of tropical fish. I often help my daughter out with her 3 horses. I walk my dogs daily in the beautiful Welsh countryside. Around me there is an abundance of wildlife and birds. Last week I saw a red fox and a kingfisher.

(1/3/20) With a little time off during our Christmas Holiday, I get to check in to some of the forums.  I see that others do, as well.  Bravo! 

        My wife and I have always had animal companions in our life.  Our current guests include "Spooky," a cat who adopted us about a year ago, and six parakeets who have taken over our first floor.  We have to split their access now, as Spooky was an outdoor cat before coming to us last winter.  Our "flying circus" dominates three rooms periodically during the day, then retires to their cage for naps and food.  This allows Spooky to share the main living area during "happy nap" time and in the evenings.  She can spend a lot of time sitting patiently, staring up at the cage and sleeps on my wife's bed at night, next to a window with a view.  

        Tropical and cold-water fish, as well as various turtles and other reptiles, have always rounded out our menagerie.  It's always been busy here.

I'm afraid my interests/hobbies will sound dull to everyone else, but they keep me occupied and out of trouble (usually) and well entertained.

At the top, I should mention that I am very interested in music, by which I mean classical music. Though I love the orchestral music, chamber, and opera, my favorite genre is sacred choral music. I haven't heard a Requiem, Mass, or Oratorio written by the great Masters that I haven't loved. Being an Atheist, I just discard the lyrics and take in the beautiful melodies, harmonies, and rhythms.

I love to eat, too, and, along with that, enjoy preparation of food -- especially for company.

Nature is another huge draw. Though my age and a bum leg prevent the kind of participation I'd like, I still go for my near-daily walks in a nearby park.

Books -- ah, another love. I can't say I read a lot, but I read fairly regularly, switching between fiction and non-fiction.

Growing up without a television (got my first one when I was pregnant with my third child), I'm now making up for lost time -- not so much with live TV (most of which is junk), but selected movies and documentaries.

With movies as with books, the two thing I require of them is that they make me THINK or LAUGH.

Oh, and I love to write. Am currently writing my memoirs. They've gone through so many edits I sometimes despair of ever being finished. And how can I ever be finished as I am still living?

I like to read. I also like fill-in puzzles. I also used to write booklets for an RPG called Tunnels and Trolls. And I wrote 'Beans In Space' for the Bean World game system. I like nearly all board type games, and am good at Free Cell solitaire.

(6/13/22)  Hi Anda,

     Great post (above).  Never even be concerned if something you like sounds 'dull' to anyone else.  So what?  That tells something about them, nothing about you (or the subject in question).  If I had thought that, I would never have started some of my groups, or the Forums in them ('general semantics' springs to mind immediately).  With over 80 million members on Chess.com the odds are great that there are almost always others out there who share some interests with you.  Even from your brief post I, personally, share an interest in music (many kinds), cooking and food, nature, books of many types, writing, etc.  The Forum topics just in this group provide a variety of diverse interests to which any member (such as yourself) can contribute or upon which they may comment.

     I do wish more of our members would post 'links' (some of the time) to websites, individual blogs, YouTube videos, etc.  Such links (possibly with a brief description rather than just a web address) can allow others to 'explore' without greatly increasing the size of any individual post.