Are you starved for action (minds out of the gutter, please)? Are you overworked and finding yourself vegging out on the couch every weekend? Well, stop it.
You need to get off your ass and go do something fun and adventurous. Leave it to me, your intrepid guide to all things fun and adventurous, to show you how in five easy steps.
1. Just go
We discussed spontaneity in my last post, and I really believe it does wonders for people. It’s not a full-time approach, especially for you planning types, as I found out. But when I’m about to die from boredom, I’ll just walk out the door and see where the road takes me.
Go for a hike, a bike ride, a swim—anything to break the couch potato routine.
2. Save money
I have expensive taste in beer. I wonder at times if the $8 IPA I’m drinking is better than skydiving or taking scuba diving classes.
You too might have expensive taste in something, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
It would be interesting, however, to cut back for even one month, diverting your saved funds into a “let’s do something awesome soon” piggy bank. Just a thought.
3. Buddy up
You need a buddy who has something epic planned every weekend.
Chances are likely he/she will invite you along at some point, meaning all you have to do is show up. Gear will usually be provided by your buddy, which is especially good if you’re hoping to try something out for the first time.
4. Buy the gear
This isn’t always the best approach. Garages the world over are cluttered with too much crap because people rush into buying gear, using it only once.
If you’ve considered taking up an adventurous hobby, the best way to get started is to dive right in.
Say you’re thinking about getting into mountain biking (and you should, by the way). Research bikes, set a price point, talk to your local bike shop, make the purchase. Boom! You’re well on your way to shredding big downhill sections.
Be sure to actually use your gear more than once. Otherwise, I will stop by to confiscate everything. It’s the right thing to do.
5. Join a club
I used to think joining a club was the lamest thing ever. This might have something to do with the fact that I started an airplane club when I was a kid, and nobody joined. Their loss. Not mine.
The more I think about it, though, clubs are a great way to become acquainted with like-minded people. And with this nifty thing called the internet, joining a club is as easy as searching for “awesome beer drinkers who snowboard.”
Can you think of any “get off your ass and go do something fun” tips I missed?
eric murtaugh 
Sometimes just going somewhere and renting the gear isn’t a bad idea either. Kayaking is one good example, great fun, but having to store and transport one can be a pain!
Excellent tip, my friend!
6. Rent gear, go have fun
7. Buy booze. Yay!
8. Drink booze. Yaaa*gulp*aaaaay!
How could I have possibly disregarded two very important (and very obvious) tips?
One way to get gear at the beginning of a new passion, before you spring for the expense of better quality stuff, is to post a “want” on your local freecycle forum. Go to http://www.freecycle.org and find your local group.
I’ve never heard of freecycle! This is one of the coolest concepts I’ve seen. Have you found decent gear this way?
Great tips! Love the buddy system idea! It’s amazing how much the club thing has taken off in recent years. These days there seems to be a MeetUp group for just about anything you can think of. No excuse for couch potatoes!
Have you tried MeetUp yet?
Not sure if this is quite part of the buddy system you describe, but it’s good to have someone who will goad/cajole/shame you into pushing a little harder and going a little farther.
Yeah, someone like Eric….
Oh, wait for it, Alex. I have the goofiest challenge yet! With a picture!
This type of person is an invaluable asset to any group of crazies.
Buy the ticket, start saving. Knowing you have a trip coming up makes it easier to be thrifty
Totally agree!
All really good ideas, especially the first one because you never know who or what you’re going to run into. Number 5 is cool as well because again….you don’t know who you’re going to meet or what it’ll lead to. You may join an amateur astronomy group and end up meeting someone who likes caving or sailing…then….woohoo! I don’t always have money and I don’t always have the proper gear….but I’m ALWAYS ready to go!
So are you telling me you joined an amateur astronomy group and ended up meeting someone who likes caving and sailing?
Actually yes…but my point was that meeting people through one interest can lead to learning about their other interests which in turn can lead to doing things you’ve never tried before. It’s about not only leaving oneself open to options, but actively creating options.I was agreeing with you.
….I’m sorry no one joined your airplane club. I started a club too as a kid, and the only members besides myself was my best friend and my younger brother….who we forced to join. : )
Good point! I think it’s great you joined an astronomy club and met someone who’s into caving and sailing.
My sister joined my club at one point, but I kicked her out. A few days later I wrote an apologetic “please come back to the club” letter. She declined. Ouch.
LOL!!!!
I sometimes get those letters from Netflix…..you should have offered her a free month….
Hmmm I will have to take your ideas into consideration – I suck at doing stuff here in this ..place I live – and it’s only cause i grew up in the Rockies camping and hiking and inner tubing and playing sports and fishing and tree hugging gardeing – all that kinda cool hippy crap and the never ending excitement of Being All That I could Be – that i miss so much and I feel so out of my element here – so what would you suggest on a 120 day with no shade? Just wondering maybe I’ll get inspired – ok well I am a bit inspired or I probably wouldn’t be rambling on and on soooo yea….anything? I am all ears (not so much they are pretty normal size but I clean them every day so I can hear very well – hit me!)
🙂