How do you get through the Winter

steam_mill · Dec 24, 2003

As I'm getting older (I'm 35 now), it is getting harder and harder to get through the winter. I'm driving my wife insane. I'm find April through early November (fishing season in Ontario) but the time from November through March is killing me. My hobbies are: 1. Fishing 2. Boating 3. Maintaining my cottage These activities take up all of my free time during the spring/summer/fall. What do you guys do over the Winter. I came up with the idea of restoring a seventies corvette. Not concourse quality but just for driving. Then I realized that this activity is more of a warm activity and there is no way I'm working on a car in the dead of winter. So what do you do for fun? I walk my dog and watch movies. I don't do house renos. Computers are my job. I go camping at 0 degrees F a couple of weekends in Jan and Feb and go Ice fishing a couple of times also. My wife says I've become a Scrooge at Christmas. I'm miserable because the days are so short. Hate the traffic and all the shopping etc. etc. etc. I know I'm ranting. Any ideas for a hobby? I've tried trains/slot cars etc. I've wanted to move south. The company I work for would certainly support this decision (offices throughout NA) but my wife wants to be close to her family (I'm an only child with no family left). Ideas...?

mellowyellow · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

design and market a new fishing lure

KeltonKrew · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

Living down SOUTH we don't really have this problem.... There are many things you could do..... 1)Take up some woodworking making little things...... Here is my page http://www.keltonkrew.com/woodworking.html 2) make fishing lures 3) polish the boat over and over again 4) move down South so you don't have this problem. good luck........

crab bait · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

i always enjoy winter..main reason i reckon,is if'n i don't feel like doin' somethin' i don't have to feel guilty about it.. cause it's winter.. an when i do, do somethin' , it's icing on the cake.. i'm fortunate,, i have an outside heated little workshop .. set up good with good tools, powertools ,vaccume system ,good light ,an of coarse heat..i'm always doin' somethin' especially now,, i always make somethin' for all family members for xmas.. this year it's porch rockin' chairs for all... i build an fly r/c airplanes.. winter is buildin' season..i have some really nice airplanes.. also,, this is my hikin' season.. love to walk in the woods in the winter ,,lookin' for antler sheds.. an find 'em ,too.. there's just somethin' about the woods in the winter.. always see owls, fox, an herds of deer runnin' .. sometimes 50 or more.. but what i'm most fond of are bluebirds... can't get enuff of 'em...

JB · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

I think you need to respect your wife's need to be near her family, SM. That is too important to overlook. When I lived in MN and IL I took a week of my vacation in mid-winter and took one (different one each year)of my younguns to FL for camping and fishing for a few days. That, of course, involved several weeks of preparation and planning and several weeks of remembering and planning for next year. It was a great break from snow and darkness and usually carried me through. I don't know if you have this, but "cabin fever" is often "seasonal stress syndrome", a depression caused by shortage of vitamin D from exposure to the sun. In addition to anti-depressants, my Doc prescribed an hour a day under a sun lamp. It helped a lot. Hang in there, mate. Spring is on the way.

FLATHEAD · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

Vitamin D eh!! You know JB I never thought of that I figure it could hold some merit. I might have to give it a shot.

neumanns · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

I enjoy woodwork, although I am lacking in the tool department. It is amazing what renovations I have done with a dewalt 14.4 volt corless set, have done most of the basment with them. I am also blessed with a garage and like to do small projects out there. When I get antsy I can retreat out there and piddle on one of several projects. Ice fishing will get a bigger portion of my time in the years to come, I want to build a fish/spear house. It is really neat watching a northern slide in to a decoy. If I didn't have kids another hobby would be sledding but I like to orientate my hobby's so the kidds can hang out with me and play or help. And one of my all time favorite winter activities is visiting. Ya know going to somebody's house and drinking a bottomless cup of coffie with good people and great conversation. I feel this is a disinagrating passtime in our hustle bustle socioty and find it to be a simple and rewarding pleasure. Around here the coffe is always on and the door is always open and if somthing needs doing your welcome to join or ride along.

roscoe · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

Get a mistress!!!!

Or raid all the abandoned/closed for the season resorts, steal their stuff, and sell it on ebay.

Make fishing rods for yourself and friends and family. You can get kits at Cabelas.com

one more cast · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

I have the same problem, I used to do motorcycle projects but now I am in pretty rough shape with rhumatoid arthritis so I have trouble turning wrenches and lifting is out.Now I've started cooking more and I really enjoy it.

DJ · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

steam_mill, There is a great deal of merit to the effects of sunshine. Here in AZ, we have no lack of sun, that's for sure. Anyway, when I lived in MN, as JB did, I found my best defense against the blues was excersize. It really changes my attitude. Just think how much better you'll feel and how much stronger you'll be when summer does roll around!

Mr.Ladyfish · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

I feel for you SM. I grew up in upstate NY. I hated every day between Labor day and memorial day. We moved to Texas when I was 31. We miss family, especially during the holidays but otherwise have never regretted the move. Now I spend the winter the same as I do the summer....chasing speckled trout, redfish, flounder and ladyfish. The only difference is I have to wear long pants and a jacket in the winter.

steam_mill · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

I guess my biggest problem is that during the summer months, my only period of inactivity is while sleeping. the rest of the time, I'm doing something. During the winter months, I still work 45 to 55 hours per week but feel guilty about sitting around in the evenings watching the boob tube or surfing. I do a lot of walking (at least 1 hour per day and about 2 hours each weekend day). I'm really not a woodworker and I'm lucky I do have a group of friends. Its just that when you go outside into the snow/slush and it cold or you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark it's just a miserable time of the year. I'm getting away in January and the boat show is in January. Fishing show in February. March is Sportman show and Cottage life show..... Tx. for all the input....

JasonJ · Dec 24, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

My spring, summer, and fall are when I work the most. The winter, other than plowing snow, is my "vacation". I spend a lot of time watching DVDs, playin' the stereo loud, all the little lazy things that I did not do when it is warm. When it is warm, I mountain bike, boat, fish, all the good stuff. The winter is when I have the time to fix the stuff I break in the summer. I don't have a problem with getting lazy in the winter, but it is hard to get going again once spring hits and I start working those 10-12 hour work days....

gaugeguy · Dec 30, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

Ride the snowmobile, gonna try for 1500 miles this year. Ice fishing, it's like deer camp on ice.

KennyKenCan · Dec 30, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

I can't believe that you guy's in the snow area's don't ski? I cannot wait for the long New Years Holiday, so I can head up to Vermont for 3 days of skiing. Also will try to get snowmobile running. That thing (1970 Polaris T700R) hasn't been started in almost 7 years. It's a great old machine! Alway's started before!???? Then after New Years, I will go skiing almost every weekend till March, when it will be time again to prep the boat and get her into the water.

KeltonKrew · Dec 30, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

My wintertime will be spent making a teak console for my 13' whaler, completly stripping the whaler, re-gel coating the exterior and appling ultr-tuff to the interior....also adding a CMC PT-135 tilt/trim setback.....Hopefull to have it done by april/may time frame... this should be plenty to keep me busy...I'll post pics along the way......Great winter project.

gaugeguy · Dec 30, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

The kids and wife ski all the time, I live 5 miles from a ski area (Pat's Peak). I may go once or twice, it beats the heck out of my bum knee and I will pay for it several days afterwards.

JasonJ · Dec 30, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

Kenny, I crosscountry ski on occasion, but not as much as I probably should. I have considered taking up downhill skiing, our ski resort (Schweizer Mountain) is about 15 mile to the lodge from my house, but I keep saying "maybe next year".

KennyKenCan · Dec 30, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

gaugeguy, OK, now I'm jeolous! Your only 5 mins. to Pat's Peak!! I would die to live that close to skiing! My parents live about 45 mins. from Pat's Peak. Nice place to ski with the family, just the trails are not too long.

mellowyellow · Dec 30, 2003

Re: How do you get through the Winter

only get in a couple days of skiing a year

, but we always put an ice rink in the yard. get a good snow, old garden roller, some water, roll once more and add a few inches of water. ice hockey for the boys, figure skating for the girlies

How do you get through the Winter

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