[LiteraryLark]

I've only been settled into my new home for three weeks, and I'm already struggling to find things to do. I was hoping to take a vacation from work until January/February (when it's time to sign up for the spring semester), but I'm worried I can't handle simply having nothing to do and would rather work instead when, after losing my home in the fire, I need to take some time off for my mental health before jumping into school or work.

Here's my little itinerary of what I have been and will be doing:

I recently signed up for volunteer work at a senior activity center, but they told me it will be a two-week process on their end before I can start. I'm committing only one day a week, which is necessary because come January I'll be looking for paid work, followed by school in the spring, and if I signed up for every day volunteering it would be harder to give up and narrow down which days to work, and I am most interested in their Physical Activity days which is coincidentally the day they need most help (they did assure me that if they could have me there all day every day they'd never let me go). And irregardless of being only the one day, it still looks really good on a resume to have a track record of committed time in a job, paid or unpaid, especially while I'm on vacation.

Second, I walk my dog once or twice a day and work hard on increasing my level of physical activity.

I read about two books a week, one "Educational" book and one "recreational" book, interpreted in my own little way.

I go shopping (bad on budget) and go on drives (bad on gas, bad on budget).

I go whale watching (I live on the coast)

I clean, and clean, and clean. My room is the biggest chore because my cat tends to make a mess and I always have some laundry to do. I routinely sweep and mop the house, clean both bathrooms, and clean the kitchen. About once or twice a week I clean my betta bowls, and I'm in charge of feeding my cat twice a day and the fish once a day. I feel like every day I'm always cleaning something

And yep...that's my little routine. It gets very boring and mundane after a while. And there's not much else I can do in this town. It's a touristy town in the summer, but still, not a whole lot to do.

I do have my instruments to play and my crochet, but that requires a certain mindset I just don't have right now.

Any suggestions on things I can do preferably at home would be great.

[MsSchadenfreude]

Cook!

Watch movies, shows, stand-up comedy, or documentaries...

Meditate. This could help reduce feelings of boredom!

[LiteraryLark]

I know the most obvious solution: Get a job. I'll discuss that in another thread.

[seeker33]

Go to cinema or theatre

[WishfulThinker66]

Gallery? Museum? Historical society? rock and shell picking on the beach? Hiking?

Check if they have a newcomers club. Welcome Wagon too is a source for tips.

And my all time favourite - find the local greasy spoon.

[*Laurie*]

Good question. I also live in a sleepy town. I find that the odd thing about small towns is that almost nothing is free. I mean...my family comes from NYC and there's a TON of free things to do, every single day - so much that no one could possible take advantage of all the free activities. Free museum days, free music...etc.

What do I do? Volunteer (NAMI, library). I spend hours every day doing art work. I also use a lot of time cleaning and taking care of my cats. Spend more time than I'd like to online. Take some walks. Drive to another small town, just for a change of scenery. My husband and I have run an online business for 10 years selling books...I spend a couple of hours every day with that.

I miss museums, cool coffeehouses, indie book shops, indie shops altogether...the movement of a city. But...???