Ask HN: Hacker Hobbies?

Jogging is something I do regularly, as well as inline skating. I also picked up paragliding this year and try to do it as often as possible, but it always depends on the weather.

Guitar, studying japanese, and recently started lindy hop. #2 and #3 are complementary, and #1 helps #3.

Capoeira. It's a mix of Brazilian martial arts, music, culture, dance, and game, and one which requires physical training as well as the ability to think quickly and creatively on one's feet, and it teaches you how to truly control your body, something most people never learn to do.

Many people don't know much about it, but it's a beautiful sport. (Martial art, not dance. Common misconception is that it's non-contact - it's only non-contact if you move fast enough!) I particularly enjoy it because of the associated culture and traditions.

(In case anyone's interested, here are some videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8xxgFpK-NM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51q1VB_dDik Feel free to email me if you have questions.)

I'd like to tout an increasingly rare hobby among younger people (non-retirees): Bridge, the card game. It has a rule structure and that hidden-information element that appeals to nerds, but it forces you to think critically and rationally instead of analytically (usually--opportunities for highly analytical plays pop up), and forces you to be able to relate with another person both at and away from the table, since it's played by pairs of 2. There's a reason it's Bill Gates' favorite game.

A lot of fascinating older people play the game, as well. I met a small business owner who was formerly the first computer salesman for a major mainframe company--IIRC it was Honeywell, but don't quote me on that. At least one famous international financier occasionally shows up to the bridge clubs in Chicago (unfortunately I've never ran into him).

The downside is it's hard to find a critical mass of bridge players in your age and "hang-out-ness" category.

Flying (halfway through pilot training), scuba diving, travel, reading, and I hope to take up sailing later this year. I tend to enjoy things that combine multiple skills and disciplines into one activity. For example, becoming a pilot requires proficiency in a variety of technical areas such as navigation, weather, and aircraft operating procedures, but it also requires learning airmanship and the art of flying the plane by feel. We spent several hours this week doing takeoffs and landings with the entire instrument panel covered with a towel, to get used to flying the plane with only your sensory input to guide you. Enough rambling though :)