Doing what you LOVE to do - before, during & after BC! What's YOUR favourite?

Hi guys

I am really lucky in that I have 2 BIG passions that consume a lot of my time ..... and (no surprise to some of you ....)

Ukulele Playing - this was a library gig we did last year .... (I am 4th from left, front row.)  Our ages range from the 50s - 80s.  Every 4-6 weeks we play 'gigs' at 4 Nursing Homes - and we practise weekly at another nursing home ... so I guess you can call us 'volunteers'??  Some of our members are older than the people we are playing for!  LOL

and
Kayak Fishing - I love nothing more than hitting the lake with a bunch of buddies.


Yesterday, I was getting cabin fever from lack of fishing (wet & windy here for the last week), so I grabbed a warm jacket
& walked the edge of the Boat Ramp .... I was busted off on the first fish :(  (a good sized Flattie from the power of it's head shakes!) then dropped the next few that spat the hook .... then finally landed another nice one, that came home for dinner!!


So WHAT IS IT that puts that 'gleam in YOUR eye' - is it Golf (I play it badly), Playing Bridge (never tried it - I think you have to be 'serious' to play Bridge), Singing (that goes hand in hand with Uke Playing), Community Groups/Volunteering, Tapestry, Running (I couldn't run round the block to save my life!), ..... that gets you out of bed quicker in the morning if you know you are going to 'do it' ........ 

How has your surgery/treatment impacted on you doing 'YOUR TIME" stuff?  Have you had to stop doing it or can't do it as often due to your treatment?  Do you find you find you are still expected to do EVERYTHING ELSE at the expense of 'Your Time'?

Prior to my surgery, my uke group were amongst my greatest allies - I had to tell them straight away as we were gearing up for a big performance at the Blue Mountains Uke Festival - and I didn't know if I would be there for them!!   After my surgery, I was back playing again 2 weeks later - but was very mindful of where my uke sat - as it was right across the affected boob!!   The Blue Mountains gig was 3 weeks after my surgery - and luckily, I made it!!  4 of my Uke group have had BC & were able to offer info & support.

My Fishing Buddies were also an immense support to me as well (as indeed they were when Hubby was going thru his cancer in 2010)  - I've caught up with a fair few of them since I was diagnosed & it has just been terrific.  A bunch of my kayak fishing ladies had also had BC and were a wonderful source of info & advice!

Part of my philosophy to recovery is to try & keep 'busy' with 'stuff' so that your mind is kept active & is a 'happy thing' compared to what we are going thru daily just now  (Hmmmm - tho I REALLY should be decluttering our home - but that doesn't excite me as much!  LOL)  

SO, let's get a list going of all your favourite pastimes ..... then, if anyone on the forum is living near you or passing thru - you may be able to share your passion with them to help them 'while away' the time!!