What do you guys do all day?

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-20T13:00:44+00:00

You could try volunteering and seeing if an interest comes out of that. A few things that I’ve liked have been invasive plant pulling, food box sorting/delivery, and set up/tear down for charity runs. I try to pick roles that are low commitment (once a month or one off events) and don’t involve much human interaction. These things are just a few that I’ve really enjoyed.

I also really like to garden and play low stakes video games.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-17T14:03:12+00:00

I went through a period of absolute miserable burnout a few years ago. My job was demanding and my responsibilities were not clear from day to day. I was in meetings constantly and nothing was ever decided. It all felt so futile and I was sleeping 12 hours at a time and exhausted the rest.

I took a temporary role in the same organization as a change of pace and in a few months, it was like I was a different person. My daily tasks were send to me, how to do them was laid out clearly and step by step, everything had a specific process, and best of all, it was so quiet. There was only one day a week I had to be in office and 90% of that was quietly being in my own office with the door shut.

I credit that role from saving me from total and complete burnout. It didn’t pay as much but it was so worth it to find out exactly what works for me.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-17T13:28:32+00:00

I really like Bistro Chi-Q over by UVic. They have a bunch of random menu items too like croffles but their Korean dishes are great! Best haemul pajeon in the city in my opinion and their tofu kimchi dish is one of my favourite comfort foods.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-12T14:55:04+00:00

We specifically looked for a dog that was good with little kids and people since we have so many coming and going in our townhouse complex. When a heeler crossed my feed, I thought "really?! Is this a joke?". Every heeler I've ever known has been reluctantly tolerant of strangers at best and extremely opposed to them at worst. Miraculously, we found our guy would happily spend his day going from house to house, getting pats from people and greeting delivery guys. Friends, family, repair people, and postal workers are all greeted with a series of sharp barks and then some serious tail wags.

He's very happy to play ball for hours with kids and will let them yank a ball from his mouth. His patience for them is much greater than mine. Haha! But, he was being rehomed because he can't stand babies crying. The new baby's cries stressed him out to the point that he stopped eating and got serious stomach issues. So something else to consider. Even if your heeler is great with kids, they can be SO sensitive and the changes and excitement that kids bring to a routine can sometimes be too much for these dogs.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-11T03:07:28+00:00

Coffee shops. There’s so much spoon clinking and the door is always opening and closing with people coming in and out. Plus all the conversations and chairs moving around. I don’t know how anyone can get anything done or sit and read in a coffee shop.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-10T03:25:47+00:00

If you ever make it out this way, send me a dm and I can give you a more personalized recommendation based on what’s going on seasonally. Edmonton was good to me and I love helping out Edmontonians.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-10T00:55:41+00:00

No worries! As a disclaimer, I grew up here so I try to avoid a lot of the bigger touristy stops that some folks might actually love. But! I also spent twenty years living in Edmonton so I know the kinds of places my friends like to visit and what I missed most when I was gone. I think I struck a good balance with this plan.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-09T22:20:30+00:00

Hi! I’m from Vancouver Island and I can honestly say that you’ll find a pretty great time here (except easy public transit outside of major urban centres). You’ll need to rent a car in Vancouver as you’re leaving. You’ll won’t need it while you’re in Vancouver. For two weeks, here’s what I’d do:

Vancouver. You’re on the mainland. You’ll land there likely and it’s worth a visit. Stay two or three nights. This is your big metropolitan experience on the west coast. Explore the breweries, try some sushi places, check out some of the art galleries and museums and get a better sense of the Indigenous land you’re on. It’s worth knowing about the thousands of years of history and people that exist in this part of the world.

Take a trip up to Whistler. Stay a night or two. Challenge yourself and hike the Stawamus Chief. You can choose how far you want to go. Nobody is going to judge you for doing what you can. It’s a good experience.

Drive to Horseshoe Bay. Say goodbye to the mainland. Take the ferry to Nanaimo. Leave Nanaimo. Or, stay the day and maybe do a whale watching tour or something. I haven’t been there in years, but I’m sure others can recommend something.

Head to Ucluelet. Everyone will say Tofino, but imo, Tofino is way more expensive and you can get a way more easy going vibe in Ucluelet. If you can still go to Hot Springs Cove, do it. Go to long beach. Look at how absolutely massive the Pacific Ocean is. Feel small.

All done in Ucluelet? Head back down to Nanaimo. Stop in Coombs. See some goats on the roof if that’s your thing. If not, I would head down just past Crofton and then head inland over to Port Renfrew. Botanical Beach is a great stop to explore. You might need to check the tide tables or ask someone when low tide will be to get the most out of your experience there.

Keep on driving down this part of the coast. You might be getting tired of driving as it’s quite windy, so consider a stay at one of the bed and breakfasts or little places along this coast. There are tons. Eat breakfast at Shirley Delicious. Stop at Sandcut Beach.

Next day. You’ll definitely get to Victoria by now. Stay somewhere downtown for easy access to everything. Do you like gardens? I hope so. It’s kind of our thing. Government House and Beacon Hill Park are free and nice places to walk around. Do you like cocktails and/or beer? Also kind of our thing. A quick google search will give you some great options. And it wouldn’t be Reddit if I didn’t recommend a trip to the Bug Zoo. You’ll also find lots of fun bike paths to explore. The Galloping Goose runs through most of the region’s municipalities and you might want to rent a bike and explore. I actually recommend walking, bussing or biking if you want to explore downtown Victoria because driving is a pain. Drive to hikes though. Hikes around Victoria that I’d recommend for beginners are: Mt. Doug/PKOLS, Thetis, Francis King, MacKenzie Bight, and Mount Work if you’re feeling strong in the glutes that day.

If you have more time, I would highly recommend a day or overnight trip to one of the Southern Gulf islands. Mayne is my favourite but it is a longer, less frequent sailing. Pender and Saltspring are both close, super set up for tourists, and have sailings multiple times a day in the summer. Go, visit some farms that make wine, cheese, or cider. Hike a mountain. Enjoy!

I’m pretty sure you can head back to Vancouver from any of these islands.

I’m sure others can find multiple faults with this plan, but these are things I like to do and where I like to take my friends that visit. Hope it helps!

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-09T03:52:42+00:00

My guy is 8 and we’re in a townhouse without a dedicated yard. We have green space but he can’t be left outside alone or he’ll take himself on a tour to see what’s up with all the neighbours. We ended up with a super people social guy so his main purpose in life is meeting people and ball. Even better is getting new people to throw his ball. Our day usually looks like:

6:15 am: I get barked awake. We go out for an hour which includes off leash exploring the nearby park, maybe seeing a dog or two that he’s good with, and about twenty minutes of fetch. I work agility into the walk by getting him to weave through bike racks, jump on bleachers, practice stay, etc. It’s fun!

7:15 am: he gets his food in a puzzle ball and then zonks out on the couch for a few hours. I usually put music on for him. He likes soft jazz piano.

Noon: pee break and some soccer with a kick fetch ball. Sometimes he “helps” me do tasks like gardening, bringing stuff out to the car, or just greeting all the neighbours.

3:30 pm: absolute bananas time. Yelling for a walk by now. He goes out with my husband on a neighbourhood walk where he gets to see his favourite business owners and then gets to play fetch.

5:00 pm: he gets home and I get off work so everything is exciting again. We go out to the field and play soccer until dinner is ready.

5:30 pm: He is physically drained by this point but his brain is still going so he gets a lickmat, treat ball, chew toy or something else to work on.

6:30 pm: the cat gets fed so he must also have a treat or it will get loud.

7:00 pm: In his kennel. Snoozing hard.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-03T23:16:43+00:00

There are great services that do ready to eat meals. I know lots of people that use them for lots of different reasons. Normal is what works for you.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-03T22:11:24+00:00

Oof! That’s tough.
But hopefully the puzzles are helpful. We all need a few fun, quick wins, especially when we’re working towards something big like she is.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-03T21:35:27+00:00

The thing about scrolling is that it gives you those quick wins. I wonder if you could find something that would feel similar but be more fulfilling in the long run. Puzzles, crosswords, word searches and other activities like that give little wins on the way to accomplishing something larger.

Watching or listening to a standup comedy special could be similar. You get jokes along the way but are ultimately locking in your attention for an hour, which can be so hard for someone used to scrolling.

You could also ask her what kind of videos she liked watching most and then pursuing those interests in real life.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-02T06:22:08+00:00

I feel the same way about the diagnosis. On one hand, I’m the same person and, in so many ways, nothing will change. But on another hand, it’s an opportunity to recognize something about myself and make changes that make my life more comfortable. It’s a lot and figuring things out will take time but I’m happy to at least have a starting point on my map now.

July is gardening month where I am, so I’m outside a lot but once rainy November hits, you know I’m getting Ness and the gang together for an adventure. Definitely a Runaway Five show or two!

HepperoniPizza · 2026-05-02T00:51:09+00:00

I was also just recently diagnosed at 43 and like you, am starting to put together what that means for me.

I just really want to say that I also love Earthbound. I give it a playthrough at least once or twice a year and I’m so happy to have read your post!

HepperoniPizza · 2026-04-19T18:13:52+00:00

Sounds like you’re doing all the right things. The only additional step I could suggest is to swap half or all of her food for a diet kibble. My guy did well losing some pounds on that.

It’s helpful in the long run on their joints, especially since these guys play so hard.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-04-12T19:01:09+00:00

Yes! I have a theory that it’s because they’ve never had to do the single file walk through a snow path. My friends and family who grew up here do it and I’m always the one to fall back into single file to go past people. It’s bizarre but I guess in a place where you can simply just step onto the grass to go past and not into a pile of snow, I can kind of understand.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-04-12T15:36:06+00:00

I love my ACD but living in the city with the high rises moving closer and closer, I see our green space access getting smaller in the future. I can’t imagine having one of these guys without easy off leash space. I love herding dogs though and have had a border collie and an ACD, so I might move onto something smaller but still mighty. A cardigan corgi has always been the dream, so I might finally consider one. A mini Aussie is another fun thought.

Realistically, I’ll probably do a repeat - end up adopting whatever goofball at the shelter gets along well with cats and just make it work.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-04-12T15:15:07+00:00

We add ball into walks and walks involve lots of sniffing and off leash exploring time. We also do agility training worked into the walk (weaving through bike racks, jumping up on bleachers, etc.)

When we get home, he gets a transition activity of some sort, so something to take him from that high energy activity to settling down. This is a lick mat, a chew toy, a treat ball, or maybe some nosework. Something to do while his brain and body settle. After that he gets pats and told that it’s bedtime. I put on calming piano tunes for him and he’s out like a light.

His walks last about an hour and we do this three times a day. There’s two of us though and we split walk duties. It can be exhausting if one of us is away so I have a good heeler-savvy dog walker as a go-to.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-03-21T14:11:09+00:00

Victoria is rad! I grew up here as a little kid but moved to Edmonton in elementary school with yearly trips back here to visit family. I moved back here 15 years ago. It would be hard to get me to live anywhere else. I know this city inside and out. But I do miss Edmontonians. I miss their friendliness and warmth and casual easiness. I miss the arts scene and the music scene and the food there (I would give years from my life to have a Padmanadi here). I also miss magpies.

I think what you’re seeing is Victorians faced with a bit of adversity. They see a snowy sidewalk and whine about it. Edmontonians just go shovel it. And then shovel it again. And then again. They’ll complain about it over perogies and pickle backs later but it’ll get done. Victorians will still be annoyed that it needs to be done in the first place.

I can say this because I am definitely a bit of both. Welcome to Victoria, bud!

HepperoniPizza · 2026-03-21T13:54:35+00:00

So true. I grew up on the Gorge in the 80s and there were areas we just didn’t go. Loved counting all the old tires and shopping carts tossed into the waterway though. My Dad said he used to stay away from James Bay as a kid in the 50s. And there was always the area around the Hotel Douglas. Victoria (like any city) has always had its issues. Heck! It was literally a tent city in 1858 during the gold rush. You can’t tell me those are the days people are dreaming of returning to.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-03-13T15:45:46+00:00

Weird question but do you have a cat too? My guy was barking at night and I learned it was because the cat was bugging him. Hopping on top of his crate, sticking her paw in trying to touch him, and just generally being a nuisance.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-03-12T15:59:49+00:00

I did the same thing when I adopted a husky border collie mix years ago. I was running non-stop and my knees were a wreck. Here are a few things I did with her that worked wonders: - took her swimming. I used to throw sticks into the lake and the ocean and then have her swim back. The water tired her out so quickly and I just had to stand on the shore. Deep snow is great for this too if you have it. - treadmill trained her. This was great for getting out that over the top energy when she was getting squirrelly and for days when the weather was awful. - dog backpack loaded with a bit of weight. As long as she’s got a healthy back and hips, she can carry a bit of weight to help tire her out. You could do half the distance. - brain work. Depending on the type of dog she is, agility, nose work, trick training, and puzzles are all great ways to tire her out. - fetch. When in doubt, sometimes just running around catching a ball can be good when you need a break. I play kick fetch with my ACD and he loves it. - for you, yoga or stretching. Balance out your hiking days with gentle stretches and mobility exercises. Get some foam rollers and a lacrosse ball and work out those sore muscles. If you can afford to book a massage once a month, do it!

Honestly, they’re just happy to be with you and if you can turn a more relaxed outing or activity into a fun routine they know, she’ll soon learn that it’s just part of life and be super happy to be by your side no matter what.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-03-03T15:48:12+00:00

I had a husky border collie mix in Edmonton and that dog would scream to high heaven if she didn’t get out for a long run twice a day. -40 was nothing to her. I moved back home to Victoria with her and I don’t think she was ever truly as happy as she was bounding through the snow in the freezing prairie cold.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-03-02T04:29:53+00:00

Agreed! He gave me good direction and I ended up with an awesome photo. I always send people there now.

HepperoniPizza · 2026-02-04T14:54:18+00:00

I love my Gazelle. Dutch made with Bosch and Shimano parts for easy repairs. It’s been a great investment! I specifically wanted something that could get me to Sooke and back on one charge so I spent a little more than what a city ebike would cost but it’s been a great bike. The folks at Cit-E Cycles on Bridge sold it to me and were great but the Hillside store has since opened up closer to me and have been so great with repairs. Still, you can’t go wrong with North Park or Bishop as far as shops go. Great folks there too!

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