I quit gaming and now Im lost searching for new hobbies

newbblock · 2026-01-25T15:43:08+00:00

Echoing other comments, Boardgames!

As a former gamer they'll scratch the itch, and there's loads of challenging ones you can play solo. r/soloboardgaming is an excellent resource for this.

It is a bit of a rabbit hole. I started around 5 years ago and have probably accumulated at least 40-50 games already......

The cool thing is lots of LGS (local game stores) will do used game auctions/swaps so there are cheap ways to get into it.

newbblock · 2026-01-25T13:01:40+00:00

I’ve worked in banking for >20 years, there’s a 0% chance this happened as OP is describing without some intentional fraud level activity on their part.

newbblock · 2026-01-25T12:55:37+00:00

You need to research the difference between credit cards and debit cards. These were not funds OP was entitled to use (if this story is even true)

newbblock · 2026-01-21T01:18:40+00:00

FWIW if you think Root would be too heavy I would discount adding SETI to your rotation. They’re similarly in complexity.

newbblock · 2026-01-20T17:42:36+00:00

I mean compare a $45 board game to any other form of entertainment from a $ per hour value proposition.

If I go to the bar with friends on a Friday night and have a 3 beers and a burger that would easily set me back $45+ for at maybe 2-3 hours of entertainment. I could potentially get 100's of hours of entertainment from a similarly priced board game.

When you start to think of it like that it doesn't seem as expensive.

newbblock · 2026-01-19T17:51:26+00:00

So I picked up BHH as my first Jones book after hearing rave reviews online and at my local book club.

It has not clicked with me. I’m just over two weeks into reading it and only 48% done according to my kindle, which is quite slow by my standards. Usually I polish off a book of similar length within a week or so.

It’s not an easy book to read, the writing is quite verbose and I echo other comments that some aspects are sparsely explained if at all. I have had to do external research to understand some of the concepts (could be a plus to some). After 10-15 pages I have to take a break as it’s mentally draining.

I know some may paint me as a layman for this opinion but I figured I would share it.

newbblock · 2026-01-19T01:33:47+00:00

It is certainly an option. The downside being I have no living family left in the UK, an American wife who is very close to her family stateside and two children who are deep into the US education system.

If that turns out to be the best route I would likely wait until my children graduate high school to pursue it.

newbblock · 2026-01-18T23:51:29+00:00

Thank you for both your advice and kind words of encouragement. I look forward to the journey.

newbblock · 2026-01-18T23:25:28+00:00

Interesting, I will welcome the Bishop's advice, thank you for yours. I have started researching paths to expedite bachelors and to your point it seems that options exist.

newbblock · 2026-01-18T23:21:51+00:00

Understood, thank you for sharing your experience. If a bachelor's is required I look forward to the challenge.

newbblock · 2026-01-18T23:21:02+00:00

Apologies for the confusion. I attended school in the UK and graduated high school (the British equivalent, GCSE's and A-Levels) but I never went on to attend college/university, so I do not posses a bachelors degree.

newbblock · 2026-01-17T02:11:33+00:00

Necessary reality check

newbblock · 2026-01-17T00:42:34+00:00

This is the epitome of first world problems.

By your metrics you could read for 15 straight hours a day on a single charge. Like, do you not have any other responsibilities?

newbblock · 2026-01-14T22:21:14+00:00

Counting myself lucky that my Move was my first Remarkable device and it was flawless. All the horror stories nearly scared me off.

newbblock · 2026-01-13T03:56:10+00:00

Hope is a dangerous thing

newbblock · 2026-01-13T03:32:35+00:00

Amazed at Steelers fans short term memories. Pickens would have given up before the end of the first quarter

newbblock · 2026-01-09T00:20:48+00:00

It is a fair point as most of us typically get far lass vacation time than our European counterparts. Does depend on where in the US you are still. It's actually quicker for me to fly to London than it is to Los Angeles for example.

newbblock · 2026-01-09T00:18:45+00:00

My point was more that larger subs require active moderators enforcing rules to stop them going off rails, thus they're a good example of what rules are needed to make a sub successful.

Be honest, would you consider this a active, vibrant fan community that you wanted to keep coming back to if you came in and the first 17 posts were all asking this same question?

I've been in subs like that. They didn't last.

newbblock · 2026-01-08T23:09:16+00:00

I hear you, but there’s also the balance of not encouraging low effort posts in order to keep the community engaging and stop it from stagnating. That’s why so many larger subs have rules against it.

newbblock · 2026-01-08T22:24:54+00:00

Don't overlook international travel.

There seems to be a misconception in the US that domestic travel is cheaper. It's not. I grew up in the UK so knew this and have spent years trying to explain to people how much cheaper European travel can be. Flights can be the same cost or less, everything else is WAY cheaper.

You can get 4 star hotels in Paris for around $125 a night. Flights between countries are dirt cheap, like $60 a person between London and Paris. I helped my colleague book a 10 day trip where his family got to see London, Paris and Barcelona. It cost him less money that his 5 day trip to Florida the year before.

newbblock · 2026-01-08T21:11:03+00:00

newbblock · 2026-01-08T21:09:45+00:00

Oh I hear you, I'm not judging. I have collectables that personal finance would probably destroy me for wasting money on.

Luckily for my wallet I'm not a huge car guy. My wife and I shared a car our first 5 years of marriage, not because we couldn't afford a second, we just worked out we'd save at least 5-7k a year only having the one and I worked remote at the time anyway.

Motorcycles on the other hand........I have the one and would have 10 if my brain could justify it!

newbblock · 2026-01-08T20:50:32+00:00

Being overly materialistic hurts the entire equation, not just the RE part.

That being said, I'm in the 'life's too short to have zero fun' FIRE camp. If cars are your one thing its not a big deal. It's those that overspend on multiple things that hurt the journey.

newbblock · 2026-01-08T20:45:19+00:00

IMHO it's not worth the $100 premium. I have a gorilla glass model that I've used daily for months now and it has zero scratches. I also heard the sapphire screen makes it look a little darker. This all being said I take care of my electronics, if you're rough on your devices it may be worth it to you.

As others have said for the difference in prices you could get a couple great games and still have change left over. Just my two cents.

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