Do you try to go out and do things, even if alone?

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I have very reclusive tendencies, for a few years I was an alcoholic and only left the house to get more liquor. Before that time I did have a couple close friends I would hang out with almost every day but those bridges has been long broken, now my only really social contact is my family I live with and some very minor small talk with my co-workers at fedex (A part time job I just acquired luckily).

Anyways, I have kind of given up on trying to make any close friends, I just figure if it just happens like it did before it will happen I guess, but I realize sitting around doing nothing every day is not going to help my sense of well being so I have been taking up activities to try to keep my mind at peace. I started lifting weights, jogging, riding BMX (which I use to get to work and back too), and once I get my license back (DWI revoked, stupid choice I know but I'm sober now) I want to get a kayak and start doing kayak fishing, seems insanely fun.

So I was just wondering if you guys do anything on an average basis for recreation outdoors, I'm looking for more ideas on things that would be fun to do solo.

Also, you know it's kind of funny because my family are the main ones that give me crap about not getting out and doing enough, but they go out fishing and I love fishing and I'm sitting there right on the couch and they don't even ask me if I want to go.

Welcome, I can totally relate to your situation.

Currently there is only one person in my life, I have no ambitions to try to make any friends.

The kayak fishing sounds good.

Maybe the family stopped asking because you did not seem that interested?

Personally I like riding bikes too there is a pump track close to me but I prefer off road, I'm not going to call it mountain biking because I'm a pedant, there's nothing like a mountain around here. I ride on the road almost every day, mixing it up with traffic is fine but it's not that much fun in my opinion.
The trouble is I need to get on a train to get to the decent riding spots from where I live, I don't have a car. The train issue is what holds me back at the moment.

Thanks for the welcome, nice to see another cycler here if even of a different caliber, I was debating on whether I should amp my wheels up from 20" to something larger but I think it's my past unrequited love of smaller wheels made me go that route again, well not completely unrequited but my shins and back would say so (About 6'3" maybe 6'4" or 6'5" if my posture was sorted out)

And yeah, I have been reading about kayaks all night and I have yak fever now, but no money to invest in one, such is life. I can't even afford to get my license back yet or a car and I'm thinking about what kind of kayak I want and where I could mount a fish finder and strobe lights on it. Maybe I could buy one of those little red wagons to tow it behind my bicycle if that would work.

And yeah, you are probably right, it's hard for me to express emotions without sounding all fake/cheesy so I have a pretty monotone voice a lot of the time, maybe they think I will just be a downer, they would probably be right, the social pressure would probably just drain me but I'm trying to work on it.

I've got a few bikes, it's one of my special interests. I have a 4x frame that goes to the pump track and some mini downhill runs that are not too far away. It still does not fly as well as a BMX but I don't bounce as well as I used to either.

I have a bike trailer that will take over 100kg, so putting a small boat on the back would be no problem.

Are you handy and have access to tools.

There are plans available over the web for sailing canoes (my aim) and kayaks for DIY build using plywood and epoxy resin.

You used to be able to rent the moulds for fibreglass lay up boats in this country, the UK, not sure if that is worth the effort.

GRP hulls are reasonably easy to repair, If you found a damaged used one for cheap.

Now that's pretty cool, I just looked up on google and there are actually trailers made just for pulling kayaks behind bikes but they are pretty expensive. I think priorities got to come first don't want my family even more urked at me, but I'm sure something could be rigged up for pretty cheap, I'd like to think I'm creative but I'm not exactly the craftiest, I know how to use duct tape though.

But now that is even a cooler idea, making my own kayak, I never even thought about that, but I don't have access to many tools since our garage burned down last summer with everything inside. Might be interesting to check into though just to see exactly what it entails, thanks!

It's pretty easy to rig something up with a couple of kids bike wheels, a bit of plywood, some scrap metal, a drill and some nuts and bolts. Access to a welder and the skills to use it is probably best. I saw someone make a trailer out of metal electrical conduit too, the screw together industrial type.

Worth a look here:

http://www.instructables.com/

Sorry about your garage, that sucks.

The plywood boats are not really a first time project to be honest, but you do not need much tooling. It's more about patience, accurate cutting and attention to detail. Sailing canoes are fantastic, why paddle when you can sail?
You can put your own rig on to a ready made boat.

The cheapest and easiest option would be a fixer upper.

The electrical conduit idea sounds interesting, I'm just kind of slow when it comes to that kind of stuff but I definitely have interest in projects like that, would be a lot more satisfying than buying it.
The wooden kayak trailer instructable on there with the caster wheels looks easy enough for me, and I don't think anyone would want to steal it that badly.

Thanks for the link!
Now I just need to keep my eyes on craigslist I think to see if I can score a bargain on a used or fixer up kayak.
I'm not sure how sails really work even lol, I'd be using it for fishing a lot and on a lake where the wind is usually going in one direction which might be blowing towards the launch site.

My dreams do not look as far fetched as I thought though.

Downwind sailing is easy, all you need are a couple of poles, a bit of cloth and some rope. Your choice.

If you need information about using fibreglass I'm sure there is plenty of info on the net. If you want advice on technique or a specific repair just let me know.

Happy fishing.

I have found it difficult to go out and do things especially on my own. I have made an effort to try though. I go camping in a tent at the local campground whenever I feel like. Sometimes my close friend comes along. I just started a job last month that takes up my Friday and Saturday evenings. The pay has been good. I'm still not real comfortable with it because there's a lot of people socializing and I have to entertain, but the manager is good to work with.

One thing I hate is being in public on my own...
I get anxious and start thinking that people are staring at me and think I'm weird for being out on my own...

The one thing I do enjoy however is just looking at the clouds for hours and thinking about things

I always go out alone. I have always done that. If I want to go anywhere I go by myself. I take walks downtown, go to bookstores, cafes, museums, nature trails, always by myself. It never occurs to me that anyone would think it is weird that I am alone. I don't think it is weird.

Wish I was like that...
I'd love to go places on my own and just think but I get too anxious.

I do things alone a lot. If I didn't I'd never leave the house at all. The only person I have to do things with is my mother and she works. When she is gone I'll have to do everything alone.

I go out sometimes with my girlfriend but only for a split second we always end up either at mine or hers cooped up in the house...
and when I mean go out... thats the bus journey to hers or to mine...

Most of the things I do, I do them alone.

In the past when I went out to buy something from the supermarket or to eat an ice cream at the bar near my house I've had my neighbours asking me "why do you go there alone?".
I see no point in bringing people with me just to take an ice cream at the bar. It's not something I need guidance for.

I do things with people if I need guidance because it's something I can't do alone and need help for, like when I have to go to a place I don't know very well or a place where I can get lost (I get lost very easily).

Or if a friend of mine has asked me to hang out and I like the place my friend suggested to go to.

I go out on my motorcycle a lot - it is just me on it and I ride by myself. Actually love this alone time.