USEFUL SPREADSHEET+RESOURCE LIST FOR MAXIMIZING FUN ON THE GO

with the Naked Cowboy in New York City

These are the words I found in dictionary.com that define FUN:  what makes you smile/laugh/feel happy; not necessarily free-spirited or structured, ordinary or out-of-the-ordinary, just lighthearted or deeply intense, simply the first time and pioneering or repetitive and memorable, or alone or with someone.  This string of contrasting words led me to create a spreadsheet to remind me of ways to have fun whenever and wherever I am. This would be useful so I don’t do the same things again and again and later find I've been forgetting others.  

There are two columns: Alone or With Someone. There are four categories on horizontal rows, each one with contrasting perspectives, each one with a different color of text: 1) free-spirited or structured, 2) ordinary or unordinary, 3) light-hearted or deeply intense, and 4) first-time or repetitive. The only criterion I had for filling up each cell is FULL ENJOYMENT, not wealth production, not knowledge generation, nor reputation building.

MY SPREADSHEET FOR FUN

       

                                               Alone                                            With Someone

1.   Free-spirited               Writing a blog post                           Tubing, canoeing or kayaking

                                   Taking photos                                    Hiking a little-known trail  

Structured                  Attending a local talk                         Playing cards, local games, etc.

                                   Hearing a good homily                      Local dancing

2.   Ordinary                     Planning/cooking meals                    Local dining,  Having cocktails

                                   Reading a book                                 Dogs & s’mores around a campfire

                                   Working out at the gym                     Watching a movie

Unordinary                 Planning trips/parties                        Going to a local theater  

                                   Finding a bargain                              Visiting a museum    

3.   Light-hearted              Riding a carousel                              Having a picnic

                                   Learning to Cook a Local Dish         Karaoke/jam session

Deeply Intense           Playing video games                        Managing a complex project 

                                   Sketching/painting                            Dining potluck style

4.   First-time                  Flying a kite                                     Posing at the Arctic Circle

                                   Riding a bike                                   Riding a motorcycle or helicopter

Repetitive                  Looking for yellow things             Visiting family and friends

                                   Processing Photos                         Calling family and friends

MY RESOURCES FOR FUN

 

riding the Cadillac at the Ranch

You may say that the list is the same whether you    are on the go or not.  There is a big difference, though. You can definitely work on this list a lot faster while on the go because you are already in places that have the resources and facilities and the people around are most probably like-minded. The following paragraphs list three not so obvious resources that may be available wherever you go. They do not include sights and landmarks nor the amenities around your lodging of choice. In RVing, we wrote about the resources around campgrounds here.  

Anywhere you are, you'll find public institutions like libraries that are full of DVDs, CDs, books, and magazines to use. Visitor Centers are sources of info and discount coupons, great for outlying areas. Good substitutes for activities are community centers or senior centers (once we admit it)!  Colleges and universities are also great resources.  At Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, for example, we discovered the Bing Crosby House that stored much of the singer's memorabilia. Churches, from the small Quonset huts in remote areas to the massive cathedrals in large cities, have functions other than Sunday services.  An added benefit is that you will probably get more taste of the local culture in these places.

And, of course, countless commercial establishments fight for our dollars but let me cite those that are not so obvious ones. My favorite is to treasure hunt at thrift and antique stores, especially those that are found near affluent communities. Farmers’ Markets also give us valuable produce like big, juicy watermelons for just $1. We love to window-shop at sprawling malls that become great treadmill substitutes. Wide open drive-in theatres let you do your thing in the privacy of your car. When you run out of time to cook a meal, go into a Costco for some needed staples and have a round of the free food samples for lunch!

flash mob dance in old Vegas

But the resource you can always count on is your family or friends. Bill went back to his hometown in Pittsburg, Kansas where we found the best spot to camp in the whole wide world. Jack Dock, the husband of Rosemary (Bill’s sister), cleared out space on his driveway and extended an electrical outlet for us from his garage. In short, we were close neighbors for almost a month, reliving childhood times, sight-seeing together to nearby towns, alternating cooking meals, and playing lots of games.

PINNABLE IMAGE 

So what more can I ask for? There should absolutely be no more time for boredom.  The axiom ‘More for Less’ which I lived by in the corporate world, also applies in the cruising lifestyle. You don’t have to spend tons to enjoy any place. That makes Cheapskate Carol a happy girl and when I am happy, so is Bill. What are your definitions of and resources for fun?