So tea lovers, what are your other interests? Do they relate to tea in any way?

Food – I enjoy cooking and baking, though most of what I do is pretty simple due to limited resources and time. And of course, I enjoy eating food, too. Especially cheeses and dark chocolates.

Reading – I go through genre phases— sometimes I’ll focus on non-fiction and a specific topic within that, other times I’ll go through a science fiction phase, and so on. My most recent phase has been urban fantasy/urban paranormal (Dresden Files, Nightside series).

Theatre – One of my major passions. If I could fit it into my schedule, I’d consider majoring or minoring in it. I’m very interested in the playwriting/directing aspects, though acting is pretty fun, too (I’m an incredibly shy person, but the few times I’ve done some acting, I’ve really enjoyed).

Science/biology/medicine – I’ve had an interest in science for my whole life, with a particular interest in medicine. At the moment, though, I don’t have plans on applying for med school in the near future – I’m planning on getting a master’s or PhD first.

Writing – To a certain extent, it’s a hobby of mine. I’ve been known to occasionally spend hours shut up in my room hammering away at the keyboard writing something that isn’t school-related. It doesn’t happen very often, but when inspiration strikes, there’s a sense of intense joy that I feel while writing that I haven’t been able to replicate elsewhere (though the excitement at solving a difficult calc problem correctly does come somewhat close, but it’s more of a feeling of satisfaction for me).

TV – I don’t know of anyone else who does this on a regular basis, but I really enjoy watching certain TV shows and then deconstructing and analysing the script, cinematography, acting, and other aspects. There are some shows that I’ll watch just for fun (I get bored of them very quickly, though), but most of the shows I truly like I can watch for fun and deconstruct.

Figure skating – I used to skate a lot and get lessons, but it’s been a long time since I’ve set foot on a rink. I really miss it.

Animals – I really want a cat at some point, but I can’t at the moment because I’m living in a university dorm where only fish and small caged mammals are permitted. There are squirrels all over campus, though, and I love watching them munch loudly on acorns and scurry about doing amusing things. And I really love birds.

Languages – I’m interested in both languages as they are (so basically just learning them) and the cognitive aspect of them.

Video games – Probably the interest for which I have the least interest in, as in I would be willing to sacrifice it in the event I could do something else (like get back to figure skating).

Edit: Holy cow that was long.

-Tea (obviously)
-Reading
-Gardening
-Traveling with my husband.

Basically old lady hobbies even though I’m still in my twenties, HA!

Some Hobbies I have enjoyed over the years:
Photography / Art / Mod Podge / Acrylic Paint
Metal Detecting
Stamp Collecting / Collecting Banana Stickers
Boats / Kayaks / Boatbuilding
Working out / Zumba Class / Kickboxing / Running / Boot Camp / Group Excercise Classes
Fitcha Bars / Salsa / Bachata Dancing
Yelp / Craigslist / Online Dating Websites
Starbucking / People Watching
Chess / Python Programming / Runescape
Geography and Maps
NYC Stuff / Off-Broadway Shows / Parks
Creative ways to make and save money
Classic Alternative Music / 80s 90s music

I’m just getting in Geocaching – I need to do as much as I can before winter comes and I become a wimp! :)

I love tea because of it’s natural beauty, but I especially love it because it has the power to bring people together. My other interests include living in other cultures around the world, learning languages, surfing, and solving large community problems.

I like floral cookery. In other words, cooking with flowers. If there are rose petals in the chicken, Marigolds in the beef, violets and nasturtiums in the salad and lavender in the lemonade, you’re probably eating at my house. So my shelves are overflowing with dried flowers and food grade floral essences. Naturally, I like flowery teas too, and while I make some of my own, it’s great to see what the master tea blenders can come up with.

Well…this could take a book…most will be past tense…
*Social activist…Vista Volunteer, Civil Rights, Migrant Workers etc.(1960’s-1970’s)
*I worked with learning disabled children for many years and with abused children. 1970-1980’’s
*Cared for three teen girls who were homeless.1990-92
*Caregiver to my adult parents for several years. Single parent for many year to my son and daughter.
*Athlete, competitive swimmer 9 years. Trained for the Olympics in Shot Putt and later was a Coach (the only woman in California coaching guys). Met Jesse Owen. (I bench pressed over 250lbs and squat over 500lbs….so funny now!)
*I love to cook. My mom never taught me to cook so I taught myself.
*I entered cooking contests for fun and won the Johnny Appleseed Pie Bake-off in Paradise California. I entered other contests for and won also. I love healthy flavorful foods locally sourced. I like cooking Thai and Indian food, Greek and Middle Eastern.
*Let’s see. I played piano, classical and jazz for years.
Sang in choirs. I also love Byzantine Chant.
*I took art lessons for years. I’d love to paint again.
*I’ve always been interested in cultures. People interest me. Growing up nobody knew that I was reading Archaeology, World Religions, Anthropology and Philosophy. (this was the 1950’s-1960’s)
*Most of my working life was in telecom, programming systems, building computers, computer tech. I ran a Call Center, was an Executive Assistant to a CEO (hated that!).
*One of my favorite jobs was working for Fortino Winery in Gilroy California in the tasting room. Bottoms up!
*I love to travel. If I had money I’d travel some more. Back to Italy, Greece. I’ve been to 8 countries and at least 40 States.
*I spend most of my time writing.
*The most important part of my life has always been my Faith even from my earliest memories. This has always been personal and internal and never required or demanded by anyone.
*Cooking, wine, cultures, Faith are all related to how I approach drinking and thinking about tea.

My biggest hobby that relates to my tea drinking is listening to vinyl records. I bought a record player a few months ago and have made it a habit of just sitting in my oversized bean bag chair sipping a cup of tea and listening to whatever it is I might be interested in that day. It’s also a really fun and inexpensive hobby, since most of the records that I own I found from places like Goodwill or at yard sales, etc.

Hear that everyone? I am on the lookout for records! Will trade tea for albums! No seriously… does anyone on here perhaps have any old albums? (/shameless asking)

Wow what an interesting group of individuals. I think we should form our own country…what say ye? Anyone want to buy and island, grow tea and grow veggies? (there’s Satellite for computers so don’t worry).

I’m lurking around the discussion boards (when I should be going to bed) and this is an awesome thread!

My life centers around Creativity because that’s what I believe in on a spiritual level. (non-religious, semi-buddhist) Being creative is what it’s all about for me, & really, that’s the way it’s been my whole life. Improvisation is life! Savor the moment!

I’m a Harpist/Singer/Songwriter/Composer (electric & acoustic – classical, jazz, rock, all styles) & I also give lessons on Harp, Piano, improvisation, & music theory. Music is what I do for a living, from teaching private students to performing, etc, & I’m grateful to be able to say that I actually make a living doing it! But it’s more than that for me, it’s a spiritual experience, it’s a passion, it’s the love of my life. My songwriting is about peace, mindfulness, drinking tea, growth. I’ve made 4 recordings so far, 2 are sold out (one of those can be digitally downloaded), the other 2 are available on my website www.harpsinger.net.

My other main interest is Food: the tastes, the smells, the colors, the growing of it, the looking at pictures, the preparing, & of course the eating!! I have a huge OG garden in my backyard, & I get ridiculously excited about every little shoot & flower. Everything I eat is homegrown, homemade, or locally produced (to the best of my ability), except for the Tea I drink! LOL! I include Tea in the Food department. :)

I collect sheet music, Tea & teawares, & cookbooks, although I’m thinking of selling all my vegan/vegetarian cookbooks, because after years of eating that way I started having serious health problems, including multiple food sensitivities. I switched to a Paleo lifestyle last January, & I have never felt better in my life! I love feeding people & serving tea!

I’ve journaled since I was a kid, & I have 2 novels in the rough draft stage, both fantasies based on dreams I had. I dream heavily & intensely, & have several other rough outlines for book ideas based on dreams. I’ve also written a couple of children’s stories (unpublished).
I meditate & practice mindfulness. I maintain my own website. I love to read, especially fantasy & scifi. I don’t watch TV at home, but at my boyfriends house I do, mostly science, nature, SNL, & movies.
I used to quilt, I used to crochet. I don’t have time. I miss it.
I do yoga, taichi, & Reiki, & I belly dance (but only for myself).
I avoid doctors, and my 4 (now adult) children were all born at home. My kids & my boyfriend are my best friends, we all love to hang out together, & I have 3 grandkids. I’m 53.
I love cryptograms & can spend hours doing them. Sometimes I can solve the whole code without writing one letter! I do a few pages before I go to sleep every night. It helps to clear my head.

What does all this have to do with Tea? Everything! Everything I do is underscored by sips of tea, & cups offered to others.