Mr. Right has many hobbies.

I love his enthusiasm for learning new things. His unique interests keep me interested, not just in him, but in life. (The fact that he’s a total hottie doesn’t hurt either.) Since we met, he’s tried:

• Scuba diving.
• Meteorite hunting.
• Spear fishing.
• Whittling.
• Oil painting.
• Organic gardening.
• Cooking.
• Voilin.
• NEW: Mandolin.

He runs 5Ks. He reads novels. Did I mention he works full-time and is taking online classes to get his degree? This may sound trite, but I truly mean it: Mr. Right is one of my role models. (You can all throw up now.)

Do interesting things. -Leo Babauta

If you’d like to enrich your life with hobbies, here are Mr. Right’s tips to help you get started.

Melissa: How did you become interested in all these things?

Mr. Right: My hobbies come from appreciating other people’s abilities. If I appreciate the workmanship that goes into carving, I might play around with carving. If I think it looks like fun, I’m going to try it.

• Try it: Where do you find inspiration? Is it your neighbor’s beautiful flower garden? Art? Deconstructed fashion? Think about workmanship you admire and make a list of hobbies you could try.

How do you find the time?

That’s the most difficult part. Obviously, I don’t like to sacrifice time with my family. I also work full time. I find time for my hobbies after the kids are in bed, by waking earlier or by making small windows of time in the day.

• Try it: It’s easy to waste time without realizing it. Mr. Right and I used to watch several TV series, but since becoming more involved with our hobbies, we don’t have as much time for them. Our hobbies were more fun than the shows. Where can you find time to do interesting things?

Does keeping up with all these hobbies bring stress?

Hobbies aren’t work. They’re an opportunity to relax in a way you want to relax. Find something you appreciate and learn about it. Go online or check out books from the library. Research what’s involved.

• Try it: Spend one hour on your hobby this week and reflect on how you feel once the activity is done.

How do you fund these hobbies? I thought you were on a budget.

I have a spending allowance that I save for my hobbies. Sometimes, I can’t eat out for two, three, four months if I want to save up for an expensive hobby. You have to be creative. Start with the absolute basics.

For instance:

• Painting … start with a brush and basic colors. Mix your own paint for additional colors.
• Running … you just need a pair of cheap running shoes – save up for the fancy pair later.
• Gardening … start with one garden. You can always add more.
• Scuba … start with your fins, a mask and a snorkel. Rent the more expensive equipment until you can afford to buy your own.

If it’s too expensive and you can’t rent it, go cheap or used. I’ve found some great deals on Craigslist and Ebay.

• Try it: Challenge yourself to experience a new hobby without spending more than $5.

Shameless final question: How much do you love your wife?

This is just off the record. But I love her to death. I love her more than my hobbies.

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What interesting things are keeping you busy?

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