I would take up an instrument if I could think of a cheap one. It's been over 10 years since I tried. I self-taught a few chords on the guitar when I was a kid (way back I'd found an acoustic guitar at a yard sale for $3--unfortunately I lost track of it moving from my parents' house) and I took piano (on electric keyboard) at high school for a year. I sold the keyboard to one of my sisters when I was trying to raise money for my move. And I used to know a few notes on a harmonica, but don't know where that instrument ended up. But I should keep an eye out at yard sales and pawn shops to see if I can get one of those instruments (or a different one) for cheap.
The only reason I limit my book-reading is I tend to shut out the rest of the world too much when I get into a novel! For the sake of my housekeeping and my relationships, I always wait a few weeks between books. I'm getting better and better about being able to put down a book in the middle, so maybe I can gradually incorporate more frequent (but shorter) bouts of reading into my life. Games at thrift stores is a great idea. Actually, thrift-store shopping itself can be a fun, cheap activity, if I bring a set amount of money to spend that I can't go over.
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