I just watched 5 hours of TV. That's what I did yesterday, too.

March 3, 2009 5:55 PM

ISO ideas for projects to do on business travel - portable, long-term, skill-building, relatively inexpensive things to do with my evenings.

I find myself in a new job that requires quite a bit of travel (up to 2 weeks out of the month, normally a bit less). While normally fairly adept at entertaining myself, I'm striking out here. I have no access to a car and won't get reimbursed for "sightseeing" taxi trips. I will also frequently be in a shoddy neighborhood and it won't be safe for me to walk around at night. I do have internet access.

The question is: what projects are portable enough for me to take from place to place?

I've already considered knitting but I've always seen that as more of a television accompaniment. I don't need any more suggestions on things to do online - that's everywhere. I want something tangible. I've tried calligraphy, for instance. What else?

posted by AquaAmber to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

Study the kanji?

Heisig's book has ~2000 kanji broken up into lessons of 30 or so. His approach makes it pretty fun and rewarding to just plow right through them block by block, about an hour per.
posted by troy at 6:02 PM on March 3

Learn how to...

speak a new language
do origami
draw well
juggle
do needlepoint
do magic tricks

Most of these only require an instructional book and a few materials that are light and easy to pack.

Have fun!
posted by platinum at 6:48 PM on March 3

Distance education?
Write a novel?
Write a blog?
I know of one guy who takes a model train set with him! (z-scale in a brief case)
Could you do a few admin things that you have let slide? I am thinking of things like organising those 1000s of digital pictures, sorting out tax receipts.
Make a list of 'classic' books to read through.
Here is a list of single player board games
When I used to travel weekly I made friends with local co-workers and we stimulated the local bar economy.
posted by bystander at 8:56 PM on March 3

Yeah -- I'm big on the TV when I travel for business, especially since I tend to work odd hours while I'm away. I've recently started carrying a harmonica with me. I feel OK about playing it during the day when most other people are out, but if you're working a 9-5, that may not work at as well. But at least it's cheap and portable!
posted by natabat at 10:24 PM on March 3

I came to recommend knitting... don't cross it off your list! Some difficult projects need much more time and attention than is possible with television on.

What about developing a yoga practice? That can easily kill an hour or two. You could start with hotel room yoga.
posted by bellbellbell at 1:05 AM on March 4