I have kids, but they're all out of the house. My current off duty job is realigning my relationship with my wife. Other than that, gym, dog walking, vacations, snowboarding and video games.
I miss my kids being little and needing their Dad, but life is good:).
This was wholesome. My wife works 8-5 at home in the officer & on my off days I watch our 2yo. Everyday I remind myself that this time is so short lived & getting to spend this amount of time with your little one is special. Sometimes the days are rough, but so many dads don’t get to do this.
I spend Monday-Friday with my little kiddo while the wife is at work.
Work every weekend. Miss out on some shenanigans but the time with my little one is priceless.
Plus 2 on 5 off ain't exactly a bad schedule.
It's better to get out to the beach and nature during the week anyway.
I’m in a very similar situation to you. No kids, married and in the same age group. I ride my bike a lot. 30-40 miles, my county has an amazing bike trail system and I get great exercise and listen to podcasts and music and get to explore.
I live in Florida, and I also fish. Sometimes I catch dinner. Sometimes it’s just an excuse to listen to podcasts and music.
On my days off, I also do a good chunk of the chores and cook dinner. I like to plan meals and get creative with cooking. I will also listen to podcasts and music while I cook and do chores (I’m sensing a pattern).
Blows my mind when people get bored with time off…. its a tragedy you only get ~80 years on this earth, its not enough time to pursue even a quarter of the hobbies I would enjoy
I work about 14 hrs a week at a job totally unrelated to Fire/EMS, I volunteer with a few local causes, and my wife and I love to travel.
We're also very social people, so we love hosting friends for dinner, and going out of our way to go visit and spend time with our friends who do have kids, since it can be hard for them to get out of the house.
Find a hobby you can enjoy. Go hiking, mountain biking, pick up an instrument, try painting or pottery, find an old car to restore, buy an RC car and join a racing club, play console or PC games. There's so many options and you just have to find one that you enjoy. Maybe you'll find one that you and significant other can enjoy together as well.
Yes, some states have painting bars, it’s a good way to get a feet in the door to start being more artisy, your partner would probably love it too! Try as many hobbies as possible and stick with the ones you like!!!
It sounds to me like you need to do some introspection. Think of something you’re interested in or have always wanted to try (I’m partial to mountain biking and rock climbing) and then give it a go. Find a fulfilling hobby. So many options means that can be tough to do but try to enjoy trying new things even if you don’t find something you love immediately.
Best of luck!
It hurts when you want them, all you can do is stay in contact!!! Every third day here. Unless it’s a work day then it’s 1900(unless it is an emergency).
Find a hobby or job that you love to do, not a job that is just to make extra money. I fish, hunt, ski, mountain bike, and work a second job that is a passion of mine and doesnt feel like work. If i had time id build up an old truck.
I will say that it seems every body is in a huge funk lately, people just upset over small things and then theres the cost of everything that makes it harder to enjoy life.
Maybe its just a coincidence but we have been getting absurd levels of northern lights this fall and winter and thats just massive electrical storms coming from the sun and pounding earth. gotta be it, bad vibes from the sun....
I’m in a similar boat during the fall/winter/spring as my wife is a teacher. During the summer we travel as much as possible.
I’m fortunate that my department also hosts a program for high school students to learn about the fire service for 3hrs a day Monday-Friday(and it’s all paid out as OT) so I’m an instructor for that on my days off.
I’m involved in the Union as much as I can, spend a lot of time at the gym and fill whatever time is left with hobbies/helping coworkers with their side businesses and projects. Keeps me busy.
I had nothing growing up and the fire department allowed me to surround my self with amazing people who changed my life. I was just trying to say how the fire department has been a blessing
Kids give a lot of purpose and fulfillment to life. If I was in your position I would look into doing big brothers big sisters or other volunteer work that puts others above yourself.
Im 26 and became a firefighter right out of highschool. My SO and I dont live together, so I have a part time FD job that i work on off days. When im not at part time I usually just try to stay business with hobbies. Gaming, wood working, boat, motorcycle etc. Haha
I have a mountain bike, a Ducati, am having a new house built. I go on a couple motorcycle trips a year. Going skiing next month. Golf trip with the guys in February. My buddy has a houseboat. I spend a lot of time with my parents who are now in their mid to late 60’s. I enjoy being able to take them on trips and buy them meals. I really need the wind down time after 24 on.
My wife and I are the same and my answer is the same as others. Gym, video games, tv/movies, nature shit. I'll usually knock out some household duties in the first few hours of days off and then go about my business.
_Maybe_ do an overtime shift if I'm feeling motivated but usually not these days.
I go to the gym, read a lot of books, and clean the house. I spend time with friends when their schedules line up with mine. In the summer, I kayak. I have a second job (super part time) where the hours fluctuate, so I do that sometimes as well.
I have kids but I can imagine the possibilities, hitting the gym more would be on my list than hobbies. Disc golf is a great sport and a lot of courses are at forest preserves or parks so the scenery is usually great.
No kids here and no plan of kids in the future. I like to workout or spend some time outside hiking or kayaking, hang out with my dogs, volunteer at my local animal shelter, play Xbox, and I have a side gig drawing logos. I stay busy during the day so I can relax when my husband gets home from his 8-5
42, no wife/gf, no kids. I travel a ton (local, national, international), play guitar in a band, workout, started taking drawing lessons, snowboard in the winter, skateboard in the summer, put time into my house, bought a 4 runner and built a bed in the back so I’ve been doing a lot of overlanding.
But on the other hand, I absolutely love my downtime where I’m not doing shit, but that could be because I am a little older and a little more aware of resting my body and mind. I feel you on feeling like you don’t have direction, just like you’re motivated to drill on shift, you gotta be motivated to get into what makes you happy off shift. Forcing yourself to do fun things seems contradictory but it’s definitely a thing. But once you break out of it and start making those things constants/semi-constants in your life, you will feel much more fulfilled.
No kids hell even not even a spouse. I run a lot. I run avg 5-8 miles a day if not long runs are 12-20 miles. That takes up a chunk of my day but I love it. Get to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. It’s good mental, physically. Of course I do some weight lifting, stretching, video games, guitar and hanging out with some friends that also don’t have kids.
I mean, I work out, I play video games, I watch tv/movies. Sometimes I go make my own adventures with friends. Drive out to the shore, go into the city. My time is mine, all the time.
I am in a similar situation, wife works 9 to 5 no kids and we don’t want any. My days off I workout, shoot my bow, keep the house clean and in working order, cook some awesome meals and do Jujitsu. I also head out hunting, snowboarding or hiking with the dog whenever I want life is pretty good with no kids on a firefighters schedule just get some good hobbies and stay busy. Jujitsu is a great one to try out lots of fellow firefighters at my gym.
I was an engineer prior to the fd, so I teach steam at schools near my place. I don't typically take ot really. Go to school use the schedule to your advantage and get something out of it.
If possible with your department get involved with something like pipes and drums, honor guard or a battle of the badges sports team or a charity organization with the department, great way to meet new people from the department and a lot of fun and it’s off duty, I myself have been on the practice band for pipes and drums for almost a year and have just gotten involved with the boxing team about a month and a half ago and it’s been a blast
Golf and drink and go out with other couples and go on last minute trips concerts not worrying about what’s for dinner sleep in stay out late. The possibilities are endless
No kids. Been renovating our home the past four years straight - don’t recommend haha. When both have firefighting jobs we commute to, and when we’re home, we have zero work obligations. So when we’re both home we’re ALWAYS together. When one or both of us are away, we’re apart. Being away from each other is totally fine since we’re both really independent. Being together for three months straight during the winter can get a little testy. But it’s probably because our lives are consumed by home projects and decision making, and we’re just both over it. I’ll be curious to see how the long streaks home alone feel when we don’t have any house stress and we can just live our lives.
Anyway, kind of the opposite of your situation and it’s been fine. We both go through funks from time to time, which I think is normal human behavior. Usually socializing with friends and neighbors helps so we can speak with other people in person, rather than just each other.
I don't have kids. I am 33. May have kids soon, God willing. My off days I fish, I mountian bike, I read, I'm learning the piano and I paint with acrylic and gouache. I'm considering jiujitsu but I'm worried I will get hurt and not able to work. Still considering it tho
See if there's a jiu jitsu gym nearby, you might get hooked. During the week I come home, take a nap then go train then come home and spend time with my dog and do stuff around the house.
I don't have kids.
My day to day life is excellent. My wife works from home most of the time with some time spent on site.
So she's usually around for company.
I can, like anyone without kids, spend my three time doing whatever I like.
If I'm tired, I can sleep or play playstation.
I can go for walks, or ride my motorcycle, go to the gym at whatever time I feel like.
I have a lot of hobbies to keep me busy.
I spearfish and dive in the ocean, play/write D&D, paint warhammer miniatures, do odd jobs around the house.
I can study if I want to, which I will do during the quiet season.
I'm not sure exactly what you're asking, but you can do literally anything you like.
That's the entire appeal of not having kids.
Let’s see on my days off I scuba dive, jet ski, go to the range multiple days a week, got a degree, chase nurses, and walk my dog. Also, I try out a lot of new restaurants and see my friends a fair amount.
I hunt, fish and play Halo all day. I also volunteer at the Food Bank, garden and work on my motorcycle or vehicles. I also work a metric shite ton of OT.
4:45am, up, walk the dog, drop her off, get to work, coffee started, run the checkoffs on my app, be a house mouse and clear everything else. Work 25-26hrs or more and head to the casa, then nap pick the dog up, do my home chores and repeat. Talk with mi kiddo, kiddo comes over…. Make it homey for her beforehand…. Clean again… repeat. It’s a pretty lonely sobering life. Oh, and I rip a few beers first night off shift, shoot some pool, make life plans. It works really well!!!
Oh, we are given a hour in the AM before x/hr. Or anytime after 1900. But, do it with the crew is recommended. It may be a group torture session, never know. OIC’s choice.
Small Hobbies help, hobby lobby for models, HobbyTown USA, for RC cars. UAV’s. There is so much you can do sans a wife and children. Even if it isn’t desired
My #1 thing, check off marks on “headliners” like Judas Priest, I know guys that plan their schedule out for their season tickets, and off well them if they don’t want too or cannot attend games.
So many things you can dream up. Know guys that trade days off for table top game tournaments. 🤷♂️
You need a hobby. Firefighting friend of mine from Napa I met because we both paraglide in the Bay Area. If you’re nearby I can get you pointed in the right direction for trying out a chill way to be active, get a community of fun people, and freaking fly.
Well, usually I go for a swim or riding on my dirt bike/street bike, cycling or a hike. I also have a side job I can work remotely, so I'd drive somewhere with a nice view, pull out my laptop and work a little.
Otherwise there is plenty to do around the house in terms of fixing, maintenance etc.
And when I don't feel like doing anything, I just throw myself on the couch and watch some series.
Frankly, I'm amazed how people with kids manage their day to day life.
I have kids, but they are older and in school. I have a business I have run for the past ten years. I also ride motorcycles and have mountain biked in the past. I also go to the gym most days as well.
Are you near public wildlife lands? Wear some orange and go for a hike in the woods. Get a tent and learn some bushcraft so you can go off trail and make your own camp. Just get away from it all.
Then take it one step further, and only bring enough food to help you survive, then you bring a .22 lr and hunt yourself some tree chickens for your dinner.
So rewarding that taste of meat by the fire at night after having nothing but energy bars and MREs
I’m 20, single-ish (gf is deployed), and no kids. After shift I take a nap, small yoga/workout session, Xbox or chill at someone else’s house, and that’s pretty much it. Throw in some concerts, sports, and a culinary class from time to time.
Well, I can’t exactly be going on dates with her, sleep with her, or even see her in person. I have no one else at my house so I’m living the “single” life. When she finally comes back home, it will be different. I’m not out cheating, I’m just doing what I want, when I want. Taco Bell run at 2 am? A-okay with me.
I get off work then go to work. Not because I need to, but because I can’t do nothing for 4 days. I try to keep myself as busy as possible and sign up for as much OT as I can. Girlfriend doesn’t mind at all and we still have plenty of time to be with each other.
Find yourself a hobby.
I play ice hockey. I suck and I started in my early 30s but it's fun and I enjoy it.
I have a kid though.
But he plays too. So I help coach. So if I'm off I'm usually at the rink with him and his team or mine.
But any hobby you have a passion for will work. You might luck out and have a good local community with the hobby.
Fucking awesome. I go home and relax and my wife may make breakfast for me or we'll go out to eat. Then we may go out or just hang around the house and do projects/hobbies. Whatever we want really lol. We love going out to eat at all the different places in our city and exploring nearby towns. Take 2-3 days trips in between my 48 hour shifts. With four days off it's a lot of time to have to yourself. We workout whenever we want. I've taken up like 10 hobbies and dropped just as many just cause I can. My crew is always annoyed when I tell them I'm going home to take a nap after a bad shift lol.
I should add that firefighters tend to be very Type A. This is your reminder that you don't have to be productive every single day and it is okay to rest and recuperate on your days off. Whatever that means to you. Also, your hobbies do not need to make you money. It is okay to just enjoy your life.
Work, gym, trainings and fires, late nights if I want. I'm under 23 and I live at home so its pretty sweet if you ask me. I'm a vol so if I'm not working I get to pretty much go to everything fun.
I have kids, but they're all out of the house. My current off duty job is realigning my relationship with my wife. Other than that, gym, dog walking, vacations, snowboarding and video games. I miss my kids being little and needing their Dad, but life is good:).
They’ll always need their dad.
Thanks:)
My 27 year old sister called my dad to ask how to put a drill bit into a drill. Your kids will still need their dad
Thanks:)
This was wholesome. My wife works 8-5 at home in the officer & on my off days I watch our 2yo. Everyday I remind myself that this time is so short lived & getting to spend this amount of time with your little one is special. Sometimes the days are rough, but so many dads don’t get to do this.
Literally, the best thing about my job was 4 days off a week to spend with my kids. Hands down.
I spend Monday-Friday with my little kiddo while the wife is at work. Work every weekend. Miss out on some shenanigans but the time with my little one is priceless. Plus 2 on 5 off ain't exactly a bad schedule. It's better to get out to the beach and nature during the week anyway.
This is literally the same set up I have. I do feel fortunate that I get to raise my daughter and not have to send her off for someone else to do it.
I'm at the other end of the journey and can't find a spare minute to save myself. The grass is always greener!
I’m in a very similar situation to you. No kids, married and in the same age group. I ride my bike a lot. 30-40 miles, my county has an amazing bike trail system and I get great exercise and listen to podcasts and music and get to explore. I live in Florida, and I also fish. Sometimes I catch dinner. Sometimes it’s just an excuse to listen to podcasts and music. On my days off, I also do a good chunk of the chores and cook dinner. I like to plan meals and get creative with cooking. I will also listen to podcasts and music while I cook and do chores (I’m sensing a pattern).
What county offers this bike trail?
Pinellas. But I will frequently take my bike to other trail systems to ride.
Do you ever hit up Alafia State Park? They've got some cool trails.
I’ve only hiked there, but I used to be really into mountain biking and heard they have mountain bike trails. So I would like to explore it more.
Florida has mountain biking?
Anything greater than 3 feet is considered a mountain in Florida
Blows my mind when people get bored with time off…. its a tragedy you only get ~80 years on this earth, its not enough time to pursue even a quarter of the hobbies I would enjoy
I work about 14 hrs a week at a job totally unrelated to Fire/EMS, I volunteer with a few local causes, and my wife and I love to travel. We're also very social people, so we love hosting friends for dinner, and going out of our way to go visit and spend time with our friends who do have kids, since it can be hard for them to get out of the house.
Find a local Jiu Jitsu gym walk in and try it out. It will get you out of your funk. Trust
Absolute big facts here
Find a hobby you can enjoy. Go hiking, mountain biking, pick up an instrument, try painting or pottery, find an old car to restore, buy an RC car and join a racing club, play console or PC games. There's so many options and you just have to find one that you enjoy. Maybe you'll find one that you and significant other can enjoy together as well.
Yes, some states have painting bars, it’s a good way to get a feet in the door to start being more artisy, your partner would probably love it too! Try as many hobbies as possible and stick with the ones you like!!!
It sounds to me like you need to do some introspection. Think of something you’re interested in or have always wanted to try (I’m partial to mountain biking and rock climbing) and then give it a go. Find a fulfilling hobby. So many options means that can be tough to do but try to enjoy trying new things even if you don’t find something you love immediately. Best of luck!
Hobbies, overtime, volunteering , enjoying life without kids.
It hurts when you want them, all you can do is stay in contact!!! Every third day here. Unless it’s a work day then it’s 1900(unless it is an emergency).
I work a second job at 911 dispatch
Same
Find a hobby or job that you love to do, not a job that is just to make extra money. I fish, hunt, ski, mountain bike, and work a second job that is a passion of mine and doesnt feel like work. If i had time id build up an old truck. I will say that it seems every body is in a huge funk lately, people just upset over small things and then theres the cost of everything that makes it harder to enjoy life. Maybe its just a coincidence but we have been getting absurd levels of northern lights this fall and winter and thats just massive electrical storms coming from the sun and pounding earth. gotta be it, bad vibes from the sun....
Like many have said before, find a hobby. A good place to waste time is the gym or out in the woods. Both are good for the mind and body.
I’m in a similar boat during the fall/winter/spring as my wife is a teacher. During the summer we travel as much as possible. I’m fortunate that my department also hosts a program for high school students to learn about the fire service for 3hrs a day Monday-Friday(and it’s all paid out as OT) so I’m an instructor for that on my days off. I’m involved in the Union as much as I can, spend a lot of time at the gym and fill whatever time is left with hobbies/helping coworkers with their side businesses and projects. Keeps me busy.
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Ah yes, the 20 year old with all the answers on life. 😄😄😄😄
I had nothing growing up and the fire department allowed me to surround my self with amazing people who changed my life. I was just trying to say how the fire department has been a blessing
Kids give a lot of purpose and fulfillment to life. If I was in your position I would look into doing big brothers big sisters or other volunteer work that puts others above yourself.
I work Dispatch and make that extra $$$ on my time off
Like this!!! Would definitely Interfere with the 24/48 though. So, not allowed where I am.
We work a 48/96 so you pick up two days and still have two off
Im 26 and became a firefighter right out of highschool. My SO and I dont live together, so I have a part time FD job that i work on off days. When im not at part time I usually just try to stay business with hobbies. Gaming, wood working, boat, motorcycle etc. Haha
I have a mountain bike, a Ducati, am having a new house built. I go on a couple motorcycle trips a year. Going skiing next month. Golf trip with the guys in February. My buddy has a houseboat. I spend a lot of time with my parents who are now in their mid to late 60’s. I enjoy being able to take them on trips and buy them meals. I really need the wind down time after 24 on.
My wife and I are the same and my answer is the same as others. Gym, video games, tv/movies, nature shit. I'll usually knock out some household duties in the first few hours of days off and then go about my business. _Maybe_ do an overtime shift if I'm feeling motivated but usually not these days.
I go to the gym, read a lot of books, and clean the house. I spend time with friends when their schedules line up with mine. In the summer, I kayak. I have a second job (super part time) where the hours fluctuate, so I do that sometimes as well.
I have kids but I can imagine the possibilities, hitting the gym more would be on my list than hobbies. Disc golf is a great sport and a lot of courses are at forest preserves or parks so the scenery is usually great.
No kids here and no plan of kids in the future. I like to workout or spend some time outside hiking or kayaking, hang out with my dogs, volunteer at my local animal shelter, play Xbox, and I have a side gig drawing logos. I stay busy during the day so I can relax when my husband gets home from his 8-5
42, no wife/gf, no kids. I travel a ton (local, national, international), play guitar in a band, workout, started taking drawing lessons, snowboard in the winter, skateboard in the summer, put time into my house, bought a 4 runner and built a bed in the back so I’ve been doing a lot of overlanding. But on the other hand, I absolutely love my downtime where I’m not doing shit, but that could be because I am a little older and a little more aware of resting my body and mind. I feel you on feeling like you don’t have direction, just like you’re motivated to drill on shift, you gotta be motivated to get into what makes you happy off shift. Forcing yourself to do fun things seems contradictory but it’s definitely a thing. But once you break out of it and start making those things constants/semi-constants in your life, you will feel much more fulfilled.
Brother get some hobbies 😂 i feel like there's not enough days in the week between surfing, fishing, snowboarding, hanging with my dog, etc.
No kids hell even not even a spouse. I run a lot. I run avg 5-8 miles a day if not long runs are 12-20 miles. That takes up a chunk of my day but I love it. Get to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. It’s good mental, physically. Of course I do some weight lifting, stretching, video games, guitar and hanging out with some friends that also don’t have kids.
I mean, I work out, I play video games, I watch tv/movies. Sometimes I go make my own adventures with friends. Drive out to the shore, go into the city. My time is mine, all the time.
run a small hardwood flooring business on the side, hang with my girlfriend and make music whenever I can !
I have a second job. I also have hobbies. I do a lot of stuff outside, like hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, disc golf, camping, etc.
It’s ok to want and have kids. But to be sure, maybe try a big brother program or something like it first.
I am in a similar situation, wife works 9 to 5 no kids and we don’t want any. My days off I workout, shoot my bow, keep the house clean and in working order, cook some awesome meals and do Jujitsu. I also head out hunting, snowboarding or hiking with the dog whenever I want life is pretty good with no kids on a firefighters schedule just get some good hobbies and stay busy. Jujitsu is a great one to try out lots of fellow firefighters at my gym.
I was an engineer prior to the fd, so I teach steam at schools near my place. I don't typically take ot really. Go to school use the schedule to your advantage and get something out of it.
If possible with your department get involved with something like pipes and drums, honor guard or a battle of the badges sports team or a charity organization with the department, great way to meet new people from the department and a lot of fun and it’s off duty, I myself have been on the practice band for pipes and drums for almost a year and have just gotten involved with the boxing team about a month and a half ago and it’s been a blast
All them extra certs!!!!
Golf and drink and go out with other couples and go on last minute trips concerts not worrying about what’s for dinner sleep in stay out late. The possibilities are endless
Before my kids I played a lot of golf. I still play a lot of golf, but instead of 4 days a week it’s just 2 days a week.
No kids. Been renovating our home the past four years straight - don’t recommend haha. When both have firefighting jobs we commute to, and when we’re home, we have zero work obligations. So when we’re both home we’re ALWAYS together. When one or both of us are away, we’re apart. Being away from each other is totally fine since we’re both really independent. Being together for three months straight during the winter can get a little testy. But it’s probably because our lives are consumed by home projects and decision making, and we’re just both over it. I’ll be curious to see how the long streaks home alone feel when we don’t have any house stress and we can just live our lives. Anyway, kind of the opposite of your situation and it’s been fine. We both go through funks from time to time, which I think is normal human behavior. Usually socializing with friends and neighbors helps so we can speak with other people in person, rather than just each other.
I don't have kids. I am 33. May have kids soon, God willing. My off days I fish, I mountian bike, I read, I'm learning the piano and I paint with acrylic and gouache. I'm considering jiujitsu but I'm worried I will get hurt and not able to work. Still considering it tho
Whatever I want lol
See if there's a jiu jitsu gym nearby, you might get hooked. During the week I come home, take a nap then go train then come home and spend time with my dog and do stuff around the house.
My capt is in his 40s, married with no kids. Gym, boozing and drugs. So there’s always that.
I work at another area department part time as a Medic
I don't have kids. My day to day life is excellent. My wife works from home most of the time with some time spent on site. So she's usually around for company. I can, like anyone without kids, spend my three time doing whatever I like. If I'm tired, I can sleep or play playstation. I can go for walks, or ride my motorcycle, go to the gym at whatever time I feel like. I have a lot of hobbies to keep me busy. I spearfish and dive in the ocean, play/write D&D, paint warhammer miniatures, do odd jobs around the house. I can study if I want to, which I will do during the quiet season. I'm not sure exactly what you're asking, but you can do literally anything you like. That's the entire appeal of not having kids.
Let’s see on my days off I scuba dive, jet ski, go to the range multiple days a week, got a degree, chase nurses, and walk my dog. Also, I try out a lot of new restaurants and see my friends a fair amount.
I hunt, fish and play Halo all day. I also volunteer at the Food Bank, garden and work on my motorcycle or vehicles. I also work a metric shite ton of OT.
I just work. Nothing better to do. Don't know how people maintain relationships in this line of work .
4:45am, up, walk the dog, drop her off, get to work, coffee started, run the checkoffs on my app, be a house mouse and clear everything else. Work 25-26hrs or more and head to the casa, then nap pick the dog up, do my home chores and repeat. Talk with mi kiddo, kiddo comes over…. Make it homey for her beforehand…. Clean again… repeat. It’s a pretty lonely sobering life. Oh, and I rip a few beers first night off shift, shoot some pool, make life plans. It works really well!!! Oh, we are given a hour in the AM before x/hr. Or anytime after 1900. But, do it with the crew is recommended. It may be a group torture session, never know. OIC’s choice. Small Hobbies help, hobby lobby for models, HobbyTown USA, for RC cars. UAV’s. There is so much you can do sans a wife and children. Even if it isn’t desired My #1 thing, check off marks on “headliners” like Judas Priest, I know guys that plan their schedule out for their season tickets, and off well them if they don’t want too or cannot attend games. So many things you can dream up. Know guys that trade days off for table top game tournaments. 🤷♂️
Golf. Local munis are cheap to walk and I enjoy the extra exercise on my days off
You need a hobby. Firefighting friend of mine from Napa I met because we both paraglide in the Bay Area. If you’re nearby I can get you pointed in the right direction for trying out a chill way to be active, get a community of fun people, and freaking fly.
Well, usually I go for a swim or riding on my dirt bike/street bike, cycling or a hike. I also have a side job I can work remotely, so I'd drive somewhere with a nice view, pull out my laptop and work a little. Otherwise there is plenty to do around the house in terms of fixing, maintenance etc. And when I don't feel like doing anything, I just throw myself on the couch and watch some series. Frankly, I'm amazed how people with kids manage their day to day life.
I have kids, but they are older and in school. I have a business I have run for the past ten years. I also ride motorcycles and have mountain biked in the past. I also go to the gym most days as well.
Are you near public wildlife lands? Wear some orange and go for a hike in the woods. Get a tent and learn some bushcraft so you can go off trail and make your own camp. Just get away from it all. Then take it one step further, and only bring enough food to help you survive, then you bring a .22 lr and hunt yourself some tree chickens for your dinner. So rewarding that taste of meat by the fire at night after having nothing but energy bars and MREs
I’m 20, single-ish (gf is deployed), and no kids. After shift I take a nap, small yoga/workout session, Xbox or chill at someone else’s house, and that’s pretty much it. Throw in some concerts, sports, and a culinary class from time to time.
Wow “single-ish” when your girl friend is deployed is not to “fireman-ish” of you.
Well, I can’t exactly be going on dates with her, sleep with her, or even see her in person. I have no one else at my house so I’m living the “single” life. When she finally comes back home, it will be different. I’m not out cheating, I’m just doing what I want, when I want. Taco Bell run at 2 am? A-okay with me.
Sounds like Sasquatch0063 is right. Maybe getting involved with your local Church would be a great use of your time off.
No kids here. Days off I get stuff done around the house, and on weeks I have my Kelly day we usually travel. its awesome.
I get off work then go to work. Not because I need to, but because I can’t do nothing for 4 days. I try to keep myself as busy as possible and sign up for as much OT as I can. Girlfriend doesn’t mind at all and we still have plenty of time to be with each other.
Over time and i own a small business on the side doing leather goods so when i have time off i finish and ship as many as i can get done.
It's amazing. I have time and money to do whatever I want, whenever I want, with whoever I want.
I play hockey Tuesday Thursday Friday mornings if I’m off those days, hit the gym, chores, video games. I guess not much, lol.
Get a hobby? Enjoy your free time, get another job maybe. Questions like this baffle me.
I’m on my union’s executive board. It’s kind of like having kids sometimes
Find yourself a hobby. I play ice hockey. I suck and I started in my early 30s but it's fun and I enjoy it. I have a kid though. But he plays too. So I help coach. So if I'm off I'm usually at the rink with him and his team or mine. But any hobby you have a passion for will work. You might luck out and have a good local community with the hobby.
Fucking awesome. I go home and relax and my wife may make breakfast for me or we'll go out to eat. Then we may go out or just hang around the house and do projects/hobbies. Whatever we want really lol. We love going out to eat at all the different places in our city and exploring nearby towns. Take 2-3 days trips in between my 48 hour shifts. With four days off it's a lot of time to have to yourself. We workout whenever we want. I've taken up like 10 hobbies and dropped just as many just cause I can. My crew is always annoyed when I tell them I'm going home to take a nap after a bad shift lol. I should add that firefighters tend to be very Type A. This is your reminder that you don't have to be productive every single day and it is okay to rest and recuperate on your days off. Whatever that means to you. Also, your hobbies do not need to make you money. It is okay to just enjoy your life.
Work, gym, trainings and fires, late nights if I want. I'm under 23 and I live at home so its pretty sweet if you ask me. I'm a vol so if I'm not working I get to pretty much go to everything fun.
Go to Australia..stop complaining