[jbot29]

- Learn a new skill/craft. If you are in tech, maybe something more physical, cooking, woodworking,etc. Six months is a good amount of time to build a base.

- Learn a foreign language, again 6 months is a perfect amount of time. Highly rewarding.

- Work on holes in knowledge, build a self-course around it. Algorithms, dbs, whatever.

- Pickup an new programming language.

- Build a side project, doesn't have to be commercially viable, could be open source or not. Build a redis replacement for no other reason than to understand it.

- Travel. I understand the constraint of wife/kids, but there are ways to fit it in. Don't have to live in Southeast Asia, but travel, I feel is a great brain boost. Awesome rush of new.

[_coldfire]

> If you are in tech, maybe something more physical, cooking, woodworking,etc.

Second this. Spend vast amounts of time in front of a screen, woodworking provides much stress relief, even when you screw things up.

[fred_is_fred]

I'd like to just be more handy in general, to be able to take a pile of wood and build something but it doesn't need to be some super complex 8 different types of hardwood kinda thing. Any recommendations on getting started?

[stenius]

I'm taking an introductory cabinetry class at my local community college and it was a good option for me. There was some hoops involved in getting signed up but once you take the first class others are easier. Here is a photo of the project everyone in the class builds over 12 weeks. http://i.imgur.com/2raCXzP.jpg

[fred_is_fred]

This is a key goal for me. Cooking more is on the list already as is something as mundane as fishing. Keep the ideas coming!

[hoodwink]

Rouxbe is a great resource for learning how to cook from first principles.

[fred_is_fred]

This looks very promising thanks!