I've thought about doing so a couple of times, but then I get overwhelmed by all the cool things I *could* be studying, and end up doing...nothing. Make sure you tell us what you're going to study next!

I don't purposely pick things I think are going to be challenging. Instead, I get gripped by fascinations and end up following them down long trails for long periods of time.

Over the course of my life, I'm pleased to note that what had seemed to be a rather random string of separate fascinations actually has coalesced into a somewhat useful body of information, and one in which things actually relate to one another. Getting closer to 40, it's becoming evident that I have been doing a lifelong jigsaw puzzle without having a picture on the box. At first the pieces seemed like discrete shapes, interesting on their own. But the more of them I collected, the more sense they made as a whole.

I taught myself some Japanese back when I was an anime/manga geek, but the initial interest in just learning some basic spoken language turned into a genuine fascination with the writing system and the grammar, and got me all linguisticky for a while. I also did some fan manga translations at the time, but I've forgotten it all now.

In this age of GPS systems penetration and Google Maps, GIS systems and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), studying celestial navigation would seem to meet your needs, King of Prontopia. Begin by acquiring a reliable mechanical timepiece, a decent sextant, and essential navigation tables.

paulsc's suggestion is excellent! And as your instructors, may I suggest the fine folk at the Planetarium at Mystic Seaport, who teach an admirable set of courses in celestial navigation?

You never know when this will come in handy, as it did for one acquaintance of mine who lost his handheld GPS -- though it was around his neck on a lanyard -- in the Atlantic, two days' sailing off the coast of South Carolina, when we was booted over the side by a jibe.

Or, you know, to break the ice at parties.

Actually, I was considering orienteering as suitably obsolete.

My mother does this. I don't really want to talk about it.

My mother does this. I don't really want to talk about it.

Hee!