Ask HN: How have you spent time outside work for the past couple of weeks?
3alex7745665/6/2025, 7:35:51 AM
Comments (6)
sph · 5h ago
Leaving Britain after 13 years and moving back to Italy. I thought it would be more traumatic than it has proved to be. I missed the sun, the Mediterranean foodstuffs and it is such a change of pace to have moved to a 50k city from the pandemonium that is London.
When I left 13 years ago I was younger, more excited at the prospect of career and UK felt like a step ahead. Now I grew up, grew to hate cities, corporate life and found Italy a healthier and happier country for the next chapter. Also, a very underrated thing not many expats talk about, I missed not feeling like a stranger, an immigrant, a fish out of water. That’s a background emotion that never goes away, however integrated and fluent in the local culture you are.
HenryBemis · 1h ago
As someone who also abandoned London a few years ago, I think that any 'place' (town/city/village.. well city) over 2m population is unlivable. Unless someone lives in a super-green (mini forests, parks, etc.) area, has everything within 10-15mins driving (work, home, shopping mall, swimming pool, gym, etc.)
Anything from 50k to 2m will have all that you need (galleries, cinemas, etc.)
On the Q at hand, reading, fasting, writing.
fullStackOasis · 3h ago
I'm curious, why do you ask?
I went rock climbing, took some hikes, lifted weights. I watched some YouTube and Netflix, read a newspaper, finished one book and started on another, worked on a side project. Went to a cafe and sat around drinking lattes and playing a mobile game (Pokemon Go). Did laundry, cooked dinners.
I've been watching the NHL playoffs quite a bit, also it was school holidays so spending lots of time playing with my son.
LandR · 6h ago
Lots of running (Set a new 10K PB last week, I'm slowly getting faster)
Lots of climbing
Musical Festival.
Cocktails with friends.
Some time working through a book on Elixir.
Watching F1 and NBA playoffs.
Playing through Dragon age Veilguard (despite feeling its a massive dissapointment), and not a proper Dragon Age game :(
When I left 13 years ago I was younger, more excited at the prospect of career and UK felt like a step ahead. Now I grew up, grew to hate cities, corporate life and found Italy a healthier and happier country for the next chapter. Also, a very underrated thing not many expats talk about, I missed not feeling like a stranger, an immigrant, a fish out of water. That’s a background emotion that never goes away, however integrated and fluent in the local culture you are.
Anything from 50k to 2m will have all that you need (galleries, cinemas, etc.)
On the Q at hand, reading, fasting, writing.
I went rock climbing, took some hikes, lifted weights. I watched some YouTube and Netflix, read a newspaper, finished one book and started on another, worked on a side project. Went to a cafe and sat around drinking lattes and playing a mobile game (Pokemon Go). Did laundry, cooked dinners.
Playing through Dragon age Veilguard (despite feeling its a massive dissapointment), and not a proper Dragon Age game :(