how do they do it?

Susan Hartman ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

You're right, I don't know how anyone can do that. They must be super placid types who can sit by the hour, I would get bored to death.

I don't know and I think that I don't want to know! I'd have brought a book at the very least. More likely, I'd have had a book or two, some knitting and some stitching.

Cheryl

Mom used to ask the same thing when she went to jury duty. The women would bring knitting and crossword puzzle books. The men would bring the newspaper and by 10 AM would be bored and staring off into space.

I suppose some people really don't have any portable hobbies/interests. There are also some who like the break from the normal stress of life and don't mind vegging for a few hours. It might be years before they get to do that again! It is also possible they have in earbuds and have a portable audio device playing and you don't know it. And then there are those who just can't believe they would actually be made to wait anywhere for anything so why plan for it!

I always wonder the same thing - at doctor's offices, school events and especially airports. I always have at least 1 stitching project and 2 paperback books with me in case I get stuck for hours. I can't seem to stand more than 5 minutes of "nothing". Even at home I watch TV while stitching. I sometimes think maybe they are just dull boring people - but that sounds mean, but how can you just sit like a rock for hours?

MelissaD

We are not big churchgoers, but this morning, I had to take my ds to BS Sunday. I thought I would go nuts sitting that hour - and the pastor was very entertaining and good. Just can't sit there though.

Huh? I often like to have something along to do, but I would be more inclined to say the exact opposite--how could anyone *not* be able to occupy themselves with their thoughts for any significant amount of time? I like to make good use of my time, and like to leverage time spent waiting on doing something productive, but I wouldn't say it's a problem not to have something to do while waiting. There's always plenty to think about and consider.

Best wishes, Ericka

Has anyone ever wondered whether it's because we're easily bored and impatient that we do needlework, or read or do some sort of busy work so much of the time? Maybe those people who are content to just sit staring into space are more docile and content by nature than we are. I sometimes suspect that if I were born further into the century than I was I might have been diagnosed as having some form of ADD. According to my parents I was never able to sit still for long and I was often in trouble in school for that.

I know that I get antsy at the movies and nearly always think they're too long, but I can watch the same thing on TV at home as long as I have something else to do at the same time. Sometimes that something is reading. Then I can kind of absorb enough of the story on TV to follow it and only look up when there is something exciting, or noisy happening on screen.

How many of us are satisfied just to veg out?

Lucille

I'd go stark, staring crazy if I had to sit that long with nothing to do but stare off into space.

Heck, I even take a book to the bathroom with me.

Lucille>>

I'd put a magazine rack in mine if DH would let me.

There is the opposite argument, that if you have to have an external means of entertainment, then you must have a dull, boring internal life.... I'm not very good at it, but I do know people who are perfectly content to just sit and think for a few hours. DH invents things when he has to wait.

Elizabeth

I know it sounds a bit Pollyannaish, but that's one of the perks of being alone. You can do whatever you want. However, I assure you it's not worth murdering one's husband to accomplish that !!! lol

I didn't ask. Just went out, got one, and put it in.

Elizabeth

I always have a knitting or crochet or embroidery with me as well as a puzzle mag and a book to read and a big note book... i think this covers a lot for waiting /travel time. Like you i am amzed at how people can just Sit ,,,,, But maybe they Day Dream about something ???? mirjam

Amen to that! He hates any kind of "ornament"...... I'd like a bit more "frou frou" but will live with out!

See my reply to Lucille. Some things you just deal with, in order to win the "bigger battles"

Absolutely. I'll be sitting next to someone who's waiting patiently for the doctor/train/lecturer to get there, and they'll point to my needlework "I would never have the patience to do that". I always point out that I do needlework because I would never have the patience to wait if I didn't have something to do.

If I for some reason get off without something to work on, I get incredibly fidgety. Mind you, the trolley runs every 15 minutes, so I'm not waiting all that long for it to arrive, but it's enough to run me out of patience waiting without a distraction.

Leave your knitting bag in there for a few days. Betcha he agrees to a magazine rack instead. :)