Leisure pursuits have been defined as free time! – a period of time spent away from work or school! – an essential domestic activity! Through time it has been considered a period of recreational or discretionary time before or after distinctive compulsory activities – eating, sleeping, household chores, day-to-day stress et al.
Chinese tradtions believe, “If you are thinking one year ahead, you plant rice. If you are thinking ten years ahead, you plant trees. If you are thinking one hundred years ahead, you educate people.”
The word leisure comes from the Latin word licere, meaning ‘to be permitted’ or ‘to be free’. The word first appeared in the early 14th century. The notions of leisure and leisure time are thought to have materialized in Victorian Britain in the late 19th century when factory workers performed long shifts, often up to 18 hours a day with only Sundays off. The emergence of trade unions changed this industrialists’ attitude. By the 1870s the Victorian concept of the ‘weekend’ became the precursor of ‘leisure time’ as it is known today.
For you sports minded folk, within the shop colorful chairs provide a place to rest and enjoy the latest game/event on the flat screen TV while others in your party may be shopping or strolling through town. Should you wish for some competitiveness, challenge someone to a game of chess, checkers, or backgammon at the window-side table while you watch the other Town Square shoppers and/or the special event(s).
From this iconic inspiration, you may find items in the shop like stained glass; board and/or card games; adult brain or knowledge games or cards; and heirloom crafts.
