I graduated from college just over 50 hours ago, and because I probably suffer from a variety of untreated anxiety disorders I’ve already starting making lists. The first list was a grocery list, because I’ve decided my second-biggest post-grad resolution is to stop spending a majority of my income on food. So far so good? I microwaved taquitos last night, so there’s that.

Because I had roughly 16 internships and even more because of the mentioned anxiety, I started the job search early and am hashtag blessed to already have a full time job at the workplace equivalent of Disney Land, and in May I'm moving to Boston to be an advertising copywriter like Don Draper. I haven't actually seen Mad Men, but I've been told it is about copywriting. I’m not trying to brag about my employment in this paragraph—it was meant to work as a segue, I swear. My biggest post-grad resolution is to find a hobby.

It occurred to me that while I have a couple family members and maybe 3 childhood friends in Boston, I don’t have tons of ways to meet new people when I get there because most of my hobbies are completely solitary, like watching Netflix in my bed or writing dumb blog posts in my bed or eating candy in my bed or playing candy crush in my bed. Zero of those hobbies are very conducive to social interaction, oddly. So after googling “post-grad hobbies” with a variety of different keywords, I came up with the following list of “most common” activities to pursue. I  included a price measurement, but then realized that my scale is totally off because any amount of money is a lot to pay for friendship? Maybe that’s a maturity thing. We'll see.

1. Pottery making: $$$

The upsides: This sounds really fun in theory, mostly because I’m really into playing in the dirt and I’m a hoarder, and this 8-week class would conceivably result in a lot of stuff for me to put places.

The downsides: Who has $250 to spare? Also, what happens when the class is over? Do I have those friends forever, or do I have to keep paying for classes so I can keep talking to people/getting out of my bed?  Also, I'm a hoarder.

2. Comedy writing workshop: $$$

The upsides: this sounds like a lot of fun, and maybe I could become the next Tina Fey/Amy Poehler. Actually, even typing that sentence basically ensures that I will not become the next Tina Fey/Amy Poehler because as far as I can tell, there will not be a “next” Tina Fey or Amy Poehler because they are goddesses.

The downsides: I know I’m a bad person for saying this, but I already kind of consider myself a little funny. I don't think my ego could take it if I signed up for these classes and no one thought I was funny. I would spend so much time weeping over the $225 I spent shattering my self-confidence.

3. Rock climbing: $$

To be completely honest, I have basically no interest in ever having a hobby that is difficult physically because working out sucks. It seriously does. I only included this because I didn’t want anyone to think I was a fatty or to suggest I join any sort of adult sports team, because no.

4. DIY classes: $

The upside: Fairly inexpensive?

The downside:  Would I only meet middle aged housewives? That would be okay because I feel like I'm kind of middle aged on the inside, but in terms of friends my own age this could be an issue. Also, the thing about being a hoarder again.

5. French classes: $$

The upside: learning or whatever, crepes.

The downside: I took French for 8 years and I didn’t not hate it ever. “Why would you even include this on the list, Kelly?” you might be asking. Because that’s what blogging is, pal. Just writing some shit down.

6. Austin Wine tasting club: ??

I was too scared to commit my email address to this meetup group so I have no idea how much this costs or how many people are in it or how frequently they meet. Let this be a lesson, internet: make this information public before asking for my precious, spam-free email address.

7. LARPing:

The upsides: This would probably cost zero dollars, so that’s cool. I’d also probably meet a lot of like-minded people that like dressing up as Doctor Who companions and lamenting the too-short series Firefly.

The downsides: ….do I really want to spend time with people this similar to me? That stresses me out. Can I really commit to being a LARPer? Will the shame kill me? I hope that isn't offensive, because thus far this is the most promising hobby and I don't want to alienate any future friends that may stumble on this blog.

8. Traveling: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

LOL JUST KIDDING, I JUST GRADUATED. Why does everysinglewebsite list traveling as a viable post-grad hobby? Plane tickets are really expensive and my car gets 14 miles/gallon, so.

Stay tuned, folks, because I really will continue this search. Wish me luck!

By: Kelly Eisenbarger, Kelly Fine, Reihaneh Hajibeigi and Shawna Reding

Through droughts and flooding, Mother Nature has had her share of fun with Austin over the past months. Although Lake Travis water levels are on the rise with recent rains, the drought that has claimed plenty of businesses, affected Austin farming and lowered property values all around still keeps the city from staying afloat.

The Lower Colorado River Authority‘s worries have only increased since the drought began taking a serious impact on the region three years ago, and according to Public Information Officer Clara Tuma, the recent rains haven’t changed the unfortunate situation much.

“Don’t be fooled by the green lawns in Austin, the drought continues,” Tuma said. “This isn’t the worst we have seen, but without more rain, it could very well become the worst.”

LCRA Map of Highland Lakes

The rain came in downstream of the Highland Lakes and made its way to the Colorado River, which flows down to Matagorda Bay and on to the Gulf of Mexico. However, the rain did not fall upstream enough to reach the Central Texas reservoirs of Lakes Travis and Buchanan.

“A variety of people depend on the lakes,” Tuma said. “More than one million people depend on the lakes for drinking water, which is essential for life, but there’s also industry power plants that depend on the lakes to make electricity to cool our homes and keep hospitals running.”

At the November board meeting, the LCRA requested the state to approve emergency plans to stop sending water downstream to rice farmers in the coming year if reservoir lakes are less than 55 percent capacity by the beginning of March. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, LCRA’s regulator which approves how water from Lake Travis and Buchannan is used, will meet in December to make a final decision on the future of water distribution.

However, recent rains, totaling 13.28 inches, have provided some aid to local farmers.

Robert Mace, who serves as the deputy executive administrator of water science and conservation at TCEQ, said as bad as it has gotten, having experienced a situation even worse has allowed authorities to have a better understanding of their options.

“What Texas learned from the 1950s drought was that we don’t have enough water to meet the needs,” Mace said. “To tell you how bad it was, they restricted irrigating on the football field for the cotton bowl. You know things are bad when Texans aren’t watering the football field.”

Perhaps the drought hasn’t limited watering the football fields yet, but lakeside restaurants like Carlos’ N Charlie’s and The Oasis have felt the impact on their businesses. Although The Oasis has been able to stay open, unlike fellow iconic restaurant Carlos’ N Charlie’s, its biggest attraction, the view, has been dwindling.

“Lake level has affected restaurants in the lake area, most restaurants are going to be down a significant percentage higher than we are,” Assistant manager Jacob Silva said. “You can definitely see an impact in foot traffic here, but we are hanging tough because of our 30 year reputation.”

Over time The Oasis was even able to see the drought as a marketing tool with its “Come see the new island at Lake Travis!” advertisements.

Rick Redmond, owner and CEO of Volente Beach, said he believes their location at the deepest part of the lake has helped keep their business up. People were able to physically get to their “boutique water park” over other businesses.

“What we started realizing was that a lot of our competition was closing,” Redmond said. “Since there are fewer places to go, and we’ve stayed open, customers have been coming to us.”

While revenue from businesses and some rainfall are keeping business and agriculture alive, property values and low-lake levels have been driving more residents to put their “For Sale” signs up.

Trudi Smith, who owned a home by the lake for four years, said there were many reasons as to why she moved away from the lake, but the final push to move was due to the lack of incentive to stay lakeside.

“It wasn’t the pleasure it used to be,” Smith said. “You couldn’t get on the water. A lot of people I met ended up moving away, and after a while, there is simply no benefit to living by the lake with water levels so low.”

While Smith said she believes it is just a course of nature, and eventually the water will come up, the TCEQ has been urging people to continue to conserve water in any way possible. Tuma and the LCRA echo Redman’s sentiments, and said little things such as low-flow shower heads and toilets can save a few gallons at home but thousands if the whole community participates.

“Each one of us can conserve water, just as much as the city or industry or even farmer can,” Mace said. “Every little bit helps.”

The following drought monitor is continuously updated to reflect the drought’s current status.