Activities for the Unemployed No. 1

Visit An Art Gallery

There's something about wandering around in an art gallery that makes you feel ... smart. You have the right to be there. Your opinion of the art is as valuable, or valid, as the next person's.

And usually it's quite cheap, probably free, therefore making it an ideal activity for the unemployed.

Sydney is blessed with a bunch of public art galleries, and of course a pile of pretentious swanky ones as well, in places like Woollahra (posh eastern suburb). A Google search on "woollahra art gallery" returns 22,000 results.

Of course there's nothing to stop you popping into a bunch of posh eastern suburbs galleries and pretending you have $5K to spend on a picture of ... yes, well whatever it is. Something "topographical". Two pieces of wool stuck to a white canvas with red enamel paint and bird feathers around the edges. Lovely. Just right for the landing on the second staircase, just underneath the Aboriginal bark painting series.

In reality, the art gallery visit is about expanding one's mind, and distracting it. Useful pursuits for the unemployed, when your ego's been shattered by restructuring and rejection. You can still appreciate art. And it just hangs there, doesn't care who you are or what you do. Some of it challenges you to approve of it, other pieces try to make you love them.

Like a pile of resumes on the recruitment consultant's desk - some are better than others and the selection of the "best" is entirely subjective.