Are you celebrating Earth Hour?  From 8:30 – 9:30 pm local time, participants will turn off their lights, symbolizing their commitment to combating climate change through tiny changes in their own life.  By now, some have already turned off their lights, and most likely, have gone to bed, but here in PST and most of the U.S., we’ve still got some last minute planning time.

In theory it seems pretty simple, but I didn’t even realize how addicted I might be to electricity until I the cold sweats started as I imagined myself sitting for an hour alone in the dark with nothing to do. I might get … bored!

So in order to diminish my ridiculous anxiety, here’s a compilation of ideas for Earth Hour.

• Stargaze: A few years ago I went to a stargazing program at Joshua Tree National Park. The ranger said they used to be able to see the Milky Way from the park, but now you’re a lot more likely to see the distant (190 miles) Las Vegas lights on the horizon.  Tonight, Sin City will be flipping the switch so hopefully desert stargazers will see something incredible.
• Cook: I’m assuming that if one is turning off the lights, any other electricity should be taboo, too, so turn off the oven and try a raw food recipe.  Rawmazing has a nice collection of raw desserts that won’t heat up your home.
• Visit a participating site: How cool would it be to see the Santa Monica Pier’s ferris wheel suddenly go black?  Or to stand under a dark St. Louis Arch?  A quick Google search or a story in your local paper will let you know what’s happening near you.
• Play an instrument: If you have any musical talent (or, like me, none, but own an instrument) you can easily pass an hour or more playing around.  If weather permits and your not playing a tuba, open the windows.  There is nothing I like better than listening to music drifting through my open windows on a dark evening.
• Journal: Grab a notebook and your beverage of choice, curl up in your favorite spot and really work on something you’ve been putting off.  Write down your plans and how your going to accomplish them.  List ideas for things you want to work on, but haven’t gotten around to.  Write the first paragraph of your novel.  When the lights come back on, get started on putting your ideas to life.
• Take a hike: Yes, I know that lights out is during the evening, but that doesn’t mean you can’t explore nature.  Check if your local park has any evening hikes scheduled.  If nothing else, walk around your block and see who else is celebrating Earth Hour.

I’m not sure which option I’m picking yet. I strongly suspect it will involve a “beverage of choice” and I’m not discounting “take a nap.”  What will you be doing this evening?