If you have to go during the day make up the hours. With the today's jobs as white collar professionals that it pretty easy to do. If you have a SO at home get her use to the idea that you have to do overtime and/or work on the weekends sometimes.

my work is where i can surf, set up appts, and leave if i need to. I am very fortunate and also work 45 miles from my hometown and wife. What is funny is running into some "christian bible toters" in the liquor store, about 3 miles from my job, and the look on there face when they see me and are the same people that cast stones in my community will come up and say please don't tell anyone you saw me in here this was for uncle bob and i LOL.

1.  Lias, because (unless you are in California) artichokes are pricy, even when canned.  Olives are available in large lots cheap to restaurants..

2.  Surfing the net and making appointments at work?  Not a good idea.  Most companies monitor employee internet usage, even through private e-mail accounts.  If you have been posting on TER, visiting provider sites, etc... you can pretty well be assured that eventually someone in your IT and HR departments will learn of this!  As for taking time off work to hobby, the key to anything is moderation.  You will be going "cold turkey" if you lose your job!