The key is situational awareness and knowing about the mechanics others will use to try and force the issue.

...

The only ship PvP that you can never avoid is a suicide gank, but you can certainly mitigate the chances of it happening to you by not fitting overly expensive and shiny modules, not autopiloting a hauler full of goodies, not autopiloting your pod and not being AFK.

Exploration:
30 min - 1 hr / day (more if you want). Undock, launch a few probes, find an exploration site, have fun for half hour or so killing pirate NPCs, hacking containers, salvaging, etc. Income 200k ISK to 100 mil depending on luck.

...and yes with optional PvP? If my friends and I want to have a go at that?

I mean I know everyone is quick to reply to threads about PvE with the word "carebear" because they have a limited vocabulary of insults and they think it is some ultimate slam.

Well here's the deal. I'm an adult. I work to pay bills. While I know many other adults play this game, I'm just not the one that has hours on end to play. I don't actually find it fun for some kid to then destroy my hours of time that I've invested.... Because I'm not playing the game to gamble my time. It's FAR too valuable. -- edit: gamble sure with NPCs but not gamble with kiddies where I will have zero chance and at times I'm not even looking to engage in PvP.

The problem is people don't understand that time is money.... And people like different things and it's ok.

Is there anything to do in this game PvE wise that would allow me to have fun with a few friends for a few hours a week at most and work my way up to getting some decent equipment and ships and have fun?

I don't need to go into 0.0. I don't need to get capital ships and POS' and whatever else. Not unless it's against the computer... Even still, I know it requires gas to power those POS' and time... I'm just looking for a quiet game with some friends. I know that didn't exactly exist 7 years ago when I played EVE before...But I'm hoping CCP learned how to cater to a broader player base in those past 7 years. I know I've grown myself and learned a lot in 7 years...Like not to sink all my time and waste my life playing games. However, a few hours here and there is actually fun.

I'm interested in most everything except mining. I think it's absolutely appalling that people sit in front of asteroids for hours on ending mining.... That's worse than wasting your life screwing around on Facebook.

So please... Please someone super awesome out there tell me that there's something fun to do for grandpa. =)

...and yes with optional PvP? If my friends and I want to have a go at that?

I mean I know everyone is quick to reply to threads about PvE with the word "carebear" because they have a limited vocabulary of insults and they think it is some ultimate slam.

Well here's the deal. I'm an adult. I work to pay bills. While I know many other adults play this game, I'm just not the one that has hours on end to play. I don't actually find it fun for some kid to then destroy my hours of time that I've invested.... Because I'm not playing the game to gamble my time. It's FAR too valuable. -- edit: gamble sure with NPCs but not gamble with kiddies where I will have zero chance and at times I'm not even looking to engage in PvP.

The problem is people don't understand that time is money.... And people like different things and it's ok.

Is there anything to do in this game PvE wise that would allow me to have fun with a few friends for a few hours a week at most and work my way up to getting some decent equipment and ships and have fun?

I don't need to go into 0.0. I don't need to get capital ships and POS' and whatever else. Not unless it's against the computer... Even still, I know it requires gas to power those POS' and time... I'm just looking for a quiet game with some friends. I know that didn't exactly exist 7 years ago when I played EVE before...But I'm hoping CCP learned how to cater to a broader player base in those past 7 years. I know I've grown myself and learned a lot in 7 years...Like not to sink all my time and waste my life playing games. However, a few hours here and there is actually fun.

I'm interested in most everything except mining. I think it's absolutely appalling that people sit in front of asteroids for hours on ending mining.... That's worse than wasting your life screwing around on Facebook.

So please... Please someone super awesome out there tell me that there's something fun to do for grandpa. =)

Yes exploration can be done in highsec, the worst you'll probably get is loot thieves, unless you're silly enough to be flying a blinged out ship.

Also rule #1 Never fly anything you can't afford to lose. Consider your ship dead when you undock and docking it back up a bonus.

Yes. This.
Can I do it in high sec space?
Can people come in and kill you? Or are you relatively safe?

The only ship PvP that you can never avoid is a suicide gank

Well here's the deal. I'm an adult. I work to pay bills. While I know many other adults play this game, I'm just not the one that has hours on end to play. I don't actually find it fun for some kid to then destroy my hours of time that I've invested.... Because I'm not playing the game to gamble my time. It's FAR too valuable. -- edit: gamble sure with NPCs but not gamble with kiddies where I will have zero chance and at times I'm not even looking to engage in PvP.

Why are you even playing this game?

I'm 38

I work full time

I play Eve casually at the weekends and occasionally during the week for a couple of hours

I started playing this game because it is a challenge

I PvP because this is a PvP game which is WHY I chose to play it

I also don't come to the forums whining......

HTFU

What a load of crap. You want a recommendation that your time won't be wasted by a young buck with more experience than you? Wise up grandpa, you're asking if going down to the corner bar on weekends for $20 pool games could result in black eyes if you get outta line.

I'd help ya out but my time is worth money too and you're a bad investment. I suggest playing games of simon or shutes and ladders with the grandkids

If you desire unimpeded PVE, then I suspect EVE is not the game for you.

yes with optional PvP? If my friends and I want to have a go at that?

I'm just looking for a quiet game with some friends.

Explain those two sentences. I see you want a quiet game you don't have to spend much time learning so you can go out and compete with more experienced people at your leisure. Sounds like a plan...until of course someone wardecs you and takes away the optional part.

the problem i had with eve in the past was YOU HAD NO CHOICE. you either PvP'd or you didn't play eve.

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