I soak up the atmosphere of the empty house. I'll stare at things and stand still listening to the ambiance of the house and watch how the light plays over things, and how the occupants of the house have made their mark, magnets on the fridge, trinkets in the bedroom, the mix of colours, and personal items that tell a million stories about the house and it's people. When I get bored of this or feel I should do something, I'll read. My family has a horrible habit of having the TV on whenever they're present and awake so when it's actually silent I make the most of the distraction free environment. Occasionally if I get super lucky and have someone else's room to myself I'll do the same, and try and soak up as much of the room's ambiance and emotional content. Few things excite me more than visiting someone's living place for the first time.