JB, the knitting is probably GOOD for your arthritic fingers...........keeps them moving. I started having arthritic twinges in my early 30's. The computer/typing and piano/organ playing has kept it at bay and I have had no more of that junk.
Winter hobbies.............doing more with my music..............the hammer dulcimer, my accordion, playing every Sunday for church on organ, and weekly City Band rehearsals and playing my alto saxophone there. And of course, I CONSTANTLY have reading material; my iPad goes with me most everywhere so if I had a couple minutes I read.