Coming back

I took the last 6 months off (2 months of little to no walking). Got to my first goal and decided to take a break, I've gained back 7 lbs (although it's that time of the month) Is this a good idea... one goal change per week... for example ... this week my goal was just to log all my food and try to stay close to the calorie content

Also I used to walk 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day, I never really notice how long I was walking because I turned on my music and just vegged. Now that it is cold I am finding it tough to walk . Walking the malls up here it is a ways to drive and just bore the hell out of me. Going to the gym is difficult because it is not close and I feel like a hamster on a tread mill. Any suggestions?? I do have a friend that will go to the gym with me but we have to work around his schedule. (He has three kids)