I think it would make for a good sci-fi novel....

Explore the possibilities of an advanced civilization who evolved on a much larger planet.... although I do not think a habitable planet the size of our sun is possible by the laws of physics? It may not be possible on any planet much larger than earth.

But assuming it was.... and the civilization advanced at the same rate ours did.... would they have even gone into space by this time since there would likely be vast regions of their planet unexplored, as compared to us on earth?

As for time on my hands... yup, but don't we all have an abundance of that right now?