So, it’s time to retire and you are wondering what you will do with all that extra time in your retirement living. You probably are already aware that shopping, fishing and golfing won’t be enough to fulfill you during these years. Well, that is the best thing about retirement, the fact that you now will have the time to do all those things you wanted to do, but just couldn’t find the time. Some retirees already have their retirement living planned out and they know exactly what they want to be doing. However, for most people, a little help and advice is needed.
ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
Trying to decide what your retirement living will include doesn’t have to be that difficult. Start by making a list of things you “might” be interested in, and then ask yourself a short list of questions.
1. What would make me happy?
2. What skills and talents do you enjoy showing others?
3. What activities make me feel purposeful and creative?
4. What have I always dreamed of doing?
5. What can I do to improve the world around me in some small way?
These answers will go long a way towards helping you decide which retirement living activities may be best for you.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Retirement living doesn’t mean we have to stop learning, and this may be the perfect time to finish up that degree that we put on the back burner due to family or work. There are also classes available that could teach you all new skills and hobbies, like dancing, photography, cooking, etc.
Many colleges allow seniors to be exempt from having to take the typical entrance tests like the ACT and SAT. Students over a certain age can also qualify for tuition at a reduced or free rate. Many seniors find continued education to be a very rewarding way to spend their retirement living.
However, some might not feel comfortable in a classroom surrounded by young adults. These folks have a few other options if they wish to pursue education as part of their retirement living.
• Online Learning: Internet-based education is popular among people of all ages, and seniors are no exception. This is also a great option if you do not live near a campus or you have trouble traveling.
• Road Scholar: This program is for seniors who are more mobile in their retirement living years, and allows them to live on a campus anywhere in the world. Details can be found at www.roadscholar.org.
HOBBIES
Retirement living is the time to enjoy your favorite hobbies and develop some exciting new ones. Learning a new hobby can be done in so many different ways. Some of which have already been discussed with the classes you could take at a local university to learn things like dancing, cooking, knitting, etc. There are also free classes at the big home improvement stores, which would allow you to pick up a few skills and make some aesthetic improvements around your home. This would make retirement living a bit more pleasurable.
Here is a short list of some typical retirement living hobbies for people of varying health and fitness levels.
• Book club
• Joining a recreation center or gym
• Backpacking or hiking
• Fishing
• Local theatre groups
• Senior softball
• Stained glass or pottery class
• Gardening
• Bridge or chess
There really is no end to the list of retirement living hobbies. Just remember to choose activities that are within your fitness level, and you will be well on your way to enjoying your retirement to its fullest.
