Do more of what you like
What do you like? It sounds like a funny question, but sometimes we fall into patterns for all sorts of reasons, not always because we like what we are doing. It actually may take some serious reflection to figure out what brings you joy.
Don’t Retire, Take a Sabbatical Instead
I know of what I speak here. For me, a sabbatical was a very refreshing change of pace that really changed how I see the things I used to do. The relief of stress also takes some of the emotional drudgery out of of working and you can recover some of the early joy. I honestly can’t remember some of the things that I got worked up about just before the sabbatical. Many fields have this as a continuing part of the general expectations, but even if yours doesn’t, give it a shot. I recommend a minimum of 3 months with a very very light agenda. Yes, this is supposed to be about learning, but if the learning is too much work, you won’t get the joys of the sabbath. Later on you’ll hear about a sabbatical that changed someone’s whole view of the future.
Travel
The little poll I took at the beginning of this journey suggested that a good percentage of people were looking forward to travelling. This may mean getting good at it: not paying too much, learning who you like to travel with, what kind of places are best for you, what kind of things you hate, . . .
Become an Entrepreneur
The Ewing Marion Kaufman Foundation has found that about a quarter of all new businesses started in that year were owned by people aged 55 to 64. This may or may not mean opening a shop of some type. There are also many possibilities for making and/or selling things online, or thinking up a new solution and marketing it.
Go to Summer Camp
Grownupcamps.com is a fun directory of camps for adults. They don’t own the camps but rather help people find them so don’t worry. There are more camps for retired folks than you might imagine!
Relocate Seasonally
While I’m not sure dashing to Florida the instant you are retired is a good idea, Spending some serious time in one other place has its rewards, especially if family or finances are involved. There are many options to jut buying another place.
Try a House Swap: If you’re someplace and want to try out someplace else, house swap services match you with another homeowner who wants the opposite, and you trade houses temporarily. Try HomeExchange.com, HomeLink.com and IntervacHomeExchange.com. Especially since AirBNB these things have gotten more standardized and you don’t have to worry much about disasters.
Relocation is not only a different house but maybe a job. If you migrate seasonally, it is likely you can find employment to service the vacationers! You might look into being a campground host, ski slope attendant, or lifeguard. I’m trying to imagine myself being a lifeguard at some beach. Not a pretty sight, but I’m sure others might be OK. Try the following services for seasonal employment opportunities and ideas: Coolworks.com or BackDoorJobs.com.
Grow a Garden
Working outdoors when the weather is nice makes life worth living, at least for some people. I might enjoy harvesting some fruits if it were easy, but that’s about it. Sadly, studies suggest that gardening is an activity that can add years to your life. It could even become a source of income. Doing it naturally nowadays is also quite a learning experience. They tell me.
Write
Please note that I have no formal education in retirement studies or anything like that and yet here I am doing this. You don’t have to write the Great American Novel right off the bat. Short fiction is great fun and there is a group at First Reformed for it. You could start with a stirring letter to the editor or a blog post about your favorite recipe for tuna fish salad. You could post something witting and loving on Facebook as a change of pace. Even the book thing is easier these days, If you want to publish a book, Amazon lets you write, upload, create a book cover, and more.
Become a Teacher
There are schools here and abroad that need your skills, even if it is just how to speak english well. Tutors in all kinds of fields are always in demand and it keeps you in charge of your schedule. Platforms like Wyzant matches students to people who need help.
Volunteer for a Worthy Cause
Volunteering lets you give back to the community in ways that often benefit the volunteer just as much. And because you’re not in it for a paycheck, you can be much choosier about the organizations that you help and exactly what you want to do. A study by the Washington University in St. Louis reports, “Older adults who volunteer and who engage in more hours of volunteering report higher levels of well-being.” This study ways that the benefits of volunteering are the same no matter your gender, race or social status.
Remodel Your House
I don’t really mean hiring someone to do all the work, although sometimes that sure is a job. I mean the tedious and rewarding crafting of new space.
Downsize Your Home
Have you tried moving lately? Doing a good job of downsizing after collecting stuff for a lifetime can take a few years. It will keep you busy.
Stay Vital
Well, it’s about this whole list really. Having a place to go. Having people (or animals) that rely on you. Maintaining a schedule. Being social. Having a purpose. Learning new things. These are all activities that are scientifically proven to keep you healthy and happy.
Learn Something Musical
Whether or not you did this in the past, there are HUNDREDS of people teaching musical things all around you. Piano is a common starting point, and so is guitar. Don’t forget that your voice is also an instrument. I recommend the ukulele. I must warn you. It’s tedious. But rewarding.
Get in Shape, You Tuber!
In the Capital Region there are hundreds of classes and places to get in shape. Really. Almost anytime between 4am and midnight, there is a place for you. Some places boss you around more than others, some places cost more than others, but with a little research, you can find a place.
Grow Your Friend Base
Too often, retirees stick progressively closer and closer to home as time moves on. What might have been a rich circle of friends could dwindle more and more until only a few remain in your life. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying being alone, friends help you stay connected to the world and give you a greater sense of purpose. Our friend Dorothy, who is in her 90s says finding younger friends has kept her sane.
Work on the Future
It’s going to last longer than you think. Decades! We work on our careers for many years of education and then not so much on a period that might last as long if we are lucky. It’s a work of imagination, reflection, education, and spiritual renewal.
Do that Internet Thing
The very fact that you are reading this blog is a good sign, but things change fast! Even the basics of communicating change so you need to expect to learn new things. You also have to keep track of who communicates how since at this very moment, most kids in school communicate with texting, normal adults with email, and a bunch of retirees are discovering Facebook mostly to keep track of their family.
Spend Time with Your Family
In some places I have visited to talk about retirement, the highlight of their plans are centered around taking care of the grandkids. While this may or may not sound like fun to you, it has proven to be a source of joy around the world and a way of keeping connections strong. If you don’t have any grandkids or close family, there are ways of establishing close ties with churches and finding families who need help.
Get a Hobby!
The bold ones here are things I know that there are groups or classes about in the Capital District, in boring alphabetical order: Activism. Amateur Radio. Antiquing. Aquariums. Archery. Art. Astronomy. ATVs. Badminton. Baking. Baton twirling. Baseball. Basketball. Beekeeping. Beach clean up. Biking. Birding. Board games. Book club. Boomerangs. Brewing Beer. Bridge. Calligraphy. Camping. Cartooning. Casinos. Chess. Collage. Collecting. Composing Music. Cooking. Crafting. Crochet. Crossfit. Crossword puzzles, Dancing. Darts. Daydreaming. DJ. Drones. Electronics. Entertaining. Fashion design. Fencing. Fishing. Flower arranging. Football. Flying. Four wheeling. Genealogy. Geocaching. Geology. Golf. Graffiti. Hot air balloons. Hiking. Horses. Hunting. Inventing. Jewelry making. Joining a Band. Journaling. Juggling. Kayaking. Kites. Knitting. Lawn bowling. Letter writing, Mahjong. Make movies. Marathons. Martial Arts. Metal Detecting. Mixology. Museums. Models. Motorcycles. Mycology (mushrooms). Online Games. Orienteering. Origami. Paintball. Painting. Paragliding. Playing an Instrument. Photography. Ping pong. Poker. Pottery. Printing in 3d. Puppetry, Reading. Remote control cars. Road trips. Rock climbing. Robotics. Roller skating. Rowing. Running. Sailing. Sandcastles. Scuba. Sculpting. Senior olympics. Sewing. Singing in a choir. Skiing. Snorkeling. Snowboarding. Soccer. Socializing. Storm chasing. Swimming. Surfing. Tai Chi. Tennis. Theater. Trampolines. Topiary. Upcycling. Volleyball. Water colors. Wine making. Wine tasting. Woodshop. Wood carving. Writing. Yoga. Yo yos. Ziplining. Zoology. Zumba.