What is everyone's favorite retirement hobby?

[CourtneyC]

I have been thinking about articles to add to my website and want to include more content about recreation. For example, at the moment, my husband is writing an article about fly fishing, which is one of his favorite hobbies. I am curious, for those of you who are retired or plan to do so in the near future, what do you plan to do with your free time? Your advice is appreciated as always.

Thanks,

Courtney

 

[CyclingInvestor]

49, retired 1 year.

1) bicycle touring
2) investing
3) hiking (trying to get back into this one)
4) wine tasting

 

[frayne]

56 here and retired for two years, hobbies;

Drive my wife nuts
Golf
Motorcycle riding
Bike riding
Walking
Photography
Playing guitar
Surfing the net
Reading
Writing
Taking classes at local community college
Helping freinds and neighbors with just about anything
Researching stuff for my son and myself
Taking care of the yard and landscaping
Five O'clock martoonis
Cooking
News junkie

 

[Tiger]

I never have been big on hobbies.

Reading
Investments
Belong to 7 web sites
Walking
Looking for young women that dig older men.

 

[Donzo]

Snow skiing
Jeeping
ATVing
Motorcycle riding (never noticed how motorized I am)
Fishing
Woodworking

Looking forward to going to the state fair today w/ family!

 

[citrine]

Haven't retired yet....but when I do:

Pursue my art full time: more shows, contests, retreats, and artist-in-residency programs.
Garden
Lying in my hammock and looking at the stars
Hang out at the coffee shop
Read
Write poetry
Refinish furniture
Find men with European accents and just listen to them....without actually listening.

 

[CourtneyC]

Thanks for the great feedback!

 

[Maneiac]

Retired 5 years...Hobbies:

Amateur Radio
Beekeeping
Reading
Golf
Walking(Hiking)

Now to find time for them all

 

[REWahoo]

Here's a FIREe who seems to have found an unusual hobby:

59-year-old to play college football

"Flynt is giving new meaning to being a college senior. After all, he's a grandfather and a card-carrying member of AARP. He's eight years older than his coach and has two kids older than any of his teammates."

Those dang Boomers...

 

[Bigritchie]

Relaxing with the wife.

Traveling.

Just breathing in deep, and enjoying life, knowing there is nothing pressing that I "have to do".

Staying in shape.

All the little things you are too busy for.

Beaches. Hawaii.

 

[tangomonster]

53, retired one year:

Playing online
Reading
Walking/hiking
Cooking
Eating at ethnic restaurants
Watching independent and foreign films
Listening to jazz and classical music
Attending some cultural performances
Cuddling with cat
Hanging out at coffee places (kindred soul with Citrine)

We may start water aerobics in the winter when it gets too cold to walk outside; there's an indoor pool six miles away.

I don't know that any of these count as hobbies per se, but I definitely enjoy them!

 

[Goonie]

Retired almost 5 months. My hobbies are the same as pre-retirement.....just get to spend a LOT more time enjoying them!!!!

Gardening/Landscaping
Traveling
Model Railroading
Reading
Tending the finances
Socializing
Searching out good eateries
Surfin' the 'net
Doing NOTHING (as often as possible!)

Someday I may accomplish something useful....but only if I screw up!!!

 

[JonnyM]

Same as before FIRE, just more time to devote, and less time doing that annoying thingie, what was it called, oh yah, W..k, I can't bring myself to actually write it out loud.

Creating Music (Primarily via Guitars and such)
Creating Art Jewelry (Metal and Glass)
Reading
Surfing Net
Collecting antiques (whatever is of current interest, streaks usually last a couple three years)
Raising and being owned by Irish Wolfhounds (sorry there is no more loving, loyal, laidback, lazy breed of dogs) Oops I just described US!

 

[CourtneyC]

Awesome replies. I will try to add articles on as many of those subjects as I can. I am off to the oregon coast for a week, so check back to the site in a week and a half or two.

Thanks,

Courtney

 

[garrynky]

I still have another 130 days of work life left, but in retirement I will spend my days:

playing pedal steel guitar
maybe goofing around in a band
gardening
remodeling a house
playing with grandchildren
morning walks
traveling
motorcyles
trips in a miata
learning
maybe do some contract work
happy hour at 5

 

[Life_is_Good]

Retired 2 years

Golf - never played before ER
Reading books - never had time before ER
Growing veggies
Softball
Excercising
Emailing friends & web browsing

 

[Goonie]

happy hour at 5

I start Happy Hour when I get up every morning! But it only lasts until the next morning!

 

[gandalf42]

53 and retired about 18 mos.

Reading
Surfing the web
classes at the community college (for purely interest not career!)
leisurely lunches with DW (had very few of these during work years)
RVing/travel without timeline/tweaking RV (DW claims this is my new hobby)
volunteering
spending time with kids
yard/house work at a slow pace

wondering where all the time went..priceless

 

[starry night]

We're loving our library, where we go a couple of times a week for new release books we don't have to buy, to read magazines we don't have to subscribe to, to borrow videos we don't have to rent or order by mail, to borrow books on tape for our road trips, music CDs to burn copies.

We also enjoy their in-house programs and events, seminars and exhibits, civic meetings. Can volunteer, donate our outgoing books and tapes for the fund-raiser book sale, can request titles I need via the website and they are send to my neighborhood branch.....on and on....good stuff happening at your neighborhood library.

Also a good social setting with like-minded readers and researchers, families, civil service staff. We are regulars now, so see many people on regular basis, get to talk books and recommendations with them. It's all good!

 

[yakers]

I'm gonna retire like the 60's


Sex, drugs, rock & roll



Oh yeah, some kayaking too.

 

[Dog]

Not retired yet. But, I'm already dreaming.

PT teaching (yoga, pilates, spin classes)
Morning runs
Road trips on my bicycle (organized or not)
Reading
Gardening
Kayaking
Rediscovering golf
Hiking
Actually having time to properly train for sports events (triathlons, road races, century rides, etc.)
Beachcombing
More thorough cleaning of my home
Involvement in local groups/clubs (kayak/running/cycling)
Pottery classes
Or as my DH says....doing whatever captures my attention at the moment!

 

[Khan]

retired as of 31 Dec '04

Now 56 (birthday soon)

Gardening
Feeding/watching birds/mammals/butterflies
Cooking
Net surfing
Thinking/remembering/considering

 

[megacorp-firee]

poker
enjoying time with my wife
exercising
traveling around the world
learning new languages
family visits
taking care of grandson
fishing
gourmet cooking
dining out with friends
finding new restaurants
eating (see above)
reading
participating in internet forums
meeting new people
ballroom dancing
taichi
other things that will help our health and well being

On The List:
(re) learn how to play musical instruments
learn how to sail
try to get DW to learn how to ride a bike and learn how to swim
someday will convince DW that a motorcycle and pilot lessons are not dangerous
teach English in foreign countries

 

[theloneranger]

Retiring in 14 months.

Looking forward to more golf.
More fishing.
Kayaking and canoeing.
Time to work in the yard.
Travel with wife.
Annual trip to Alaska with buddies for halibut and salmon.

 

[Chonder]

Hmmmm

Take care of my two kids and the home.
Buy my wife the best riding lawnmower money can buy!
Hammock
Hiking, biking
ginsenging
landscaping
blacksmithing
guitar, recording
archery
Family
the list is endless!