Hobbies you added after retirement

[Robert the Red]

I started writing science fiction. First novel is self-published on Amazon, and I'm nearing the conclusion of the sequel (first draft).

 

[Joseph]

Health and exercise. I can't believe my nutritional understanding was so lacking.

Tried out car camping for the first time last night. I don't know if it will stick, but I may do it occasionally. I did like hiking all day and not having to drive home. I didn't like getting up at 3:30 am to relieve myself in 35F weather. While taking care of business I could hear something large moving near by. It is rutting season, and I was in bear country.

Could’ve been a Sasquatch too

 

[DrRoy]

During travel I do a lot of landscape photography. After we are home, it takes me about 3 times the trip length to edit the photos. Sometimes, by then, it is time for the next trip.

 

[ls99]

Learned to figure skate at age 62. Still do, in fact the ice rink is re opening in a few days for the season.

 

[SecondAttempt]

During travel I do a lot of landscape photography. After we are home, it takes me about 3 times the trip length to edit the photos. Sometimes, by then, it is time for the next trip.
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Those are beautiful photos. I was into photography in high school and hope to pursue it a bit more as a hobby in retirement. Unfortunately I don't think I have the artistic eye that you do!

 

[Luvtoride]

These are some great pursuits..many of which I wouldn’t even have thought of.

Not that this is a hobby, but lately I’ve spent a lot of time “Decumulating” our home that we’ve lived in for 44 years. My DW and I were toying with the idea of downsizing by selling our home and moving into a rental apartment in the same area. The overriding thought process was “we could NEVER do that because of all the stuff we have”. We then thought that if we don’t do it to move, we should do it to save our kids from doing it after we are gone (hopefully not anytime soon).

So in either case, we have started to go through, room by room, closet and storage areas one by one to get rid of stuff. It is somewhat satisfying (feeling like the house is rising as we get rid of stuff) , nostalgic (looking through old pictures and mementos from when the kids were growing up) and depressing (realizing how much money we wasted and little use we got from some stuff before forgetting about it in a closet).

Even if we slowly fill a large bag or two with Garbage, Donations for pick up, or a few items to try to give away to friends or family or to sell, we are making a dent in the process.

Has anyone else done this? What are your thoughts on doing it “now” while we have the time to go through it vs “later” when someone might need to bring a dumpster in??

 

[Teacher Terry]

These are some great pursuits..many of which I wouldn’t even have thought of.

Not that this is a hobby, but lately I’ve spent a lot of time “Decumulating” our home that we’ve lived in for 44 years. My DW and I were toying with the idea of downsizing by selling our home and moving into a rental apartment in the same area. The overriding thought process was “we could NEVER do that because of all the stuff we have”. We then thought that if we don’t do it to move, we should do it to save our kids from doing it after we are gone (hopefully not anytime soon).

So in either case, we have started to go through, room by room, closet and storage areas one by one to get rid of stuff. It is somewhat satisfying (feeling like the house is rising as we get rid of stuff) , nostalgic (looking through old pictures and mementos from when the kids were growing up) and depressing (realizing how much money we wasted and little use we got from some stuff before forgetting about it in a closet).

Even if we slowly fill a large bag or two with Garbage, Donations for pick up, or a few items to try to give away to friends or family or to sell, we are making a dent in the process.

Has anyone else done this? What are your thoughts on doing it “now” while we have the time to go through it vs “later” when someone might need to bring a dumpster in??

I have downsized into a 855 sq ft condo and love having less stuff. I have helped 8 family members and friends get rid of their stuff. Whether you move or not it’s a wonderful gift to give your children. It feels so much better to live in a home without a bunch of clutter.

 

[Car-Guy]

Still have the same hobbies as I've had for decades before retiring. But all at reduced levels... I guess I could add going to doctors as an expanding hobby.

 

[Luvtoride]

Still have the same hobbies as I've had for decades before retiring. But all at reduced levels... I guess I could add going to doctors as an expanding hobby.

CarGuy, reminds me of a friend's response when I asked him what he does in retirement. He said "Gisting". Cardiologist, Pulmonologist, gastroenterologist , etc. LOL

 

[aja8888]

Seeing doctors are mentioned, I guess I should chime in and say my latest hobby is getting more metal parts put in my body. In the last month a stent and a pacemaker to go along with two hips and a plate in my left arm. I have some smaller metal part stuff too, but not worth mentioning.

 

[Koogie]

I started writing science fiction. First novel is self-published on Amazon, and I'm nearing the conclusion of the sequel (first draft).

You should post a link on the following thread for those of us who might be interested in it...

Creative ERs - books, blogs, music and art created by our members

Damn! Al Macy is killin' it over here! Nice job! I get together on Sundays from 11AM-4PM for a free jam with my friends. We record everything. It's always something different, but here's an improvised live track from a couple of weeks ago.... https://soundcloud.com/tedprice/blind-edit-free-jam

www.early-retirement.org

 

[MTB4me]

I’ve started doing trail work since retiring. Been mountain biking for going on 30 years and figured it was time to give back. It’s really hard work, but it’s very rewarding. Good group of folks I work with in the local trails association.

 

[RetiredHappy]

During travel I do a lot of landscape photography. After we are home, it takes me about 3 times the trip length to edit the photos. Sometimes, by then, it is time for the next trip.
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White Sands and Stonehenge? I did White Sands around 2004 and Stonehenge 3 times between 1997-2023.

 

[Koolau]

So in either case, we have started to go through, room by room, closet and storage areas one by one to get rid of stuff. It is somewhat satisfying (feeling like the house is rising as we get rid of stuff) , nostalgic (looking through old pictures and mementos from when the kids were growing up) and depressing (realizing how much money we wasted and little use we got from some stuff before forgetting about it in a closet).

Even if we slowly fill a large bag or two with Garbage, Donations for pick up, or a few items to try to give away to friends or family or to sell, we are making a dent in the process.

Has anyone else done this? What are your thoughts on doing it “now” while we have the time to go through it vs “later” when someone might need to bring a dumpster in??

I'm actually doing this for the 3rd time. It's a bit slower this time, because I've already gotten rid of a lot of stuff from the 2 previous moves.

 

[CO-guy]

Added volunteering and fly fishing.

And spend a lot more time skiing, biking and hiking.

You sound like me Sparky! All things I've been doing for years. Now I have more time to do them.

There are several things that really fell by the wayside in the last 15 years of 9-5 grinding while running my own business. So lately I've been doing more cooking and listening to vinyl.

 

[FlaMariner]

Travel & vegetable garden......both are good for the soul......and we never travel in the summer as that is peak vegetable garden season...and we avoid "high season" travel...and eat well all year.

 

[Ronstar]

My last few working years (2011- early 2014) were part-time and this is when I geared up my existing hobbies (woodworking/ photography/ hiking/ biking) which I still enjoy.

I bought a kayak a couple days after retiring and have been kayaking almost 11 years now. And have started dabbling in knife making/ collecting and 3d printing.

I spend most of my time every day doing something with my hobbies.

 

[motley]

I plan on doing very little travelling in the summer because families with their screaming kids are out in droves...I'd add "somewhere that parents don't generally take their kids" but that doesn't appear to exist anymore...hey let's take toddlers and babies to a winery, good idea!

 

[CaliKid]

More walking/hiking than in the past. Averaging 18k steps a day the past month and about 15k for the past year. Got a bike which I haven't done in several years though currently enjoy walking/hiking more than the bike. Am contemplating taking up golf again but haven't quite done so yet. Started writing a book - not getting too far.

 

[Koolau]

Learning local culture and attending more local festivals and parades.

 

[Luvtoride]

I’ve always enjoyed reading and now with more time I am doing more. I frequent our local library and have gotten to know some of the librarians there who can make recommendations.
I also take my grandson who lives in the same town and is 5 1/2 years old and just started Kindergarten, with me. We spend time in the children’s section and he has his own library card and takes out books. I feel like it’s a great way to spend time together and instill an appreciation for books and reading at a young age.

 

[albireo13]

Decluttering is a new hobby.
Unfortunately I am too sentimental about stuff … old family pics, my old coin collection as a kid, old hobbies.

We have a small house and look to finish off the basement. Adult children looking to move back for a spell.
It’s amazing how much stuff we have held onto. I could still use that … just in case!
I find it hard to make the call on some items.

 

[Luvtoride]

Decluttering is a new hobby.
Unfortunately I am too sentimental about stuff … old family pics, my old coin collection as a kid, old hobbies.

I have a book for your to read (that I took out of our local library…per my new retirement hobby) called,” Nobody Wants Your Sh*t, the art of decluttering before you die” by Messie Condo. I don’t think that’s the author’s real name but the book is a “tongue in cheek” guide to decluttering your home. A short book but with some good advice.

 

[Souschef]

After I retired, we moved to a MHP a mile from a local airport. I had not flown for a while, so I got retrained and passed my flight review.
I discovered Angel Flight West, an organization the flies patients at no cost to distant appointments. I flew 110 missions with them.
I also joined a RR historical society, and worked to restore a 1941 diesel switch engine. It was a great learning experience, and also gave me entree to RR engine houses in many countries.

 

[TickTock]

No new hobbies; trying to spend more time on fitness and music (practicing, playing, recording, running live sound).