Learning new things in retirement

[Felisia]

now in 4th year of retirement and have been very busy with relocation and family and now things are slowing down. My question to the forum are folks out there actively looking to learn new things as they get older or just enjoying day to day retirement? I mean things like learning a new language, a new skill, music etc. I am reading a lot that a happy retirement for good mental and health is to actively keep learning. What have you learnt and why or happy to enjoy traditional retirement.

 

[Luvtoride]

Felisia, great question. Yes, I continue to learn and it’s a fulfilling part of retirement.
- learned to play Pickleball and now play on a regular basis with my DW. We’ve also met a lot of similar like minded people through this very social game.
- travel with more of a curiosity about history and other cultures. Vacations and trips are less about “relaxation and decompressing” from work. Recently returned from a Mediterranean cruise to several places in Greece and Turkey. Seeing the Acropolis and the Grand Mosque and learning about these places is something I didn’t do much while working.
- I take courses (non-matriculated) at a NJ State University, tuition free under the NJ Senior Citizen Learning program. Being in a college classroom and environment, taking classes of interest without worrying about tests or grades is a great way to learn about things not related to your career or field. No Finance courses for this CPA!

I also utilize our town’s library and read extensively, all types of books including those about retirement, novels and self-improvement.
The ways to continue to learn are endless!
Good luck!

 

[sturbridge]

I have taken a lot of classes through Coursera, also at my local OLLI (osher life long learning) college. Coursera is on line and are actual college classes. The OLLI classes were in person, 5 weeks long, created by members for members (not as intellectually vigorous, but still enjoyable).

 

[Surewhitey]

Although I've slowed down on the YouTube, there's plenty to learn there from cooking to woodworking. I do both of these... New tools and how to use them is my kind of fun.

Thinking of trying my hand at making the best cappuccino on a proper machine soon...

 

[VanWinkle]

I started a retirement club in my area to help educate pre-retirees on Social Security, Medicare, and taxes in retirement. I do presentations on subjects I am qualified to present, and bring in local experts on subjects like estate planning. I have engaged financial advisors to discuss their fee schedules and services. The members share their experiences before and after retirement. It keeps me sharp on retirement subjects and taxes. I have taught Automotive courses in the past and really enjoy teaching and learning new information.

 

[Koolau]

I'm constantly looking up info on history and technology to learn about specific topics I run across - sometime here.

 

[DrRoy]

I haven't started a brand new pursuit, but we have much expanded our travel and photography. Still visiting new places all the time, domestic and international.

 

[zinger1457]

Built a workshop, always learning new woodworking skills. Also have a small section in the shop for my golf clubs where I can do my own club repair, replace grips, assemble clubs, etc.
Learning a new language can be a good idea but unless you're in a position to use and practice it regularly it will go away quickly.

 

[fognostic]

I'm exploring "hobby careers" presently. For me, this means part time, flexible schedule, interaction with other people, learning something new and more or less breaking even or at least staying within our retirement budget. If it's not fun and interesting to me, I'm not interested in it. I don't know where "the pay doesn't matter" is going to lead me, but I intend to find out. The local commmunity college is full of learning opportunities. I feel like a kid in a candy store browsing their options.

My current diversion is becoming a licensed real estate agent. I plan to start by handling the buying side when we down size. I'm also thinking about getting a financial counselor accreditation and using that to engage in community service. It didn't take much research to realize CFP would be way too much like going back to work.

 

[Flyfish1]

Good question:

Personally I have expanded my woodworking skills, for instance veneer techniques and I just acquired a lathe. That will take some education and practice to be decent at. In addition I decided to build a boat - learning a lot from that. Epoxy, fiberglass, boat construction terminology, etc..

Still learning the saltwater fishing details in my area. That's fun.

I bought pickleball paddles but have not started a lesson yet. Very popular in my community in the summer and the local YMCA has indoor courts- jus have to get out there and try it.

I want to audit some college classes, but I have no interest in online learning. I would greatly enjoy going to a classroom and listening to lectures. However, despite there being three small colleges nearby none offer adult learning options. The local senior center has very limited activities, like learning photography etc... - nothing really interesting.

We have increased our travel and I agree with the statements above it is really about seeing and learning about new areas. No interest in sitting on a beach and relaxing.

 

[Alan]

My recent new learning and experiences have come in the form of local history. We live less than a mile from an ancient priory that was founded over 900 years ago and used to be one of the wealthiest in the country. Although the surviving structures are maintained by English Heritage, the ancient woodland gardens are maintained by volunteers, including my wife, and I am one of the 15 or so volunteer guides who greet visitors to the site and give them a little history of the priory if they are interested. I meet people from all over the world, and this last year I took on the task of supervising all the guides as well as becoming a formal tour guide. Entrance to the site is free, donations gladly accepted, and 1 hour free tours are one of the ways we raise money through voluntary donations.

I find the social interaction very stimulating and have enjoyed learning a lot more about our history.

 

[donheff]

All the time. Courses in Coursera, et al. Pursuit of matters of interest. Lately, I have done a lot with AI. And over the last couple of years, I have become an avid astrophotographer despite living in a light polluted city center.

 

[MarieIG]

I do spend time researching different aspects of health and a little bit of time (not nearly enough) dabbling in a second language.

 

[COcheesehead]

I try and keep up with technology. There is always something new to learn and not just electronic gadgets, bikes have changed, home systems have changed, media has changed and I find that if you keep up with the changes, life gets a little easier. If you let technology pass you by, life gets a little harder.

 

[Octogirl]

I am learning Spanish and get to practice it every week when I volunteer at a local food bank (we re in a farming community).
Also learning about food rescue, recipes, and cultural dishes.
And its a fun bunch of people who volunteer there.

 

[engineernerd]

The book, "Blue Zones of Happiness," postulates that there are three main sources of happiness and gives examples of each. I'm not sure if the author is 100% right (there could be more than three), but I do think that what makes one person happy won't necessarily work for a different person.

Spoiler: the three are supposed to be pleasure, purpose, and pride. Of course they all start with "p"
It's that kind of book.

For me personally, I enjoy learning about whatever I'm interested in (gardening, health topics, financial topics, miscellaneous mundane how-tos like how to clean your shower). But I also really love snuggling my loved ones of both species (cat and human) and laughing at their antics.

 

[Souschef]

After my retirement, I returned to flying, as we lived 5 minutes from a local airport. I volunteered for Angel Flight West, flying patients to and from their appointments.
I also was restoring a 1941 diesel switch engine, which was a great learning experience, especially connecting with other restorers for advice.

 

[ls99]

After retirement, taught myself to figure skate, required extensive use of my ju-jutsu falling techniques. Ice is much harder than gym mats Proved that good technique work!!!! Still skating several times a week.
Learned Argentine Tango, Lindy hop, East coast swing. Doing weekly daces of the stuff.
Fits well into the "whaddaya do all day"

Took French Music, language, culture classes at local college, discovered the miserable teaching skills and knowledge breadth of newly minted soft core Phd's. Ex. One music Phd dude was clueless on the fact that harpsicord is a plucked instrument, and that pianos have hammered strings. Even beyond, that grand pianos hammer from the bottom up and uprights hammer the strings from front to back as the string are vertical. And on and on, regarding musiciancs they claimed were French, who in fact wre Belgian, Italian, American and so forth... Yecch..... Basketweavers.

Another, they spent two whole classes of a semester on the Hamilton play, duh, .... Hamilton was Jamaican, nothing to do with French anything. The play was about American politics , duh.....

Having spent nearly 15 years of my youth working with and for Phds in the hard sciences, Physics, Geology, Oceanograpy, Marine Biology, Geo-chemistry etc., gained much dislike for the soft Phds.
I'll call that another retirement learning bit.

Hmm, maybe I should have put this in the pet peeve.

Well, Never mind, as Roseanne Rosana Donna would say.

 

[audreyh1]

I’ve “worked” constantly at learning new skills including languages since retiring. I finally had the time to do so! I even cracked several textbooks and took an extensive correspondence course. Lots of travel, some of it was learning related. Some informal classes as well.

 

[anethum]

When I FIRE'd, my Spanish-speaking ability was fairly limited. I discovered several free websites for finding a language exchange partner who's a native speaker of the language you want to improve, and who wants to improve their ability in your own native language. Native speakers of English are I great demand. I spoke with many different native speakers of Spanish before I found one where we both clicked with one another. More than a decade later, we still try to have a video call each week. I met my language partner in person in Costa Rica a couple of years ago. I've done lots of travel to Spanish-speaking countries since improving my Spanish. (trips to Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, & Spain)

When the pandemic started, I sought out French-speaking partners to maintain my French. About 3 years ago, I connected with a man in France and we have become good friends. We have visited each other a few times already.

Here are two free websites where I have found language partners:

Conversation Exchange - Language learning with native speakers

Through Conversation Exchange you can have three types of language exchange: face to face conversation by meeting up with native speakers, Correspondence (pen-pal), text and voice chat

www.conversationexchange.com

Free virtual language exchange site by Dickinson College. Find a language partner then contact via Zoom, WhatsApp, etc. | The Mixxer

www.language-exchanges.org

 

[Zona]

I love having the free time to learn new things in retirement -- I like that I can choose anything I want and do it for as long as it stays interesting to me. Right now, some of my longer-term projects include participating in a French book group, volunteering with a long-term citizen science study of the life cycle of desert plants, online courses (and youtube educational videos), learning low-level conversational Japanese online, beginning bird watching, extensive traveling (and trip planning), and reading -- lots of it! So glad to be retired and able to do these things.

 

[pacergal]

Lots of great answers.
The wonderful thing about retirement is the ability to do what you want, when you want.
I read extensively, have tried my hand at gardening both veggies and flowers more than when working, I have volunteered at a local food bank, taken yoga classes, plan to learn pickle ball with Grandson, I worked on DuoLingo for awhile--learned I am not great at learning another language!
Got a new puppy a couple years ago, so did dog obedience training again.

So many things to do in retirement, there is a never ending opportunity to learn and grow. Or veg out occasionally. Doing nothing is doing something!
Enjoy today

 

[Luvtoride]

I want to audit some college classes, but I have no interest in online learning. I would greatly enjoy going to a classroom and listening to lectures. However, despite there being three small colleges nearby none offer adult learning options. The local senior center has very limited activities, like learning photography etc... - nothing really interesting.
.

Too bad you don’t live in New Jersey. The program I’m enrolled in allows me to take up to 6 credits per semester, tuition free on a space available basis in any undergraduate classes. Things my 3rd semester taking classes on campus. The reaction of the professors and fellow students has been very welcoming and positive. In fact I’m doing a group project with 4 of my classmates in my current course Persuasion Campaigns, an advanced Communications course.
Check to see if your offers anything similar.

 

[Masquernom]

I suggested to the wife that we learn to play contract bridge. We took some lessons at the club in our city. She fell in love with the game. I like the game ok, but playing at the club is not as much fun for me as for her. I actually enjoy playing bridge on the online Bridge Base Online website better. I found there is a lot more to bridge than I expected. It does give us an excuse to travel a bit going to tournaments in other cities.

 

[Flyfish1]

Too bad you don’t live in New Jersey. The program I’m enrolled in allows me to take up to 6 credits per semester, tuition free on a space available basis in any undergraduate classes. Things my 3rd semester taking classes on campus. The reaction of the professors and fellow students has been very welcoming and positive. In fact I’m doing a group project with 4 of my classmates in my current course Persuasion Campaigns, an advanced Communications course.
Check to see if your offers anything similar.

Thank you. I'll dig a little deeper. We lived in NJ for 28 years - Hunterdon County. Moved to CT 2 1/2 years ago - just wanted keep my taxes about the same....lol.