Learning new things in retirement

[ArmchairMillionaire]

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.

So far, for the 5 months since I've retired, I've been enjoying the day-to-day retirement. Catching up on a lot of those little projects around the house that didn't get done due to lack of time.

However... I have a keyboard and guitar upstairs in a spare bedroom that are just begging to be played. So after the holidays this year, I'm hoping to go to a local music store and see about getting some piano lessons and maybe some guitar lessons after that.

We're also hoping to volunteer with some local groups helping to fight food insecurity next year.

 

[audreyh1]

Music definitely! After no playing piano for almost 40 years I started again. Took me just a few months to surpass where I’d been at 21. Couldn’t believe it.

 

[FlyingCircus]

Good article in today's WSJ: "The Art of Doing Nothing." https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relat...4?st=uCvaPj&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Good article in today's WSJ: "The Art of Doing Nothing." https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relat...4?st=uCvaPj&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Of course, we can also hearken back to Bertrand Russell:

I want to say, in all seriousness, that a great deal of harm is being done in the modern world by the belief in the virtuousness of work, and that the road to happiness and prosperity lies in an organized diminution of work.

Bertrand Russell's essay "In Praise of Idleness"

 

[aja8888]

I started paying more attention to my health after decades of business travel. Learned a lot about nutrition, exercise, and general fitness conditioning. I read a lot of great books and practiced what I learned. It's paying dividends at age 82 and usually mistaken for a guy 10+ years younger.

 

[martyp]

When I retired in 2011 I started taking classes through the OLLI branch at UC Berkeley. I also designed science classes for OLLI by recruiting professors and grad students to speak on topics like molecular biology, evolution, and psychology. I did this for 5 years.

In 2017 I moved to Thailand and took Thai language classes. My Thai is passable but not fluent. Living overseas keeps your mind interested and active.

 

[More Cowbell]

A friend who FIREd at 55 teaches 2 or 3 OLLI classes a year, one class per session, on topics that catch her fancy. Course research and design keeps her brain juices flowing, and she enjoys interacting with the students. She also takes OLLI courses of interest. Since her stoic DH is 10+ years older, and her DM lives with them, it’s great my friend has the OLLI opportunity.

 

[Slim11]

I have learned lots in 3 years. Some of those things cost a lot, some saved a lot but I learned. Its cool to learn stuff , even if its not the mainstream stuff. Just whatever interests you the time. I have time now, and a lot of this stuff I never knew I wanted to learn. I have model trains now, like in the 1950s, I make wine, and cigarettes, my dad died and left me a few guns, I shoot now ( never did before) I took up canning (I always cooked too much) and I smoke meat. So many things that I didn't know existed. I do try now. A lot of these may not be mainstream, but foe me at rhe time I learn and have fun.

 

[Felisia]

as some said, we also started pickleball and find them to be such a nice bunch of people. Thanks for replies so far. Definitely will have to get more reading in, as we have excellent libraries here in England.

 

[sengsational]

I picked up the ukulele, started writing mobile apps for Android and Apple, learned to fly paramotor, all new. And continued a lot of other pre-retirement hobbies, like brewing beer and casual (human powered) cycling. I've decided to leave a few things behind too. I might have taken my last flight or brewed my last batch. I'll probably not release another iPhone app because Apple's business antics bug me. But things will come along and take the place of those that I'm done with. That's what's great about having my own time... wherever the wind blows.

 

[FIYes]

I have enjoyed the opportunity to learn new things in retirement. I tried Spanish…Olli class and Duo lingo. I can’t say that Spanish was a success but I enjoyed the attempt. I took yoga classes for a few years immediately after retiring. Unfortunately my yoga teacher quit and I have not found a yoga class that I like as well. I have taken painting classes through Olli both watercolor and acrylic. The one new learning activity that I have pursued for the most years is jewelry making. I hate to see the surge in silver prices since that makes my jewelry hobby expensive.

I really don’t understand the idea that retirement is boring. There are so many fun and interesting activities to pursue.

 

[Crewer]

I think it's important to learn new things. It's not work, per se, Bertram. But I haven't followed that advice very much except passing some exams every year to allow me to do taxes for low-income taxpayers (it's an IRS program probably like the volunteers who do retiree's taxes).

I keep hoping to get back to the piano but...

 

[audreyh1]

I have enjoyed the opportunity to learn new things in retirement. I tried Spanish…Olli class and Duo lingo. I can’t say that Spanish was a success but I enjoyed the attempt. I took yoga classes for a few years immediately after retiring. Unfortunately my yoga teacher quit and I have not found a yoga class that I like as well. I have taken painting classes through Olli both watercolor and acrylic. The one new learning activity that I have pursued for the most years is jewelry making. I hate to see the surge in silver prices since that makes my jewelry hobby expensive.

I really don’t understand the idea that retirement is boring. There are so many fun and interesting activities to pursue.

Yoga is great, but if you took classes for several years you should have already learned good form and yoga is something you can do on your own. During covid I switched to using Apple Fitness which includes yoga, and IMO their yoga is very good and new programs are added each week. I still use this approach. If I don't do yoga for a while it's very noticeable. It seems the older you get, the more quickly you lose flexibility, and yoga really helps regain and then maintain it.

 

[OldShooter]

I always have things going. Early in retirement, flying search & rescue. Also investing study.

One thing DW and I do maybe once a year is a Road Scholar course. Recent examples include Cooking in Tuscany (https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/19672/Cooking-in-Tuscany), US Civil Rights (https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an...-Movement-Atlanta-Montgomery-Selma-Birmingham) and Japan (Cultural Highlights of Japan | Road Scholar) We've done eight so far, each very different.

 

[BrianB]

There are a lot of great ideas already but let me add one more: Build a van! After retirement we bought a little Nissan cargo van & built out a basic camper: a plywood platform bed, butane camp stove, and some simple shelves. We had never camped or RV'ed in our lives, but we quickly learned we loved the adventure.

After three years we sold it, bought a bigger Promaster (like Amazon delivery vans, ours is in the picture at left) and made a campervan that has provided so much adventure. We've been up to the Arctic Ocean on the North coast of Canada, all around the US with winters in Arizona & New Mexico, and we use it as a "bedroom with en-suite" when we visit distant family.

Along the way we learned rough in and finish carpentry, all about tools, DC electrical systems and a lot about vehicles. I learned to "sit and stare" at a problem, devise a solution, and make it. If it didn't work I tore it out and we found another solution! Our greatest learning source was Youtube and some incredible on-line forums of fellow builders. All the work was done with hand tools and Ryobi battery powered drills & saws.

Keeping active has been our goal. Keeping your mind active and your body moving will make you feel better and keep you younger longer. Van travel has let us meet so many wonderful people, many are still friends and we plan meet ups to spend fun times together all around our beautiful country.

BrianB

 

[cbo111]

DW and I took up saltwater fishing last year, mainly off beaches and piers. I've been a very occasional fisherman since childhood, but never seriously engaged. Now we go almost every week, and suddenly have six different rod/reel combinations, a bait casting net, a wide variety of tools designed to extract hooks and hold some of those special fish possessing razor-sharp gills and fins. And well over a grand's worth of tackle. I even have a portable Garmin Sonar casting device that hits the water and sends a presentation to my iPhone. So, as I reel in it shows me water temp, depth, structures, and actual fish pings. Fishing has many lessons to be learned, lots of details that you can only learn by doing (and remembering what you have done). We often catch a wide variety in the surf: Pompano, StingRay, Snook, Black Drum, Bonnet-head shark, Whitefish, Ladyfish, Lizardfish, Houndfish, Mackerel, Flounder, and more. I never thought we would catch all these fish in a year. But even when nothing is biting, we are still at the beach, so win-win.
Fishing, it turns out, has lot more depth to it than I initially thought. Tying the various fishing knots is truly an art form. After watching a bunch of YouTube knot tying videos, and hours of practice to learn a particular knot, we are able to tie four different knots. Mine don't always look the pro's on YouTube, but they almost always hold. Learning how to present various baits to various fish in various surf conditions, there are lots of techniques to test. To sum up what I know.....most fish really like to eat live shrimp so that is a bait priority.

 

[qman56]

Great question .. I have been retired a few years now …. Hobbies is the name of the game for me …. For past few years I have really gotten pretty good at brewing beer …. To pointing winning competitions…. Starting to plateau on this interest … been thinking about getting into some areas of interest that my grandkids might appreciate ( teaching them to brew beer not something my kids will appreciate.. lol) .. like 3D printing . Point here is keep exploring and exploring new areas of interest .. get tired of something . Do something else

 

[66Sally]

I took up making pottery during Covid - hand building. I am now trying to learn to throw on the wheel. Oh the tools you can buy!

 

[Choosehappy]

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.

I ended up getting my RE license shortly after retirement in 2020. I didn’t plan on working, just learning. I actually enjoy the continuing education classes required every 2 years. Nice part is it’s a pretty inexpensive process. I also looked into the Dave Ramsey financial coach program. I too wanted to provide free training, but at $2500 for the program, I put it on the back burner. Enjoy the journey!

 

[Choosehappy]

Music definitely! After no playing piano for almost 40 years I started again. Took me just a few months to surpass where I’d been at 21. Couldn’t believe it.

Wow, you were able to surpass your past level? I tried to go back, but found it extremely frustrating. I probably should have taken up lessons again. Instead I started 5 string banjo lessons 3 years ago. Very fun!

 

[meleana]

Not me. But I read a lot and am on social media learning from posts and peoples comments, listening to X spaces, etc. But I am not into hobbies and I am the type that just wants to do what I want when I want in addition to my day to day chores. I’m done with far away travel, but I do like to explore local places or in nearby states.

Right now husband and I having to deal with some health thing also. Nothing horrible but still takes a lot of our time with MD appts and limitations.

 

[BasketCase24]

I’ve always enjoyed learning. We moved to a Del Webb community that has over 100 clubs. I joined one to learn to make wine and brew beer, ended up also teaching classes on coffee roasting, brewing and equipment! I joined a woodworking club and learning everything from CNC routers and lasers to using hand tools like spoke shaves to make a stool with hand tools. I’m developing a safety and feedback program for that shop. I joined the auto restoration club to keep my 100-year old car running, and I learned how to run a lift, and make minor metal repairs. My wife joined spinning, quilting and weaving groups, so I’m learning to repair looms and associated equipment.

My recommendation is to live where there are multiple learning opportunities. If there is one thing I don’t like about our community clubs is that they are restricted to residents, which means 55+, no kids. I wish we could do activities jointly. Maybe I need to learn to make that happen!

 

[rt-texas]

We lived in Central America for four years after we retired. Wasn't planned, covid happened. So four years of private Spanish for the wife and I. In person when possible, online when hard lock-down was going on. Very mediocre, but here in Texas, it comes in handy.

At the same time took I two years of Wade Pfau's courses through Retirement Researcher. It was really something that was worth the time and I learned a whole lot I feel.

Now back in the states because of family, I have built and done some nice projects because I have the time I never really had before. And how I love buying the tools necessary for those projects.

DW volunteers with an animal rescue, and hangs out with her cutting horse friends. Thank goodness we don't have enough space for her to get a horse!

Volunteered for our church safety ministry. Serve one or two weekends a month and we train one Saturday a month. Armed, so also train once or twice a month on my own. As well, currently taking all the old church blueprints and hand drawing them into a cad program so we can create specific evacuation plans. And doing bible study one night a week.

I have learned that at our church, if you volunteer, they will keep asking until you say no. Finally put my foot down when they kept asking me to help out in the church kitchen. They didn't seem to understand the phrase "I don't do food! Prep, serving or clean-up".

I try first thing in the morning to do my exercise. 45 minutes minimum to maybe 90, six days a week. I pick a podcast or two and I don't allow myself to stop until the podcast is complete. Walking and/or treadmill and some weight stuff. If I miss a day I can tell it with that nights sleep.

And went to my first Bogleheads in San Antonio back in October. That was well worth it.

 

[frances]

I retired many years ago (got laid off and just never went back to work - thanks dear husband!) and picked up card making.
Oh, I hear the groans - "everyone does that!" - but I really enjoy it. And with AI I am making some of my own artwork (yes, I know it's probably based on other peoples' work, but whatever there).

Tried starting a small buiness at first to support a dog rescue but people just don't want to buy things, so now I just make cards and basically give them away, although I will gladly accept payment to pass along to the rescue.
And in my humble opinon my things are MUCH better than the card shop lol!

 

[ugeauxgirl]

I've learned lots of things! I learned to make soap (its chemistry!) And knit and I'm learning Spanish. My husband and I have learned pickleball, and I have learned my way around a gym. I'm probably in the best shape of my life at 53, and I have educated myself about nutrition. I get comments all the time about how healthy I look.