Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRedChief
From Redditt
Retirement doesn’t need to mean Viking cruises on the Danube, or RVing for three years, or hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I’m a huge fan of the Small Adventure, something that gets you out of the house for one thing or another, but requires neither a big expense or big time away from home. Let’s make a post cataloguing favorite Small Adventures to share. Here are some of ours.
[ ] Try one new recipe a week, especially if it involves a new, fun ingredient like swordfish, whole fennel, or garam masala. Take the time to shop for the ingredients, maybe in specialty shops.
[ ] Volunteer 2 afternoons a month at an animal shelter. Cats and dogs mostly need attention, touching, play time from volunteers. Training is an hour, typically.
[ ] Find a nature trail and walk it regularly. If it’s a 10 mile trail and you can’t walk that far, then park at one trailhead, walk to the next trailhead and back, and then walk the next leg next time.
[ ] Have one library book at home at all times. It’s nice to make a regular visit every couple of weeks to see new titles.
[ ] Go to the Tuesday matinee movie with your partner, which is usually dirt cheap.
[ ] Volunteer at your nearest grade school, helping 1st and 2nd graders read. Little girls and boys that are a little behind get special attention/practice with these volunteers.
[ ] Draw a 4-hour driving radius around your home for day trips. It’s amazing how many towns are inside that radius (unless Alaska, Hawaii, Montana) and there’s usually something fun in every town. If you leave by 8 in the morning, you’re there by lunch. If you’re done by 5pm, you can drive home. Otherwise spend a night in a motel and come home the next day.
[ ] Get to know your neighbors if you were too busy to do that while you were working. Just carry a plate of cookies, knock on a door. Hit the whole block by the time six months are gone.
[ ] With your spouse or a good friend, go to a sidewalk cafe, sip coffee, and tell each other fictional backstories of other people on the street. “He hasn’t seen her in 15 years and is wondering what she wants.” “She’s a field agent and got a report he’s been selling secrets to Venezuelans.”
[ ] Go to a fruit farm during picking season, get a peck of strawberries or apples or melons.
[ ] Test drive a new car every month. Give a fake email address. It’s a nice way to see what an Escalade or a Porsche feels like.
[ ] See how many federally managed parks and preserves there are in your state. With a lifetime senior parks pass ($80), visit all of them over the course of several years. There are about 2000 nationally.
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This is one of the best posts on this thread......you don't need to be Jet Set John and Jane to enjoy your retirement. I love all of these suggestions save for the one where I go to my local coffee house and make up stories.
The Senior Lifetime Pass is one of those things many people overlook....I know I did once I turned 62 and now I regret it. $80 to go to any National Park for free? And if you don't want to do the Lifetime Pass and just want to try one out for a year? They have the Annual Pass for $20.
Here's one.....make yourself an expert on all the places that you get Senior Discounts....there are loads of places that either give you a free drink or coffee but you have to ask. Make sure you ask for any Senior Discount....find the stores that have Over 55+ Discount Days....
I've been doing the volunteer reading program for a couple of years...but now I plan to invest more time in it because nothing is more fun than watching kids be enthralled with a good book. Making a book come alive for a young boy or girl to dream is paying it forward in the best way.
Here's one that takes dedication....and an earnest desire to help your fellow man. Go to one of the local retirement homes and make a friend. Unfortunately there are way too many people that are dumped in a Senior Citizens home by the family and rarely do they visit. Sit down one or 2 days a week and just talk with them....find out what is in their diet and what they are allowed to eat/drink and bring it to them. You tell them stories or let them tell you stories...in some cases you can read a book to them....heck in some cases you just sit and watch an old movie or television show they love.
I am just starting into retirement....and each day I am fascinated by what I really don't know or think about that life holds for me and the opportunities I have to give back.