Rediscover Board Games in Retirement
Playing board games was one of our favorite activities when we were younger. On a rainy, wintery day there was nothing better than a tight game of Monopoly which could actually go on for hours. Why not rediscover board games in retirement? There were many great games like Life, Clue, Rich Uncle and Careers. It’s fun not only to play them but also to see how many memories they bring back. The goal of Life was to get to Millionaire Acres and although a million dollars doesn’t go quite as far as it used to, some people never get to that level. At least with this game they could. These games gave us countless hours of fun and sharpened some of our social and mathematical skills.
The mystery games of Clue, Lie Detector and an old one called Mr. Ree were three games that kept us occupied for hours. Why not invite some friends over for something different? Everybody plays some kind of card game so why not rediscover board games in retirement? Although they technically are not a board game, we have done a couple of Mystery Dinner Party games where everyone assumes one of the characters and dresses up and tries to solve the murder. It can be a lot of fun and even people who say they don’t like to play games have gotten into the concept of a mystery game. We still have people who remind us of these nights and the pictures are rather hysterical after all of these years.
Monopoly was always a favorite and it always was intriguing to me to play the game with a little bit of a twist. We never actually did it but my idea was to play with real money instead of the fake Monopoly money. Obviously, we didn’t have enough money to cover the $1,500 dollars you start out with, so the thought was to make everything 1% of its real value. So, the one-dollar bill would actually be a penny, and the five-hundred-dollar bill would become a five-dollar bill. When you passed Go, you wouldn’t collect two hundred dollars because at 1% it would become two dollars. If you landed on Boardwalk with a hotel the rent wouldn’t be two thousand dollars (thank goodness!) but it would cost you twenty bucks. Losing everything would cost you fifteen dollars for your starting bankroll but the problem arises when the winner cashes in his winnings. The bank starts out with about fifteen thousand dollars ($15,140 to be exact) which is about $150 to start. With four players that comes out to about forty dollars. Not every winner cleans out the bank, but it can happen. It’s amazing what happens when you start to talk about real money and how serious it can become even if it’s just forty dollars a player. Keep in mind, if you want to rediscover board games in retirement and the subject of Monopoly comes up, this version might cause a bit of controversy.
Board games in retirement can become a very serious event.
Now, if you’re wondering where you could possibly find these old games, the answer is to look online. Some of them are still being made but you can find an old version of any game and the price is usually reasonable. You’ll pay a lot for an unused version but if you don’t might a slightly used game the price will most likely be under fifty dollars. Although the above-mentioned games were our favorites when I was growing up, I’m sure you have your own games that you used to play. I also played baseball games that duplicated the performance of real players. Two of the better-known companies are Stratomatic and APBA and although most of their sales are for computerized versions of their game, I believe the card and dice versions are still available.
Take the time to rediscover board games in retirement and you’ll be surprised at how much fun you can have. I know some people are addicted to card games and play multiple times a week. I would never suggest that you stop doing that but finding the time once a month for a game of Clue or Life might be just what you need for a change of pace. Card games are amazing for their endurance. They seem to be popular with every generation, and it is definitely a way to maintain your social activity and stimulate your brain. A friend of ours just discovered Bridge and can’t believe how challenging it is. Card games are her happy spot. Everyone is different. That’s what makes life fun. So don’t give up on board games. Go out and get your favorite. You may even want to up the ante and play for real money. Why not? It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
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