Get Lost in a Retirement Hobby

One of the saddest things in life is when I come across someone who says they’re bored.  That’s especially true if that person is retired because, when I was working, all I dreamed about was having the freedom of retirement and the time to pursue all the things that interested me.  Now, I understand that some people love their jobs and it’s my own fault that I never found a job that I enjoyed but, as I labored to make a living, I couldn’t wait for the day that I could get lost in a retirement hobby.  Actually, it was more than one hobby that I enjoyed, and I couldn’t wait to be the master of my time rather than being a slave to an appointment calendar that contained useless meetings, unending conference calls and projects that drained the life out of me.  Why couldn’t I just spend my time reading?  Yes, I regard reading as truly great hobby and there is almost no day that goes by where I don’t add something to my reading list.

My suggestion for anyone approaching their golden years is to get lost in a retirement hobby (or hobbies) of their own choosing and make sure it will challenge your creative spirit.  Any good hobby will do that.  Golf is on the top of many people’s list of ways to spend their time and, if you get serious about it, there’s no doubt that it can be challenging, rewarding and provide many hours of enjoyment.  A friend of ours retired to a golf community in Florida and she became a one-woman army in setting up tournaments and contacting other communities to organize local championships.  Between that and fishing, she is one of the happiest retirees we know.

Get lost in a retirement hobby and you'll wonder where the day goes.

If you’ve reached your retirement years and you’re beginning to find your days lacking the interest or excitement that you had hoped for, I strongly suggest that you take a little time and think about all the things that you used to have a passion for and see if any of them can be turned into a hobby.  If you can get lost in a retirement hobby, your days will pass more quickly than you can imagine, and I believe almost any interest can be turned into a hobby.

I love to travel and I love history and when you combine those two interests, you can have a lifetime of endless fascination.  We recently went on a river cruise that took us to Wittenberg in Germany where we visited the sites involving Martin Luther.  I have to admit that my exposure to the Reformation was mostly through my courses in World History and, although they were interesting, nothing caused me to want to explore this subject further.  A very interesting tour guide changed all of that and has gotten me to read up on this interesting man and this challenging period in the history of the church.  Two weeks later, I still have two books requested through our county library system and have confirmed how much I don’t know about the world.  When you get lost in a retirement hobby, you come across people who can teach you so many things that you have to appreciate their expertise and the time they spent learning about those subjects.  And you don’t have to go to Europe to find this out.  A friend of ours went to Colonial Williamsburg and saw how colonists made furniture and built houses and re-discovered his interest in woodworking.  He has since gone on to make canoes and kayaks, and his skills are in great demand.  He is enjoying every day in his workshop and is even making a little extra money for doing something that gives him great pleasure.

There’s money to be made with some pastimes and interests and that’s another reason to get lost in a retirement hobby although it usually isn’t a good reason to get started.  You should follow your interests rather than the amount of money that you can make from pursuing a particular hobby.  Almost any hobby can generate an income and there are retirees who are starting websites every day based on one of their interests.  That’s something I did almost ten years ago, and it has provided me with countless hours of enjoyment and has shaped how I view what we see on our travels.  I have developed a great sensitivity for people, especially retirees, who have developed a purpose in life.  They have found an interest that makes life more exciting and creative.  That’s the magic of a hobby and there are many places where you can find inspiration to get started on your own interesting pursuit.  Writing and photography are two activities that I have great admiration for and, when you can write something that people comment on or take a picture that captures a moment, you’ve done something that can be tremendously satisfying, and it keeps you coming back for more.  That’s not only true for a picture or the written word, it’s also true for something you build or a scene you capture on canvas.  Go to a crafts fair and watch an artisan at work. Whether it’s a piece of jewelry or stained glass, you can see the love they have for their art.  Watch a talented chef at work or take a cooking class, and you realize that you can make those same wonderful recipes at home.  Life becomes a lot more interesting when you have a hobby to pursue.

Retirement was made to be the finishing touch to a life well-lived.  It’s a time to pursue your interests solely for your own self-fulfillment.  Most of us spent decades working for a company to further their interests and build their business.  Retirement is a time to do the things that will provide you with a sense of satisfaction and there are many ways to do that. Let your imagination run wild. Life is too short to waste in front of a television.  It’s time to get started on a hobby, write a book or build dream home.  Get lost in a retirement hobby and make the most out of every day. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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