Learning New Things in Retirement
One of our best friends is an eighty-year-old nun who is never without her computer. She is amazing when it comes to learning the newest things in technology and it has helped her cope with diminishing eyesight and an aging body. She is a firm believer in education and learning new things in retirement is one of the best ways to keep life from passing you by. She stays in touch with friends, watches daily Mass and listens to discussions every day about the readings and the gospel. She is always on top of the news and loves the word puzzles that can sometimes keep her occupied for more time than she would care to admit.
It’s always great to learn new things because we should never stop expanding our horizons. We love to travel and have made our journeys through this country and abroad opportunities to learn about the people, the culture, historic sites and, of course, the food. You wouldn’t think there are different cultures in our own country but there are and, sometimes, it’s particularly evident in the foods that are popular in each region. The rich chowders and fresh seafood of New England are as distinctive as the smoked, barbecued meats that you find from the hills of Appalachia to the Texas plains and everywhere in between. Even from state to state there are differences, as you can tell from the barbecue sauce and seasoning offered in Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri and Texas. Learning new things in retirement can take many forms and the foods that people enjoy are one of the most enjoyable things to experience.
Learning new things in retirement can start with a "chowder crawl" at Cape Cod or Fish 'n Chips in London.
Even as you drive through the small towns you get a sense that each town is unique. At first glance it’s easy to say that this is just one more small-town-USA but, if you spend the time and talk to the people, you get a feeling for the differences from one region to another. The pace of life can be completely different, and you won’t see the same late restaurant hours in the country that you do in the cities. It’s true that most people want the same things: a safe environment where they can raise their families through a job that offers a decent wage and benefits. But the little “extras” are unique. Their entertainment and hobbies set each area apart and that’s what you find out when one of your goals in life is learning new things in retirement. Some things are a part of the environment. You won’t find surfers in the mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky for obvious reasons, but why do you find such a concentration of distilleries and hunting magazines on every rack in the store? It’s part of the culture and we have used our opportunity to travel as a way to learn as much as we can about what makes each part of our country so unique.
Travel outside of our country and the differences multiply greatly. A relaxing lunch on the shores of a Greek island will provide a memory that is very pleasant to come back to and the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace will provide a much different experience but it’s just as remarkable. Make traveling part of your educational experience and you’re in for the education of a lifetime. And, if you can’t travel, think back to the Holy Nun in our life who has learned new technology in such a way that it has opened the door to a brand-new world. Through the magic of YouTube, she has taken a private tour of the Vatican and seen the cherry blossoms in Japan, Washington D.C. and even Albany, New York. She is a world traveler who never leaves her seat because she valued learning new things in retirement. Technology may be the biggest and most overlooked gift for the retiree who can’t seem to get around the way they used to. And, even if they are physically fit, technology offers an opportunity to learn and opens up choices in life they never realized. It’s probably the number one reason many retirees are starting their own business. It’s a growing trend and can be a lot of fun.
I started this website as a hobby, but I have to tell you it’s become far more than a passing interest. It’s almost addictive. I like to write and I love to learn. This is the best way to combine each of these activities. I also knew that, as much as I loved not having to go to a job every day, keeping active and learning new things in retirement was a way to add some excitement to my life. I love the challenge. There’s always something new to write about. And, if you’re looking for a way to bring a little extra money into your life, the internet offers a low-cost pathway to a global marketplace. If you have a passion that you love to talk about or a hobby that you cannot get enough of, why not take a tour of what’s out there. We have a person in our community who runs a cooking class and two people who have their own podcasts! You might be surprised at what people are doing and, if you’re like me, you’ll think to yourself that you could see yourself doing the same thing. Why not? Retirement isn’t the end. This website is dedicated to showing people that it’s a new beginning. Go on, try something new. Start a website or begin a writing career. Watch an instructional video on perfecting your golf swing and then create your own! The sky’s the limit. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
Thanks for visiting. If you like what you see here, please tell your friends.
If you think it might be fun to start your own website (it is!) please look here.
If you’d like to learn about earning a steady online income and get rid of some of the ‘’stuff” around your house, please check out this possibility.
Please be aware that clicking on some of the suggestions made on this page may result in a commission being earned by the author.