Well, there are actually so MANY things to do but I wanted to keep it brief for now. Basically, when you first retire, you do those things top on your list … then when those are done, on to more and more and more and …
- Empty drawers and clean out the fridge.
- Clean the closet and toss out clothes (esp work clothes).
- Weed the garden then plant flowers or tomatoes or both.
- Rearrange the garage – build a bird house.
- Binge-watch your favorite program – Game of Thrones? Longmire? The Good Fight? The Crown? And never look at the clock until you finish.
- Learn to play an instrument.
- Take a cooking class.
- Travel within your city, then state. Travel abroad.
- Hike a nearby trail. Hike a mountain. Travel overnight and hike a 14er – A 14er is a 14,000 ft mountain. (Colorado has 57 to choose from!)
- Even better, hike a 13er and you will have hundreds of less people on the path. They are all focused on the 14ers!
- Paint your closet? Room? House? Fence?
- Take a knitting or crochet class.
- Photograph the things you love.
- Learn to fly-fish.
- Visit local coffee shops, farmer’s markets, libraries, churches, botanical gardens, or whatever it is that sings to you.
- Join a Meetup and find others who share your passions.
- Start a bookclub. Or join one. Start at your local library. They either have one or can help you start one.
- Start a blog.
- Read other blogs.
- * Make comments on blogs (begin with mine and comment below).
- Get your library card. Then go visit the library and see what they have to offer. Check out the books you promised yourself you would read!
- Get a dog. Then take daily or 2x daily walks. You will both benefit.
- Download podcasts that appeal to your passions.
- Learn to play pickleball.
- Learn how to access online audio library books (free from your library) such as Libby, Overdrive and Hoopla. Audible is ok too if you want to pay for the books (which is a good thing, of course).
- Take a road trip. Just to the next town or maybe the next state or country?
- Like music? Go to youtube.com and sing along with your favorite bands.
- Learn the lyrics to new songs and sing at the top of your voice in the shower, in the kitchen, in your yard (while you are weeding!)
- Make time for exercise – of course, now you have LOTS OF TIME and no more excuses.
- Lift weights. Your bones will thank you.
- Go to the movies. Find the theaters that give discounts to Happily After Retired people like you and me. 😊
Volunteer your time at a local food bank, theater, school, nursing home, or hospital. Find the thing that stirs your soul and donate your time. If you decide its not a good fit, move on to the next thing.- Start a movement. Weekly coffee dates? Morning walks? Wine tours? Kayak adventures? Writing sessions? Music jams? What’s important to you? Decide and create a group of others who feel the same. Then set a time and date and make it happen.
What have you always wanted to do and now you GET to do it? Something I’ve mentioned? Something you might share? Would love to hear it.
Resources:
- How many 14ers are in Colorado? www.outtherecolorado.com52-fourteeners-in-colorado-or-is-it-74-well/
- Colorado 13ers – www.climb13ers.comcolorado-13ers
- In search of the real – realrealityproductions.wordpress.composts
- Looking for the BIG WHAT = happilyafterretirement.com2019/04/12/looking-for-the-big-what
- Oil Pastels by Mary – oilpastelsbymary.com
- Lake Superior Spirit – upwoods.wordpress.com
- Love Traveling- lovetravellingblog.com
- Where to Next? leggypeggy.com
- Mindful Walks – happilyafterretirement.com2015/10/08/day-8-mindful-walking
- The Retirement Years – hurtledto60.co
- Maggie Rogers – Tiny Desk performance – youtu.be/SqPtIkxSxI0
- Meetup.com – www.meetup.com
- What stirs your soul? –whatstirsyoursoul.com
Happily ... after retirement 
I’ve been retired for 5 years and I think that your list is spot-on. I’ve incorporated some of them over the years and offer one of my own for you. For those of us on Medicare there is a little-known benefit for some supplemental medical policies: http://www.silversneakers.com. 28 or 30 insurance companies have pooled their resources and decided that if they kept the old folks healthy they would probably spend less on prescription drug costs, medical procedures and hospitalizations.
Long story short, you can go to the website and enter your insurance code to see if you qualify. I did and I have a free membership to 24-hour Fitness gyms. They have classes that I can attend and I have access to their equipment. With the money I saved I chose to get a discounted 5-session appointment with a trainer to tailor an exercise plan for myself. I lost weight, feel great and get out and around other folks in a weekly Seniors Workout class. Retirement is only the beginning.
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Oh Allan, thanks for mentioning Silver Sneakers at http://www.silversneakers.com. Like you, I am a member of Silver Sneakers which means I can go to one of 9000 locations across the US. I currently have memberships to the local fitness center in my town, the Senior Center, the YMCA, and when I travel I look ahead and see locations I might try. Silver Sneakers and the library are the best organizations ever!
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Great list!!!
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Thanks. Every day I think of other things to add. But it all really comes down to individual desires. My desires focus on movement, outdoors and books. In my view, what else is there? Ha!
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