New hobbies in retirement?
Discussion
My job is relatively well paid, stress-free, very easy, but incredibly dull. I hate it with a growing passion.
I am now 55. I planned to retire at 55 and financially I could stop working tomorrow and live relatively comfortably on savings and pensions. What is stopping me?
1. The money is too good to turn down and greed kicks in. If I work another 6, 12 or more months I can bank most of it and that would add a not insignificant amount to spend over the first 5 to 10 years of active retirement. But I said that last year. And the year before that.
2. I have absolutely no idea how I would fill my days in retirement.
I have no real hobbies; no children; no aged parents; no dependants or relatives; no responsibilities; nothing I can think of to occupy my time for an extra 6 or 7 hours per day, every day, for ever. I golf - but currently play 4 or 5 times a week now anyway, so retirement would not change that too much.
My wife is still working and plans to do so for another 4 or 5 years. I always intended to retire before her - to test the water and adjust. I reckoned it could be a complete disaster if we both retired at the same time, and had the same problems working out what to do with ourselves.
I think I need some new hobbies. But what?
Things I am definitely not interested in:
- gym / cycling / swimming / running / anything to do with extra physical exercise
- gardening / DIY
- doing-up old cars / bikes / tinkering in a shed
- volunteering / charity work
- starting or buying a business
- part-time menial work
- anything to do with animals / pets
- further education just for the sake of it
- fishing / sailing / shooting
- photography / creative arts
- bird-watching / trainspotting / collecting stuff
- politics / protesting / activism
- religion
I really can't think of anything I want to do that could fill enough of my time. I don't want to work, but I don't want to be sitting in my pants all day watching TV or stretching 30 minute tasks out to 6 hours just to keep occupied.
When my wife retired we will probably spend some time travelling / living abroad for part of the year. But that does not really solve the problem of what to do in retirement if you don't have anything to fill the time.
I realise that I am incredibly fortunate to be in a position where I have some choice in the timing of my retirement. But I can see myself just drifting along like I have for the last 40+ years with no real plan in place (other than saving for a retirement that I am not sure I am going to enjoy). The easiest thing is to just go to work again tomorrow.
I am now 55. I planned to retire at 55 and financially I could stop working tomorrow and live relatively comfortably on savings and pensions. What is stopping me?
1. The money is too good to turn down and greed kicks in. If I work another 6, 12 or more months I can bank most of it and that would add a not insignificant amount to spend over the first 5 to 10 years of active retirement. But I said that last year. And the year before that.
2. I have absolutely no idea how I would fill my days in retirement.
I have no real hobbies; no children; no aged parents; no dependants or relatives; no responsibilities; nothing I can think of to occupy my time for an extra 6 or 7 hours per day, every day, for ever. I golf - but currently play 4 or 5 times a week now anyway, so retirement would not change that too much.
My wife is still working and plans to do so for another 4 or 5 years. I always intended to retire before her - to test the water and adjust. I reckoned it could be a complete disaster if we both retired at the same time, and had the same problems working out what to do with ourselves.
I think I need some new hobbies. But what?
Things I am definitely not interested in:
- gym / cycling / swimming / running / anything to do with extra physical exercise
- gardening / DIY
- doing-up old cars / bikes / tinkering in a shed
- volunteering / charity work
- starting or buying a business
- part-time menial work
- anything to do with animals / pets
- further education just for the sake of it
- fishing / sailing / shooting
- photography / creative arts
- bird-watching / trainspotting / collecting stuff
- politics / protesting / activism
- religion
I really can't think of anything I want to do that could fill enough of my time. I don't want to work, but I don't want to be sitting in my pants all day watching TV or stretching 30 minute tasks out to 6 hours just to keep occupied.
When my wife retired we will probably spend some time travelling / living abroad for part of the year. But that does not really solve the problem of what to do in retirement if you don't have anything to fill the time.
I realise that I am incredibly fortunate to be in a position where I have some choice in the timing of my retirement. But I can see myself just drifting along like I have for the last 40+ years with no real plan in place (other than saving for a retirement that I am not sure I am going to enjoy). The easiest thing is to just go to work again tomorrow.
I retired at 56.
The last year I did as you mentioned and out all my earnings into a pension.
Since I retired I have:
Cycled
Joined a band or two
Bought a kit car (better to tinker than build imho)
Taken up proper home brewing (all grain)
Lots of DIY
Go to the cinema when it isn't busy
It's amazing how your days fill up
The last year I did as you mentioned and out all my earnings into a pension.
Since I retired I have:
Cycled
Joined a band or two
Bought a kit car (better to tinker than build imho)
Taken up proper home brewing (all grain)
Lots of DIY
Go to the cinema when it isn't busy
It's amazing how your days fill up
What hobbies did you have or what interested you when you were younger? Could you take any of them up again?
The list of things you don't want to do makes it difficult!
A suggestion:
Learn to play chess to a decent level. You can NEVER master it, but put some hours in and it can be rewarding intellectually.
The list of things you don't want to do makes it difficult!
A suggestion:
Learn to play chess to a decent level. You can NEVER master it, but put some hours in and it can be rewarding intellectually.
Edited by Fast and Spurious on Saturday 11th May 10:44
keirik said:
I retired at 56.
The last year I did as you mentioned and out all my earnings into a pension.
Since I retired I have:
Cycled
Joined a band or two
Bought a kit car (better to tinker than build imho)
Taken up proper home brewing (all grain)
Lots of DIY
Go to the cinema when it isn't busy
It's amazing how your days fill up
Out call serviceThe last year I did as you mentioned and out all my earnings into a pension.
Since I retired I have:
Cycled
Joined a band or two
Bought a kit car (better to tinker than build imho)
Taken up proper home brewing (all grain)
Lots of DIY
Go to the cinema when it isn't busy
It's amazing how your days fill up
Jelcing
Go for walks
Cut the grass verges along the whole of your street weekly
Put people’s bins back once collected
Welshbeef said:
keirik said:
I retired at 56.
The last year I did as you mentioned and out all my earnings into a pension.
Since I retired I have:
Cycled
Joined a band or two
Bought a kit car (better to tinker than build imho)
Taken up proper home brewing (all grain)
Lots of DIY
Go to the cinema when it isn't busy
It's amazing how your days fill up
Out call serviceThe last year I did as you mentioned and out all my earnings into a pension.
Since I retired I have:
Cycled
Joined a band or two
Bought a kit car (better to tinker than build imho)
Taken up proper home brewing (all grain)
Lots of DIY
Go to the cinema when it isn't busy
It's amazing how your days fill up
Jelcing
Go for walks
Cut the grass verges along the whole of your street weekly
Put people’s bins back once collected
Jelqing?
1 said:
I have no real hobbies; no children; no aged parents; no dependants or relatives; no responsibilities; nothing I can think of to occupy my time for an extra 6 or 7 hours per day, every day, for ever. I golf - but currently play 4 or 5 times a week now anyway, so retirement would not change that too much.
With no hobbies, or nothing to pursue as a passion, it's a tough one. My FIL retired in his late 60s after selling his business. It took him a couple of years to transition. His days now revolve around running two allotments including keeping bees, and being on-call babysitter/chauffeur for the eight grandchildren. He's now mid 70s and fitter than he ever was while working, in spite of a new hip and knee. I plan to sell my business in ~5 years time. All being well, I can afford not to work again. The plan already in place is ski ~6 months a year in Whistler, spend a month or two surfing in the summer in nice places (rent a shack on the beach type places), pursue fine art landscape photography as a serious hobby/make beer money, act as business coach to local startup businesses again for beer money. All that, plus reading regularly, plus yoga as exercise, will keep my body and brain ticking over.
It seems you need to think about what will engage your attention and desire to participate. Perhaps something community-based? It'll also increase your circle of friends which is an increasing issue as you get older.
Seconding canal boat if you live near a network. Ready made community. The boat is a bit like a pet and needs care and attention. You can cruise from pub to pub.
As a compromise between work and leisure, maybe set up a business with low expenses that you can pick up and drop as mood dictates. (No catering!)
As a compromise between work and leisure, maybe set up a business with low expenses that you can pick up and drop as mood dictates. (No catering!)
I am 70 and could not imagine not working- it gives me the reason to distinguish Mondays from weekends, and makes leisure more valuable. For me, an infinite amount of leisure would be very destructive. I like the changes I can make when I am working and the new things I learn.
Perhaps you may want to think about what other work you might want to try..a change is good.
I do not mean to have no hobbies...I drive at tracks, collect cars and wine, read, travel a lot. On the other hand, I did all of that most of my life. Working, plus some health stuff is good. We all deteriorate and a moderate gym attendance with a trainer will make you feel better. I never went near one till I was 45 and was quite self conscious about it, but then I began to enjoy it. Not trying to be some kind of Arnold Schwarzenegger, just to be able to do the things I always did.
Part of change is to stop doing the things you hate. If work is a dissatisfied, it may be the job rather than the idea of working.
Perhaps you may want to think about what other work you might want to try..a change is good.
I do not mean to have no hobbies...I drive at tracks, collect cars and wine, read, travel a lot. On the other hand, I did all of that most of my life. Working, plus some health stuff is good. We all deteriorate and a moderate gym attendance with a trainer will make you feel better. I never went near one till I was 45 and was quite self conscious about it, but then I began to enjoy it. Not trying to be some kind of Arnold Schwarzenegger, just to be able to do the things I always did.
Part of change is to stop doing the things you hate. If work is a dissatisfied, it may be the job rather than the idea of working.
Whoozit said:
With no hobbies, or nothing to pursue as a passion, it's a tough one. My FIL retired in his late 60s after selling his business. It took him a couple of years to transition. His days now revolve around running two allotments including keeping bees, and being on-call babysitter/chauffeur for the eight grandchildren. He's now mid 70s and fitter than he ever was while working, in spite of a new hip and knee.
I plan to sell my business in ~5 years time. All being well, I can afford not to work again. The plan already in place is ski ~6 months a year in Whistler, spend a month or two surfing in the summer in nice places (rent a shack on the beach type places), pursue fine art landscape photography as a serious hobby/make beer money, act as business coach to local startup businesses again for beer money. All that, plus reading regularly, plus yoga as exercise, will keep my body and brain ticking over.
It seems you need to think about what will engage your attention and desire to participate. Perhaps something community-based? It'll also increase your circle of friends which is an increasing issue as you get older.
Exactly my dilemma. Spent all of my life working - not enough time for any real hobbies that take up large amounts of time - holidays and downtime spent just relaxing and winding down. Work was my main hobby: there was a point where I considered myself lucky to be getting well paid for something I would have done for nothing. But those days are gone - I really can't be arsed with work any more. I plan to sell my business in ~5 years time. All being well, I can afford not to work again. The plan already in place is ski ~6 months a year in Whistler, spend a month or two surfing in the summer in nice places (rent a shack on the beach type places), pursue fine art landscape photography as a serious hobby/make beer money, act as business coach to local startup businesses again for beer money. All that, plus reading regularly, plus yoga as exercise, will keep my body and brain ticking over.
It seems you need to think about what will engage your attention and desire to participate. Perhaps something community-based? It'll also increase your circle of friends which is an increasing issue as you get older.
I would like to spend the winters skiing, and the summers playing as much golf as possible. I might just be able to do that once my wife retires. Other than that though, I have no real idea on how to fill the days. Summer should be no real problem - it is the UK winters I dread. For now, I can just keep working - at least I get paid for it.
I already do enough exercise and keep quite fit - I just don't really want to do a huge amount more just for the sake of filling the time. Same with reading, etc.
The pilot's licence thing from one of the above posts does intrigue me: not something I had seriously considered as being possible. I imagine very expensive and highly addictive - I might have to keep working to pay for it!
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