Do you still love to learn in retirement years

I love to learn new things. After I retired, I got involved with a railroad society. A diesel switch engine had been donated to the society, and I worked on restoring it.
It was a great learning experience, and I had contact with others in the railroad industry. In visiting other railroads, both in the US and Europe, it gave me entree to their operations and their engine houses.
 

Tbh nup. In my almost 70 years on this earth I've seen and taken in plenty, more than enough to get me by. That's not to say I sit with my head in the sand and if something/anything pops up that I feel I may have some interest in then fine, I can handle that but I don't go out of my way looking for stuff. I'm happy with my lot....I've got an adorable wife who I love greatly, we have a lovely house and are financially comfortable. Could I really benefit from learning any further ? I don't think so but I have always been of the opinion...Each to their own!
 
For all my teen/adult years (I'm 80), I've been interested in most everything. I've been a voracious reader since I was a child, and read some every day. I've also found that I can learn something from most everyone - and not just from professionals. I enjoy talking with service folks, technicians, and the like as much or more than the "higher ups".

I've had/have all kinds of hobbies, and a very wide span of interests. My Wife does too, so that is a nice connection.

It's funny, I know folks without hobbies or special fields of interest and it just baffles me. But these folks (some are relatives) live on gossip and drama and socializing. Count me out for that.

One last thing, until maybe 20 years ago, I thought most folks were like me, but it turns out that isn't true. In example, I had a long term "email friend" and we shared a common interest in model railroading. We talked a couple times daily for years. He was also an avid golfer, and I don't golf. But I would always listen to what he had to say, and ask questions and show a true interest in his other hobby. Yet, I never had an inclination to play.

On the other hand, I have an avid interest in auto mechanics and firearms. When I would talk of either of these subjects, he would ignore me or knock my enthusiasm.

It was inevitable, but one day I did something he didn't like (forwarded his video of his trains to a 3rd party) and that was the end of a long friendship.
 
Mobilman44 said:
For all my teen/adult years (I'm 80), I've been interested in most everything. I've been a voracious reader since I was a child, and read some every day. I've also found that I can learn something from most everyone - and not just from professionals. I enjoy talking with service folks, technicians, and the like as much or more than the "higher ups".

I've had/have all kinds of hobbies, and a very wide span of interests. My Wife does too, so that is a nice connection.

It's funny, I know folks without hobbies or special fields of interest and it just baffles me. But these folks (some are relatives) live on gossip and drama and socializing. Count me out for that.

One last thing, until maybe 20 years ago, I thought most folks were like me, but it turns out that isn't true. In example, I had a long term "email friend" and we shared a common interest in model railroading. We talked a couple times daily for years. He was also an avid golfer, and I don't golf. But I would always listen to what he had to say, and ask questions and show a true interest in his other hobby. Yet, I never had an inclination to play.

On the other hand, I have an avid interest in auto mechanics and firearms. When I would talk of either of these subjects, he would ignore me or knock my enthusiasm.

It was inevitable, but one day I did something he didn't like (forwarded his video of his trains to a 3rd party) and that was the end of a long friendship.
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I also have lots of hobbies and feel like I don't get people who don't have hobbies. I don't have any problems understanding people who like different things than me. But no hobbies at all? I think, does nothing interest them?

My mom's only interests are socializing and watching TV. I don't think there is anything wrong with enjoying socializing and watching TV, but it seems very limited have those as your only interests.

I think these are the same people who don't like retirement because there is "nothing to do." There is an almost unlimited number of things to do. Within the last year alone I found three new things I had never even heard of before I could potentially do for a hobby.
 
My older sister's husband was an avid collector of old cameras. His collection was unbelievable, and very much museum quality. I was an avid collector of post war Lionel trains. Neither of us knew anything of the others passion, but yet we spent many hours together searching flea markets and second hand shops and the like - with an eye out for the other's specialty. Other than that, and enjoying Italian dishes, we had nothing in common.

I believe that having the "collector gene" is something that can seriously bring folks together.
 
Florida residents over age 60 can take courses at any of the state universities tuition free, on a space-available basis. Be aware, though, that even though it's tuition free, you still have to pay some fees, including parking.

Last year a friend and I made use of this program and took a French course together at the local state university. We made a deal that I would pay for the parking decal for the car if she would drive me to the classes. It worked out fine for both of us, and we enjoyed the course.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I do. I especially love it when I learn things from young people. As the old saying goes "Ya learn something new every day". I think it's a blessing to be able to say that's true.
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Not just learning, any sort of stimulation that's enjoyable, helps keep dementia at bay. It frustrates me that I simply cannot master today's technology. Now that would be worth learning. A dear friend finds it most amusing that their grandson comes to me when he struggles with his homework, last week it was quadratic equations, yet the same young fellow knows his way around phones and computers with his eyes closed. Maybe if I had kids I too would have a grandson help me through the digital maze.
 
horseless carriage said:
Not just learning, any sort of stimulation that's enjoyable, helps keep dementia at bay. It frustrates me that I simply cannot master today's technology. Now that would be worth learning. A dear friend finds it most amusing that their grandson comes to me when he struggles with his homework, last week it was quadratic equations, yet the same young fellow knows his way around phones and computers with his eyes closed. Maybe if I had kids I too would have a grandson help me through the digital maze.
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It definitely helps to have a tech savvy younger person help with learning about various things. Some things I have learned on my own, often out of necessity. Others I've learned from my son. You didn't have children, but you and your wife are having a great life doing fun, interesting things. Perhaps you wouldn't be financially able t do all those things (at least not to the degree that you do), if you had children. They cost šŸ’øšŸ’øšŸ’øšŸ’øšŸ’ø!
 
Learning can be fun if the subject is of interest. The brain is fascinating as is creativity. Cramming for a test is another thing.

A couple of champion Jeopardy players confessed that in preparation they would read books intended for young people on science, geography, etc. These books would provide the information in simple and concise ways without having to wade through unnecessary explanations.
 
I'm not retired yet, but I love to learn new things. I have several particular nonfiction favorites whose books are cramming my shelves: classic ocean liners, the Dyatlov Pass Mystery, the Franklin Expedition, and the Donner Party are some favorite topics.

Of course, I mix up my nonfiction reading with what I call my "fluff" reading. ;)
 
I like learning new things, but not technology which has never really interested me. I'm still not entirely sure how my TV gets pictures out of the air and yet I still enjoy watching it.

I think we all probably learn new things whether we go looking for them or not. My book club reads lots of non-fiction so last year I learned about the Wright Brothers, the people in Newfoundland during 9-11, the 1938 Olympics and the Lusitania. Right now we're reading "The Art Thief" and I'm learning about the valuable collections in museums and how best to go about stealing them.

I just wish the things I learned didn't drain back out so fast.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I especially love it when I learn things from young people.
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I don't know if it's the area I live in or what, but young people are the only ones to learn from; all the seniors I know seem to be only interested in their families and how much "better" life was in the "good" old days.

I find it kind of sad that socializing (especially an openness to socializing with new people) is looked down upon and not considered a hobby. Humans being the most social animal on the planet makes socializing the beneficial norm IMO. (And also what put us at the top of the food chain.)
 
Aunt Bea said:
No!

I hate having to figure out new and complicated technology to solve the simple problems of everyday life.

I stick with it in an effort to stay current and keep my mind active.

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That goes for me too. While I enjoy learning in retirement I don't just want oodles of information. I want to learn more in particular directions. So I get as much or more from stories and poetry now as I do from science and technology. But my interest in nature is ongoing.
 
MarkD said:
That goes for me too. While I enjoy learning in retirement I don't just want oodles of information. I want to learn more in particular directions. So I get as much or more from stories and poetry now as I do from science and technology. But my interest in nature is ongoing.
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I was listening to an interview with Amor Towles (A Gentleman in Moscow) the other day and he said the greatest value of fiction is that we can imagine the lives of others and learn empathy. I can't think of anything more important to learn.
 
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