Have you started a new hobby since you've retired. Not one from your pre-retirement years.

Youngster

Youngster

Member
If you've done any research on retirement you'll find most articles advocate the importance of having some sort of a hobby. I'd like to know if you took the advice to heart and started one. What is it and how well is it working out for you.
I started my third book which I'm getting close to finishing. I also started a website of my articles and short stories as well as a classic movie collection. It's my retirement hobby which now has over 200 pages.
 

Yes, I joined a RR historical society. I was able to act as conductor on the local tourist train. I also was able to drive a small 1898 steam engine.
My biggest fun was restoring a 1841 diesel switch engine. It was a great learning experience, and made contact with people at other societies for advice.


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bowmore said:
Yes, I joined a RR historical society. I was able to act as conductor on the local tourist train. I also was able to drive a small 1898 steam engine.
My biggest fun was restoring a 1841 diesel switch engine. It was a great learning experience, and made contact with people at other societies for advice.


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It looks like you're enjoying your new hobby. Isn't it nice to have the time to do the things you love. Retirement is so great!
 
For some of us through much of our later adult life, we had long since found our day to day, week to week, year to year interests, so spent time involved in whatever. Then as one approaches retirement, those that have developed such activities will wonder and daydream how they can do some of those things even more. Yes mr dave,I'm now going to ski Tahoe midweeks each season only bothering the drive during good weather. I sure as heck did and wish I had far more time to dwell a bit more in some of my interests.

And others that were heavily involved in career and work accomplishments especially those with heavy interpersonal and social work, that never had much true leisure time. Probably will never have time in their social lives for "hobbies". Then their are many that either never got past struggles of working life to involve themselves with many leisure activities beyond the tv, including sports tv, and reading. At retirement, yes some of those members may pick up new activities, hobbies. Good for them lest they become a tube worm like this image below off our Monterey Bay shore where they can only ever look out without going anywhere. So yeah boring!




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Looking for more sedate hobbies for the Winter months, I did prepare some to start once I retired. Didn't actually do them pre retirement but set them up to start.
Restoring a 1981 Honda Goldwing 1100 motorcycle is one.

The other, being from the growing up era of fast cars and illegal street racing, I had many cars growing up.
So the other hobby I started was getting models of each car I had and building them with the same colors and look. This way when I get old and lose my memory, I can look at them and it will 'bring me back' to a much simpler time.
 
I've started rebuilding small antique engines, things from the1940's and earlier, just finished a 1936 Z engine. 20231118_141015.jpg I've always been mechanically inclined and have done a lot of projects over the years but now I'm actually searching for certain types of projects. One of my goals is to find an AO. Smith or a Briggs & Stratton Flyer, it's a little car with a rear mounted small engine. Very hard to find so if you have one let me know! lol

Funny thing is I have pretty much quit two long time hobbies, trap shooting and long distance bicycling. I thought I would do more of both after I retired and had more free time but I've kind of lost interest in doing either.
 
Now that I've retired I've finally started taking online jazz piano lessons with a teacher on the other side of the country. It's really been a major stress reliever. It keeps my mind sharp and creative juices flowing. Loving it.
 
officerripley said:
I've taken up miniature dioramas. Not really enjoying it that much but I keep hearing we're supposed to have hobbies, yawn. And when I've told people what my real hobby is--consuming information, i.e., reading--I've always gotten rolled eyes. So the miniature dioramas, sigh.
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NOOOOOO............ the idea is to do something you enjoy. However, every time my Doctor asks I tell him reading, so I understand
 
bowmore said:
Yes, I joined a RR historical society. I was able to act as conductor on the local tourist train. I also was able to drive a small 1898 steam engine.
My biggest fun was restoring a 1841 diesel switch engine. It was a great learning experience, and made contact with people at other societies for advice.


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A 1841 diesel switch engine ? I think that is a typo because a google search says the first diesel electric locomotive was built in 1918. I think it should read "1941 ". Right ? JimB.
 
Youngster said:
If you've done any research on retirement you'll find most articles advocate the importance of having some sort of a hobby. I'd like to know if you took the advice to heart and started one. What is it and how well is it working out for you.
I started my third book which I'm getting close to finishing. I also started a website of my articles and short stories as well as a classic movie collection. It's my retirement hobby which now has over 200 pages.
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Have you actually published a book ? As in offering it for sale, to the public ? JimB.
 
Interestingly, I just messaged my friend for hobby ideas! I have MS, which makes it difficult to use my hands/fingers in an intricate way. Also, my vision is not great though I read a ton on my tablet. Any ideas? I am pretty much housebound as well. :)
 
gracy225 said:
Interestingly, I just messaged my friend for hobby ideas! I have MS, which makes it difficult to use my hands/fingers in an intricate way. Also, my vision is not great though I read a ton on my tablet. Any ideas? I am pretty much housebound as well. :)
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I've been looking for a while for craft hobbies ideas that don't involve the use of the hands (I hate using my hands or watching anyone else use their hands). If you hear of any, please share and I will if I hear of any.
 
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