Friends in Retirement

We often think of retirement as the time to finally do the things we have been putting off. We tell ourselves “Work hard now so we can play later.” Or, perhaps, we get so caught up in the day-to-day chaos that finding time for leisure like hobbies, clubs, or social groups takes a back seat.

In fact, we are willing to bet that if you really think about it, your social circle can be traced back to two main groups:

work (obviously, we spend most of our time there)

and if you have kids, their direct network, whether that is school, sports, or extracurricular activities.

And those bonds are the ones that resonate most with you. They are the core aspects of your life: work, values, and children.

But what happens when you leave that job, and your kids get older? What happens when you suddenly have free time?

What are you left with?

A decades old list of potential hobbies?

What do you do with that?

Well, it’s a great place to start.

At the risk of getting too psychological, it’s easy to put the needs of a job or children before your own, and soon that becomes our identities.

But there is something really fun and exciting in getting to rediscover yourself! It’s like a clean slate.

So, pull out that list. Test the waters. See what piques your interest.

Don’t have a list?

Here are some ideas to get you started, as well as some ways to meet others who share that common interest.