25 great ways to fill your retirement days | members only

One of the great gifts of retirement is the time to pursue pastimes old and new. For some of us, though, it’s a challenge to find the right hobby. Sure, you can take up a standby —

pickleball, for example, or gardening or golf. But what if you want to explore something more unique? We consulted people with in-depth knowledge of how older adults can fill their days and

achieve meaningful goals. 1. CONQUER STAGE FRIGHT You’ve got a lifetime of stories, and the kids think you’re funny. What’s stopping you from sharing your wit and wisdom with the world — or

at least with a local audience? Many of us carry stage fright all our lives, but Juliet Simone, chief program officer at the Oasis Institute, a nonprofit organization that helps keep older

adults engaged with their communities, says it can be gratifying to find comfort on a stage. Comedy clubs and cafes often host open mic nights where anyone can perform. If just you and a

microphone seems a bridge too far, try improv or acting classes to hone your stage chops in a supportive group setting. Many community theaters encourage older adults to audition for plays.

  2. GET COOKING Few things bring folks together like cooking. Sharing special recipes inherited from your family, your community or your travels can be a compelling way to connect with

fellow retirees, says Ravina Chandra, a lifestyle coach and the author of _101 Ways to Enjoy Retirement_ and other books on health and hobbies for older adults. Check with culinary schools

and specialty stores to find chef-led classes in your area, or search events sites such as Cozymeal, CocuSocial or Classpop. You’ll also find a wide selection of online cooking classes and

food events in the AARP Virtual Community Center. For something more intimate, create a cooking club with friends and neighbors. You can take turns hosting gatherings to share recipes and

show off kitchen skills. 3. WAX ARTISTIC WITH ENCAUSTIC PAINTING Encaustic painters mix pigments with liquid wax and use a heating mechanism, such as a special iron or heat gun, to apply it

to a wood panel, canvas or other surface. “It’s really painting with wax instead of using oil or watercolor,” says Cynthia Ross Tustin, a former firefighter who writes about unconventional

hobbies for older adults in her blog, “I’m Thinking of Retiring.” It’s one of the oldest forms of painting, dating to the ancient Greeks. Tustin recommends seeking out video tutorials —

there are plenty on YouTube — that explain the basics of how to paint with wax. 4. CULTIVATE A FLOWER-ARRANGING HOBBY Arranging flowers is a great way to bring a little more beauty into your

life. It’s also an inexpensive one if you use wildflowers plucked from the great outdoors instead of pricey, store-bought flora, Chandra says. She adds that flower arranging is less about

how big and bright your arrangement looks and more about the creativity you put into it. Many local community centers and senior centers offer regular flower-arranging classes, some of them

online. They’re common in retirement communities too. Fly-fishing might look like an expensive hobby, but sports-equipment resellers often have deals on gear. Local stores that sell

fly-fishing equipment can also steer you toward classes. Sam Island 5. DROP A LINE FOR FLY-FISHING Fans of the 1992 movie _A River Runs Through It _know how lovely and relaxing fly-fishing

can be. Tustin gave it a shot, hiring a guide for her first time, and loved it. And while those sleek rods, colorful artificial lures and waterproof boots look (and often are) expensive,

cost need not be a deterrent: Tustin spent just $40 for a used rod from a sports-equipment reseller and next to nothing for a pair of used rubber boots to slosh through streams. Look online

for classes in your area. And if there’s a local store selling fly-fishing gear, there’s a good chance they’ll know where you can take a class, Tustin says. 6. DIG INTO YOUR FAMILY ROOTS If

you love browsing through old family photo albums, genealogy might be for you. “It’s a lot like being a sleuth,” says Chandra, except what you’re snooping into is your own family history.

Chandra attended a class in her community and was hooked, so she continued her digging via a genealogy website. Popular sites such as Ancestry, MyHeritage and Findmypast provide extensive

access to resources such as Census data, newspaper archives, records for births, marriages and deaths, and more, but they typically charge subscription fees. (One exception is FamilySearch,

a free service operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) The National Archives has online tutorials and other free resources for beginner genealogists. 7. TRY GEOCACHING:

GROWN-UP HIDE-AND-SEEK Geocaching is an outdoor activity akin to a technology-aided, global game of hide-and-seek. Players use the GPS on their cellphones to follow clues and find small

treasures, or “geocaches,” hidden all over the world. “Think of it as a real-world, outdoor treasure hunt,” Chandra says. Go to Geocaching.com to create an account, either online or through

the free app. That will take you to a map of geocaches in your area. The site also has lots of resources to help you hone your skills. (Similar sites include OpenCaching North America and

EarthCache.) Chandra says the biggest benefit of geocaching is walking outside and interacting with nature. Other benefits include the sense of accomplishment you feel when you find the

cache and sign your name into the logbook typically hidden with the treasure. 8. MAKE GLASS BEADS There are few hobbies more dazzling than making glass beads, says Tustin. Sure,

“lampworking” (that’s the technical term) requires some equipment, including a propane torch and a couple of clamps. Beyond that, about all you need is a foot-long glass rod, which you can

pick up at any craft store, typically for a few dollars. “It’s much easier than you might think,” Tustin says. She recommends starting with a video lesson; many craft-focused YouTube

channels have tutorials for beginners. Search online to see if local art centers and studios offer hands-on classes. 9. FALL UNDER HULA DANCING’S SWAY You might get hooked on hula for

relaxing fitness and balance training. Chandra discovered hula dancing on a cruise in the North Pacific. It was love at first sway — she attended every class she could throughout the 25-day

trip. If you’re a cruiser, see if hula classes are among the onboard offerings, Chandra says. But anyone can learn the basics from online videos, and senior centers and dance studios may

have hula classes and workout groups.