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Mostly I have continued with previous hobbies and interests, some of which I finally gave up several years after retiring from full time work. I moonlighted as a motorcycle funeral escort rider and continued that, but finally gave it up as having "been there, done that" as I had started to be concerned about getting injured. Believe me, it's a dicey thing in Los Angeles traffic. Upon retirement I was offered the opportunity to teach chess (for pay) to elementary school children in an enrichment summer school. That has been more like a hobby in a way because it's so enjoyable and just lasts for five weeks every summer. I will start my eighth year in a few more weeks.
I did begin a new volunteer activity a little over two years ago. Once a week I read aloud to two different classes of fifth graders. I had been asked by the local school district to try this, and I started with the idea that I could always quit if I didn't like it. Well, I just love it. The students and their two teachers have responded with great enthusiasm. I have posted about this before in other threads, so I will not repeat the details except to say that I have read real, worthwhile literature such as The Call of the Wild by Jack London, not just dumb "children's books". Fortunately, fifth graders are able to understand some of the easier works of real literature, especially if they have it read to them as opposed to having to read it on their own. I can always stop to explain a word or a concept. I arranged for author Renata Zerner, now in her 80's, to speak to the class after I read portions of her non-fiction work, A Teenage Girl in Nazi Germany, and that was very exciting for all concerned, including me.
I have started working in the yard again. It's turning back into a hobby instead of "work". Nice change.
Mrs. Tek has taken up Bridge again, and she's pretty serious about it. No "Party Bridge" this time around, she's into duplicate Bridge and is earning points. I'm considering it, but just party Bridge - duplicate is a bit much methinks.
Almost everything we've done since retiring fits into the 'new' category:
Travel - Considerable cruises and travel that we never had time for before
Golf - Started playing 2-3 times per week --- before, played about once per year (have since decided that golf may not be my primary retirement interest)
Reading - Over the years, I never really had time for much personal reading; -- Now read several books per month.
Boating/Fishing: Just joined a boat club and am learning to fish/boat. - never really had time (or ability to afford) before.
Grandkids: moved to be closer (same town vs 4-500 miles) ... and loving added time with them.
I had to sell off my hobby , one car at a time, in order to build myself a new home. .... Now that it's done, I have lots of regrets, depression and lowness. Lost a lot of friends since exiting the old car hobby.I burned a lot of brides in the process, no going back for me these days, way too expensive. ....I do really miss the cars and the people.
Gorgeous photos mathjak. We're thinking of spending a lot of time taking photos, too. I'm not as artistic as you, though. I'm more of a journalist. I'd like to do one of those "Daily shots" blogs that chronicles something I saw every day in retirement.
What are they? Time flies when you are having fun.
Or as Kermit the Frog says, "Time's fun when you're having flies."
Don't know if it's a hobby or merely a pastime but since we moved to the region we are intent on seeing and learning as much about the Ozarks as we can from history to topography to the society going back to the beginning of its settlement by French traders and people from Appalachia. It makes for wonderful day and overnight trips and tons of sightseeing and browsing.
I don't think we'll run out of places to go and things to see and do anytime soon.
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