Retired, what now? 10 hobbies for men in retirement
At first, retirement feels like a vacation. You can get up when you want, have a hearty breakfast and read the daily newspaper in peace. Then you tackle the projects that you didn't have time for before. But at some point everything is done, the to-do list is ticked off. The cellar and garage are tidied up, necessary repairs are done. Then the question arises: What to do with the free time?
Harvest delicious honey while beekeeping
Many of our food crops depend on pollination by bees to bear fruit later in life. When you beekeep, you help preserve the bee population and support nature. Plus, you'll make your own delicious honey! For this nature-loving hobby you need a garden or allotment, in which you can set up the housing for your bee colony. You can get the swarm from a beekeeper or a beekeeping association. There are also courses offered, where you acquire the necessary knowledge. The best time to start is in May and June, when the bees are multiplying and have enough time to build up their colony before winter.
However, keep in mind that you are also responsible for the animals during the winter. You need to check the colony regularly, provide sugar water if needed or carry out treatment against pests. In addition, it is necessary to register the bees with the appropriate veterinary office and consider liability insurance. Also include the cost of the hive box, colony, protective clothing and tool kit.
Barbecue - an archaic hobby
Men in particular are attracted to this type of food preparation. Among other things, the challenge is to ensure even heat, estimate the correct distance of the grilled food from the heat source, match the optimal cooking time and ensure good taste of steak & co. In some families, special marinade or sauce recipes are passed down from generation to generation. Many people also appreciate the social character of grilling, for example at a cozy barbecue evening with friends or a garden party with relatives. By the way: Barbecuing is also possible in winter!
Collect wines or whiskeys
How about your own wine cellar with high-quality pleasure wines? Or a whiskey collection with selected rarities? Before you fall prey to your passion for collecting, you should think about the available space and your budget. Ideally, you have a hobby room in the basement where you can store and display your collection. A cozy sitting area provides the opportunity for occasional tasting evenings with friends or neighbors. On special occasions, you can give away selected pieces from your collection.
A certain amount of order is necessary so that you can keep track of everything. Labels around the neck of the bottle and Excel spreadsheets will help you get started. With well-known wine magazines from the trade you can deepen your knowledge. Advanced collectors look specifically for one-offs or wines from special vintages. Some whiskey distilleries in Germany regularly offer seminars, tastings or guided tours. For example, the Heckengäu distillery (heckengaeu-brennerei.de) or the Kinzig distillery in Biberach (biberacher-whisky.de).
Crafts: There is always something to do!
DIY is one of the most popular hobbies among men. "Do it yourself" is the motto. This doesn't necessarily mean repairing a wobbly chair or a hanging cupboard door. Unless you have two left hands, there are countless ways to get creative. Have you ever carpentered a shelf yourself? Sanded down a cabinet and repainted it? Built a raised bed? If you keep your eyes open, you're sure to come up with plenty of ideas for craft projects. The hours will fly by!
You probably have old things stored in your home that you no longer need but are too good to throw away. This can be furniture, old garden or kitchen utensils or long dusty decorative pieces. There are also many forgotten items in the attic or basement. Give these things a second chance! In the so-called "upcycling" you let these things shine in new splendor, rework them or create a whole new work of art. Then an old side table becomes an eye-catcher in the garden, a car tire becomes a mini bed on the balcony or a wooden ladder becomes a coat rack. In our throwaway society, you even contribute to environmental protection with this hobby!
On a treasure hunt with geocaching
This hobby is suitable for pensioners who like to experience a bit of adventure. In the modern form of treasure hunting, you have to find a hidden object at a secret location using GPS coordinates. After finding it, you can take the "treasure" with you and replace it with an item you brought with you. This is a great way to discover new places on foot and get some fresh air. What do you need? Professional footwear, weatherproof clothing, a well-fitting backpack, a replacement item for the hiding place and, of course, a GPS device. But you can also use your smartphone and a corresponding app.
Investing as a hobby and source of income
There are many ways to invest money, including in shares, funds or real estate. If you are interested in economic and financial contexts and are willing to learn more about these topics, then this hobby can also be financially rewarding for you. First of all, you need basic knowledge, which you can acquire from books, the Internet or by talking to other investors. Successful investing is something you learn from experience and that takes time. So set small goals for your asset accumulation first. After all, high returns mean high risk. With many forms of investment, you can already start with small sums and gradually increase.
When it comes to investing money, you should always remain conscientious and only invest money that you can financially bear to lose. Never put all your eggs in one basket! A solid investment consists of several pillars.
Cruising through the countryside on a quad bike
Men are into vehicles. The quad can be an action-packed alternative to the motorcycle. The biggest difference: Instead of two wheels, it takes to the road with four. Or on the track, because it also masters uneven terrain with its wide tires without any problems. The handling cannot be compared with either a car or a motorcycle. If you are unsure whether this hobby is right for you, first book a trial tour in your region. Important: The quad is a motor vehicle, so a driver's license and helmet are mandatory. Recklessness can also be dangerous when driving a quad. A driving safety training for beginners makes sense.
Wissen aneignen im Alter: Learning by doing
You're probably familiar with the saying: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks. This statement has long been outdated. As we grow older, working with our brains becomes increasingly important, in addition to moderate exercise and a healthy diet. When absorbing and processing new information, the brain is trained and its performance is improved. With the appropriate technical literature, you can either build on knowledge you have already acquired or familiarize yourself with an unfamiliar subject, such as computers, technology, astronomy or model making. If you are open-minded and curious, you can still learn a lot as you get older.
The use of digital media, such as the Internet, computers or smartphones, also requires some basic knowledge. What the younger generation takes for granted can present enormous difficulties for older people. But for seniors in particular, digital skills increase independence in old age and enable social participation. Those who can send messages with their e-mail program or make phone calls via Skype maintain contact with friends and family. To keep up with the new technology, many seniors rely on the support and help of acquaintances and family. But adult education centers and other institutions also offer courses on digital topics. After that, it helps to try things out and stick with them! Only those who keep rising to the challenge can continue to develop.
The garden as an oasis of well-being
It's fun to nurture and care for a garden. And it fills you with pride to have created all this with your own hands. You make sure the flowers thrive, grow vegetables and harvest your own fruit straight from the tree. This way you can be sure that this food has not been sprayed with anything harmful to the environment or health. You can give free rein to your ideas when planning and designing the beds and gardens. The result? Your very own feel-good place that puts you in a good mood and can be redesigned or expanded year after year.
If you do not have a garden, you can apply for an allotment garden at your local allotment garden association or at the regional association. However, you should expect annual costs for rent, association fees, electricity and water, as well as a fee for the previous tenant.
Fishing has a meditative effect
There is hardly any other hobby that allows you to relax as well as fishing. Sitting quietly on the lakeshore in the midst of nature, listening to the birds chirping and waiting for a fish to bite, you can concentrate completely on yourself and have plenty of time to think. Confused thoughts come into order, plans take shape, sounds of nature brighten your mood. Note, however, that fishing is only allowed in designated waters. You also need a fishing license to go fishing. You will learn about local fish species, suitable bait, legal regulations and much more. As a reward, you'll get a self-caught trout in a frying pan - delicious!
Conclusion
Whether you make your own honey, collect whiskeys, or have been bitten by the quad fever: A hobby is more than just a pastime. It provides variety, mental and physical fitness, and enhances your quality of life. So spend your time doing things that match your interests and make you happy. If not now, when?
