Credit Professional 2018 Spring_2018_magazine | Page 26

Here are some of our top
ideas for how to fill your new
found freedom with fun,
stimulation and purpose.
Get a Job
That might seem to be more
than a little ironic, to leave
the workforce only to come
back into it. But for one
reason, you might need the
money. For another, retiring
is often a great opportunity
to start a new, totally
unrelated career. We’ve
written in the past about
these so called encore
careers, which many people
find liberating and fulfilling. We
have also profiled a dozen baby
boomers on their
interesting post-retirement
careers. It’s fun to read about
all the difference ways they
have found to enjoy
their retirements.
Volunteer
This is an obvious route that
many retirees find rewarding.
From mentoring children, to
helping a small business on a
project, assisting at the library
or hospital, trading work for
free space at a national park,
helping a local volunteer
group, or even going into the
Peace Corps—there are
countless opportunities.
use an extra set of hands.
Several of the past retirement
careers we profiled above were
volunteer jobs—and interesting
ones at that.
Take Up a Sport
As just one example, golfers
don’t have to worry about what
to do with their time—they’re
too busy playing, practicing
and reliving their rounds
afterwards. A lot of folks didn’t
have the time to practice a
sport during their working
years. They often feel at a
disadvantage trying to learn
something that others have
spent perfecting (or at least
trying to perfect).
That shouldn’t stop you though.
We have seen so many folks
Some boomers don’t know
who have turned to sports late
where to start looking for a
in life and get so much pleasure
volunteer job. Our suggestion
is to think in terms of what you (and other benefits, like fitness)
from their new activities—
would like to do and which
organizations you would like to whether it is fishing, boating,
help. Then contact those outfits pickleball, tennis, bocce, biking
and tell them you would like to or water aerobics.
help. In these days of cutbacks,
Our best advice, however, is
it is the rare non-profit or
government body that couldn’t this—if you take up a difficult
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sport like golf or tennis—take
some lessons!. It is almost
unheard of for even the post
gifted athlete to develop good
technique without a qualified
professional. We believe in
lessons—they can make the
sport so much more enjoyable
for those of us who don’t have
what it takes to be shortstop for
the New York Yankees. Many
clubs or facilities have learn-to-
play sessions. Explore those.
Get a Hobby
The best advice we have heard
on hobbies is to start one while
you are still working. That will
give you time to explore
different alternatives as well
as give you something to start
on day one of your retirement.
Whether it is quilting, bridge,
mahjong, scrapbooking,
knitting , raising orchids,
gardening, woodworking,
painting, crossword
puzzles, Sudoko, music,
philanthropy...whatever—start
looking now for something that
you can get excited about. It
will give you something to look
forward to as well as the change
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The Credit Professional