Retirees shouldn't retire from life
Posted by: EileenW1
16th Dec 2012 08:58am
I am so concerned when I hear people over 50 claim life is boring, they feel lonely or unwanted. There is just so much to do, achieve, enjoy, participate in, learn or teach. Our local U3A (University of the 3rd Age) has nearly 700 members, provides classes, courses, social events, talks etc and all run by its volunteers at just $2-$5 a session. We are self-supporting. We have foreign languages, History, Art, Opera, Book Clubs, Creative Writing, Computers, Shakespeare, Yoga, Walking, Cards, Travel talks, guest speakers, Craft, Current Affairs, Safety for the Elderly, Photography, Trivia Nights etc etc etc. We now have some under 50s wanting to run classes, including students from the local TAFE and Uni who enjoy sharing their skills with us. Some members are also not yet fully retired but love coming to a particular course or talk. Our social events are open to the general public. So stop moaning, get out there, offer your knowledge/skill to a local organisation or just join one and get involved.
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Comments 8
tt
Totally agree,life just begins. This is the time to do what you want to do, be it a new sport/interest/holiday that you wanted to do but have no time before, and it will do the body and brains some benefits.Use your valuable skills to help others or better volunteer in your local community/church, everyone will love you!
EileenW1
Spot on tt! Being active and interactive does not require money, just time and when we retire we have plenty of that. When we die it is no good wishing we had been more sociable or had danced in the rain. Even housebound people can do wonderful things via the Internet, make hundreds of friends, play games like Scrabble via facebook and even volunteer to assist charities by promoting and publicising their work, all online.
Eagleswings
I am 67 and a retiree, but I don't know the meaning of the word "bored." These years bring opportunities to be productive in other areas than just the career you've been in. I enjoy interacting with younger people and being able to pass on some of the knowledge and experience I have gained over the years.. Also, it's great to be able to socialise with others in my own age group, be on hand to help out or just to sit and listen to someone going through a hard time. In this busy culture, it is so necessary to have time to spend just to let someone pour out the concerns that trouble them, and to support and encourage them.
wojo12
This is all very fine if you are very social and sociable person living in a town with some activity which interests you, and money to spend travelling to that activity. That is impossible to spend money you cannot afford to, being on the aged pension.
wojo12
As I said, if you can afford the travel and fees , that's fine. But everyone cannot.
EileenW1
Wojo, I live on a rural property and car pool with others to reach our U3A. I personally pick up a 93 year old for our Shakespeare class. Our classes are just $2 each, our talks, $3 including morning tea or we pay $4 for computer classes. We have such a variety of activities there is something for everyone, even self-help for introverted people who need to improve their communication or social skills. If people are not prepared to go out and make an effort and just look for excuses, then they deserve to be bored and lonely. .
roalfe
Hi - I have retired since February last., and have volunteered for 7 years at a local Community Centre. They have some very good activities - a lot of exercise classes of various sorts aimed at older people but also do Zumba classes, computer classes, english, yoga, playgroups and more. It has been interesting to volunteer there. There are a lot of community centres around and most do other activities than use. It would be good for a retiree to contact their local community centre to see what is happening. You can also get a lot of information about other things going on in the area.
Kerry
Madnan
I have just retired Eileen and am looking forward to doing some interesting things. There is so much I can be involved in..the choice is so great. Choosing is the tricky bit.