We have all heard of the bucket list, that list of things we want to do before we “kick the bucket.” Really what it should be called is “things we do in retirement” because this is when we set out to do all those things we have yet to do. Many people have an idea of stuff they would like to do and others wonder if they will be able or capable. If you are unsure of what to do in your retirement phase, or you want to explore some new ideas, here are our top suggestions on exciting things to do in retirement.
Go Somewhere New
Many folks have a habit of staying put in an area or even a region. We stay close to home because of work and family obligations. We don’t have the free time to just pack our bags and go off somewhere, so during your retirement is the best time to go somewhere you haven’t been. That might look like staying at Cabo San Lucas luxury resorts, snorkeling in the Caribbean, or participating in Oktoberfest in Munich. The point of it all is it opens your eyes to new experiences!
Get Adventurous
You have already lived a life in which you ate what you should, went to the doctor when you should, got the education you should, and worked hard like you should. Now you should break all the rules and get adventurous. Of course, this looks different for each person and you should embrace adventure at a comfortable level. If you are dealing with any health issues, you should also speak with your doctor on whether or not you should engage in adventurous activity. Some of those activities may be:
- Sky diving
- Dog sledding
- Parasailing
- Ziplining
- Canoeing
- Surfing
- Hang gliding
- Cliff diving
- Snorkeling
- Walk a suspension bridge
- Hike a volcano
Get Closer to Nature
This one is especially important if you live in a city! While we take trips to get back into nature on our weekends off, we don’t really experience nature to its fullest. This is that time to take a safari trip in the Serengeti and see the animals in their natural habitats. Visit with animal sanctuaries and hold a monkey or bathe an elephant. Take a road trip to the Northwest and marvel at the Redwoods. Visit Yellowstone and witness beauty and beast a like.
See Long Distance Family
Sometimes our families are a lot larger than we realize. We have also become more spread out over the years and most of our contact is through email and social media. Now that you have loads of free time, it’s a great time to take a road trip and see people you have not physically seen in a long time. That face to face contact will last with you a long time and reconnect you with your roots. The same can be said for close friends that you have become distant with.
Embrace Your Passions
We all have those things that we really love. Some people love car racing, knitting, airplanes, or are history buffs. This is the time to cut loose on those things that ignite passion deep down inside you. Take tours of historical places, go to major races or major sporting events, participate in a yarn crawl in a big city, or go to an airshow. If you loved to take pictures, grab your camera and find your muse in gorgeous settings. If you love art, visit some art shows. Even better, create your own art to give to family and friends.
Retirement is what we make of it. Your bucket list are those things that you want to accomplish but haven’t yet. Enjoy your retirement by adding the bucket list excitement to it all.
