Retirement Hobbies You Never Knew Existed
We all know about typical retirement hobbies such as golf, gardening, or woodworking. But now that you have so much time to fill, why not think outside the box? Here, we share some retirement hobbies you probably didn't know existed that can help spice up your golden years.
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is an age-old hobby but one that most people might not think of during retirement. When you think of bees, you might think of painful stings or honeycombs; however, bees are complex creatures and extremely important to our entire ecosystem.
Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby because in tending to your bees, you will learn how the colony interacts, how not to get stung (yay!), how bees pollinate and forage, and many more things about these amazing creatures. Plus, you will get lots of benefits from your hives, such as honey, propolis, and honeycomb. Additionally, you will be doing the planet a favor!
Scuba Diving
Age is just a number when it comes to scuba diving! Even if you've never dived before, retirement could be the perfect time to begin. There are two main certification agencies, NAUI and PADI, and both agencies offer scuba certifications all over the world. Even if you don't live near the ocean, you can get certified in a lake, a river, or even a swimming pool. Once you have your scuba certification, you can discover the amazing underwater worlds of some of the planet's most beautiful waters. Plus, it's great exercise and will keep your mind and body sharp.
Sailing
Sailing is another great retirement hobby that you may have not considered. Whether you have sailed before or not, you can still jump right in and enjoy the sport. The first way to enjoy sailing in retirement is to learn how to sail yourself. The American Sailing Association (ASA) makes it easy to find a sailing school near you. There are over 300 ASA sailing schools across the United States.1
If you think maintaining your own boat is too much, another way to get involved in sailing is to join a racing team. There are many leagues throughout the country, and lots of boats are looking for crew, even if you have little to no experience. Search for "sailing crew pool" among the Facebook groups in your area to see if there are any opportunities to get out on the water!
Kombucha Brewing
You have likely heard of brewing beer and winemaking, but have you ever heard of making kombucha? Kombucha is a beverage made of fermented tea that is full of probiotics and vitamins. You can make all kinds of wonderful flavors of kombucha and experiment to find your favorite flavor. All you need to get started is your own SCOBY, which stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. The SCOBY is the "mother" bacteria that begins the whole process. You can buy a ready-made SCOBY or make your own.2
One of the best things about retirement is that you have the time to try new things and maybe discover a new passion. These are just a few unique hobbies to consider. There are many more out there, just get creative with your thinking.