Author Topic: finding hobbies in retirement  (Read 1543 times)

Runrooster

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 493
finding hobbies in retirement
« on: May 30, 2022, 06:19:57 PM »
I'm trying to gear up to "retire" from my "job" as my disabled mother's caregiver.  I've lived with her for 13 years, and my life has slowly shriveled up.  I don't get along great with my parents - they grew up in another country while I grew up in the US, my Mom understands just enough English to totally mangle what I say to her.  I'm tired.  I recently upgraded my job to something that's much harder, and I resent the fact that our family room is basically my Mom's second bedroom with Indian serials on from dawn to dusk.  I want peace and quiet.  I also have 3 siblings, any of whom could step up to be more present with them.  One sister out of state has long offered to take them in, but they'd have to agree to move.  Dad is a healthy 88, Mom is a disabled-but-stable 82, I don't want to do this for the next 10 years, or more.  Until about 3 months ago, my social life revolved around either my siblings/niece/nephew visiting, or taking my parents to their religious events/social gatherings.  Even spending time with my brother and his friends, left me bored out of my mind. I thought I was trapped living here until a few months ago when an aunt told me about a low income housing program.  In this VHCOL area, even low income is not very low. 

I realized, this long holiday weekend, that I really don't have any hobbies.  I walk, sometimes twice a day.  I shop, cook, watch netflix, read the forums.  Until about 6 years ago, I spent a lot of time watching theater, music, opera, jazz.  At this point, the commute to see things live, the cost, and getting home late to go to work the next day, is all a bit too much for me.  During the pandemic I must have watched 100 operas when they were streaming a different one every night.  I think 5 years of minimum wage income did a number on getting me to spend money at all, including eating out.  About 10 years ago, I did a lot of running, half and full marathons.  I was slow then and now I need to lose weight to get fast enough to finish last, and honestly it wasn't that fun.  I don't enjoy gardening, I don't like arts and crafts, I was terrible at playing the piano.  My sister has invited me to join her on her hikes, but I've hiked everywhere around here and don't really like my sister.

I know no one can tell me what I will enjoy, but if I just take the leap and move out, will I be miserable and suicidal with boredom or will I find things to do beyond watching netflix and walking and listening to music and cooking?

Villanelle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6679
Re: finding hobbies in retirement
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2022, 06:36:50 PM »
I have thoughts on your situation, but that's not what you asked.  Are you open to feedback on that?

As for whether you will be bored or find things to do, I think most of that depends on effort.  For most people, these things don't just fall into their laps.  You take classes, you join groups, and you try things, many of which you likely won't enjoy, but eventually you'll get some things that stick.  Once of my favorite ways to meet people is to volunteer.  It gives a sense of purpose in and of itself, and also has you spending time with people who share a similar passion or affinity or belief.  And it is free. 

Since you mention opera, if you enjoy the arts, you can volunteer as a docent.  At some facilities, they spots are highly coveted and you have to work up to them and wait for openings, but at others, they are often in need of helpers.  You usually get to watch the shows for free, and contribute to the arts. 

You can also see what things your library offers.  Reading is a great, potentially free hobby, but many libraries lend things other than books.  My sister's library system, for example, lends ukeleles for someone wanting to learn to play.  That may not be your thing, but the larger point is that they may have hobby materials.  Some also have passes for local museums or other attractions. 

Runrooster

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 493
Re: finding hobbies in retirement
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2022, 07:51:25 PM »
Once of my favorite ways to meet people is to volunteer.  It gives a sense of purpose in and of itself, and also has you spending time with people who share a similar passion or affinity or belief.  And it is free. 

Since you mention opera, if you enjoy the arts, you can volunteer as a docent.  At some facilities, they spots are highly coveted and you have to work up to them and wait for openings, but at others, they are often in need of helpers.  You usually get to watch the shows for free, and contribute to the arts. 

I spent 20 years in the performing arts as a volunteer, usher, house manager...  You can spend money or you can spend time, but it's not free.  You used the word docent, which I associate with museums and static arts.  In any case, as I said, I think that phase of my life is over, unless I move back into the city, for the reasons I listed in my first post.

familyandfarming

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 145
Re: finding hobbies in retirement
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2022, 07:53:05 PM »
Have you considered taking a class? As example a yarn store would offer knitting classes to not only sell materials but also encourage new knitting skills. Check Facebook for meetup groups. Think outside the box, Frisbee Golf? Think of the groups that colleges have. Make your own group on Facebook? Good luck!

ObviouslyNotAGolfer

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 518
Re: finding hobbies in retirement
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2022, 01:19:34 AM »
I know from experience that nothing is as draining, exasperating, and mind-numbing as dealing with elder-care issues. I dealt with this for my parents and my aunt for the last three years of their lives (all died last year!)--it was a different situation from yours and I won't go on about the details. Your situation sounds even much harder than mine!

As for hobbies, as someone who has had innumerable hobbies over the years, I will say that it is a very personal thing and you have to just pursue what you find interesting. Music (especially classical and jazz) is a lifelong passion of mine, but I am glad I did not try to turn it into a career. I played the piano for years and it is HARD. If you want to excel at any instrument, you really have to give it your all and you have to LOVE practicing (unless you are phenomenally talented--one in ten million). My piano teacher was a student of a student of a student of Franz Liszt--strange because she did not like Liszt much as a composer. She always told me that some of the seemingly easy pieces are incredibly difficult to play well. Some piano transcriptions of Bach's chorales for example (Nun komm der Heiden Heiland; Ich ruf zu dir Herr Jesu Christ--transcendendly beautiful pieces) are seemingly simple, but she told me that she worked endlessly and sweated endlessly for years over these pieces before she was satisfied with them! She told me that in judging auditions and competitions, she was always interested in hearing how aspiring pianists would play the quiet, introspective pieces. Those who could crash out a Chopin Grand Brilliante Miliatary Spinato Polonaise (or whatever) are a dime a dozen, but how can you play the slow movement of the Ravel concerto in G or even the C major prelude from the Well Tempered Clavier?

Because you love music, I would suggest you continue exploring music. As the great Rachmaninoff said, "Music is more than enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is never enough for music". I recommend you delve deeply into Bach's music. For me (and many others), he is not only  the greatest composer in history but also the greatest genius who ever lived. Listen to the Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin, Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, Well Tempered Clavier, English Suites, French Suites, Partitas, Musical Offering, the cantatas, the Mass in B minor, etc, etc. This is to say nothing of his hundreds of works for pipe organ. Even if he wrote nothing but this, he would still be likely the greatest composer in history. One of the famous music historians once commented that the human race will never be able to completely understand the greatness of Bach and I completely agree. I was fortunate enough to visit Thomaskirche in Leipzig where he is entombed. It was like a pilgrmige to me.

You should also listen to Beethoven, especially the later piano sonatas and string quartets, the symphonies, Missa Solemnis. There was never a genius like Beethoven and I think many would place him second only to Bach. As I have told others-- I think there has never existed a greater soul than that of Beethoven.

Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy, Anton Brucker, R. Strauss, Nicolas de Grigny, Jean-Philippe Rameau, G.F. Handel, Robert Schumann, Alexandr Scriabin, John Luther Adams, Max Reger (advanced listening!), Hugo Wolf (advanced listening!) and many more are all waiting to be explored.

This is to say nothing of the greatness of jazz music, one of the great original art forms that was created basically out of nothing by some extremely talented poor black people after the Civil War. Personally, I would not trade three consecutive notes played by John Coltrane for all the rock music ever recorded!
« Last Edit: May 31, 2022, 01:33:54 AM by ObviouslyNotAGolfer »

Villanelle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6679
Re: finding hobbies in retirement
« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2022, 09:37:18 AM »
Once of my favorite ways to meet people is to volunteer.  It gives a sense of purpose in and of itself, and also has you spending time with people who share a similar passion or affinity or belief.  And it is free. 

Since you mention opera, if you enjoy the arts, you can volunteer as a docent.  At some facilities, they spots are highly coveted and you have to work up to them and wait for openings, but at others, they are often in need of helpers.  You usually get to watch the shows for free, and contribute to the arts. 

I spent 20 years in the performing arts as a volunteer, usher, house manager...  You can spend money or you can spend time, but it's not free.  You used the word docent, which I associate with museums and static arts.  In any case, as I said, I think that phase of my life is over, unless I move back into the city, for the reasons I listed in my first post.

IDK how remote you are, but local theaters need ushers.  Sure the production quality isn't as great, but it can still be enjoyable.  Small local museums need docents.  Again, you aren't going to see world-class art or artifacts, but you can still get something out of it.  And the greater point I mentioned was meeting like-minded people while are doing those activities. 


Runrooster

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 493
Re: finding hobbies in retirement
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2022, 06:04:13 PM »
Thanks for your thought out response ONaG.  I've heard a lot of classical music including the greats.  Right now I have a music series on WNYC I listen to while walking or working; I think you'd call it contemporary classical.  It's called New Sounds.  I max out at 4 hours a day before I want silence, most days much less.

I'm baffled that we got off on this tangent of a hobby I've already tried extensively and find unlikely to return to.  I would not call volunteering a good way to meet people who share my passion, if passion I still had.  Docents and other volunteers were by and large bored women twice my age who had more time than money, many of whom were there for the social atmosphere more than the concerts. Keep in mind I still have a paid, full time job, with insane hours a few months a year. 

I'm still hoping to hear stories of people who retired from stressful jobs, and after a period of decompression found new or old ways to relax.  I've been encouraging my parents to be more self-sufficient but I think actually moving out and knowing my Saturday is my own will make a difference.  It's been years since I spent a day at the Smithsonian, or National Gallery.  I was also remembering that I'd enjoy the First Friday Gallery Crawls.  I haven't kept track of what's re-opened post-Covid

Dreamer40

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 360
  • Location: Portland, OR
Re: finding hobbies in retirement
« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2022, 07:20:38 PM »
You might be bored or frustrated at first, or go through phases of dissatisfaction. But will likely find that new things suddenly strike your interest once you have time and energy for them. I mostly watched TV when I was still working and didn’t have a lot of energy for other things. Now I wonder how I ever had time to work.

I have to be a bit proactive to find new passions, but I always find them when I make an effort to. And it doesn’t take very long. Sometimes they don’t last, but then I find something else. I’ve never really been the type to dedicate my life to one job or hobby, though a few things have stuck with me longterm.

One way I’ve tried to find them is by browsing at the library. Like I picked up a book in the craft section on whittling wooden spoons. :) I ultimately did not pursue that as a hobby but it surprised me to discover I was curious about it. Another time, I suddenly felt drawn to origami so I ordered a basic instruction book and paper. That was fun for a while. I don’t know where the origami impulse came from, but I ran with it as soon as I felt it come on.

Another way to find things is through people. I’m in a book club with a few people and sometimes someone will mention something they like to do that never occurred to me. Or I’ll fall down a rabbit hole on YouTube about an activity I never cared about before.

Just being curious and open, plus putting in some effort like you would for any other goal, goes a long way.

Metta

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 773
Re: finding hobbies in retirement
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2022, 07:26:22 PM »
I'm still hoping to hear stories of people who retired from stressful jobs, and after a period of decompression found new or old ways to relax.  I've been encouraging my parents to be more self-sufficient but I think actually moving out and knowing my Saturday is my own will make a difference.  It's been years since I spent a day at the Smithsonian, or National Gallery.  I was also remembering that I'd enjoy the First Friday Gallery Crawls.  I haven't kept track of what's re-opened post-Covid

I left an extremely stressful job with very, very long hours. I had little time for hobbies. But my husband encouraged me to not just be running away from a bad job but to be running toward something I wanted to do. What I wanted to do (I thought) was to become a professional vegan chef, exercise, lose weight, write novels, and a bunch of other things.

What I discovered after six months of exhaustion and doing none of the above was that despite having listed “learn gourmet vegan cooking” as my top desire, I wasn’t interested anymore. Cooking and eating functioned as a stress valve. Whenever things got very, very bad at work, I fantasized about recipes and food. And sometimes in my spare time I made gourmet food.

I also discovered that I was exactly as interested in exercise and healthful eating after I left my job as I was before. Which is not nearly as much as would be good for me.

Writing, though is endlessly interesting and challenging. I couldn’t even do that the first year because the level of exhaustion was too great. I cried because I thought my husband would discover that the writing reason for leaving was all a fake. I was a giant fat snail that wasn’t cooking gourmet meals, exercising much, or writing. I was a total fraud.

I eventually confessed to him and he said that I was tired and would discover what I wanted to do and that I just needed to be patient with myself.

And that’s turned out to be true. I’ve discovered a love of digital art and, amazingly, watercolors. My love of writing has come back as long as I don’t put too much pressure on myself to produce something specific or make a certain amount of money. I’m enjoying hiking again. But mostly I enjoy controlling my own time and my own life.

I think this is not something you can plan for. You have to allow yourself to unfold once you’ve given yourself time and love. I doubt that you will find it in the first year. That first year is for kindness and healing. But you will find it. You won’t be bored. Or if you are, you’ll have the ability to find something that interests you.

kite

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 906
Re: finding hobbies in retirement
« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2022, 08:58:32 AM »
Get a church.

You say you've taken them to their church, but do YOU have a church?

Mankind invented religion for a purpose.  And that purpose is that we need congregation with others who share our values and outlook.  It's a family beyond the family to which we were born.  Sure, the most recognizable are the larger, organized religions of which there are many. And it's awesome if you can find a fit right there.  But if not, seek one. Belongingness is on the hierarchy of needs, and that's what I interpret as absent in your post.  Disconnect from others is a serious societal problem, exacerbated by the pandemic, and it gets harder and harder as we age. 

You don't need to actually believe in anything.  You can be atheist or agnostic and still find your tribe. It may or may not overlap with a hobby.  Could be CrossFit or Birdwatching or a Bowling league.  Every organized religion is also full of plenty of atheists and agnostics who are along for the ride, keeping peace with a spouse or parent, or just showing up for the post-services coffee & donuts. If your values align, you're already halfway there.  Ideally, though, you find a group with whom you click. Book club? Choral group? Lindy Hop dancing? Local politics?

The key is the connection with others who value the same things and a group who will persist long after your family of origin is gone. The hobby evolves from there. 


FIRE 20/20

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 759
Re: finding hobbies in retirement
« Reply #10 on: June 02, 2022, 02:49:57 PM »
I am just guessing here, but I wonder if perhaps your lack of passion and interest comes from being stressed, depressed, and or overwhelmed.  I've suffered from depression for most of my life, and when I was going through a bout of it nothing I previously enjoyed was enjoyable any more.  The music I liked, the sports I enjoyed playing, the books I enjoyed reading, all became tiresome and draining.  Lack of interest in previous interests is a very common criterion for diagnosing depression, and I think it applies generally when you're stressed, anxious, or overworked. 
If any of that might be the cause, then trying to find a hobby might be the wrong thing to do at this stage.  I would suggest trying to fix the underlying situation first, then decompress, then see if you can start to put together a more complete and full life. 

Good luck.