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Relaxing is one thing that’s good to do after you retire, but too much relaxing can get boring. However, it doesn’t need to be that way. Getting out and staying active will help make your retirement fulfilling. Most people tend to retire later in life, so while rock climbing might be off your list of accessible activities, these five recreational activities are perfect for the average retiree.
Travel
Now that you’re not tied down to a 9-5 job, it’s time to get out and see the world! If you have the means to travel abroad, you can start marking off your bucket list of places you’ve always wanted to visit. If you’re on a budget, there are still plenty of places within the states that are easy to get to by bus, train, car, or plane. Some retirees opt to rent an RV to travel, hoping across the country from the campground to campground. There are also cruise options that let you travel, see sites, and live in luxury while on a ship. In a survey of 1,350 retired Americans, Wes Moss found that the happiest retirees reported taking an average of 2.4 vacations a year, while the least happy only took 1.4 per year.
Target Shooting
Target shooting is an activity that requires minimal physical fitness, and choosing to shoot with a small, lightweight weapon can make it even easier. Target shooting can take place at an indoor shooting range or outside with clay targets. If you’re up for keeping your reflexes sharp, try out skeet shooting! Clay targets are thrown into the air at a variety of angles that you have to shoot.
Another type of shooting competition you’ll be able to find locally is a turkey shoot. In a turkey shoot, people use shotguns to shoot small targets. The best shots can win money or food like turkeys and hams. To get started in a hobby with firearms, you can purchase a ready-to-go gun with a laser attachment or build your own with a DIY gun build kit.
Fishing
There’s nothing more relaxing than putting on some outdoor clothing, throwing a line in the water, and sitting back with a cold one while you wait for a nibble. Fishing is an activity that you can do on a small scale, like fishing for bass in a pond or lake, or you can get into to bring home the big trophy fish of the ocean. Fishing is also a great activity that you can share with your grandchildren. If you’ve never been fishing before, a good idea to get started is to book a fishing trip with a charter company. A charter company will take you on their boat, plant you right on top of the fish, and provide you with all the gear and bait you’ll need. They’ll show you the ropes and make sure you have a successful fishing trip.
Boating
If you’ve taken to fishing, you might also want to invest in a boat! An affordable Jon boat with a simple trolling motor can make for a great day of fishing on a lake. Or, if you’d prefer to skip fishing and just enjoy the mobility of a boat on the water, a larger boat may be right for you. If you’d like to try out different styles of boats, you can find a daily boat rental company. You’ll likely need to take a boating safety course, which you can take in person or online. When you own or rent a boat, the fun possibilities are endless! With the right boat, you could travel up and down the coast as you please.
Find a New Way to Exercise
When you were working, you may have been crunched for time, and hitting the gym for exercise was the best option. Now that you’ve got plenty of time on your hands, you can find a new and exciting way to get your heart pumping. Think swimming, hiking, yoga, bicycling, and walking a dog. Or, you could really go outside the box and throw dance parties with your fellow retirees!
We hope these five recreational activities have given you some fun ideas for things to do in your retirement. Stay active and keep yourself busy to keep those boredom blues away!
