what do single over 60s do for entertainment and holidays

moneyistooshorttomention

I see people have already suggested walking - though milder ones if you have problem ankles obviously.

I notice some people in my present area make a real hobby of dancing (of various descriptions) and perhaps go to several different styles of in a week. Add in the various offshoots from them.

I have decided personally to go in for quite a wide range of dance styles - even if they aren't "my" preferred styles. My preferred styles are bellydance, bhangra and Bollywood. But I'm willing to even consider line dance, country dance and even stretch and do the salsa/waltz/etc type dancing (which isn't really my thing). In a smaller area there may well not be the type of dance you personally want (probably isn't in fact:() - but there will be other people going to the type of dance that isn't "their" type of thing - as its that or no dance. So you can still meet people who like your type of dance and, at one class I go to we have now taken to having coffee together too and starting to make friends with each other.

Sometimes its possible to start going to a type of class you know very well at the outset is unlikely to last (yep...that will be Welsh language classes here then....) and indeed the classes finished as people dropped out right, left and centre. By then though some of us had made friends with each other anyway and that has continued.

Its surprising how many people haven't explored the area they are living in very thoroughly - whether its their home area or no. I knew my Home Area very well obviously - but there is quite a bit of exploring I could do to get to know it better if I was still there. Now I'm New Area - then I barely know the area anyway - so am getting out and about and virtually taking squares on the map and exploring them thoroughly at a basic level and then onto the next square on the map. Once I've done all nearby "squares" at a basic level - then I will go back and explore them more in-depth. Needs must to some extent - as its harder to find walks on the level here - but, bit by bit, I am finding those more level walks and trying to tell myself "The locals here must be fitter than we are - with all these hills they have to walk up - so if they can get that fit...then surely we can?"

Gardening - though you have your foodgrowing you do anyway. But you could maybe experiment a bit more with growing interesting new foods and medicinal herbs? That's one of my personal aims - ie to grow the type of thing I cant find to buy anywhere.

I guess I'm basically suggesting an outlook of thinking in terms of Projects and that gives some sort of focus/you feel you're learning something/you gradually get something you're good at and people asking for advice on it as they realise you're learning about it..

[Deleted User]

I am not wanting to diversify my projects just now, I have been gardening creatively for 45 years, so no new gardening, although I do appreciate the suggestion. Dancing I am afraid gives me hip ache, which I don`t want in the future. I think basically that I have 5 good creative hobbies, so that will do for now. I did try willow weaving a few years ago, nice but not for me

I am open to a cruise perhaps (a tentative perhaps) maybe in several years time. Our best holiday was tbh a coach tour to the Italian lakes, luxury coach, a fab tour and a good diverse mix of people. A timely coach trip brochure has just arrived in the post. Maybe this autumn, after my new kitchen is in

U3a. I was reading one of their mags this morning. It does sound fun but there were plenty of pedantic type letters in there. Maybe next year, once I have sorted parking in my little town several miles away

I am not wanting to learn anything new on the academic front, I had that the whole of my life. We have a book club in the village but I don`t go as I hate being directed in my reading. Lol, I just realised that I am reading a book called `gut` by Guilia Enders. It is a brilliant read but I still have a scientific brain and am a healing being so a book like that suits me perfectly. Troilus and Cressida in college book club finished me off, all that pontificating by an arrogant laid back lecturer, when all I wanted to do was get back to the electronic logic gates or test tubes or learn new knots for climbing in mountain leadership

Farway

U3A is a mixed bag, I was in two groups, one was fine, other was very clique

There seems to be a mixed feeling to U3A, some think it should be scholarly, others, like me, think it should be helpful and social

You never know what you will find

I am no longer a member

seven-day-weekend

I have a friend who I met playing Scrabble online! She just came into my game as a random opponent, we got' talking' through the online chat associated with the game, this all went on for a few months, then we decided to meet up and now we go out somewhere every few months. As she is in Yorkshire and I am in the Midlands, we usually meet at a railway station of the place we are visiting, but sometimes she brings her car (I never do ).

Our next Jaunt is Brighouse, near where C lives, on August 13th, with another lady who C met playing another online game .

So that's how I made one friend. I would also recommend interest groups, or if you are so inclined, religious or political activities.

The National Trust is a good idea too, I am a member.

Good luck! x

lilahloo

Hi

Google Meetup. I'm a member of a few different groups near me - been on walks, coffee meets, cinema, weekend away. It can be hit and miss depending on where you live but worth checking out.

lessonlearned

Great thread Kittie, I am reading the various suggestions with great interest.

Can you sing, joining a choir might be a nice way of enjoying music and meeting people if your hips aren't up to dancing.

I might give U3A a whirl next winter. I'm not sure about long coach tours so i might try a couple of short hops first, rather than committing to a long trip.

I must admit I do like cruising but not sure if I want to go on one on my own just yet. Don't think I'm ready yet, maybe next year.

I'm afraid walking isn't for me at the moment because I have a foot fracture which is refusing to heal.

My son gets married next year and I desperately need to,lose weight and get fit for that, so I think I'll make a start with a slimming club, maybe join a gym and some dance classes, if my foot can cope.

That should get me out of the house for starters.

Savvy_Sue

lessonlearned wrote: »

Can you sing, joining a choir might be a nice way of enjoying music and meeting people if your hips aren't up to dancing.

Even if you think you can't sing, you may find a local community choir where that really doesn't matter! There's a wellbeing choir near me which has a great mix of people, and I go to a gospel choir where we have a broad range of actual ability, but we sound great and have good fun.

pandora205

Painting course at the mo, and have done weekend workshops and one overseas painting outdoors course, which was fab.

Rock Choir - great fun and very busy this year with big event at NEC and we are backing Russell Watson.

Skiing - I've been with various companies but wouldn't hesitate to stay in a chalet in most parts of the Alps.

I've volunteered for Pueblo Ingles (now Diverbo) which is an overseas English emersion cours, in Spain which was exhausting but fun.

lessonlearned

pandora205 wrote: »

Painting course at the mo, and have done weekend workshops and one overseas painting outdoors course, which was fab.

Rock Choir - great fun and very busy this year with big event at NEC and we are backing Russell Watson.

Skiing - I've been with various companies but wouldn't hesitate to stay in a chalet in most parts of the Alps.

I've volunteered for Pueblo Ingles (now Diverbo) which is an overseas English emersion cours, in Spain which was exhausting but fun.

Ooh I would be interested in the language course. . Could you please post a link.

moneyistooshorttomention

Hopefully, for Kittie, she is in England re that choir suggestion. I cant sing for the life of me - but had wondered about one of those "it doesn't matter if you cant sing anyway" type choirs:rotfl:. However, where I now am, there is a choir like it - but they are a Welsh language one:(.

Keeping my fingers crossed that another one might start up here that I can go to...(yep...I never did learn more than a few words of Welsh and have rather decided not to - long story...).