What to do with all your time?

katejo

westv said:

katejo said:

zagubov said:

Learning stuff.

It’s one of the few things that slows down the subjectively accelerating pace of time as you age.

I was an OU tutor many moons ago while also being a full-time lecturer in a college.  Quit the OU to do a part-time degree alongside my full-time job.

However, at least back then, OU tutors could enrol on other OU courses either free or subsidised. 

When I finally retire f want to look into that again. If you’ve got expertise in anything academic there might be  a way of earning, helping others to learn and/or learning something new. Obviously go to the summer schools to meet and bond with fellow-students.

There used to be A level and GCSE evening classes at many local colleges but that seems to have been cut savagely.

Other distance learning providers are available -i’m not currently an OU employee or related to one, so I don’t want to push that one particular provider but I’ve always been banging on about it being such an overlooked resource.

So much learning to do.

That's one of my plans once I am fully retired. I want to be able to do daytime classes instead of evening. Sometimes I  have found courses of interest  (perhaps a series of lectures) but I can't book just 1 and take a day off. I have to book all 6 which isn't possible while  still working. 

Do actual classes still exist? I thought everything was online now.

The centre which I have in mind does still have a building and cafe so I assume that some courses are still being held there. I don't want to do courses online. I want interaction in person and reasons to go out!

lesbro

2 Years ago my husband bought me a 3D printer for my 80th birthday. Last Christmas he bought me a larger one so my time is spent making plastic gifts for my family and friends. I also belong to a dolls house club and a craft club. I don't have time to be bored and am enjoying my hobbies that I didn't have time for when I was younger. I also have 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

cfw1994

So, amongst all the finance discussions....I thought I would revamp this little one - a reminder to put as much thought into WHAT you plan to do with your later years as you do to how you will fund them 😉

No grandchildren in the pipeline here - both offspring (late 20s) making the most of time in London, so January saw us spend a bit of time down there with them.....after they came to us for a relaxing Christmas.

February was spend chilling with friends, beer & MUCH comedy - managed to see 9 shows this year at the Leicester Comedy Festival - one memorable highlight being Rob Deering, a man with VERY funny funnybones - catch him if you can!

Soon we will head off for a month in the mountains: good for the soul 💪  
We will drive down to Les Arcs & slide disgracefully about for 4 weeks ⛷️. We are neither fast nor massively confident, having started in our 40s, but we can get around fairly competently.   Our offspring will join us for a week each, & other pals are out in the resort for the last 2 weeks.  Skiing is never going to be a "cheap" holiday, but going for a month gets an apartment at 30% off, and 2 weeks ski pass covers the season, so cheaper than it might be 👀

Festivals and fun planned for later in the year.   Then a thought ahead to visiting relatives & friends down under, maybe for 2026. 

eastcorkram

I've now been retired for 11 weeks. So far, I've power washed the wheelie bins, and descaled the kettle. 

Albermarle

eastcorkram said:

I've now been retired for 11 weeks. So far, I've power washed the wheelie bins, and descaled the kettle. 

Soon you will be able to cut the lawn 

kempiejon

Albermarle said:

eastcorkram said:

I've now been retired for 11 weeks. So far, I've power washed the wheelie bins, and descaled the kettle. 

Soon you will be able to cut the lawn 

I am afraid to announce that I cut mine last week, I saw the council ride-ons out too and neighbours were out this morning. The lawn chore season is upon us.

Stubod

I set up a local "Old gits cycling club", had our first ride out of the season today. Initially just me on an electric bike, everybody else manual. But we have now got another 2 members converted to electric....

ali_bear

Around my area there is a thing called u3a or university of the third age. From what I can make out, it is nothing to do with learning and more of a multi-branch hobby club for pensioners. That's all well and good, only I wouldn't want to join any club that would have me as a member. 

bjorn_toby_wilde

I’m doing a thing called “Walk 1000 miles”, which spookily involves walking 1000 miles in a year (or less than a year if you can). It’s something I never found time to do when working as I cycle a fair bit too (something had to give). I’m up to 220 miles so far this year.

I like walking anyway but recording my mileage gives me that added impetus and I now plan at least one full day walk in every week, either locally or in the Peaks/Shropshire/Wales.

I worked out that the regular walk to my local was a 2.9 mile round trip so I could make over 1000 miles by going to the pub every day.  Unfortunately that idea didn’t go down well with the OH and I suppose it might also be a bit counter productive fitness wise 😁

westv

ali_bear said:

Around my area there is a thing called u3a or university of the third age. From what I can make out, it is nothing to do with learning and more of a multi-branch hobby club for pensioners. That's all well and good, only I wouldn't want to join any club that would have me as a member. 

U3A has been mentioned several times in different threads on here. It covers all of the UK I think. As far as I can see, the list of activities available can vary quite a lot.
We did have one nearby but it must have closed down as I can't find it mentioned anywhere now. I'm not retired just yet but, whether I'd search for another further away, I'm not sure. For me, it would need more than coffee mornings or bridge groups.