Hobbies for Retired Men: The Best Years of Life
Author, Cynthia Ross Tustin – June 22, 2023
Hobbies for retired men?
Are you a retired man, looking for something to do in your newly-found free time? Then this is the place where all of your questions will be answered! I’ll share my research on some incredible hobbies that are perfect for retired men.
Everything from outdoor activities and adventure sports to traditional indoor pursuits – I’m sure there will be at least one which suits everyone perfectly. If you’re struggling to find something (aside from your honey-do list) to stay active, that’s both fun and interesting and appeals to you then keep reading. There are plenty of ideas right here. Let me show what options could work best for you; so, shall we get started??
Outdoor Hobbies for Retired Men
Retired people have a ton of spare time to kill. That’s a popular misconception. We actually don’t have more time than the non-retired. What we actually have is more time to call our own. Big difference!
One of the best ways to lay claim to your own time is by getting involved in hobbies outdoors. It could be gardening, fishing or birdwatching – there are plenty of activities for an older man looking to find some amusement outside his home.
Gardening
Gardening allows retired people the chance at being creative on a larger scale. You choose and arrange plants, trees, and shrubs around your property. Gardening, aka landscaping, provides physical activity, fresh air and sun, and increased home value. All this, while heading out into nature on a regular basis.
“Gardening” isn’t just pretty flowers and pulling ugly weeds. Maybe “gardening” in retirement is the time to explore some of those off-grid passions. Growing your own food for example.
Take “gardening” up a notch by building your own self-sustaining irrigation system from stored rainwater. Maybe go soilless with hydroponics. Consider building a greenhouse from a kit ( we did).
This is what ours looks like, only black. And we bought two and put them end-to-end for more space.
Always wanted to “grow your own”? Marijuana is legal in many places. Try experimenting with different strains to improve your sleep or reduce joint pain. Or, I don’t judge, the best buzz.
Speaking of buzz. “Gardening” and beekeeping go hand in hand. Gather your own honey to put on your homegrown carrots.
And my final word(s) on “gardening”, is don’t forget about growing your own grapes for wine, hops for beer, and apples for cider.
And if you need an expert opinion on the subject of gardening and retirement, check out my interview with Franki Flowers!
Fishing
Fishing is another great hobby for retired, or retiring, men. Granted, it’s fun for everyone. But since it was my grandfather that taught me to catch and gut fish, I still think of it as kind of a manly activity.
It offers both tranquillity and competition! You can fish to relax and simply enjoy nature. Or you participate in some healthy competition in tournaments while making some extra cash. The choice is yours.
Fishing also offers “options.” And I mean “options” beyond bass vs trout. Fish from the shore or a boat. Fly fishing vs spin fishing.
FAQ Side Note
Fly fishing is typically on moving water, though still water is still present and done frequently. Conversely, spin fishing is primarily done on still water vs rivers. That’s according to The Hatch and The Catch.
Fishing is also a hobby that can afford you the opportunity to travel – think ice fishing or deep-sea fishing!
Want to learn more about the intricacies of ice fishing? Read my post about ice fishing here in Ontario.
Jonesing for deep-sea fishing? Get in touch with my friend Vibert down on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. You can find Vibert in Garza for the best adventure ever!
And by the way, Garza is just one of the many fabulous beach towns on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.
Birdwatching
Birdwatching has become very popular. Its low-cost entry point means anyone can get started easily. And it can be as physically strenuous as you choose. Sit on the porch and enjoy watching them come to the feeders you’ve hung. Or hike just about any terrain, anywhere in the world to see rare and magnificent birds.
Friends recently went to the Galapagos Islands for a bucket list trip…that included some serious birdwatching. Since the Galapagos Islands are a protected World Heritage Site, it’s one of the few places on earth you can still see Flightless Cormorants or the rare Blue-footed Boobies.
If the Galapagos Island for Blue-footed Boobies isn’t your thing because it’s too far. Consider the jungle birds found in Central America.
A decent set of binoculars is really all you need! My husband prefers a pair of Adorrgon Binoculars.
They were relatively inexpensive. And they’re also lightweight and pack easily. They have enough “zoom” that even I can see with them. And if you’re a gadget guy, you can link it to your cellphone and use it as the viewfinder.
Whether solo birding or accompanied by others, this is a great outdoor hobby! It’s fun when trying to identify different species near your local area or internationally.
Vintage Cars
Perhaps it’s time to turn your ability to maintain your own vehicles into restoring vintage cars. Try this Ultimate Classic Car Restoration Guide. Or perhaps you’d like 8 Pro Tips for Restoring a Classic Car on a Small Budget.
Alternatively, maybe you’ve always had a vintage car. But now retirement will allow you more time for show and shines, and other types of restoration car shows. Maybe you just need a bit of advice from someone at Car and Driver Magazine to get that classic car clean and show-ready.
Your wife will probably kill me for mentioning this. But did you know you can race them? There are actually plenty of places to get started with vintage racing.
Never too old, here’s our friends Frank and Connie at one of their many vintage MGB races. He’s still fast, and she’s totally the pit crew boss!
If you’re looking for a hobby that’s a bit more unusual, consider metal detecting, dog sledding, or even drone flying. There’s more in the post, 40 Unusual Hobbies for Seniors. Whichever outdoor pastime you decide upon, retired guys will have no problem staying busy.
Indoor Hobbies for Retired Men
Woodworking
Retired men often turn to indoor hobbies as a way of passing time and staying busy. Woodworking is becoming increasingly popular due to its creativity-inspiring nature. Plus there’s the satisfaction that comes with crafting something with your own two hands.
When my dad retired, he took up bird and fish carving out of the blue. It was a complete shock to all of us that he could do it; because up until he retired, the only things he ever carved were his fingertips on his table saw! So that’s why I included carving under woodworking.
Up your basic carpentry skills to cabinet-making now that you have time. How about wood turning, wood carving (keep your fingers) or wood burning? Check out this article about 5 amazing woodworking hobbies.
As a retired fire chief, I think I’d be kind of partial to “wood burning” myself!
Glassblowing
It’s hot, physically demanding, and freaking awesome! Granted, slinging molten glass isn’t for everyone. But it is fascinating, even if you just watch. It can be a very expensive pastime, so I suggest you try a weekend class first.
If you’re here in Ontario, then the best place to go and try this is Artech Glass Studio in Tory Hill.
Music
Even science is behind you taking up the drums or the tuba, even if your spouse isn’t. The National Library of Medicine published an article about the cognitive benefits that can be had from a musical activity back in 2019. The gist of it is…it’s good for you. Although it didn’t specifically mention the drums or the tuba, I’m sure they count. Lifelong musicians received the most benefits, duh. But it also proved it was never too late to start!
So with music in mind, don’t limit yourself to just learning an instrument. You can start writing music, collecting vinyl, or making your own electric guitar (Karoll Guitars is now accepting students for its January 2024 guitar-making class). Maybe it’s time to start your own garage band!
FAQ Side Note
Based on my research, Colette Maze, a French classical pianist, still concertizing at age 107. Born in 1914, she released her first album in 1998 and in 2021 at 107, she released her 6th.
Writing
My friend Bill is a complete renaissance man and he retired a few years back and turned his love of research, reading, and travel into great fiction novels. Two novels to be exact, and a third one on the way. He writes from a well of a lifetime experience. No doubt you can as well.
Can’t do fiction? Try poetry. And no, not “there was a man from Nantucket”! Can’t do poetry try writing articles for magazines, local newspapers, or your grandkid’s sports team newsletters. Just start.
Think you might like to blog? I know I make it look sooooo easy! You don’t have to write about travel or hobbies like I do. Just write about what you know – think of content writing as a form of consulting. In fairness, it’s not that easy, but it’s also not rocket science.
If you’re certain blog writing is the exact kind of writing you want, then head over to Scale Your Travel Blog for a free webinar, The 3 Secrets To Exponentially Grow Your Travel Blog, to learn the ins and outs, and how to get started. Don’t let the travel word dissuade you if you want to write a golf blog or an accounting blog. What they’ll teach crosses all genres.
Games
I’m not talking about Snakes and Ladders with the neighbour kids. Some games men have already been playing competitively for years. Poker, darts, snooker, and bowling are just a few. Join a league, and make some friends!
Adventure Hobbies for Retired Men
In retirement, your time is your own. So why not explore something new and exciting? Adventure hobbies offer a great way for retirees to stay active while having an adventure, unlike any other traditional pastimes.
FAQ Side Note
These are often outdoor activities that have varying levels of difficulty and come with potential risks or dangers involved with the activities. Some adventurous hobbies may require special training or certifications to enjoy them fully. that’s according to Morton’s On the Move.
Rock Climbing
How about rock climbing as an adventurous hobby for retired men? I mean regular rock climbing. You know, starting in a gym, with ropes, and mats, and stuff. Not the ridiculous Tom Cruise rock climbing in a Mission Impossible movie, kind of rock climbing!
Why don’t you consider bouldering? Bouldering is climbing a section of a simulated rock face that’s generally not more than 15 feet high. If you can climb stairs or a ladder and aren’t significantly overweight, then experts say you can climb walls.
Honestly, if you’re a bit bored at home, aren’t you already climbing the walls?!
Check out this article about bouldering, it’s aimed at the over-50 crowd – Bouldering for Older Adults.
And if you’ve mastered the indoor rock wall and want to level up, consider taking the private outdoor rock climbing class with your own personal instructor.
Check availability here for the private rock climbing class.
Skydiving
We all know the old saying, “Why would anyone jump out of a perfectly good airplane?” The short answer is, that it’s freakin’ awesome.
FAQ Side Note
It’s considered a daring and exhilarating thing to do. And it’s also a relatively easy item to cross off your list. Furthermore, it’s not hard to find a reputable skydiving club near you. There’s one in my town of Innisfil called Toronto Skydive. It’s also not heinously expensive, generally less than $400.
SCUBA Diving
Diving in general is one of those hobbies that’s great at any age. And it’s one of those activities that offers a natural progression of difficulty or challenge. It’s pretty common to start with snorkelling and catch the bug to see more, go down farther, and stay under longer.
Experts at Smithsonian Magazine say that one of the best places in the world to go snorkelling is Ambergris Caye, in Belize.
Combine snorkelling and travel with a trip to the Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour – Ambergris Caye.
Move up to shallow diving from snorkelling. If you’ve been diving for years, then retirement could be your opportunity to take it up a notch. Take your love of diving and become a dive master, and train others. It might also be a good way to subsidize your hobby.
Feel the need to ratchet it up further? Consider cave diving or even wreck diving. Those both require extra equipment, travel to some pretty unique locations and a fair amount of expertise. But that sounds like something you might value in a retirement pastime.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for, check out this post on wreck diving in Micronesia.
Surfing
Seriously, surfing is the bomb! And while I fully advocate for the ladies too, this post is aimed at the lads. Trust me when I tell you that 60 is not too old to take up surfing. If I can do it, you can do it. Surfing in Nosara 2023 – The Best Advice for Beginner Surfers Over 60.
Go someplace warm, sunny, and well known for a mild to moderate surf break. The Pacific Coast is generally best. Find yourself a qualified instructor, and invest in some lessons. You need to be able to swim and have a reasonable fitness level. that’s it. Start with the white water, and then move on to the green water Moon Doggie!
Cycling
Cycling is another hobby you can easily take up later in life. You can ride locally for pleasure. You can join a road cycling group and pedal for miles.
Don’t want to put in that much effort? Or simply want to cycle while sightseeing? Consider an e-bike. All of the fun…far less work. Feel free to pedal downhill, but let the bike do the steep hills.
All these activities come with few risks when done correctly, and when you follow the appropriate instructions. And of course, use the necessary gear properly. This ensures the maximum amount of enjoyment and keeps the worrying consequences to a minimum.
Sports Hobbies for Retired Men
As men get older, they enter a unique period of their lives – retirement. During this time many are looking for new activities to occupy themselves with. Sports hobbies can be an amazing way for retired gentlemen to stay active and connected as they embrace the change that comes with maturing years.
Golf, Obviously
Golfing is a great hobby and one that many of you already do. It provides a certain competitive pleasure but also enables you to socialize while out on the course in a low-impact manner.
If you’re a golfing newbie, don’t let it intimidate you. Rent some clubs and take a few lessons. Remember, all those buddies that are bragging about their handicap…are probably embellishing – a lot! It’s like fish stories! Start with a driving range, and take one of your grandkids.
Off-Road Racing
Think off-road racing is just for the younger crowd? You know the ones I mean. The ones that can tuck and roll like a ninja, and then get back on the bike. While older guys just don’t bounce the way they use to, they also fall off far less often. So win-win.
I’m married to one of these over 60 riders, so I can attest that there’s still lots of race left in the rider. There are plenty of off-road amateur racing opportunities. You can choose from ATVs to dirt bikes to dual sports.
If bikes are your thing, then there are motocross, enduro, and hare scrambles to choose from. If it’s ATVs that you love, they also have endurance and cross-country racing (and speed racing, and mud bogging).
Join an off-road club like the Simcoe County Off-Road Riders Association or the Halton Off-Road Riders Association because clubs like these sponsor their own races. Groups like these help maintain trails and can help make sure you’re following all the rules and licencing requirements. They’re also very social and can be a great way to make like-minded friends.
Archery
Archery and bow hunting are ancient sports. And while I might be using the words “bow hunting”, I simply mean it from the target shooting perspective. Groups like Archery 360 will tell you it’s great at any age. They say that “it improves focus, posture, memory and hand-eye coordination,” which are all good for seniors.
You can compete against yourself, improving your accuracy (like golf) or join clubs and participate in tournaments (like golf).
Technology has done great things for the compound bow. You might enjoy some of its benefits over the traditional bow. Archery 360 also has this to say about compound bows.
“Compound bows are easier to draw, aim and shoot. Their cams or wheels roll over during the draw cycle to reduce the bow’s draw weight at full draw. That let-off goes as high as 90%, meaning archers only hold 7 pounds at full draw on a bow with a 70-pound peak draw weight. Repeatability is critical to accuracy.”
— Achery 360
If you have an interest in learning target shooting of any type, places like Wolf’s Den, here in Ontario, can help you. Beginners should really try activities like archery or shooting before they invest the time and money into these sports. Places like Wolf’s Den are more than just sales. They offer substantial training and safe and monitored practice ranges.
Let’s Sum Up Hobbies for Retired Men
Hobbies for retired men?
At the end of it all, retirement is a great chance to try out new hobbies or extend existing ones. There are endless pursuits that men who have retired can go for – both indoor and outdoor, as well as mellow and adventurous activities.
For those looking for something more extreme yet safe at the same time, try options like surfing or rock climbing. Lastly, if you desire more sports-related undertakings then golfing and off-road racing would fit easily into your schedule, and provide the benefits of physical exercise and social interaction.
No matter what hobby you ultimately choose during retirement, you can rest assured that this period can kickstart new interests, activities and pursuits…in addition to the “honey do” list!
If you’re keen to remain “in the know” about all the latest news and trends for a fun and interesting retirement, let me know, and I’ll keep sending regular blog updates your way. If that sounds like something up your alley, please join my mailing list today! I promise not to abuse your inbox.
Cheers,
Cynthia
Looking for more to do in your newly found spare time?
Cynthia Ross Tustin retired early to pursue her passion for writing. Turns out, she's equally passionate about retirement! This author has spent 1000s of hours researching all the best that retirement has to offer. What you'll find here is a well-curated resource of amazing places to go and fun things to do as your retirement approaches. Not retired, no problem! There's plenty here for all of us that are "of a certain vintage"!