These are the Best Active Hobbies For Retired Couples

By Cynthia Ross Tustin – 2022-10-11

In my opinion, based on countless hours of research and time spent arguing with my husband about it, these are the best active hobbies for retired couples. In this post, I’ll look at a study that shows what retirees are actually doing, the difference between hobbies and interests, and things the two of you can do together.

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In the past, I’ve written about unusual retirement hobbies for seniors. But not all of them can be done with your significant other. I actually wrote it because I was looking for things to do while I wait for mine to retire. But I’m definitely not sitting on the front porch waiting for him!

Today I thought I’d share what we might do when we both have spare time, keeping in mind that we want to stay fit and healthy. In my opinion, based on countless hours of research, and time spent arguing with my husband about it, these are the best active hobbies for retired couples.

In this post, I’ll look at real data, like the survey from the Bureau of Labour Statistics (and other legit data) that reveals what some retirees are actually doing, the difference between hobbies and interests, and things the two of you can do together to stay active.

What Do Retired Couples Do All Day

The short answer? Whatever the heck they want! But what will surprise you is just how much time retirees actually spend doing “whatever the heck they want.”

In a study called the American Time Use Survey (TUS), the data shows basically that we live our retired life exactly like we live our work lives. Obviously, all those basic activities that make up everyday life stay the same. When we retire, our daily routines still include, sleeping, household chores, shopping for groceries or walking the dog.

The survey showed that in retirement, we reallocate 2.5 hours from work to “leisure”. The TUS loosely considers “leisure” as doing things that you choose to do. In other words, we reallocate about 20% of our day from obligations to activities of choice. That’s just under 10 hours per week.

And I’ll be honest, I thought 10 hours per week on leisure activities sounded a bit sad for a person’s retirement. Then I read further and found out that almost 6 of those 10 hours were spent watching TV. Now that feels really sad; I didn’t cry, but my eyes definitely welled up!

And to be fair, the survey did say we spend just under an hour per week socializing. And that wasn’t counted as leisure time. We probably always spent about an hour per week socializing.

If spending just under 10 hours per week on leisure activities doesn’t sound like an appealing way for you and your spouse to spend your “golden years”, then buckle up. Let’s dive right into the best hobbies for retired couples!

“We work all our lives so we can retire – so we can do what we want with our time – and the way we define or spend our time defines who we are and what we value.”

– Bruce Linton, Fatherhood: The Journey from Man to Dad

Interests vs Hobbies

What’s the Difference Between the Two?

Is there an actual difference between the two? Yup. Hobbies have a tendency to be things we’ve done, or can do for years. While interests tend to be a bit more fleeting. Learning a new language for example qualifies as an interest, not a hobby.

The differences between the words hobby and interest should not be confused with the word “interesting”. There are tons of interesting hobbies out there!

Use Interests to Determine Your Hobbies

Your interests can help determine your hobbies. I bet you read that sentence and went duh! Generally, most hobbies are interests, but not all interests are hobbies. It’s like that saying, “all thumbs are fingers, but not all fingers are thumbs.”

French cuisine is an interest. Regularly taking french cooking classes might be a hobby. Wanting to understand the subtle differences between France’s varietal grapes is an interest. Collecting wine from France is a hobby.

Do you and your significant other share certain interests? What if you don’t? If you and your spouse aren’t always on the same page, finding hobbies to do together might prove difficult. But look at your different interests as a way to research potential hobbies from different angles.

Your spouse likes hunting. You hate the idea of killing Bambi. You both have an interest in nature conservation. Try following that thread of interest and you might find that bird-watching or duck calls could be your shared hobby.

Perhaps it’s not about the animals. Perhaps it’s being a skilled outdoors person. Try an outdoor hobby like target practice with a compound bow at a range. (Take a look at hobby #11.) You get the drift.

Hobbies for Retired Couples

Science has proven that our partners are often the key to personal growth in retirement. Looking for hobbies and shared interests that can help strengthen your relationship is important. The conversation you and your spouse have about the hobby is probably as important as doing the hobby.

“These results suggest that during retirement, partners play an important role in encouraging opportunities for growth as an investment toward future retirement satisfaction and health.“

Tomlinson JM, Feeney BC, Peters BJ. Growing into retirement: Longitudinal evidence for the importance of partner support for self-expansion. Psychol Aging. 2020 Nov;35(7):1041-1049. doi: 10.1037/pag0000560. Epub 2020 Jul 13. PMID: 32658538; PMCID: PMC8344796.

Active Hobbies

Don’t think for a second that baby boomer retirees are sedentary and that we’re “settin’ out on the front porch in rockin’ chairs whittling the day away”. Our cohort is super active. We are the generation that invented exercise videos, Participation commercials, and “sweating to the oldies.”

I mean geez Louise, we invented freakin’ leg warmers for crying out loud!!! My point is, that we are used to being active, we aren’t waiting until retirement to start being active.

Not to belabor the point, but we’re so active in fact, it’s often to our detriment. Sixty might be the new forty…but not for your knees. Take a look at this quote from The Women’s Health Research Centre.

“Women and men between the ages of 45 and 64 were more than twice as likely to have had knee replacement surgery in 2009 than in 1997, recent data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) show.  The rates among women were even higher. Knee replacement surgery is most common in people whose knees have been damaged by osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis, or injury. Due to their age and fondness for sports, Baby Boomers fit neatly into each category.”

Women’s Health Research Institute

I don’t bring this up to alarm you. Just to inform you. And to reinforce that athletic hobbies make great couples’ hobbies and that there’s no need to avoid them. We bounce back great!

4 out of 5 Older Adults Choose Active Pursuits

According to that article, based on a study from the National Health & Aging Trends Study (NHATS) older adults (over 65) listed their preferred leisure time activities as walking/jogging, outdoor maintenance, playing sports, and “other physical activity”.

“For all ages, four of the top five most common favorite activities were active: walking/jogging (14%), outdoor maintenance (13%), playing sports (8.9%), and other physical activity (8.7%). These findings sustain in 65–75 year olds. Even in 80–84 year olds, 3 of the top five activities are active.

Sarah L.SzantonPhD, CRNP^ac
Rachel K.WalkerPhD, RN^bLakenRobertsMPH^aRoland J.ThorpeJr.PhD^cJenniferWolffPhD^bEmilyAgreePhD^bcDavid L.RothPhD^dLaura N.GitlinPhD^adChristopherSeplakiPhD^cea
Received 24 October 2014, Revised 24 November 2014, Accepted 1 December 2014, Available online 23 January 2015.

Walking & Jogging

Let me be clear from the get-go when I feel like jogging, I lay down until the feeling goes away! However, I’m all for a vigorous walk. And obviously, this is a great way to spend quality time with your significant other. Free fitness, what could be better?

I won’t extoll the virtues and benefits of walking and jogging to you. Instead, here are a few ways you can take your stroll up a notch. It can be in your local community or abroad.

Urban Waterfront Walks

In Canada, cities like Toronto, Vancouver, St. John’s, Barrie (a personal favourite), and Niagara Falls all have exceptional walking trails with plenty to see, stop and rest, and yes, pee!

In the USA, consider North Brooklyn in New York, Chicago, Venice Beach, and the Presidio in San Francisco California. And another personal favourite is the Little Miami Scenic Trail in Cincinnati Ohio.

Consider bringing your camera along, and you can add photography to your list of hobbies. Sign up for a guided tour in a new city, and add some history!

Nature hikes

In Ontario, now is a great time for a hike in the woods, because the autumn leaves are spectacular. if you have a regular path get going. Want to try new trails in new places? Consider downloading these apps to your phone All Trails, Gaia GPS, Seek by iNaturalist, and Apple Fitness Tracker.

I frequently forage when I hike our property (think of it as trekking for salad). I routinely gather wild edible food mushrooms, ramps, and wild garlic.

Hike or walk in the evening, and add the element of astronomy. The night sky is fascinating!

Want to go for extended walks or hikes? Consider adding camping. Heather Neal Kasvinsky over at This Noshtalgic Life, will have you wanting to spend some quality time together with your soul mate outside. Heather can even talk me into camping with her stories of cooking great meals over an open flame, fresh air, and exquisite scenery!

Outdoor Maintenance

Gardening

You can take the NHATS comment on “outdoor maintenance” to mean a few things from an “active hobby” perspective. Flower gardening, vegetable gardening, Zen gardening. Some people want their yards to look like parks, and take great pride in doing so.

Still, others like to actively practice xeriscaping (it’s a real word, and you should save it for your next Scrabble match). Xeriscaping is a form of gardening that is drought-resistant and focuses on the use of native plant materials.

I love to garden, my husband is grateful that grass is a perennial. If you and your spouse want to know more about gardening, especially how it can impact you in retirement, then there’s no better expert in Canada that my neighbour, Frank Ferragine. Known to most as Frankie Flowers. Check out a recent conversation I had with him on the topic of gardening and retiring.

Living off the Grid

I suppose the phrase, “living off the grid” doesn’t sound like either a hobby or outdoor maintenance. But to some people, it really is both. Before you picture yourself trying to live like Laura Ingalls of Little House on the Prairie fame, put that aside (unless that’s your jam).

Consider it more about living a simpler, active life in harmony with nature and the environment. My husband understands how to build his own mini hydro-generating plant and the mechanics of ground-source heating. For him, building stuff is fun. I’m cheap and like to save money, so, a win-win.

Still others, like my former colleague Chris, love to chop firewood, tend his fields, and build outdoor pizza ovens. He’s a big-time forager too. This is definitely one of those active hobbies for retired couples that you both need to agree on!

Active Hobbies for Retired Couples? Try Playing Sports

In a 2011 article called the European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, they cite a study done in Germany called Sports Participation of the Elderly. I bring this up because they use a new word, and I swear they made it up, for us! “Sportification”. My dad would never have dreamed of taking up a sport in retirement (he was a whittle on the porch guy, literally).

It Doesn’t Have to Be A Contact Sport, To Be a Sport!

Most of us though don’t even flinch at the thought of retiring and taking up any of the following sports: golf, tennis, swimming, skiing (Nordic and downhill), kayaking, and cycling. And this 2019 study by Statista of Sports Activities Most Practiced By French People Over 65, supports this.

“Other Physical Activities”

Not The Nudge-Nudge-Wink-Wink Kind of “Other”

The NHATS study listed “other physical activities” as the fourth most popular activity for older adults. I doubt they meant “other physical activities” in that nudge-nudge-wink-wink kind of way, although it’s possible.

I’m guessing that respondents to the NHATS survey were referring to things like yoga, fishing, or surfing.

Yoga

There are about as many kinds of yoga as there are places to go and do yoga. As a couple, when it comes to yoga, the world is your oyster. And I guess, technically, oysters can be your friend from the nudge-nudge-wink-wink perspective. But I digress!

There are apps and coaches online to help you do yoga at home. Think you’re too old and too stiff to do all that bendy, pretzel, yoga stuff? Start with some therapeutic yoga at Village Yoga with Leonor Mowry up in the beautiful Town of the Blue Mountains. She specializes in teaching yoga to seniors. You can take an in-person class or join her online.

Yoga can be anything from stretching to pilates and from hot yoga to Tai Chi. My personal favourite yoga pose? Shavasana, the death pose. It’s done at the end of your session, and you lie flat on your back and just relax!

Fishing

Fishing, like all the other activities for retired couples listed here, has many variations. Ice fishing, deep sea fishing, or fly fishing. In Ontario, you can drop your line just about anywhere from a stream, pond, or lake. And in Canada, you can fish coast, to coast, to coast!

Ice fishing can be as simple as you and your partner augering a hole in the ice and dropping your line. Dress warm, make sure you have your fishing license, take a couple of chairs, and a thermos of hot soup, and off you go. Check local rules for possession limits and size restrictions.

Perhaps you want something more complex (that’s wife code for a few amenities). No problem. Don Luchkiw the owner of Bear Point Fish Hut Rentals in Innisfil has everything a couple could need for either a day or weekend of ice fishing.

You can rent a sleeper hut for the weekend that’s heated and has cooking facilities, or rent a smaller heated one for a day (cook stove optional). There are even bathroom facilities out there. Rental includes Shiner Bait Minnows. (Big plus, because the Shiner Minnows are from Lake Simcoe).

Don’t want to fish unless it’s hot and sunny (that’s wife code for tropical). I personally like deep-sea fishing. My last trip to Casa Vitality in Costa Rica was a blast. Why? I went deep-sea fishing over in Garza. If you can get there, try a trip out via Vibert’s Secret Spot Ocean Experiences. The bomb!

Finally, there’s fly fishing. The most zen of all the fishing. At least according to my buddy Jamie. He’s been fly fishing the Saugeen River in Ontario for 40 years. And he totally agrees with the quote by John Gierach that says:

“fly fishing is solitary, contemplative, misanthropic, scientific in some hands, poetic in others, and laced with conflicting aesthetic considerations. It’s not even clear if catching fish is actually the point.”

John Gierach, American Author – A Fly Rod of Your Own & Trout Bum

Surfing

I bring up surfing every chance I get. Not only because it’s fun and exciting, but it makes me look more hip than I actually am! It’s right up there with deep sea fishing on my fave things to do in Costa Rica.

It’s also easily accessible for all couples to try, not very expensive and you’ll have memories and bruises to last you both a lifetime. And, it’s an activity that my husband and I can agree on. Halleluja!

Want to surf in Canada? Our Prime Minister surfs in Tofino, British Columbia. The best surfing in Mexico is in Tulum. Want to know The 9 Best Surf Spots In Europe for Beginners, read this article.

And of course, if you want to surf the Pacific Ocean down in Costa Rica, get in touch with Chico, at Chico Surf Nosara via Facebook.

the Key to Active Hobbies for Retired Couples

In my mind, the key to choosing active hobbies for retired couples is twofold. First, an open line of communication. Talk about what you both want out of the hobby and the time together. Companionship? Fitness? Is it meeting new people and expanding your circle of friends?

Second, keep an open mind. Take your time, even before retirement if you can, and explore all the options. Honestly, I’m making a hobby out of trying hobbies! Think outside the box. Look at social media, and see what’s trending.

Finally, and most importantly, never let the misconception that you’re “too old for that” activity stop you! Hike, skydive, fish, zipline, or surf. This is your time, make the most of it!

I hope this gives you a few ideas and a place to start if you don’t have an active pursuit all lined up yet. If you do, I’d love to hear it. And please share this post with family and friends!

Cheers,
Cynthia
I’m Thinking of Retiring

All photos are courtesy of iStock unless otherwise specified.