The Most Comprehensive Guide For Avoiding A Boring Retirement

By Cynthia Ross Tustin – April 13, 2023

What are some unusual hobbies for seniors that can help them avoid a dull retirement? Where you can find, try, or learn about them in this article. And if there’s a side benefit to things like your health, relationships, or keeping costs low, it’s all right here too!

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Unusual Hobbies for Seniors Guide

What Do Retirees Do All Day?

What do retirees do all day? Good question. That’s why I created this post on unusual hobbies for seniors, so I’d have a cool come-back when I get asked!

Generally speaking, we’re pretty busy people. And it’s because we’re finally busy doing all the things we want to do.  But I’m not gonna lie, fear of boredom and how I was going to avoid it was one of my biggest concerns. And it is for many other retiring baby boomers as well.

Furthermore, no one wants to leave a fulfilling (and money-making) job and do nothing. The potential of a boring retirement felt like the kiss of death to me. Before I retired from my action-filled life as a fire chief, I decided to do a personal inventory of my existing hobbies. Turns out, a total snooze-fest!

Upon inspection, my hobbies looked a bit pedestrian, and freakishly limited! I wondered “How do I find a good hobby?”  So of course, I turned to the source of all knowledge – Google. However, Google’s top search suggestions didn’t feel like he knew me at all! (Perhaps I should have asked Siri.)

“How Old Does Google Think I Am?”

Google’s first recommendation for me? Knitting. Seriously?! Does Google think I’m like 90? Or is this how all seniors are perceived? Golf. I shank everything. My golf balls see more sand and water than I do on a long tropical vacation. Gardening. Too much like work. Too much bending, and not in the good yoga kind of way either!

Now, to be fair, I don’t actually think golf is boring. Frustrating yes. But not boring. I realized a boring retirement might be unavoidable…if all I have are typical hobbies.

Unusual Things to Do in Retirement – Finding Great Hobbies

More or different hobbies may not be the solution. Perhaps the solution to avoiding a boring retirement was choosing the atypical instead. Thus began the pursuit of unusual retirement hobbies for seniors.

A brief chat about age, and the liberal use of the word “senior”. I’m a firm believer that 60 is the new 40, and that age is a state of mind. The term senior is meant to identify us as a cohort, much like the words baby boomer or retirees. Honestly, the only time I embrace the word senior is when it’s followed by the word discount!

Yes, I love a good seniors discount. My family motto is “if it’s free, it’s for me,” and our family coat of arms is a pair of hands holding scissors…and clipping a coupon!

Why Unusual Hobbies for Seniors?

Moving on. What makes a hobby “unusual”? In this case, unusual can mean unconventional, unique; or something that is rarely practiced anymore. Some are ancient, and others were once only accessible to apprenticing artisans. Furthermore, to be considered “unusual” you could substitute uncommon, eclectic, or even eccentric.

Alternately, “unusual” can also mean hobbies that we don’t normally associate with retired people. Baby boomers are always throwing traditional stereotyping out the window! Or, it could be unusual because of the pace of technology…maybe it was just invented.

Here’s my list of 40 unconventional hobbies for seniors (retired or retiring) baby boomers, along with an explanation of each, potential places where you can try them or at least learn more, and some possible side benefits for taking them up.

Artisan Hobbies for Men & Women

1. Glassblowing

Glass blowing is seeing a resurgence. As a skill, it’s obviously been around for centuries and is normally left to artisans. Depending on the type of glass being created, artisans can apprentice for decades. Murano glass has been considered the finest in the world for over 1000 years. Seriously!

Albeit people who create Murano glass, aren’t hobbyists, they’re craftsmen/women. They work in hot shops with expensive materials and equipment, large ovens, and skilled helpers. Gee, not sold on this as an unconventional hobby you may want to try yet?! No wonder no one says, “Hey, I’d like to make some wine glasses today.”

But fear not, artisans and creatives love to share their knowledge and their space. Many artisans are now opening up their hot shops for classes and allowing beginners to use their equipment, ovens, and materials. Options like this make it easy for you to take this potential hobby out for a test drive.

And as a matter of fact, I think part of the new fascination with glass blowing may come from shows like Blown Away, filmed for Netflix near Toronto. For instance, watch some of these and let me know if you’re bored! The Corning Museum of Glass has an amazing YouTube Channel to whet your appetite for this unusual pastime.

You can take all kinds of classes at Corning, from beginners to masters. Looking for something a bit more local? Try these:

Artech Glass Blowing Studio in Tory Hill, Ontario

Playing with Fire in Toronto, Ontario offers fun and educational 2-3-hour workshops for absolute beginners. The Owner, Minna Koistinen says this, “I love to see beginners discover firsthand how to handle glass in its semi-liquid form in my workshops. With a bit of assistance, anyone can produce a beautiful, one-of-a-kind and highly personal result. This has much to do with the natural flow of the material itself. It’s like honey on a spoon.” How can you not go?!

👌Glass Blowing Classes in the USA, try this one in Denver, Colorado

Glass blowing can be physically demanding, but generally, that’s a good thing. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people of all ages, and doing something creative is always good for your brain.

2. Electric Guitar Making

My friend Leo has taken up guitar making. More specifically, electric guitar making. This was a self-taught adventure. Again, YouTube comes to the rescue. There’s also a great assortment of reading material and websites to help guide you.

Many of the components are purchased and then assembled. However, the really good ones take some serious craftsmanship when it comes to design and finishes. Like any good instrument, it should feel balanced and comfortable to the musician, like an extension of their body. (Or so I’m told. I’m tone-deaf and can’t read music to save my soul!)

This is a retirement hobby that is a labor of love. Music is a passion for many, but making your own axe is a pretty unusual pass time. Want to learn more? Try these sites.

How To Make An Electric Guitar from Wikihow

How To Build A Guitar From Scratch from Love to Know

Want to attend a live class, try Karol Guitars in Toronto. Ontario

Do you save money building your own electric guitar? Doubtful. But you’ll be one of the few retirees with a hand-made, custom electric guitar.

3. Encaustic Painting

Encaustic painting falls into the “unusual” hobbies for seniors category because of the materials that are used and how long it’s been around. Unlike conventional mediums such as oil, acrylic, or watercolor, encaustic paint is made from bees and beetles. A mix of beeswax and damar resin to be more specific. (And I like that it involves fire!)

To say that this form of painting is ancient would be an understatement. Examples can be found in Egyptian tombs. The face boards of mummies were painted with encaustic and still look fabulous (the paintings, not the mummies.)

There are tons of great places to learn about this type of artwork. And if painting is already your retirement hobby and how you spend much of your time, encaustic could be the new medium to revitalize or invigorate your practice. It lends itself brilliantly to collage, sculpture, and printmaking.

4. Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw is another old art form. This might be the original unusual activity to stave off boredom. Why? Because it literally began with bored sailors on whaling vessels with nothing to do. The first “literal” mention of scrimshaw is in Moby Dick!

Traditionally a hobby for men, even the Atlantic has written articles on scrimshandering. It involves carving designs, ocean scenes, or even making carved boxes out of very small pieces of whalebone, using small, sharp tools.

Okay, so no one uses whalebone anymore unless it’s found on a beach.

This old-school art form can easily be done at home, with readily available tools. After all, whalers were confined to the boat and only had simple tools at hand. A great hobby to improve hand-eye coordination, stimulate the creative side of your brain, and preserve a dying art.

Aside from Brian Stockman. You can learn to scrimshaw here:
Udemy has a course for virtually anything, try scrimshaw for people who can’t even draw.

👌Click here and combine learning with a New England experience at a bed and breakfast.

Would you prefer learning from a book? Many of us do. Check out this great “how-to” manual by two renowned scrimshanders, Steve Paszkiewicz and Roger Schroeder.

5. Jewelry Making

As a retirement hobby, jewelry making is a huge category, and I could rattle around in it for hours. Using gold, silver, and semi-precious stones has always been considered artisanal. For some, silver and gold-smithing are a profession that they are well-schooled in. For others, with the advent of less expensive materials and hobby stores, it’s a craft.

Regardless of where you land on the art vs craft debate, there are plenty of unusual pieces to create or unique materials to work with. And the stats show that plenty of people enjoy some form of jewelry making!

It’s also a relatively inexpensive hobby to get started with. I suggest buying a very basic kit to see if you like it. I bought a simple jewelry-making kit, that had all the tools that I needed because it was much cheaper than buying them piecemeal. The pliers alone saved me money.

The kit also came with all the wire and findings (small bits like clasps for necklaces and bracelets) that I would need to make earrings, bracelets, or necklaces. It has everything I needed in one case. I’ll be honest, I didn’t enjoy making earrings, but the bracelets are fun…and less work than a necklace.

There is a class, book, tutorial, video, college course, or retreat for everything from silversmithing to making chainmail. This is another hobby for seniors that helps us keep dexterity in our hands. Keeps your mind sharp while designing and planning a piece; as well as increasing your knowledge about the science and alchemy of the materials.

And I’ll a final note about the practicality of this hobby. The simple jewelry-making kit that I bought and the skills that I’ve learned have allowed me to repair some vintage jewelry that belonged to my grandmother and my mom. None of it was the kind of stuff you’d take to a jeweler, just sentimental and fun. I’m glad to be able to bring it back to life and wear it!

Take an online jewelry course with SkillShare.

Udemy has hundreds of courses, in all sorts of jewelry.

The Jewellers Academy can help you get a diploma, if you want more than just a retirement hobby (a retirement business perhaps?).

👀Try this video for a simple chainmail bracelet. Supplies for this are at the local hobby store.

👌 Check out this silversmithing and design course; and you can couple it with a fab trip to Oahu, Hawaii

6. Ice Sculpture Carving

As difficult as any other form of sculpture, just not as long-lasting! And these ain’t your granny’s ice cubes either. There are multiple levels of difficulty when it comes to carving ice, and you can use everything from hand tools to CNC machines. And believe it or not, there’s a real art to even freezing the ice.

See if this video whets your appetite!

Okay, so making ice swans for a wedding buffet table hardly sounds interesting, much less like a cool retirement hobby. But the fact that there are international competitions for making ice sculptures might get your attention.

Grab your sculpting tool, snow boots, toques (eh) and winter gloves, because there are ice sculpture competitions from Canada to Japan, and from China to Sweden. Three of the top ten in the world are held here in Canada.

It gets you outside in the winter for fresh air, keeps you active, and does all the other brain-stimulating things that creative art does for you. There’s something for a sculptor of every skill level; and if all else fails, make a swan for the freakin’ buffet!

Get a group of golf buddies, and instead of going south for the winter, try an ice sculpting workshop with Team Bonding.

Forget Booty Bootcamp, and try a visit to a boot camp for ice carving. They’re in Ohio, and totally worth the drive!

7. Welding and Metal Sculpture

The ancient art form of welding was born of utility. Forging and welding have been around since the Bronze Age, and there’s plenty of history to learn. The research into the “old ways” makes for a cool retirement hobby in and of itself. Try starting with The Crucible it’s an awesome site for all industrial art.

Welding and forging have similar constraints to glass blowing. You need space to do the “hot work” and there are fire code regulations (I’m so big on fire code regulations). You also require specialized equipment and access to three-phase electrical power, depending on the size of the sculpture and material.

There are plenty of schools available for you to learn, and equally, as many artisans who like to share. Take a look at what George Tobolowsky creates with found objects.

Alongside the benefits of creating something unique and preserving a skill, this type of hobby serves the reduce, reuse, recycle philosophy and has the potential to make you some extra money.

Forging is generally associated with horseshoeing and knife making(covered further down). But forging also has an industrial art aspect. In the Bronze and Middle Ages, many decorative objects were forged. Take a look at this face created by Larry the NYBlacksmith.

Want to learn welding as a potential retirement hobby? These will get you started.

Try Waylander, they can educate and supply you.

If you’re serious about welding, and would actually like to get “your ticket” Try the General School of Welding.

If it’s forging you want to get your hands dirty with, try Forged In Canada.

If you’re not ready for a welding class but want to “dip your toe” into what goes into a welding hobby at home, Stephen Christena has a great beginners’ book, it’s literally called “Welding for Beginners.”

Get Physical With Uncommon Hobbies For Baby Boomers

8. Cave and Wreck Diving

Cave diving and it’s even more dangerous cousin, wreck diving, isn’t for beginners or the faint of heart. It’s a hobby that people work up to and retire early for. As unusual hobbies for seniors go, this one is expensive, highly technical, and requires a “certain vigor” shall we say.

Caves and wrecks offer rarified opportunities to see history and places that only a handful of people on Earth have ever seen. On the left, Jill Heinerth, Canada’s Explorer in Residence, goes to places so rare, that more people have been to the moon. And on the right, Mike Ross dives, literally, into the history of WWII. Not sure I need to spell out the benefits of that.

If you already SCUBA dive, and want to level a retirement hobby to a more unusual or unconventional underwater experience, this could be for you.

TDISDI offers a technical diving course.

Dan’s Dive Shop has one as well.

And in Florida, where they’re renowned for the most caves and coastline in North America, there’s something for everyone. Cave Country Dive Shop is the place to learn.

👌Click here to try a Cenote dive with Viator. Caves and reefs in Mexico are spectacular and shallower than in other places. A good spot for first-time cave divers to see if they like it.

9. Martial Arts

Is breaking into a chorus of, “Everyone Was Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas too cheesy for this section? It was the 70s. Carl Douglas and all those who were Kung Fu fighting in those corny movies are probably retired. So, I’m just going to go with it!

All martial arts are brilliant for fitness and the overall wellness of the mind and body. It promotes mindfulness, reduces stress, and independence through self-defense. Those are tremendous reasons for practicing martial arts, and millions do. So, if millions do it, how is it an unusual retirement hobby?

Well, it’s not, if you’ve been doing it all your life, and continue doing it when you call it quits from your day job. However, starting martial arts much later in life is not the norm. What do the “experts” say?

According to some experts, the best time to begin is between the ages of 6-22 years old. Bruce Lee started at 13, Jean Claude Van Damme at 12, and Michelle Yeoh at 22. If you think you’re too old to start, then you are…do it anyway.

Learning martial arts can be harder when we’re older and with good reason, but are you doing it for all the benefits or so that you can go hang out with Joe Rogan after an MMA cage fight? Black Belt Wiki (that’s a site, not a person) says that there are 180 styles of martial arts. Surely there’s one for older beginners!

Okay, sure there’s tai chi in the park (snooze). But Aikido focuses on directing an attack away from you. The martial art called Buthan, from Bangladesh, focuses on meditation and self-defense, and Krav Maga teaches “real world” self-protection. But I’m leaning toward Krabi-Kabong, it’s from Thailand, uses weapons, and has the word crabby in it. Perfect for old ladies like me!

Virtually every town, city, or metropolis has a place to learn martial arts.
There is a Dojo for everyone.

Canada’s Best Karate has courses for adult beginners.

Learnopoly has online courses, seriously.

👌If you’re in Tokyo for business or pleasure, take a break and try a Shinobi Samurai private lesson. This class includes an interpreter.

10. Dog Sledding

Granted, dog sledding is part of a lifestyle, and for some, it’s more than a hobby. (The center photo is courtesy of Inuvik’s Fire Chief, Cyndy Pihlaja. And yes, that’s her!)

Fresh air, exercise, and the companionship of man’s best friend are just a few benefits of this outdoor pastime. If you want this as an everyday retirement hobby, geography is going to be a factor. But dog sledding enthusiasts not only find pleasure in riding the sleds and caring for their dogs, but they also do it as part of other hobbies like hunting and fishing.

Dog sleds are frequently used to get to remote hunt camps in lieu of flying. They’re helpful in packing out what you’ve caught or trapped. For some, dog sledding is more “hobby adjacent”. Dog sledding can also be a competitive endeavor…consider the Iditarod.

Want to learn about dog sledding, here are 10 places in Ontario to try it.

Interested in something a little more global” Try these 11 places to dog sled.

And WikiHow can teach a beginner how to start dog mushing!

👌See how competitive dog sledding looks? Try a trip to the Iditarod National Historic Trail.

11. Bow Hunting

And since I just finished talking about hunting and fishing, I’ll segway to bow hunting. Many hunters retire, to do more hunting, and many of those long-time hunters use a bow. But what I’m suggesting here is a bit outside that curve. More and more people are going back to archery as a leisure pursuit, and using compound hunting bows to do it.

So not that unconventional, right? But not to worry, I can make it weird! You’re familiar with the term archer. And the term bowman. But did you know that if you’re into archery, you’re also called a toxophilite?

It’s an ideal hobby for a group of friends or easily done solo. Wolf’s Den has a beautiful outdoor range, with all kinds of extra amenities like a fishing pond and a picnic area. So fresh air and a bit of exercise are benefits of archery/bow hunting/toxophilite. But so is improved focus and hand-eye coordination.

And if you’re doing this in a group, team, family, or with your significant other, it’s a good relationship builder.

So, Wolf’s Den is probably the only facility of its type in Ontario. Especially if you want to take a course, buy a bow, or use a bow on a competition-worthy range. And actually, my favourite part of this place, aside from the people, is the opportunity to try the hobby. For $50CDN you can rent a bow, get 3 arrows, and hours of range time to practice in the company of experts. You can even take the arrows when you leave, and bring them back when you come again.
👀 YouTube never fails to deliver when it comes to learning new things or researching an odd retirement hobby.

12. Surfing

Surfing is fun, and inexpensive (unless you have to travel to it). You’ll work your shoulders, legs, and abs. It’s also great cardio. Grab some fresh air. Hang with like-minded people, most of which are open-minded young people, so its horizon expanding!

It is a bit unusual to take it up later in life. But you can take it up at any age because there are endless levels of wave difficulty. Not every couple is Gidget and Moondoggie, and every wave is not the Bonsai Pipeline!

Want to learn to do by doing (yes, that’s the 4H motto)?
My personal fave instructor is Chico. So if you’re headed to Costa Rica, hit up Chico’s Surf Report at Surfing Nosara for the best lessons! And you can find him direct on social.

👌Travelling abroad and want to learn to surf? Maybe surfing in Europe is your thing, try Costa Caparica

13. Parasailing and Paragliding

Parasailing doesn’t have to be just a one-off excursion at your favorite Caribean resort. It doesn’t even have to be a Caribean thing. And paragliding doesn’t involve anything motorized. Either can be an all-season hobby. They’re similar…but different.

Both are occasionally referred to as parakiting, but don’t let hardcore aficionados hear you say it.

It can be expensive if you have all your own rigging and canvas. And there’s not always a place to do this hobby in every province or state. However, it’s exciting, offers indescribable views, and builds you some comradery with fellow adrenalin junkies.

But, if you’re keen to learn, there’s a novice pilot course available through Air Adventure Flight School.

Cloud 9 is the largest paragliding facility in North America, and they are in Utah.

14. Paintball

“Positive relationships not only buffer inhibiting mechanisms such as threat, suppression, and defensiveness, but they also create new opportunities for enhancing one’s conception of self and inspiring individuals to live in accordance with their best self”. 

Dutton, J.E., & Ragins, B.R. (Eds.). (2007). Exploring Positive Relationships at Work: Building a Theoretical and Research Foundation (1st ed.). Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315094199

There is definitely enough science to prove that being part of something is good for you and helps you be your best self. That’s why I’ve put paintball in with unusual hobbies for seniors. It’s because you’re doing it for science!

Where can I play paintball? Seriously, where can’t you play paintball?!
You can try Barrie Paintball.

Want a private lesson before you join a league with your grandkids, try SuperProf.

👌Do you and your crew take paintball seriously, try this South American destination trip.

15. Fencing

Yahoo! Finally, a hobby for seniors with weapons! And of course, there’s nothing like being able to say, “touche” and really mean, and not have it just be witty repartee!

Like any physical pastime, fencing has all benefits of exercise. And in this case, you can add improved balance, hand-eye coordination, and focus. And weapons! So fun!

The three disciplines of modern fencing are the foil, the épée, and the sabre. The equipment isn’t as expensive as some sports, but it can be difficult to find. There is no sword section in the average sporting goods store.

The Ontario Fencing Association keeps a club list, so that’s a great place to start. Check your state or province.

The Fencing.Net site is quite definitive if you’re looking for ways to get started.

16. Quidditch

And all the mental wellness benefits of being part of a team or tribe. No, the sorting hat doesn’t decide!

Here are the rules.

👀Try this short video to see if it’s your cup of tea.

Making Quidditch into a real game wasn’t my idea. And I only promised unusual hobbies for seniors, it’s not my fault that this is a ridiculous hobby for our cohort!

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Vintage Practicality, for Vintage People, Make Great Hobbies

17. Sashiko

The name alone makes this beautiful mending skill worthy of being classified as an unusual retirement hobby. It’s a Japanese folk art of visible mending using intricate patterns. Originally, a practical way to add elegance to clothing in need of repair, it’s catching on again.

Maybe COVID made us all hunker down and try something new while we were stuck at home. Or maybe, with the current state of the world economy, we’re repairing instead of replacing. Whatever the reason, Sashiko is the new, hip embroidery!

So, if you’re into eclectic handcrafted needlework, and like being ahead of the trend curve before your friends, try this. You’ll be the rare bird.

Aside from the cost savings from mending, and the value of having something truly unique, it’s nice to save a bit of heritage when we can. Handcrafts like these were becoming a dying art; mending was passe. Now, it’s becoming a high-fashion, sort of embellishment.

Want to try this hobby, or up your sewing game, try these options:
Consider a course from Creative Bug, online.

Zen Stitching has some great options.

👀And Dee Christopher has a great YouTube video so you can see what it’s all about.

18. Forging & Knife Making

Knife making and forging were considered “necessity” skills from days long past, but they are seeing a resurgence. My guess is that YouTube and shows like Forged in Fire have helped to revive the passion for this craft.

And when you see someone making extraordinary stuff like this in their home shop, you can see why people appreciate the craftsmanship and want to learn.

Leveling up on an existing hobby may be a better way to go when you retire, rather than starting a new one. Like welding and metal sculpture, everyone benefits from preserving skills like these.

You can start at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing.

The Artist Blacksmith offers courses here in Ontario.

👌Click this link if you have something more global in mind? Try this one in Iceland.

19. Lamp Work

Lampworking became widely practiced in Murano, Italy in the 14th century. Then, as early as the 17th century, itinerant glassworkers demonstrated lampworking to the public, making it more accessible. What exactly is lampwork you ask?

It’s the art of turning small pieces of glass into tiny art objects, generally beads or other embellishments for jewelry and decor. Some small examples can be found as far back as the fifth century BC.

It’s a great way of leveling up an existing jewelry-making hobby, and it’s often a precursor before a jump to glass blowing. Regardless of “leveling”, retirement might just be the right time to try it.

And the biggest benefit in my mind – marbles. No, I’m not losing mine. Lampwork is how marbles used to be made. And I miss all the cool, interesting, old marbles! Not sure, but perhaps I could start collecting old marbles as my “unusual hobbies for seniors” category. What? It’s less weird than collecting string!

Bedrock Studios in Toronto offers classes.

The Crucible always has the best guides to any industrial art.

👌Or, you can go to the source of all knowledge, in this instance, not Google. But rather the source of all knowledge for glass – Murano Italy. Learn from the Masters. This would be the ultimate place to learn new skills and a new language!

20. Brewing Beer

Drinking beer. Not new, not unusual, and technically not a hobby. How “not new” is it? Ancient! This article called Beer In the Ancient World claims possibly as much as 10,000 years. Traditionally brewed by women, not men.

Originally brewed in China, not Germany or Rome. And in the beginning, it was drunk through a straw, now a big no-no! Those are just a few facts from that article. Fast forward to more current info.

So this makes the unusual retirement hobby list for several reasons. It’s a salute to those who hung on past the “fad stage” and become true hobbyists, it has such a fabulous history, and because craft beer brewers are preserving an age-old tradition, something today’s consumer society is missing.

What are the benefits of brewing your own beer? Pride. Learning the science and mechanics of the materials and the process can keep your mind sharp. Although drinking too much of your science project can wipe that benefit away. Some say there is an economic benefit to brewing your own, a fun way to save money. Here are a few options if you want to learn to make beer.

Serious about learning to make beer? Nothing says “I take my retirement hobby seriously” like Cornell University. Try their Craft Brewing Certificate.

Craft Beer.Com is a top brewing resource.

And George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario has a “learn by tasting” course. I bet there’s a line and no one skips class!

21. Making Maple Syrup

Never had homemade maple syrup? Enthusiasts will tell you that if you ever do, you’ll never eat store-bought again. And if you only make it for your family and friends, and not commercially for your “on-farm store”, then you’re probably a hobbyist.

It would be unusual to take this up as a retirement hobby out of the blue. More often than not, those making maple syrup after they retire are restarting. It’s often something they did with a parent or grandparent.

Just Ask Frank

My friend Frank makes his own maple syrup. He doesn’t sell it, but it is the most coveted gift (and poorest kept secret) in our Secret Santa Group. Here is a true syrup fact from Frank.

“Sap collected toward the end of the season produces darker maple syrup that has a richer caramel flavour. And contrary to advertising, boiling sap over a wood fire is no different than boiling over propane or natural gas when it comes to taste. Frank says the benefit is simply that for him, and many other home producers…wood is free.”

There are several potential benefits to making your own maple syrup(put aside the benefits of maple syrup over sugar). It’s usually a family thing, so good for relationships and building memories. It’s a seasonal thing, so there is a limited time commitment. And virtually everything connected to production is done outdoors, so fresh air and exercise.

If you have no one in your family to teach you how to make syrup (not all syrup comes from maple trees, Scandinavian countries, Russia, Ukraine, and parts of northern Canada use birch trees) you can learn from these sources.

Start with the Canadian Home Schooler.

Learn from a fellow retiree.

Most States have a cooperative extension. Pennsylvania has great info.

👌Click here, and try this adventure sugar shack on your vacation.

22. Cheese Making

Is making cheese the unusual retirement hobby or is channeling your inner Marth Stewart the unusual retirement hobby? Tough to say! The resurgence of this old homemaking, artisanal food-creating, project could be due to COVID and all the time we spent at home. Others suggest it’s related to the “slow food movement”.

Whether we had time on our hands during COVID, or find ourselves with time on our hands due to retirement…who’s going to say no to cheese! You can consider the slow food movement a way of life, and make unusual foods the new normal.

As a hobby, few would claim it. But the benefits to your making your own cheese are the same as the benefits of the slow food movement – eating seasonally, it’s fresh, local and nutritious, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, supports local farmers, and it’s convenient.

Learn more:
Many cheese-making supply companies offer courses.

Want a certificate? Consider the University of Guelph, love those Aggies!

Want your mozzarella or bocconcini to be authentic? Consider Il Centro, the Italian Culture Centre

23. Puppetry

Puppetry? Isn’t that for kids? Generally, yes. Children tend to enjoy watching puppetry more than adults do. But what if there was more to the hobby of puppetry than just “watching it”? Could some other aspect of puppetry qualify it for the unusual hobbies for seniors list?

How rare is it to retire and take up puppetry you ask? In fact, it’s so rare that it doesn’t show up in any Google search. Believe me, I checked, 10 pages deep.

Puppetry is an ancient form of communication. All you need to be good is to be a decent actor, writer, or storyteller. If you have a love of theatre, this could be for you.

Puppetry is everything from sock puppets to ventriloquy. That cuts a pretty wide swath. And perhaps the hobby isn’t performing puppet shows, perhaps your niche is puppet making.

Sock puppets don’t have to be simple. Consider Sharon, Louis, and Bram, and think about Lambchop. Lambchop was more than an unmatched sweat sock left over in the dryer. Kermit the Frog. Big Bird. Or Jeff Dunham’s Walter, Achmed, or Bubby J.

You can make puppets for grandchildren, or for therapy at children’s centres(hobby meets social conscience).

There are plenty of benefits to this hobby, preservation of fine motor skills, philanthropy, and keeping your brain sharp through creativity (I mean seriously, do you want Sudoku to be the only way you flex your brain?).

Here’s where you can either try puppetry or learn more.
You can start with a reading list about the fabrication and handling of puppets from The Canadian Museum of History.

Talk To The Hand is a great post on the value of ready-made puppets

Take an online introductory course in puppetry and see if you like it with Udemy.

24. Kintsugi

Kintsugi in Japanese means golden joinery. This exquisite, and very old, form of repairing broken crockery is rarely practiced in today’s disposable society. Are we too busy? Or is too much stuff made from plastic?

People who take this 500-year-old form of repair up as a hobby do it as an art form or as a metaphor for personal growth and healing. This is an awesome way to preserve family heirlooms or just be environmentally friendly.

But if you start repairing things instead of tossing them in the bin, that act alone will make you rare and unusual. Some might even consider you eccentric!

You can take an in-person class with #IntroJapan. They have kintsugi kits and teach other Japanese arts as well. Cool place!

Domestika offers an online course in Kintsugi

And when you become obsessed with kintsugi, travel to Japan and hone your skill with a master.

Inexpensive, But Still Unusual, Hobbies For Seniors

25. Writing Comic Books

So, writing isn’t an unusual hobby for those of us who retire. It’s so common in fact, that even Forbes wrote a post about how to write blogs, articles, and books when you retire. They know tons of us are doing it.

But what form of writing never even made Forbes’ radar for retired would-be writers? Comic books! Surely Forbes has heard of Neil Gaiman. Comics and graphic novels baby! That’s where it’s at, Neil is 61 I might add.

Think he’s the only baby-boomer writer in this genre? Think again. Try fellow baby boomer Velvet Haney and her graphic novel The Mouse House Years: A Memoir. And I know for a fact she has another graphic novel in the hopper.

And spoiler alert, she’s also become (yes later in life) a genius entrepreneur with her friend and fellow writer Rachel Manley. (It’s called Bathing Boomers, only writers could come up with that!)

Benefits? Well, there’s always a legacy that can be created from being an author. The preservation of storytelling. And the cumulative synaptic building that comes with all creative endeavours.

Interested? Try these.
You might start at Coursera for a beginner class.

How about a Master Class from the master himself, Neil Gaiman?

26. Origami

My bias is showing. I’ve added the Japanese art of paper folding to this post on unusual hobbies for seniors because it’s unusual for these beautiful little paper creations to be thought of as art. But it’s even reached the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.

When origami is done on a large scale it can either become an installation or a sculpture. Add beautiful papers and create some truly unique pieces in your spare time.

Frame them or give them away. Or compete with them. Wait, what? Compete? Red Bull has a paper airplane competition.

Benefits include hand dexterity, creativity helping the brain, and competition creating endorphins. Tell me you wouldn’t find joy in holding a Red Bull trophy!

Udemy has this school of origami class.

Origami Canada is a non-profit group that teaches this Japanese craft.

Or find some inspiration at Japan Objects.

27. Foraging (Both Rural and Urban)

It’s rare to see people foraging for food nowadays. What was once a necessity of everyday life is coming back around. Is foraging a lifestyle or a pastime? Perhaps the bigger question is why is it back? Or why should you try it now that you’re retired and have time on your hands?

Maybe it’s been made hip through the slow food movement. Perhaps it should be taught in high schools and senior communities as a way to reduce food insufficiency. Or maybe it interests you so you can prepare for the zombie apocalypse. All reasons are valid.

The benefits are fairly obvious, nutrition, cost savings, exercise and fresh air, and a sense of independence (think of it as hiking meets gardening). And FYI, all of these grow in my backyard! Come on over, we can chat about unusual retirement hobbies while I make you a salad from my lawn!

Want to learn more?
Karen Stephenson of Edible Wild Food is a genius. She writes books and offers both urban and rural foraging tours.

Take a master class online so that you can safely forage and identify edible plants. You want to avoid those trippy toxic mushrooms.

If this is your new retirement hobby, start with a fellow retiree, Dr. David Suzuki.

28. Toy Voyaging

Yes, traveling can be expensive, but why not add a bit of cheap, eccentric fun? Traveling with a tiny gnome, or our small toy, and combining it with some strategic photography has become a legit pastime. Not all retirement hobbies require hours of your time, unusual or otherwise.

I’m pretty sure this caught on as the result of a Travelocity ad campaign, but it’s fun nonetheless.

Benefits? Well? I’m thinking hard here folks. Two come to mind. One, practicing and perfecting unusual angles to create a unique sense of scale in your photos. And two, maybe it’s just me, but it keeps me out of the photo but still sharing my trips. I hate having my picture taken!

29. Cosplay

This costume hobby arose as a fan-based science fiction convention activity. If it was one of the unusual hobbies you’ve been doing for years, then it’s probably going to be one of the unusual hobbies you do in retirement.

But for those of you toying with the idea, you should know it’s hugely popular in Japan, China, South Korea, the US, and the UK with people of all ages. There’s nothing wrong with a little live action role play. While you might think this is just for nerds, let me remind you that battlefield reenactment groups have been donning costumes for centuries.

Not so much here in Canada, but that’s probably because we know what it’s like to have to wear our Hallowe’en costume under our snowsuit! The term cosplay may have begun in the 1980s, but people have been dressing up in costume since as early as the 1500s, so let’s not assume it’s just for nerds.

The benefits of cosplay are stress-reducing escapism, the pleasure in the company of like-minded people, and if you make your own costume the thrill of creativity.

Alternatively, why not consider attending comic book and science fiction conventions or try putting some live-action role-playing to your list of unusual hobbies for seniors? And before you thumb your nose at all the Dungeons and Dragons players, remember that historical re-enactments are considered live-action role-playing.

FanCon provides a list of upcoming worldwide sci-fi conventions.

See what it takes to make your own cosplay costume.

And if you just want a little cosplay advice, check out this site.

30. Duck Calling

And here I thought duck calling would be one of the more unusual retirement hobbies, up there with beetle racing and string collecting. Little did I know. Imagine my surprise when I found out you could get a college scholarship for duck calling. Yup, the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors.

Sorry, we’re the wrong kind of seniors. But you get the drift. Not only are there scholarships, but there are also competitions for this form of bird-calling. Here are three basic duck-calling “conversations” to get you started.

You can add this to your hunting routine, or use it to level up your bird-watching, or nature photography hobbies. Alternatively, give some thought to the art of creating your own unique duck call.

Benefits? New skill. Enjoy nature and physical exercise in the fresh air. Impress your friends. Create something you can hand down to your grandchildren. Win a trophy. But sorry, no scholarship for you!

Start with Ducks Unlimited and “Learning How to Call Ducks in the Digital Age“.

Want to compete? Try the World Waterfowl Calling Contests.

And Decoypro will teach you how to make your own handcrafted duck call.

31. Stand-Up Comedy

Yes, it’s odd to start stand-up comedy later in life, but not unheard of. Ricky Gervais, Rodney Dangerfield and Phyllis Diller all started past the “average” age. Phyllis was in her 50s when she started.

You don’t have to make it a career, and it’s okay if stand-up comedy is only a hobby. The purpose an unusual hobby needs to serve is that they meet your needs. They give you a sense of fun, purpose or fulfillment.

Do it to entertain your friends. Or as a tool to overcome shyness. Or just to perfect your public speaking skills.

Learn from the best, the team at Second City in Toronto is world-class.

Udemy has the ultimate beginner’s online course for learning stand-up.

Check-in with SuperProf for private stand-up comedy tutoring.

32. Whittling

What exactly is whittling? Well, it depends on who you ask. One school of thought has it as simply the process of repeatedly shaving slivers from a piece of wood. And for some, this is a very Zen pastime.

The second school of thought is to approach it as an art of carving shapes out of raw wood using a special knife. My father referred to his carving of fish and birds as “whittling”. For most whittlers, the key seems to be the pocket knife and the fact that it’s always a piece of raw soft wood that fits into your hand. This isn’t about large-scale carving.

You could start with Instructables. They have six steps in their wood whittling 101 tutorial.

👀YouTube never fails to provide a good beginner lesson.

The Arts Bootcamp is a great place to go and learn all sorts of woodworking techniques, like a retreat.

However, if you want to sit on the front porch in a rocking chair and make wood shavings all day, a la Jed Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillyies, have at it. If you did that, then you might be a member of the unusual hobbies for seniors club.

33. Slam Poetry

Well, what the heck is slam poetry?! And why is it on this list of unusual hobbies for seniors? It’s here because when those of us, of a certain vintage, hear the words slam poetry or rap we dismiss it. We assume the worst.

Watching this video of a TED Talk by Grand Slam Poetry Champion Harry Baker may make you rethink your position. He’s witty, entertaining, thoughtful, and passionate. The way he uses words may inspire you to consider poetry as a pastime. And for the record, I think Eminem is a brilliant poet, and one day he’ll be old like me!

The Sliding Scale

There’s a sliding scale of involvement for this activity.
You could just be reading it for brevity.
You might write poetry for friends just levity.
Or you should compete, and be a grand champion at seventy!

Essentially, slam poetry is literature, performance art, theatre, or public speaking at Toast Masters. And most people, of a certain vintage, wouldn’t consider those activities as unusual retirement hobbies! Keep an open mind.

Good For Your Brain

Doing something creative is always beneficial for your brain, studies have proven that. Here’s a quote from a research paper that looked at the benefits of writing and performing in the spoken word poetry community.

“Findings suggest that connecting with a community, having a forum of communication, emotional development, and having an internal drive to write and perform help the poets to feel balanced in everyday life. The performance aspect of spoken word poetry seems to confer several benefits that would not be found in writing alone, such as social support through connecting with others.”

NadiaAlvarezM.S. and JackMearnsPhD California State University,
Fullerton, United States
Received 18 June 2012, Revised 20 March 2014, Accepted 21 March 2014, Available online 1 April 2014.

Consider starting with a visit to TPP, that’s the Toronto Poetry Project. the Toronto Poetry Slam is the largest in Canada.

Here’s a 9-step guide on how to write slam poetry from the Digital Poet.

Or try a Master Class on how to write spoken word poetry.

34. Chainsaw Carving

Using a chainsaw to create sculpture from wood has probably been around for ages. However, I first became aware of it in 2003, when the Town of Orangeville, Ontario started to carve dead or dying trees on their main street. It’s now a full-blown art walk. Fast-forward almost twenty years, and now there are TV shows about it (just like glassblowing, knife forging, or pottery making).

This is another one of those unusual hobbies for seniors that have a sliding scale, just no rhyming this time. Perhaps you simply enjoy the craftsmanship of sculpture or seeing something creative done in wood. Or perhaps it’s the eco-friendliness of it that appeals to you.

You can either add a walking tour like the one in Orangeville to an already planned vacation. Or make it the sole purpose of your vacation. If you’re more hands-on, take a class. Finally, at the top of that sliding scale is full-on designing and carving sculptures yourself.

If you have a chainsaw and carving tools already, you’re good to go. Just know that having to buy all that stuff takes this retirement activity out of the “inexpensive, but still unusual hobbies for seniors” category!

Orangeville’s Art Walk of Tree Sculptures is available all year long. It’s a self-guided tour, here’s the brochure (oops, did I say there would be no more rhyming?). And FYI, Orangeville has always had a fabulous Christmas Light show, so don’t avoid this walking tour in December.

If you’re a total newb, consider taking a workshop from Windy Day Woodworks. First, you’ll learn how to safely use the chainsaw and then they’ll teach you how to carve something. Accidently cutting off a digit doesn’t qualify as a hobby.

And a total side note here. My dad loved looking at these wood sculptures, and in the whittling section mentioned above, that black and yellow Angel Fish is something he carved after he decided to retire. And FYI, being accident-prone actually did qualify as a hobby for my dad.

35. Ghost Hunting

Is the question – why does ghost hunting really qualify for the list of unusual hobbies for seniors? Or is it – are ghosts really real? Let’s just skip it and go watch Ghost Busters!

Okay, so Ghost Busters aside, what makes ghost hunting a legitimate pastime? For some, it’s a real desire to connect with the supernatural world. On the other hand, some simply find it a creative way to look at history. And still others, just the thrill of a good heart-pounding scare.

To each his, or her, own. And as much as I’d like to chunk this into the unusual pile of hobbies, it’s probably not that unusual. Just take a look at this great blog post from Travel Compositions, and you’ll see that tourism has been capitalizing on ghosts longer than Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, or Harold Ramis. The Independence Mine in Hatcher Pass Alaska is a ghost gold mine.

Want to join a ghost-hunting group? Consider the Ontario Paranormal Society, they have a Facebook Group.

Maybe an online paranormal investigation course is your thing. If nothing else, you can consider it data for potentially writing your first novel.

👌Or may I suggest combining a little-known history with the unknown and seeing Hoover Dam and a Gold Mine Ghost Town? I have friends who’ve taken this trip, and rave about it!

Technology Has Created Unusual Hobbies For Seniors

36. Metal Detecting

If finding buried treasure was the main outcome of metal detecting, I wouldn’t categorize it within unusual hobbies or seniors, I’d create a new category called the retirement hobbies that make money. Generally, metal detecting can be an expensive pastime, not a lucrative one. Although gold prospecting is done throughout the world with a metal detector…so maybe?

But if you love history, antiquing, and exploring the great outdoors, this hobby is ideal. Metal detectors, even the really good ones are about $250USD. For some that might not sound like a lot. However, it might feel like a lot once you realize what you’ll mostly be finding is trash. Try renting one first to see if you like this hobby. Or join a club.

But what if you don’t make this unusual hobby about you? What if you created adventures for children or grandchildren? Heading for the Hills has a good post on how to do just that. And with fresh air, exercise, history, and quality family time, the benefits of this pursuit speak for themselves.

Where to start? Begin with Where to Detect Metal in Ontario, by David Humphries. He even includes maps!

Hobby Lark has a list of the best places to go for detecting old coins and rings.

And Metaldetector.com keeps a list of all the metal-detecting clubs in Canada and the USA. And FYI, their website, like metal detecting itself, takes a bit of patience.

37. Drone Flying

If you’re a lover of all things tech, drone flying qualifies for this portion of the post on unusual hobbies for seniors, others might not. Haters may just think of them as something strictly used by the military or the next new delivery option for Amazon. Or perhaps they equate it with spying on the neighbours.

However, hobbyists consider it closer to flying remote control helicopters and aerial photography. If you’re not the government or a commercial entity, drone flying is considered “recreational”. And FYI, spying on your neighbours is a favourite pastime for many people!

Drone flying is a technology hobby, and it can also be an expensive one. Furthermore, it’s a hobby that requires training and licensing. Those two things alone qualify it for a spot in this guide on unusual hobbies for seniors. Seed Scientific estimates that there are 208,010 certified remote pilots

Is Spying on Your Neighbour a Hobby?

So what are the benefits of drone flying, aside from spying on your neighbours? Well, it’s not an indoor hobby, so it gets you outside into the fresh air. Depending on how often you crash your drone and have to retrieve it, there’s exercise. How about a little adrenalin from some friendly competition? Recreationally, drones are used in target landing competitions.

If you have other retirement hobbies like foraging, it can help you isolate areas to find specific foods. It can help you visualize a site before you go metal detecting. And it can add a new dimension to your photography or videography.

FYI, my brother uses his drone to video my son while he does his hobby…racing motorcycles. So that makes it a family thing! Here’s where you can learn more.

You could start with 9 Reasons Drones are a Great Hobby, by Dr. Andrew Stapleton over at Drone Flying Pro.

Transport Canada keeps a current list of drone flying schools and where you can get your license.

A quick browse of the Robot Education and Competition Foundation is a great source for aerial drone racing and targeting events.

38. Storm Chasing

Why did storm chasing make the list? Because it’s a lunatic endeavour! Sure the science is super cool, and so is the gadgetry. And predicting the exact location of extreme storms and then getting there to see it has the elemental rush of gambling.

Some find pleasure and excitement in tracking meteorology, the weather, and the cells. Others enjoy watching the raw power of nature, and some of the magnificent rainbows in the aftermath of a tornado.

The technology to make all this home meteorology possible is now much more readily available, and much of the data needed for hardcore evaluation is available online in real-time. Predicting the weather is now much more accurate than it used to be when the weatherman was basically using the doppler dartboard!

Be Prepared to be Self-Reliant

If you’re chasing storms, be prepared to be self-reliant for days. You can’t arrive where a tornado has touched down or a hurricane has come ashore and expect to get a hotel room and a hot meal! And remember, you want to get close to the storm, but not too close.

What are the benefits of storm chasing?

The thrill of the hunt, a passion for science and an appreciation for the raw power of mother nature is a few. Want to learn more?

Wonderopolis has some interesting stuff to begin your quest for knowledge.

If you’re just into science, start with the maps at Live Storm Chasing.

Check-in with senior meteorologist Mark Robinson at the Weather Network.

Or pack a bag, Dorothy, you’re not in Kansas anymore; and take a tornado-chasing vacation. Seriously!

39. Rocket Building

We often think of building model rockets as a hobby for all the nerdy kids. Well, nerdy kids grow up and become nerdy adults. It’s not uncommon to take this lifelong hobby into retirement. But it can be unusual to start this hobby once you’ve graduated from work.

Science geeks unite because there’s some super cool tech to be had if you’re going to make this one of your uncommon pastimes. There can be many facets to this activity, and you can choose all or some of them to fill your spare time. You could limit yourself to just creating exact replicas to the scale of well-known rockets.

Perhaps launching rockets and the science of propulsion is your thing. Engine building is another unique aspect. Maybe all of it is what you want to try.

Maybe you just like blowing crap up. This pursuit has something for everyone. Dang the nerds for keeping it a secret! Here’s where you can learn more.

Instructables is a great place for a step-by-step tutorial on how to build model rockets.
The best way to get more out of rocketry could be by meeting with like-minded people;

consider the National Association of Rocketry.

Add NASA’s Goddard Visitor Centre to your next vacation, they hold model rocketry events.

40. Gliders & Autogyros

Saving the most expensive of all the unusual retirement hobbies for last! Let’s start with two quick definitions.

Gliders

Gliders are also referred to as sailplanes. That’s because they have no engines or propellers. They are towed into the sky by another plane(think of yourself as a human kite). Then when the glider is aloft and is floating on air currents, the glider pilot pulls the tethered pin. Gliding is commonly referred to as soaring.

Rising air currents called “thermals, and other weather phenomena help keep it afloat. It needs a landing field to take off and land. However, it lands unassisted…no tow is required. When you run out of thermals, you simply land the plane. It’s very common for them to come down in open farm fields, that’s part of the training.

You must have a student pilot’s permit to start learning to fly a glider. You can get that at age 14. To go soaring you need hours of training, pass the exams with a 90% or better, and then do 30-50 flights with an instructor before you can fly solo.

To become a glider pilot, be prepared to pay between $3000 -$4000CDN. That figure generally includes the rental of the glider, but every place is different.

Autogyros

Autogyros are known as gyroplanes in some circles. They operate much like a helicopter with an engine that generates lift with a propeller that’s over the pilot’s head(autorotation). Once the craft is aloft, the rotor of a gyrocopter is not powered directly by the engine. It turns by the action of the relative airflow on the blades. 

It flies slowly and is extremely agile. Those rotating blades make them impossible to stall, and they required very short take-off and landing space. they basically go up vertically.

No “license” is required, but permits are. And so is training. The minimum age for a student pilot permit (no flying with passengers) is 14. Yes, that blew my mind too! You must be at least 17 to get a pilot license.

You can buy or rent autogyros. Single pilot autogyros with an open cockpit start at around $18,000USD. If you simply want to get a bit of training and try it for a day (you fly with a fully trained and permitted pilot) that starts at about $550CDN.

Check out Gyro Ontario for training and permits…and flying.

the Toronto Soaring Club offers everything you need to solo.

The Wall Street Journal wrote an article on Learning to Fly as a Retiree. So if you think taking up soaring or flying autogyros in retirement qualifies as an unusual retirement hobby, you’d be right. But you just wouldn’t be alone!

What If Trying All These Unusual Hobbies for Seniors Turns Out To Be My Actual Retirement Hobby?

Retired? Retiring? Worried about being bored? Well, stop worrying. Anyone of these forty unusual retirement hobbies has the potential to be your new favourite pastime.

My hobby has become hobbies. Or at least trying as many as possible, to see which one appeals to me the most, seems to have become my hobby. Feel free to hit me up on Social and let me know which one(s) you’re doing. Or just send me an email.

Cheers,

Cynthia Ross Tustin
Retiree and author of I’m Thinking of Retiring
And ps, feel free to share this with your friends.

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