We all work, and we all dream of the day when we don’t have to listen to that alarm clock telling us to go to work again. Is someone that you know about to retire from their job? Chances are that they have been waiting and planning for this day for years and are now finally faced with the ultimate commodity — Time!
They now have the time to do what they want, and when they want to do it. Some people are stumped on what it is they want to do, others are ready and have plans with the tiniest of details.
Here are some great gift ideas for the person who has lots of time on their hands and are ready to start using it.
10) Garden And Landscape Design – Garden Design Software
Spending more time in the garden is a dream for many people who are done the rat race. Many people find getting in touch with the earth on a daily basis to be a great way to relax, and think.
Planning and designing that dream garden is now easier than ever with garden design software that allows you to create that garden or landscape project on the computer before ever planting a seed.
Landscape design software allows you to work with what you have in your yard, taking into consideration things like cool space around a pool where certain plants may do well, or a garden shed that provides shade for other types of plants, it also takes into consideration the amount of sunlight each area may receive in day based on how the yard is situated. The software can generate garden design ideas to fit any area with the right plants.
9) Follow Your Team On The Road – Season Tickets
Many on the verge of retiring dream, of going to their favorite sports team’s games on a season basis.
Lifelong fans of NFL football teams, NBA basketball, NHL hockey, and MLB baseball teams can relax watching what they love with season tickets. Popular season ticket packages are available for most sports teams, but in some cases you may have to get put on a waiting list.
Can you imagine being able to go to every New York Yankee game? How many times was there a day game at Fenway Park, or Yankee Stadium that you could not go to because of work? Many custom season ticket packages are designed for people who love the day games.
Many people retire to such lifestyles, even following the team on some away games. This can be a fun way to get to other cities and catch your favorite team on the road.
8) Writing A Book – Story Writing Software
You have said that you wanted to do it, and boy do you have a story to tell. Now you need to sit down and write that book!
Do you have the time, and the story, but are a little shaky about proper story structure and plot? There are many software products that help you write that book.
Book writing software gives guidance, for keeping a plot tight and keeping your characters straight. Follow the steps from A to Z and one day your book is finished. Sit in your garden with your laptop, and a pot of coffee and enjoy your creativity with no calls to make, reports to generate, or schedules to stick to.
7) Time To Hit The Kitchen – Culinary Schools
Do you know someone who has you always wanted to learn how to cook a different cuisine? Perhaps they always wanted to learn Mediterranean Cooking, or how to make Chinese Food, or Italian Food; maybe they have always been good in the kitchen but want to take it up a notch to be great?
There are many online cooking schools, videos or even schools in your area where a newly retired person can learn just about any form of culinary art, whether it is to specialize as a pastry chef, a wine sommelier, or a specialist chef.
6) See The World – Cruise Package Deals
One of the most common retirement dreams is to take an “around the world cruise”.
There is something great about getting on a large luxurious boat and setting sail to places that you have never been. The ship is like a floating luxury hotel staffed by people who take care of your every need.
Some of the newest cruise ships are more like cruise destinations themselves with stores, restaurants, and other diversions. It’s best to compare cruise lines and cruise packages to the person who will be cruising — Would they like far eastern ports, South American, or European ports to cruise to?
Getting an idea about what the retiree likes will enable you to find the best cruise deal and best port.
If the newly retired likes the idea of cruising but doesn’t feel up to a trip that can last several months then meeting the boat in a far away port, heading for places to discover for a week or two may be better on the budget.
5) Finish That Degree – Either Online or At A Local School
Give the gift of courses at either a local or online college. So many people who are retiring have had their education plans put on the sideline by life. They had to support families, and put their kids through college.
Does someone you know want to continue their education either online or on campus?
Now that they have the time, would they go to get college credits or to just learn something new?
Colleges are filled with adult learners either enriching themselves or finishing up degree programs that got delayed.
There are hundreds of programs from great colleges and universities where a person can get a Bachelors Degree or a Masters Degree without ever stepping foot on a campus.
Buy someone a course at The Harvard Extension, or Penn State, which offers open enrollment courses to anyone who wants to take one. They are available online so a person can go to Harvard while sitting in their kitchen.
4) Take Up A Sport – Compete at a Masters Level – Gym Memberships
Many retirees start training for a sport they used to do or always wanted to do. Did they run track at either the high school, or college level and remember the training and competition as something that they always enjoyed?
The building block of getting good at any sport at the Masters Level is the foundation a person builds at a gym. Whether it is running track, throwing a javelin, golfing, tennis, flag football, weightlifting, a good core is essential.
Competing at a Masters Level (Usually 40 years or older) is possible with just about every sport. If they have the time, dedication, and desire talented retirees can find themselves competing at Masters Olympic Game.
3) Build A Wooden Boat In The Garage – Wooden Boat Plans
Here is a detailed project that can take years to complete but it has a reward at the end. You can actually sail in your project when it is finished.
Does this sound like a lot of work?
It is.
Building a boat requires, patience, some skill, and lots of time. The right person can get immersed in this sort of project for years if they want, learning how to use new tools, wood, and getting things just right. It’s an education, both rewarding and time consuming that can cause hundreds of trips to hardware and nautical
Buy someone a wooden boat plan for a vessel that they can start building immediately right in their garage. The right person for this can get immersed in tools, wood, and getting things just right. It’s an education, both rewarding and time consuming.
2) Start A Business – Be Your Own Boss – Give Someone A Business Idea
For many, retirement means not retiring but finding something productive to do or contribute to.
This could mean starting a small business in a field that a newly retired person has always dreamed of doing. Did they always want to start a restaurant or open a barbershop? How about a boutique, or a bakery, or consignment shop? It can be full time or part time as long as the newly retired is doing it their way.
There are so many small business grant opportunities available. There are small business loans from The Small Business Administration, and the Service Corp Of Retired Executives (S.C.O.R.E) is there to offer advice on just how to start a company.
1) Get A GPS and go somewhere new – U.S. Travel Destinations
A new retiree can just get in the car and go! Give them a GPS device from Garmin, or Tom Tom and they can just get in the car and drive.
Going to the Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, Washington DC, The Smithsonian, or Charleston SC is a snap with these fun, programmable devices.
You set the destination, plug your device in, and turn it on — The GPS device tells you turn for turn how to get where you are going in a pleasant calm voice.
Many hotels, restaurants, and points of interests are preprogrammed into the device so finding your hotel or place to eat is also a breeze. This is a great gadget gift for any retiree.
