Leisure Activities in Retirement

Leisure activities are numerous for the retiree over 55 years of age. Organizations such as AARP provide retirement advice, tips and information about where to find the best deals to enjoy the freedom and flexibility that retirement offers. Activities, such as cruising, bird-watching, volunteering and traveling can be done by retired couples and individuals or enjoyed in a group setting. Retirement groups that travel, follow hobbies or attend classes and events together provide added security and help the retiree remain connected to her immediate community.

Travel and Sightseeing

• Retirees find that one popular way to spend their newfound freedom is to travel to locations that they could not visit before retirement due to financial or time restraints. Making a list of places of interest and smart budgeting can help make a dream trip possible. Travel resources, such as AARP's, can help you find discounted travel and accommodations specific to seniors and retirees above the age of 55 years. Travel websites that specialize in retiree information, such as Retirement USA, list group travel clubs and reviews of specific destinations that let you research before traveling.

Bird-Watching

• The Audubon Society's website lists local and regional chapters across the United States that retirees who are avid bird-watchers can join. Keeping physically active and staying in contact with nature during retirement is easy to do on group or solitary bird-watching trips. Retirees in bird-watching clubs can participate in club birding trips to distant bird sanctuaries and nature centers. Classes and seminars are available for the retiree to learn non-intrusive watching methods and sighting-recording techniques.

Sailing Clubs

• Some retirees plan and save throughout their working careers to purchase a yacht for retirement. Member discounts, group regatta excursions and special offers are benefits of joining a yacht club. Retirees can check a website such as Yacht Club or inquire at a local marina to find a yacht club. Members also enjoy alerts about any new national or state laws and regulations that govern the recreational sailing community and can find information on the licenses necessary to live onboard in local or foreign waterways.

Cruising

• Retirees can travel to many global destinations by purchasing one or several all-inclusive cruise vacations each year. Ships range from small river vessels that visit inland ports to large ocean liners visiting large tropical ports of call. Retiree-only cruises for those over 55 can be found through cruise travel websites such as Voyage Masters. A new form of retiree is the continuous cruiser, nicknamed after the term for a ship that is always moving and has no home port. These frequent cruisers enjoy retirement by relinquishing their residences and cruising year-round.