For a christmas gift - what do people do in retirement?

[Comedia]

My dad is retiring this year. He has no hobbies which has become a joke among us but for Christmas I thought I might get him mini versions of other people's hobbies.

For example, desktop golf for golf, a small plant for gardening, a model to build for woodwork.

What other retirement hobbies would lend themselves to this kind of thing?

I think mini versions of other peoples hobbies sounds wasteful. He must have some interests, if not hobbies, has he not spoken about his plans in retirement?

Some parents / grandparents are just so hard to buy for, aren’t they? Having accumulated everything they need or they buy it as and when. I’m guilty of this myself.

When my FIL retired but MIL was still working he took over the household chores and cooking. So maybe a cookery book and a dustpan?

@thedevilinablackdress

I sort of see where you're coming from, but it sounds a bit... wasteful? Like the study of thing that would be landfill within a week. Something he might actually use would be best.

So true. Novelty gifts are an absolute triumph of commercialism over common sense. They are just spending money for the sake of it.

I am retired. Recent gifts that I have loved included a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes and some hoop earrings (although I can see they might not be suit your dad). I was also given a gift card for theatre tickets which I am delighted with.

Recent gifts that I was properly enthusiastic and grateful about and then went straight to the charity shop included a tasteful scarf, a plaque with a joke about 'Gin time' and a gift pack of toiletries.

A Kindle equipped with Kindle Unlimited.

I kind of know where you’re coming from with the idea but I agree with PP that it sounds very wasteful. Do you actually envisage him getting use out of a desktop golf set? Personally I would hate to receive a load of stuff I won’t use and will just add clutter to my house.

Could you not think of one hobby that you think he would enjoy and actually get him some proper stuff for it…a themed hamper type gift? If you think golf might be of interest could you look into lessons? Or for gardening, a hamper with gloves, tools, knee mat and seeds/seed bombs. Or a terrarium kit…that was a hit with my Mum last year and very easy to look after. Bird watching could be some binoculars and a book.

Membership of Picturehouse cinemas, the National Trust, English Heritage etc. A mini version of something they have no interest in shows how little you actually know about them.

I retired a couple of weeks ago - one of my DS's bought me a large bottle of gin!

& my friend sent me this

Some parents / grandparents are just so hard to buy for, aren’t they?

I take it as a good sign, that it means they have everything they want.

A subscription can be good, which, or any interest related. Lots of smaller companies do cake or brownie subscriptions which are very flexible.

Alternatively, take him out for lunch, on your own or as a family. Time is often the thing lots of retired people have lots of when the rest of their families are always so busy, so maybe offer some of your time and attention.

In general aim for anything that does not need to be dusted.

I don't really understand this gift. Why would he want mini versions of other people's hobbies?

Total waste of money. Novelty items are shit.

@FinallyHere I think your gift of time is very wise.

I am nearly retired - I only work on a very adhoc basis. My wish list would include lots of books, theatre and cinema tickets, gift vouchers for Exodus travel company, a new bike, cycling kit, yoga mat and block - currently using an old camping mat and a book.

I don't understand why gift giving needs to be different because someone has retired. DH likes the same things for gifts now as he liked before he retired. There wasn't anything new that he wanted to take up just because he has more time. He just does more of what he liked to do in his leisure time before retirement: fishing, bird-watching, nature hikes, cooking, and reading.

My FIL liked to invest on the stock market - he put a couple of hundred pounds on for fun and played with it making and losing money. He researched companies and bought and sold accordingly. He just did it for fun but managed to double his money over time which pleased him.

So maybe a hundred quids worth of shares in random companies

Hey minty my Dad is retired and does bird watching, he also volunteers at a nature reserve, he used to do two but one lost its funding. My in-laws were very active in the U3A until it was taken over by the "youngsters". Mil loved doing jigsaws until her arthritis got too bad. DH is obsessed with rugby and cricket, music especially jazz, Greek and prog rock. He also does our family tree, and criticising whatever I'm doing.

I would make him a retirement folder/book of things to do locally.

Leaflets and adverts from lots of local clubs and activities,
allotment
cooking class
creative writing class
The Mens Shed
bridge
yoga
keep fit
wine group
walking group
golf class
gym, sports centre, swimming pool advert with opening times
a map of local walks, voucher for the cinema/theatre/gym.

map of local bus routes/timetables to go with his bus pass

@thedevilinablackdress

I sort of see where you're coming from, but it sounds a bit... wasteful? Like the study of thing that would be landfill within a week. Something he might actually use would be best.

This is what I was thinking.

I’ve just been down the Christmas aisle in Tesco and I feel the same about that.

@2bazookas

I would make him a retirement folder/book of things to do locally.

Leaflets and adverts from lots of local clubs and activities,
allotment
cooking class
creative writing class
The Mens Shed
bridge
yoga
keep fit
wine group
walking group
golf class
gym, sports centre, swimming pool advert with opening times
a map of local walks, voucher for the cinema/theatre/gym.

map of local bus routes/timetables to go with his bus pass

I think this is a far better idea.

That quite a funny idea but yeah a bit wasteful.
Although we bought my dad a Lego sports car set a few years ago as a bit of a joke as we obviously couldn’t afford the real thing and he really enjoyed it and has asked for Lego again this year!

Maybe you could go with do consumable versions of hobbies -chocolate golf clubs etc.

Why don't you just ask him what he would like?

I am close to retirement age and honestly just don't want any more 'stuff' in my life, I absolutely don't want any 'novelty sets'. The only present I like is a charity goat type gift but so many people don't seem to like giving them .. I buy them for myself .

Maybe your Dad is the same? Why not just treat him to a nice meal or go to the theatre/cinema/sports event/whatever with him?

@Ragwort

Why don't you just ask him what he would like?

I am close to retirement age and honestly just don't want any more 'stuff' in my life, I absolutely don't want any 'novelty sets'. The only present I like is a charity goat type gift but so many people don't seem to like giving them .. I buy them for myself .

Maybe your Dad is the same? Why not just treat him to a nice meal or go to the theatre/cinema/sports event/whatever with him?

This. At our advanced ages dh and I have been getting rid of a lot of ‘stuff’ - I certainly don’t want any more.

I dare say it’s very boring, but how about a nice shirt or jumper? IME older men often don’t think to buy such things for themselves - at least not the ones I’ve ever known.

At our advanced ages dh and I have been getting rid of a lot of ‘stuff’ - I certainly don’t want any more.

Same here. I will be retiring at the end of 2022. My ideal gift would be a professional organizer/de-clutterer to come in here and help us get rid of stuff.