People have many different expectations for retirement. Travel, downsizing, reading, sports and exercise, working part time, pinching pennies to get by, more time with family, volunteering. Whatever your plan, it’s a time to take a fresh look at your world.

It gives us the opportunity to be tourists in our own lives, no matter where we live or how much money we have. This page is dedicated to suggestions about how to do that. New ideas will be added at the top periodically, so check back often!

  • Tour Thrift Stores to look for treasures hidden in plain view! Here are a few examples:
    • Silk flowers, extremely expensive in craft store but about 90% discounted in thrift stores. They often come in vases, on wreaths, or just bunched into mismatched bouquets, but you can easily take them apart for your own use. And you can store them in a big, beautiful basket of cheer until you need them.
    • Vintage clothing, and by vintage, I mean the things that we wore back in high school or college days. Retro makes them “new” again, and we still love them.
    • Very cheap pet toys. If you have a dog who loves to chew up toys and leave the stuffing all over the floor, try the $1 stuffed animals usually found in big bins in the thrift stores. True, they don’t have the squeakers. But isn’t that a blessing?? Just make sure that the ones you choose don’t have plastic parts such as the beady black eyes.
    • Cookbooks are in abundance. And if you think you can get all the recipes you need online, see my article on how to pick out a cookbook on the “Let’s Talk About . . .” page.
    • Interesting serving pieces to change the mood in the kitchen, dining room, or picnic basket.
    • And there is a wealth of games and puzzles, of interest to me because I use the boxes for Present Tense projects. But they are also great for kids and grandkids.
    • Let us know what treasures you find. It’s worth the trip!
  • Read a book that you loved when you read it many years ago and see how it goes for you now. Or you might reread something that you didn’t care for and see if it has “improved” with age. Hesse? Vonnegut? Austen? Hemingway, anyone?
  • Drive a different route to places that you go frequently. There is no place like Pittsburgh for finding new, different, interesting, faster, slower, speed-bumpier ways to get there.
  • Call, email, text, or even better, write a note to a distant friend you haven’t seen or heard from in a long time. Before you do, think about your history with this person. Good things to bring up? Differences to iron out? Memories to share?
  • Make a list of the 10 people who have been most important in your life and why they were important. Nobody’s yardstick but yours. How many of them are you still in touch with? Would you like to contact more? 

January 7, 2022

  • Tour Your Library – We did that not long ago, and it is amazing to find all of the materials and resources they have. Books and ebooks, of course, and and movies, and music in many forms. But they also have things like a historic photos catalog, equipment (with head sets) that allows patrons to not only play music but to compose it, cooking classes, book discussion groups, art to borrow, research assistance, periodicals, and on and on and on. And it’s all free. Take a look!
  • Reach Out in the Old Fashioned Way – Write a letter or send a card via the good old USPS at least once a month. And while you’re at it, get an appropriate stamp for each envelope you address. It will probably surprise the recipient. And it might even tempt them to send out some snail mail themselves.

September 28, 2021

  • Tour Local Restaurants – No matter how often you eat out, it is likely that you have at least a few favorites and return to them often. If you’re like me, you may even order the same thing at the places each time you go. Make a point of trying new places from time to time, or at least order a new dish at the usual places. There are new restaurants springing up all over, many with new cuisines or fresh approaches. Give them a try!
  • Grocery Safari – While we’re on the subject of food, do you find that you shop at the same one or two groceries over and over? It might be worth a drive and a bit of time to try something new. And you might also find that you can save some money. We regularly use Costco, Trader Joe’s, the local co-op, Giant Eagle (our regional chain), and online sources. We also visit Pittsburgh’s Strip District (produce and ethnic foods) and farmer’s markets. And if there are expensive ingredients that you really enjoy, do an internet search to see if you can find a better price than you’ve been paying. We wanted a product that has real maple syrup combined with butter. A well-known online food site had it for $14 per bottle. I found it at a big box store for $9.

August 28, 2021

  • Tour Your Closet – When was the last time you actually looked at each piece of clothing that hangs in there day after day. Some of those items have probably not seen the sun for a long time. This is not necessarily a closet clean out, although you might decide to give things away, throw things away, or frame them. But sometimes it will be a trip down memory lane. Some things you’ll want to try on to see if they still fit. And perhaps take a picture of the proof if they do. Some of heirloom quality might inspire you to give them to a family member who will appreciate them. Shorten something? Take in something? Or let it out? Some clothes will make you want to dress up (for a change?). Some that you’ve forgotten might be packed for your next trip. Some might bring up a bit of melancholy as you remember the last time you wore them. Whatever the outcomes, it will be time well spent with old friends.
  • Take a Tour of Your Home – No matter how large or small, we all get in a rut when it comes to our living space. We sit in the same chair, sleep on the same side of the bed, eat dinner in the same place. Make a point of changing things up and it will give you a new look at familiar surroundings. I am always amazed when I find myself sitting in “Tom’s chair” on the porch rather than my usual one. It faces a different direction. I notice different things. All good!

July 22, 2021

  • Tour the Neighborhoods – Many cities, Pittsburgh among them, have dozens of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own points of interest and hidden treasures. We try to head out to a different neighborhood one afternoon a week to see what we can find. We lunch at a new restaurant (no chains, please!), shop at interesting shops, and stop to explore. On recent neighborhood outings in Pittsburgh, we have visited Andy Warhol’s church, a soft serve stand recently written up in the New York Times, and “Our Lady of the Parkway.” Even if your area doesn’t have defined neighborhoods, you can still set out in a different direction each time and see what you find. QUICK TIP: Do a little research online before you go so that you don’t miss something that you’d really like to see.
  • Tour the Puppy Parks – Is there a four-legged tail wagger in your household? How about a tour of the leash-free dog parks in your area. We have identified 32 in southwest Pennsylvania and so far Asta has visited half of them. We keep a bag with the necessities in the car so that we can stop at one if we find ourselves close. Dog owners are usually friendly people and we enjoy the visits as much as Asta does. QUICK TIP: You might want to keep a folding chair or two in your car as well since some of the parks do not have benches, and even when they do it’s nice to decide if you want to watch the pups play from a sunny or shady spot.