However, you don't have to stick to traditional senior activities when planning your next adventure. We've collected eight hobbies off the beaten path that you may wish to consider adding to your goals.
Older adults with a passion for science don't need multiple degrees or accolades to make a difference in society through research and observations. The scientific community has dozens of projects that hinge on volunteers.
For example, seniors fascinated by the weather can become certified storm spotters for the National Weather Service, and NASA often recruits ham radio enthusiasts to help it study technologies supporting the field.
Similar to standard golf, disc golf is played on courses with a tee-off area and end goal. Players throw their discs down the playing field, picking up each shot where it lands and throwing again until they land in the basket that serves as the finish.
Considered a lifetime sport, disc golf's multigenerational appeal makes it a good choice when planning family outings. It's also easy to play disc golf in Kansas City, which ranks the best in the state for the number of courses and leagues.
Table games can encompass everything from traditional board games, including Ticket to Ride and Monopoly, to dice and card games, such as Magic the Gathering.
Aspiring players have a variety of potential meeting places with their fellow gamers in Kansas City. In addition to weekly games and events held by game shops, several bars and restaurants host meetups where you can enjoy food and drinks while playing.
Live action role-playing is comparable to taking part in a play, as gaming enthusiasts act out stories to bring fictional worlds to life. The games take teamwork and imagination to carry out, as the players have to write the stories, design the puzzles and create costumes and props.
Fantasy and sci-fi are the most commonly used genres for games, although many groups put a twist on traditional themes by adding magic or fantasy races to modern-era stories.
Individual LARPing groups typically focus on a specific style of play, such as battle reenactments, storytelling or puzzle-solving, which makes it easier for newcomers to join games that involve their preferred activities.
For seniors whose hearts thrill in the theater, retirement may be the perfect time to step onto the stage instead of watching from the audience. To get started, residents here at The Gardens at Barry Road can ask their caregivers about putting on a play or skit for their peers in the activity center.
You may also find acting opportunities in the local area through community theaters. These groups sometimes hold open auditions to find actors for their upcoming productions, offering excellent hands-on experience that can help you learn and grow in the art.
Puppetry offers nearly limitless potential in theatrical art. Operators can convey lighthearted jokes and powerful life lessons, often in the same production, and the puppets themselves can be anything their creators can imagine, from humans to animals to inanimate objects.
Seniors intrigued by the possibilities of puppetry may want to take a trip to the Puppetry Arts Institute in nearby Independence. For a small fee, visitors can tour the museum and watch a demonstration of how to operate hand puppets and marionettes. They can also inquire about further educational courses and chances to perform for live audiences at the Institute.
Juggling may be a good hobby for seniors interested in improving their cognitive health while having fun. Research suggests it helps increase gray matter density, which is the area of the brain responsible for actions such as reading comprehension and attention span.
Juggling is an easy entry hobby, with many tutorials available online to help you master throwing and catching. Juggling balls are simple to make from several common household goods, such as socks or balloons filled with rice and birdseed.
You can also practice facing your bed or couch to reduce the number of times you have to bend over to retrieve a ball.
Balloon art can be incredibly simple to learn. Many of the classic shapes, such as swans, flowers and swords, require only a few twists to complete. The appeal of balloon twisting lies in the sheer diversity of items you can create using only a marker, an air pump and balloons.
Balloon art adds an element of fun and engagement to special events, making it a great hobby to pick up for individuals who love volunteering at children's hospitals and ministries. The craft can also be a fun way to create unique gifts for loved ones and entertain grandchildren during visits to your assisted living apartment.
