Retirement and Skillshare
Recently I started reading blogs about retirement. I doubt I was going to be the watch TV and
hang out at the senior center sort of retiree.
There’s nothing wrong with either but I think I would quickly become
bored. I can only binge watch Game of
Thrones so many times before it gets old. Plus the local senior center is for old people. (insert eyeball rolling here)
One of the big things that I read about was keeping
busy. A couple suggestions kept on
cropping up…”join a cause,” “take up a new hobby,” “travel,” “gardening,” “cooking,”
“exercise,” “volunteer work,” and “starting a business.”
I found that I already had enough hobbies to get me though
several lifetimes of retirement. Plus for some reason, I still haven’t take a
nap. I’m adding “nap” to my to-do list.
I am not adding golfing, fishing, and playing a musical instrument. Most of my friends either have different interests or work during the day. I’ve volunteered and joined causes most of my
life. I tired…I’m worn out by trying to help people that either don’t want help
or think I’m a pain in the ass. I am
putting “joining a cause” back on my list.
I doubt I will be able to put this one on hold for very much longer but I'm waiting until after the move.
I figured out that I don’t want to be an expat retiree. That seems to be the big rage right now, it
sounds kinda kewl but I really miss Texas. Texas is good enough for me, it’s a big state
and Bob is still working. So I nixed
that idea.
Next up was joining the AARP. Major milestone for me but I am retired now
and that’s just want people do.
Right? It also gives you lots of
benefits…I’m still working on some those. The biggie of the AARP site was
reading about “Learn@50+”….a major light bulb suddenly appeared over my head.
It was off to Google…the source of quick info. I found a couple things about being over 50
is that there are programs out there at either low cost or free. The area that will be moving has a continuing
education program.
College of the Mainland offers a 50 Plus Program. It has a few interesting things, mostly in
the arts. The State of Texas has a
program that folks over 55 gets tuition reduction. Galveston College offers a Leisure Program
that offers online courses and a full over 55 program. It has the basic stuff like digital photography,
watercolor, painting, ceramics, drawing, and cooking. Not bad, much like the
local art center has. It is rated as #1 community college in Texas. It does
have a visual arts program, the classes are at the 50% tuition discount for
continuing ed. For credit courses, it is
100% but I have to be 65 or older. I’m
not quite there yet but something to think about after we move.
Texas A&M University at Galveston (Aggies by the Sea) is
the marine section of the university. Everything from marine biology to ocean
engineering to maritime studies. Great and wonderful for the island…it’s only one
of six maritime academies in the US. It’s also the only one located on the Gulf
of Mexico. I don’t think it’s the place for me but if I was younger, like 6-11
or 10-18, I’d be at Sea Camp in a heart beat.
Mmmm….the future is great to plan for but I’m thinking about
now. It’s going to be a long winter.
All my light bulbs turned on all at the same time….I had forgotten about
Skillshare. Holy moly, there are fabulous
classes on Skillshare. If anybody wants 2 free months of Skillshare, let me
know and I will send you an invite.
BTW, what I like about being an artist....I didn't have to hunt for graphics, I drew my own.
Anyway, this is turning into a novel. I will be blogging about Skillshare classes.
Laters....
~Moon