Some people feel retirement to be a dull period and consider it to be a low point of their life. However, in reality it could be an exciting phase of life. While all life phases are good in their own ways, retirement is unique for most people as it offers the freedom of doing things which they never got to do for one reason or the other. You have worked hard, hopefully saved some money and can afford to do things which you just want to do. At this time you are not worried about getting ahead of the crowd or being overly influenced by money, etc. So, what are some of the things that people find interesting during retirement? Of course it depends on what you like. The list below should help you get some ideas.

1. Some people from corporate world who ran businesses and had a desire to build a company, ground up, but could not get to, may consider either helping/consulting for small/startup firms in the field of their interest. They could also consider starting on their own at a pace that suits their lifestyle.
2. Some people who love traveling and want to do something for social development travel to developing countries. Most developing countries have a lower cost of living. As a result one not only gets to travel and experience people from different culture but also gets to help locals in an area of their expertise. This is also a very fulfilling experience.
3. Some folks prefer to get into personal fitness and spiritual activities e.g. yoga. .
4. Those from the field of education and training could volunteer for local school or other academic activities. The advent of internet has opened so many cheap avenues of reaching out to the mass at a large scale. .
5. Folks from the field of care giving e.g. doctors/nurses can help other people who need medical care and aren't able to afford it. .
6. There may be a hobby which you wanted to pursue or a different career you want to go after but couldn't. If you wanted to be a stage or movie actor the technology has made this much easier now. Just have a digital camcorder and post your talent on several free sites e.g. youtube.com. .
7. For those who lived a very hectic life during working phase, this is an opportunity to spend some more time with family and friends. However, that should not be the only goal as others may either become over dependent on you thus compromising your flexibility or may just feel a little uneasy with too much of you. .

• Take some time to identify activities which you will find fulfilling.
• Discuss with your spouse and identify things that may interest both of you.
• Spend some time thinking about those activities that you wanted to do earlier but you couldn’t because of kids, work, or other reasons.
• Consult your friends and professional advisors helping retirees.