May 27 2008
Retirement Challenge TWO - Keeping Active
As a retirement challenge, Keeping Active means not seceding from society, not becoming a hermit, nor a misfit, nor a strange geezer. I don’t want to be known as a grouch either.
So, when it comes to keeping active, I do know how to go about it; in much the same way as when I first moved to this neck of the woods and didn’t know a soul: I volunteered.
There are always non-profit and charitable organizations that would love to have help. Political campaigns, if you can stomach them, are seemingly ALWAYS underway for some local office, or mill levy or bond election. Anyway, they will always accept help to make phone calls, canvass neighborhoods, put up signs or lick stamps. (Oops, I guess that is outdated.)
There are plenty of children’s and youth organizations that can use volunteers, like Shelters and Big Brother, etc., but these can take an emotional toll on volunteers, so be careful.
Theater is another area to volunteer. They need helpers as stage hands and once in a while there may be a part to play onstage as well. But, stage hands are hard to come by; everyone wants to be an actor, it seems. In small town productions, the actors often double as stage hands, due to a shortage of volunteers. You can meet some fun people here. The parties are great too.
Hospitals and clinics need volunteers. Lots of leg work, filing, and helping others.
Local governments utilize volunteers too. Parks and Recreation Departments and the Police Department come to mind. Some governments even fund a paid position to coordinate volunteers.
And don’t forget about the organizations that cater to the retiree age group, like AARP, RSVP, and Aging Services agencies. SCORE offers retired experts a chance to mentor others. Finally, the Peace Corps accepts volunteers of all ages. Most agencies can accommodate handicapped or mobility-impaired volunteers, so that is no excuse for becoming a hermit. (Good physical condition is a prerequisite for Peace Corps assignments overseas.)
One caveat: Volunteers can quickly become overwhelmed with the number of assignments and the hours that we spend helping others. Be sure to start out slowly and not over-obligate yourself. I try to always keep that in mind.
