What To Do When You Retire?

Long before I retired three years ago, I pondered what to do when I left my job. My biggest fear was being bored. Like the saying goes, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop". So like 20 years ago, I started taking up hobbies: shooting guns, painting, pickleball, developed a coffee clan, volunteered at church, and even bass fished in a high-powered boat. And fly fishing. All these things are good. I still stay involved in church and help when I can. But the one thing I did that really clicked for me was fly fishing.

Why fly fishing?

1) It's a quiet sport. I enjoyed bass fishing, but grew weary of blasting over the water at a velocity that approached the speed of sound.

2) I yearned to create. There is something about creating something that just gives you inner satisfaction. I enjoyed painting, but I wanted to really use my art. Now I catch fish on flies that I tie. Tying flies can be simply for personal use. Trust me, it can be for art. There are some strikingly beautiful flies being created.

3) I wanted to travel during retirement. I love to travel. But more than riding in a car to a destination and paying for an entertainment option, I wanted more. "Purchased experiences don't count" became my motto. Now I travel to beautiful places, break out my fly rod, and either wade out into clear water gently pushing against my legs as the stream flows or I glide over placid lakes in a kayak. Trout don't live in ugly places. This to me is heaven on earth.

4) Money! My second greatest fear when I retired was running out of money. Fly fishing fits in all budgets. You can get basic gear for about $250 and be set for a lifetime of excitement. You can fish close to home; you can branch out to breathtaking regional locations; and you can travel the beautiful country we live in and fish striking locations. Some people even travel the world. But the excitement is right there at your fingertips. I often travel to distant locations only to wish I was back home on my favorite waters in Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana.

5) I didn't want to be isolated. Church is a great option to make friends. But it’s not a recreational outlet. Fly fishing clubs offer incredible camaraderie. Sure, I had to be a friend before I made a friend, but I found folks in fly fishing clubs to be extremely interesting and sociable. The next thing I knew I was being taken to incredible fishing locations and being shown "the ropes" by people that love to teach. Many of those folks have become more than fishing buddies. They are now like family. Fly fishing gets another gold star on the social front.

6) I wanted to make a difference and help others. Fly fishing offers many opportunities to help those in need. I have volunteered for Reel Recovery and helped cancer patients as they battle the illness of their life. I have volunteered for Healing Waters that helps veterans dealing with the lingering effects of combat. I have worked with 4-H to help young people deal with anxiety. I have recently volunteered for the Mayfly Project which is geared to help foster children. If you want to help others, the sport of fly fishing certainly fills the bill.

7) I wanted to progress in the hobby. Fly fishing is a sport in which there’s always room for new concepts and growth. You have endless options in the type of water that you can fish, the type of species, and types of locations. I never get bored with fly fishing. But if you choose to just fish your local public lake, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

8) I wanted a hobby where I could get help . And eventually help others. A fly fishing club and fly fishing festivals fulfill that need. YouTube videos are great, but there is nothing like someone coaching you on the water. When I started fly fishing, I needed people to help me learn to cast, help me learn to "set the hook" to catch a fish. I needed help in all aspects of the sport. Some amazing people helped me blaze this trail. After decades of fly fishing, now I can help others learn the sport. That is incredibly fulfilling.

9) I wanted a hobby I could do as I age. It can be strenuous – or not at all. I have seen some old folks use walkers to wade out into the water. If for some reason you can't fish, you can always tie flies. Fly tying is a great aspect of our sport. Entire weekends are often dedicated to groups of folks getting together to tie flies.

I could go on, but the above points were enough to convince me to partake in the sport of fly fishing. I am glad I did. Are you going to retire soon? If so, I encourage you to start practicing retirement now. If you like to be outdoors, if you like to travel, if you like to eat, if you desire close friends, if you like to create art, I encourage you to give fly fishing a try. It just might be your ticket to a 5-star retirement.

It is for me.