What do people really do during retirement?

What Do People Really Do in Retirement?

Retirement used to mean a rocking chair, a newspaper, and endless cups of tea. Not anymore. Today’s retirees are flipping the script, and their golden years? More like golden adventures.

First off, travel tops the list. Many retirees become part-time globetrotters, chasing sunshine, food festivals, or grandkids across time zones. Others trade their passport for an RV and hit the road in style—America’s highways have never seen so many silver-haired speedsters.

Hobbies bloom too. Retirees turn into painters, pickleball champs, amateur chefs, or passionate birdwatchers. Some finally start that novel they’ve been “meaning to write since '84.” And guess what? A few even go back to school—because who says you can’t get a degree at 70?

Volunteering is another big one. With time on their hands and wisdom in their pockets, many retirees give back—mentoring, tutoring, or building houses with organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

And then there’s the grandkid factor. Let’s just say "professional spoiling" is a real job, and it’s not for the faint of heart.

So what do people do in retirement? Everything they want to—sometimes for the first time ever.

What would your dream retirement look like?