What are some of the most unusual retirement lifestyles

[classof70]

Retirement is coming up for me, maybe sooner than I would like, but it is coming. The thought of holing up in an active adult community with golf balls bouncing off my roof all day isn't doing much for me. If I know me, I would be at the bar reliving the round I didn't play, looking for something in life I just wasn't getting.

So that leads me to thinking, we only go around once. But maybe we get a couple of chances. Round 1 was fun, a challenging job, pretty good money, lovely wife. And I was one of the fortunate ones - i got 2.0 pretty close to perfect children - no decimal children for me.

Round 2 of course is harder with a lot of hobbies going in. I don't think I would appreciate an astronomy-based retirement community like i read about at Topretirements. All the stars look pretty similar to me. As for an airplane focused community - the incessant sound of Cessnas taking off all day doesnt do much for me. Plus, anyone who would get in a plane with me as pilot needs a good old-fashioned pyschiatric evaluation.

So what else might you suggest, that might be interesting, have the chance to meet interesting people, keep me fulfilled, and my wife in good spirits (she is pretty adaptable). Love to learn of your experiences, or those of friends or acquaintances. No idea too whacky!

[2putz]

My friend K has what I think is an unusual, and pretty nice, retirement life-style. He and his wife operate a B & B on a midwestern lake during the spring, summer, and fall. When the leaves come down they pack up in their mobile home and head to Key West, FL. There they park in a fairly inexpensive trailer park and goof off until the birds start flying north again.

[BETTY FITTERMAN]

We've joined the ranks of the RV community, certainly an out-of-the-box lifestyle. We live full time in a mobile home and are traveling the country to find that special place. Or not! Mobile living is fun and adventurous and we love the pace.

[classof70]

This made me think of 2 very opposite types of unusual retirements. One guy, who I am pretty sure spent time abroad in the armed forces, retired to Thailand, which he views as paradise (particularly as a single guy). His polar opposite is a man who spends about half the year in the Dominican Republic on a project he created that builds homes for the extremely poor. The actual home builders are US volunteers - boy scouts, youth groups, kids in church youth groups. He helps administer the program. Both guys enjoy their lives.

[mysterygirl]

Here's one i just heard of. My hub might love it, but it sounds like a certain slow and painful death to me. The Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre is planned for Castemaine, Australia (vaguely near Melbourne). It's a community for retired hot rodders. Amenities include a museum for vehicle displays, a cafe, catering facilities, a fully equipped function room, training facilities, and modified vehicle inspection services.THere are 80 residential units targeted for the active hot rodder and other automotive enthusiast retirees (long- and short-term living). They will all have an attached garage and workshop areas. http://streetrodder.automotive.com/92619/0811sr-castlemaine-hot-rod-centre-ltd/index.html Street Rodder Magazine

[adnama52]

My husband is 67 and I 56, but he works several months a year in disaster areas. He is contracted to a company that contracts to the government. We bought an RV early in 2008 and love it, just wish we had bought one with some more amenities. So we are looking and hoping to move into the RV of our dreams within the next year and make it our forever home. Even as he slows down we can use the RV to settle into somewhere on a lot either near my son or on a lake somewhere. I find that there are a lot of benefits to RV- cheaper to live in and then you can go where the weather is warm, or move out of the way of a storm or stay near friends for a long visit etc.

[62andout]

how's this for an unusual retirement lifestyle? In light of this horrible economy, someone retires at 62 on a comfortable pension and never has an economic care in the world. I wish!