When you think back to visits at your grandparents’ house or even your elderly neighbors down the street, you may have thought that older people were boring. Think again about some of their favorite hobbies, they might be kind of fun now, right?
Here are some things that are often viewed as “old people” things but are fun for anyone; your grandparents were probably a lot cooler than you give them credit:
Knitting, Crocheting, and Needlepoint
These hobbies have been trendy for awhile, but for decades they seemed to be solely reserved for older women. Today, you can visit an Etsy store or Pinterest and find thousands of items and images of knitting projects or needlepoint designs with bold statements (i.e. swear words).
Depending on where you live, your local breweries or bars may even host a knitting event where you can learn how to knit and drink a pint of craft beer. Don’t drink alcohol, if you stop by any independent coffee shop you’re likely to run into at least one person with a pair of knitting needles.
B-I-N-G-O
When was the last time you played Bingo? In grade school or with your grandma? Bingo is a popular game with the over 50 crowd but it’s fun for everyone. Learning how to play bingo is one of the easiest, but fun, games to play.
Grab your lucky dauber and hit the nearest Bingo game with your friends. Don’t have a Bingo Hall nearby? You can always try your luck online.
Other games to check out are Bridge and other card games.
Going to Auctions and Estate Sales
Auctions and estate sales seem to draw crowds of older folks. Maybe it’s the nostalgia, or maybe it’s just finding something for a great price. If you’ve never gone to an auction or an estate sale, it’s time you check one out.
If you appreciate vintage stuff and have an eclectic style, you can find some real treasures for a low price. Some people have turned their auction and estate sale hobby into a side business by restoring or reselling items online.
Pickleball
If you head to a retirement community, you may see some residents playing pickleball. What’s pickleball? It combines tennis, badminton, and ping-pong and can be played inside or outdoors. Next time you see someone playing, stop and ask for a quick tutorial.
Having Coffee With Friends
With technology taking over our lives, the art of a face to face conversation seems to be dying. If you stop at a diner or even a coffee shop, you’re likely to see a group of older people sitting around and talking. You don’t see anyone on their phone the whole time; you just see that they are sitting, drinking coffee, and having a good time chatting.
The concept of a simple “hangout” is so simple, but many people of other generations fail to do it or see the fun of sitting around without a smartphone. Give it a try; you might make it a daily habit.