Jim was an outdoor enthusiast who particularly enjoyed boating anytime he could clear his work schedule. He loved the freedom he felt being on the water and enjoying the sunshine and the fresh air. One summer he whimsically purchased a sports canoe that turned out to be one of his favorite things to enjoy. He went about the task of outfitting it for safety and greater fun and in no time it met all of his requirements. While he was in the middle of that task, he found out there were a lot of items available that he never even knew existed that greatly increased his enjoyment when he went boating. Did anyone know there could be such an array of custom items for a sports canoe? He looked at several kayak anchors before settling on just the right one and he also opted for the most expensive of the kayak leashes he discovered. He was a big believer that having the right equipment for any sport greatly increased both safety and enjoyment.

Like Jim, many people have work that is demanding and relief should be derived from taking part in sports and hobbies can be a great form of relaxation. However, there is a tendency for people to slow down as they get older and sometimes they have to give up sports activities they enjoyed as younger people because they are too hard for them physically. The truth is that after a person retires it becomes increasingly necessary for them to pursue hobbies that provide socialization opportunities and mental acuity. Some leisure time activities that are appealing to older people are listed below:

• Scrapbooking: This has started to be a well liked activity recently and many have joined groups in their area that meets regularly to work on pages for their scrapbooks and visit with friends. Many church groups have started clubs that meet in church classrooms allowing people to share supplies and ideas.

• Golfing: This has long been a favorite sport to participate in and because it is not as physically challenging retirees are fully capable of golfing well. The game of golf can be shared with other people but it is equally fun to play alone and try to better your previous performance.

• Quilting: The piecing part of this hobby is easily manageable and can be done even as a person is viewing television, riding in a car or waiting for an appointment. However, the actual quilting technique can be accomplished by oneself or around a quilting frame with a group of other quilters.

• Stamp collecting: This is a hobby that often starts in childhood and then is picked up later as a person ages. The stamps themselves have an artistic quality to them and are so wide ranging in topic and themes that they are really quite fascinating. This is a hobby where a person can spend as much or as little money on collecting them as they desire.

• Fishing: Spending time outdoors and around the water is very appealing to many elderly people. The hobby of fishing satisfies the desire to accomplish something with a small amount of exertion and whatever the catch of the day, it can provide a good meal for the family.