<p>Sex…</p>
<p>^ :)</p>
<p>Hubby and I (both 50+) volunteer with kids, swim, and cook and travel.</p>
<p>His mother (76) is a master gardener (certified!) and travels, hangs out with you sister.</p>
<p>My ma (85) and pa (84) travel, play bridge, party, surf the internet and do casinos (they live in Vegas).</p>
<p>My mom did Travelers Aid at McCarran Airport until she got laid off about 2 years ago (from a volunteer job!!!??!) That included escorting new adoptees to their new parents to finding rooms for people who showed up in Vegas on a whim.</p>
<p>picked up my golf clubs and went after it this summer. joined a ladies league, played in every couples nine and dine, and participated in most club events. hope to continue to improve!</p>
<p>After I posted above (#11) I remembered that my friend also had:</p>
<ol>
<li> A hobby - the tea ceremony - which she practiced at a very high level and I believe competitively.</li>
</ol>
<p>And I remembered that her charitable activity (I’m sure she had others too) was to maintain the Japanese collection within a small museum. As you may have guessed, she is Japanese!</p>
<p>Volunteer.
My DH volunteers on our local rescue squad. Keeps him very busy.</p>
<p>I still have younger children at home (in addition to older ones in college/grad school) so homeschooling takes up a good chunk of my time. When I volunteer, it tends to be centered around homeschooling activities (like helping mentor new homeschooling moms) and church activities. In the fall, I hope to also volunteer with our local rescue squad, but not in a medical capacity. There is a group of women who do the fund raising that I plan to join. </p>
<p>Local libraries and theaters often have volunteer opportunities.</p>
<p>I do not have time for social activities. I make sure that I do fun things that I enjoy, otherwise I get bored and frustrated. However, other personality types like just to sit in front of TV. There is nothing wrong with anything. What is a purpose of restructuring, please?</p>
<p>When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens</p>
<p>…And learn to spit.
(JJ)</p>
<p>Personally I can’t wait</p>
<p>H and I love to Scuba Dive and are part of our diving club in our town. We also enjoy weekend rides with the BMW motorcycle club and anything that gets us out of the house enjoying each other and not being called to the chores that are like the endless bread basket at a restaurant. And we like post #21 too.</p>
<p>Read, garden, volunteer. Talk to Oldfort’s imaginary friends. Rock club, doll club, rose club. Drop off care/surprise package once a quarter to Sapling.</p>
<p>What is a purpose of restructuring, please?</p>
<p>I am not really clear on this either- are your parents * asking* for suggestions?
Are they still involved with their church?
Many religious community organizations have a big emphasis on the larger community, that aren’t necessarily evangelical or religious in nature.</p>
<p>H volunteers (Meals on Wheels and Red Cross). I work, paint, teach painting and take painting classes. I have a circle of friends that H and I share as well as friends who are connected with my art activities. We socialize with all of them. One of our favorite activities is to jump on the metro-rail with a half dozen friends, head downtown, visit an art opening or concert and hit various restaurants or dive bars along the way.
Eat, drink, laugh and kvetch about the kids.</p>
<p>Square dancing, swing dancing, water aerobics, tennis, and seeing who can be the first to solve the puzzles on Wheel of Fortune or holler out the questions on Jeopardy! :)</p>
<p>DH and I volunteer (Girl Scouts–yes both of us), dance (most parks and recreation departments offer beginning classes, a good place to meet new people). I read a lot and garden a little, DH gardens a lot and reads a little. I expect when we retire the list will change to include more frequent travel.
There are a lot of organizations looking for short term or long term volunteers. I know a number of people who volunteer at the library (shelving books, literacy volunteers, homework helpers), at schools (listen to students read, help in the library) and, of course, with Girl Scouts (many do not have girls in troops anymore).</p>
<p>I read a lot and do a lot of walking.
H and I are in card group that meets monthly.
I belong to an alumnae club.
I do some volunteering, but at this point it’s mostly through my church.
I get together with my friends as much as possible.</p>
<p>Volunteer for an environmental group. Help with mailings, clerical type stuff or get out in the field and help identify and remove non-native plants, that sort of thing.</p>
<p>One I’ve considered but haven’t done yet: foster a dog for a rescue group.</p>
<p>OP -</p>
<p>As you can see above, there are lots of things to do. However this individual needs to put some thought to which aspects of the former religious community he/she misses most. What has been lost? A social network? A daily schedule or annual/weekly calendar of events? A set of dietary practices? Replacements can be found for each of these items, but it may not be necessary (or even advisable) to try to re-do them all at once.</p>
<p>I expect that the decision to part ways with the religious organization in question was not taken suddenly, or lightly. Likewise, the adaptation to the new lifestyle will take time, and requires mindful attention. In essence, the individual is entering a new culture. Perhaps he/she could benefit from reading up on cultural adaptation/culture shock.</p>
<p>Wishing both of you all the best!</p>