Retiree's husband finds interest

By KENT S. COLLINS

Q.When we retired five years ago, we moved to my hometown. My mother still lived there --- a wonderful, but frail lady. I was bound and determined to be with her for her final years. She deserved all I could give her.

My husband was a lifelong city dweller. The thought of living in a small town was intriguing to him. But he soon grew restless with it. To keep him pacified, I dreamed up all sorts of diversions. Here is one of the best --- suited, I suspect, to other retirees.

There is a college in our town. It boasts 4,500 good students and a second-rate football team. I bought him two season tickets. And I bought him two season tickets to the football games at colleges in two other small cities in the region.

He is a big city football fan and scoffed at first at these lowly football programs. But with my coaxing and company, he went to several the first season. The next season, he took a golfing friend to a few. I rode to the towns with them to go shopping or get my hair done.

On the way home, my husband --- and his friend if along --- would joke and argue about the game. Some weekends, my husband would attend the games alone. At one school, he met a business professor who invited him to do a guest lecture. At another, he met a retiree who was glad for my husband's invitation to come play golf at the course in our town. They are regular bleacher buddies and golf partners now.

This September-to-December schedule isn't the focus of my husband's retirement. It is simply a nice piece of it. He has met some interesting people and some valuable ones. At one campus --- where he befriended the business prof --- he goes back other times of the week and year to hear big-name lecturers.

Football isn't the issue. The games are just a vehicle for expanding his horizons.

I have other tricks for retired husbands. I will write about those some other day. --- R.C.

DEAR R.C.: Send 'em quick. Football season is almost over.

Retirees --- married or otherwise --- should follow your lead in creating vehicles for expanding golden years' horizons for each other. For example, some retirees do volunteer work to contribute to the community. But some do it for the companionship and heightened self-esteem it brings. Create vehicles that will carry you comfortably from one good thing to another along the retirement journey.

Los Angeles Times Syndicate

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