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I'm a huge fan of lifelong education. I like to take classes locally and also take travel + education trips when I can, e.g. Road Scholar (f/k/a Elderhostel).
I saw this list recently and I plan to look into some of the offerings listed here. If you're looking for something interesting to do in your retirement, maybe this can help.
I went on Semester at Sea back in college and they had these seniors on our trip with us as "Lifelong Learners". They got to not only travel with us, they got to be college students with all of us, going to classes, working on projects and even doing homework. Some even led lectures on subjects where they held expertise. They were an absolute joy to have on board with us and they clearly had the time of their lives. However, it's not cheap.
Regarding educational opportunities, nonstudents can often audit courses free of charge at colleges and universities. At many schools it only requires permission from the instructor. The unregisterd student is treated exactly the same as the students, even taking tests and writing papers.
For those who live in the Boston area or willing to move there for the summer, Harvard has many interesting courses. They're the regular courses, but don't require admission to the university. I do not know anything about auditing there. I was interested in a Sanskrit course, but the idea of moving two dogs, a cat and myself plus finding a place to live for the summer dissuaded me. Yale has recorded the lectures for many courses and posted them on youtube. It's not the same as being there but you will learn from some very high-powered people.
Boulder Valley Schools in Boulder, Colorado has had many interesting offerings in their Continuing Education. I was taking a course there and was asked to teach it the next term. The instructor had been one of the greats of Colorado history, but he was over eighty and had memory problems. I did teach the course several times, but the reason I was teaching it made me very sad.
Hah! Guess they know their marketing. Well, when we get there let's wear 'em with well-educated pride.
We can audit at all the State Universities here in MN. Back when I was in undergrad we had a fun, little old lady auditing our Spanish class who had been the first female MD in MN.
This is an important thread, in my view, because when it comes to our minds, the "use it or lose it" phrase seems to be borne out by epidemiological research. I have not taken any classes, but I have continued to read challenging non-fiction on a regular basis. Whether this practice will stave off dementia I do not know for sure, but it is its own reward.
This is an important thread, in my view, because when it comes to our minds, the "use it or lose it" phrase seems to be borne out by epidemiological research. I have not taken any classes, but I have continued to read challenging non-fiction on a regular basis. Whether this practice will stave off dementia I do not know for sure, but it is its own reward.
Reading to avoid dementia is as silly as exercising to avoid heart disease; they're both components of a joyless existence. I read for aedification and pleasure. I never exercise unless it's a component of another activity of necessity or pleasure.
I'd rather die sooner than mount a futile attack upon the death that's sure to come. What possible joy can there be in concentrating on death? I may die at a much younger age than you, but I'll have lived longer.
Reading to avoid dementia is as silly as exercising to avoid heart disease; they're both components of a joyless existence. I read for aedification and pleasure. I never exercise unless it's a component of another activity of necessity or pleasure.
Hmmm ... not to speak for Escort Rider, but I think you may have misunderstood what he was saying ... he said that reading was its own reward, he's NOT just "reading to avoid dementia." (Of course, if it turns out that reading a lot CAN stave off dementia, so much the better.)
Exercise can be its own reward too (again, not just "to avoid heart disease" although what's wrong if that IS someone's reason?). There are some forms of exercising that feel like torture to me, but others are fun. Getting health benefits from it is a bonus but not the only reason I do it.
HedgeYourInvestments, I've heard of Semester at Sea as one of my students a few years ago enrolled. I've often thought it would be fun to TEACH in the program -- it's insanely expensive to be a student (considering there's no financial aid available, as far as I know), and the posted rates for "lifelong learner" only included the on-ship expenses.
Reading to avoid dementia is as silly as exercising to avoid heart disease; they're both components of a joyless existence. I read for aedification and pleasure. I never exercise unless it's a component of another activity of necessity or pleasure.
I'd rather die sooner than mount a futile attack upon the death that's sure to come. What possible joy can there be in concentrating on death? I may die at a much younger age than you, but I'll have lived longer.
I wonder how much edification and pleasure you derive from your reading, since you apparently do not understand what you read. I recommend you go back and read my post a second time.
The first rule I will establish when I am retired is to wake up when I want to wake up (no alarm clock). Second, I will do all my upper body weight workout on the same days I swim. Alternate days will be for legs (biking). Third, if I do earn extra money it will be part time, whether someone hires me or I make my own job. 30 hours .a week tops.
As for learning, I'm all for it. Would rather go back to school (like Rodney Dangerfield) and be social.
I checked out Road Scholar last night. They have some incredibly good tours.
I see one to Ho Chi Min City and down the Mekong River traveling to Angkor Wat in Cambodia for two weeks. Including my airfare from the states it would come to about $3,000. With all the meals, lovely lodging, lectures and excursions that's a steal.
I'm tempted. The down side is that it leaves in early October and that's coming up pretty quickly. It also rains about ten inches in October with a temperature of eighty-six degrees. Steamy!
The up side is traveling with a group of peers, a well-defined web site with expectations clearly stated and, in this case, cost.
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