AARP Rewards Online Community Empty Nest Contest 2025

I I have been an empty nester for over 20 years. I just retired after 42 years at the Postal Service.  I thought I would want to constantly travel, but since I worked in a big processing plant, I go to 3 retirement luncheons. Since, my kids do not want kids, I decided to pull a Benjamin Button and age in reverse, so I can be the grandchild. Since, I am an animal lover, I ask to go to the zoo and see the new babies like gorillas and orangutans.This year I went to a cowcuddle, where you groom and pet Scottish Highland cows, who are so gentle, I call them the Golden Retrievers of the cow world. An extra benefit is that the fee helps the farmers pay for hay to be shipped in during the winter. I go to the Disneyland parks and ride all the the fast and furious rides, that many of the younger people in the group won't.  I have been promised that I can go up in a Hot air balloon soon.  I go to our local Comic Con and enjoy celebrities and collect autographs.  I collect Funko Pops and get them signed.  I have met Stan Lee, Barbara Eden, Jeremy Renner, Dick Van Dyke, Buzz Aldrin, Susan Sarandon, Mel Gibson, Geena Davis, Michael J Fox and recently Oscar winner Ky Huy Kwan, the Indiana Jones kid, the Goonies kid and the husband in Everything, Everywhere All At Once and hundreds more. I get a lot of hugs from the celebs and Henry Winkler let me kiss him on the cheek. I go to a lot of concerts including ones that people wouldn't expect one my age to go to.I went to Post Malone/Jelly Roll's Stadium tour and just last night went to Benson Boone's arena tour. Next on the agenda is Maroon 5. The people I invite get monikers like the cool uncles, aunts, moms and grandmas. I have gone to comedy shows like Bill Maher, Sarah Silverstone, Ronnie Chieng, David Spade and soon I will be going to Adam Sandler (again) and Nate Bargatze.I did go on a Malt Shop Cruise and saw the Beach Boys, Priscilla Presley, Chubby Checker, Dean from Jan and Dean and the Nelson twins singing their Dad's songs plus 20 other groups and I got to feed iguanas at one of our destinations. I asked Mike Love of the Beach Boys, if they remember the amusement park mentioned in their song" Salt Lake City". Since, Salt Lake didn't have any other venues at the time they came 3 times a year for several years. Also, the hit song She'll have Fun, Fun, Fun 'til her Daddy takes the T-bird away,  originated in SLC when the station manager was taking the group to the airport and the manager's daughter was driving their T-bird . Getting backstories of our childhood from celebs is so fun!  Matthew Modine let me know he grew up close to my childhood neighborhood and told us his Dad ran swap meets at drive-ins during that time.  I go to a book club every month after re-connecting with a high school friend and we also have season tickets to the ballet.  I also have season tickets to the symphony, where they play the score to well known movies like Harry Potter. I also have season tickets to a Speakers Bureau, where I listen to some big name political people. Maybe, sometime I'll find time to travel! I want to go on a Safari, Australia/New Zealand-to see where Lord of the Rings was filmed , Europe and Scandinavia where all my relatives were from.  I have a close friend who does genealogy, so I'll get her to show me how to find my ancestors. When I have to actually settle down, I'll probably volunteer at an Animal Shelter. 

Becoming empty nesters has opened a new chapter for my wife and me — one filled with rediscovery, reconnection, and a refreshing sense of possibility. With our son and daughter now out of the house, weekends have transformed from chaotic schedules and carpools to intentional moments of joy and togetherness.

We’ve started reconnecting through shared hobbies we once put on hold. Saturday mornings are now for long bike rides on local nature trails, where we talk about everything and nothing — just like we did when we were dating. We’ve also taken up cooking together, experimenting with new recipes and turning our kitchen into a space of laughter and creativity. It’s amazing how chopping vegetables side by side can feel like a dance.

Downtime has become something we revel in, not rush through. We’ve created a cozy reading nook where we sip coffee and dive into books we’ve been meaning to read for years. The quiet is no longer empty — it’s peaceful.

As for reinventing our weekends, we’ve embraced spontaneity. Day trips to nearby towns, trying out quirky diners, or attending local art fairs have become our new adventures. We even started a “Sunday Surprise” tradition, where one of us plans a mystery outing for the other — from kayaking to salsa dancing lessons. It keeps things fresh and fun.

This phase of life isn’t about slowing down — it’s about shifting gears. We’re not just filling time; we’re filling it with meaning. And in doing so, we’re rediscovering each other in ways that feel both familiar and brand new.

Like all new phases of life, becoming an empty nester has brought change and uncertainty to our lives. And as with all new phases of life, we’ll grow and learn as we make our way through this one!

I I have been an empty nester for the past 3 years and I am not in a position to retire no time soon. I got laid off from my 18-year employer and used that severance to pursue a lifelong dream to direct a play in NY city. The play was a huge success and now I have to return to work since divorce made me do a reset and i bought a home 3 years. Had I not been an empty nester I would have worked feverishly to find a new job and not pursue my artistic passions.  See you on Broadway - Angela Cooper!!!!

“Empty Nester” turned into “Full Transition”! Transition to a new phase of life! Kids left Illinois and all 3 moved to Florida. I left Illinois and created a new life in Arkansas. New life phase of new goals…new job, new aspiration to become a duplicate bridge Life Master, new love of hiking mountain trails, new happiness! Love my new life. 

After early retirement and our kids flying the  coop,  hubby and I sold our mega house and built a small energy efficient, age in place,  forever home in Florida. It’s easy to maintain and yields low utility bills.

We now have money to travel, enjoy the Florida beaches, weight lift at the (Gym) with free memberships, garden ,read, hike, and cook plenty of healthy gourmet meals.  Our highlights during our empty nest phase have included: a Viking Rhine River Cruise, Budapest, Puerto Rico , Yoga retreat in Costa Rica and  a variety of beautiful US cities and states. We pray for health and well-being to continue to enjoy the benefits of our years of hard work during this empty nest phase!

HI! I'm Susie and I'm 61 years old. I've been an empty nester for 20 years. I have 5 children and 14 Grandchildren! I will be a great grandma by the end of the year! I am very active, and I have a lot of hobbies. My days are filled with motorcycle riding, golfing, hunting, fishing, and even pole dancing for fitness! I recently went on a 50-mile backpacking trip with one of my sons. It was the most physically challenging things I've ever done, but also one of the most rewarding experiences! I have no intentions of slowing down any time soon! I honestly don't know when I had time to ever work! I've been retired for 11 years and now I'm enjoying life to the fullest! #AARP Rewards #Contest #Empty Nest

Empty nester for 7 years and retired for almost 10 years.  I am active in the Senior Center in town and I am even on the Board of Commissioners.  I take classes there an at the nearby Senior College from a major Big Ten University right in town.   I am writing my memoirs and getting in a lot of lifelong learning: films classes, international writers lectures, even a History of Jerusalem class.  I have learned to fix things and even build stuff I never thought I could do.  I am an artist by profession, so I do lots of drawings and paintings.  I work out 3x a week in the nearby gym's pool, where I also use weights and do strengthening exercises 2-3 times a week.   When I can't take walks outside, I use a recumbent bike in my basement.  But...some days I just have to rest!!!   I am 72 years old. and having a good time!

My wife and I had finally settled into our empty nest after the marriage of our last child in 2006.  We were 49 and 50 years old respectively.  Before we knew it, we had to bring one of our newborn granddaughters into our home later that year.  She has been with us since and soon will be 20 years old in January 2026.  We are now 69 and 70 years old, respectively, and wouldn't change a thing about our once empty nest.

When our sons moved out on their own, we downsized and moved into our former vacation home in Pennsylvania which is very retirement-income friendly. We substituted our former PTA and Band Booster activities for serving on the Boards of our homeowners' association, community library and animal shelter and found a new circle of friends volunteering with the local Audubon and historical preservation groups.  When we lost our beloved senior fur pet...after a rather extended period of grieving...the high price paid for loving so much...we adopted a two-year-old boxer mix from the local "Rescue Me" organization, who was transported here from a kill shelter in Georgia. She has brought much needed laughter back into our home with her antics and we affectionately call her EVA-kinevil. We have also discovered the joy of SLOW travel as we completed a round-trip cross-country adventure to California by train earlier this year and just traversed the length of the Mississippi from St. Paul to New Orleans by river boat this month. It really opens your eyes to the awesome beauty and diversity of America and its people. We have found new ways and new friends to remake a good life!