AARP Rewards Online Community Empty Nest Contest 2025

[AARPTeri]

Now that the nest is empty, it’s your time to soar — and we want to celebrate your journey with AARP Rewards!

Join the AARP Rewards Connect Forum for a fun, feel-good contest focused on how you’re embracing this next chapter — and share your story.  Starting Monday, September 8, 2025 reply to this post sharing ways you are reconnecting, revelling in downtime or reinventing your weekend. 

We look forward to seeing your great posts!  Official Rules can be found here  -https://community.aarp.org/t5/AARP-Rewards-Connect/AARP-Rewards-Online-Community-Empty-Nest-Contest-... 

[StephanieS455449]

What a mixed blessing…

We became empty nesters quite a while ago. Sent kids off to college and a few years later celebrated graduations, new homes, marriages and grandchildren. Thought life would slow down but it didn’t, we just found new ways to fill our time. We have been lucky as we were able to travel to Europe for work and bounce several vacations off of those business trips. 

Fast forward a few years and we found ourselves selling our home of 25 years to move in with and take care of my husband’s mother. I retired to be her caretaker right at the onset of Covid - what a crazy time to retire from a teaching career. Taking care of my Mother-in-law (and best friend) was wonderful! I was able to spend quality time with her and make some terrific memories.  

Fast forward again to this year… 

    My husband retired and we were sure we were on our way to spending time reaping the rewards of our retirement and our empty nest. But alas, life had something else in store for us. We were very excited because we were having a home built near our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. We were going to move ourselves and my husband’s mom into a beautiful new home. However, a few weeks into the new year we lost her so the move has been bittersweet. Many things have felt surreal for us this year as our plans have changed over and over again.

One constant in our lives has been our use of the AARP app. It has kept us grounded as we have begun to explore our new hometown, do meal planning so that we can stay healthy, and work on planning trips around the good ‘ol USA. Because we traveled abroad prior to retirement, we are now looking forward to exploring closer to home. 

Being empty nesters is turning into a wonderful time to explore things we haven’t yet had a chance to do or see. A wonderful time to spend relaxing with family and friends. A wonderful time learning new things (taking cooking classes, relearning to play instruments, taking walks with our dogs, and exploring both old and new hobbies). And of course, best of all getting to know each other again. We are keeping our memories of the past close as we explore our new life and create new memories to cherish. Life is fleeting and we plan to live it to its fullest for as long as we are able.

[DenishaS7462]

Yee haw, let's head west, little doggies!

After the graduations, jobs, marriages, and seeing our children into nests of their own, we not empty...we are FULL!

We are full of memories of the past and hopes for the future- career changes, improving our health, volunteerism,...and travel!  Our AARP app is proving invaluable as we plan to hike the red rocks, dig for diamonds, fish in every state, remember history in our nation's capital, and take all the discounts our well-earned grey hairs will get us!

Crying? There's no crying in empty nesting. The empty nest will be just fine while we fill our minds with dreams to follow, our days with adventure, and our hearts with gratitude for the lives we get to live!

If you are a like-minded empty nester, will you please comment "go for it"?

[LynnM617441]

Go west, young-at-heart man and woman. All right, it doesn't have quite the same ring to it as the original quote, but its's my version of "go for it." 🙂

[DavidB636346]

We're empty nesters.  We have been traveling more and working on our bucket list adventures. Not retired yet, but we are making the most of our time together.  

[KarenS61255]

My husband and I have been emptynesters for a bit now and we wanted to find some fun, different, new  ways for this time in our lives. We started a blog emptynestersfinally.com and from that a cooking show evolved. We take recipes and make them healthier.  We have had to learn so many aspects of social media and we are loving it. Our cooking show is Better Baking With Brad. We post on Instagram but we get shared.  This is truly the best time of our lives.                                                                 AARP REWARDS.    CONTEST.  EMPTY NEST 

[theo70]

i am widowed and an empty nester so im trying find things to keep me involved wuth ither oi-eople

[MicheleM955751]

I am newly retired after 45 years of teaching and waiting tables. It is time to finish projects. My husband, who has been retired for a few years due to physical limitations, and I live in a house we built ourselves. It is mortgage free as we paid for each step of the building process as we needed materials. We are slowly working toward completion. We would love to see America, yet have reservations. Hubby's health is one factor, travel can be challenging, the need to finish the house, owning everything outright but for a long time. i.e. cars are 27 and 20 years old.  

We would love to take short weekend road trips  while not taking away from projects; time and money. 

Trying to make it work, balancing awkwardly.

[AdamI656043]

When we retired, we didn't necessarily attack a to-do list right away. Instead, we started small by going through drawers, closets, shelves, and revisited how we use the space in our home to make it more functional and less decorative with a "less is more" mindset. With no time constraints of full-time work, we slow traveled and brought home great memories from various trips both large and small. And the simplest moments have brought us joy.......a stroll in a park, reading, visiting local museums, attending live theater. We go bike riding, hiking, and do daily walks, but nothing too overwhelming. There is no one way to retire. There's only Time on Your Terms. So, paint the picture that best suits you and proudly create the memories you'll cherish most!

[lg7566]

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!

[SereneSeagull]

Sounds like you all are having lots of fun.  Loved reading this!

[RobertS94321]

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.

[KathrynM63090]

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!

[SereneSeagull]

Excellent!

[StevenK347764]

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

[SereneSeagull]

Yay for pole dancing!  You’re living a fun active life.  I Zumba and strength train.  Would love our gym to have pole dancing!  Fun!

[mm15795430]

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!

[SereneSeagull]

Sounds great!

[MonicaH851906]

“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. 

[SereneSeagull]

Sound very happy.  Super!  Enjoy!

[AngelaC558647]

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!!!!

[SereneSeagull]

Door closes, another opens.  Congrats!  🎉. Great to read this!

[AndrewZ479660]

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!

[TanyaP518302]

I've been an empty nester for 2 years. My child is grown and gone,  no grands. My parents have passed away. I'm happily divorced, recently retired, and living this stage of life.  I'm almost done completing my Pilates Teacher Certification where I can share my love of pilates and help others gain greater strength and mobility.  That's my retirement hustle.  My new hobby is Mahjong. Gotta keep the brain working. I'm embracing and loving this stage of life.  Now,  to find a significant other.  Tee-hee-hee 

[SereneSeagull]

Congrats on the certification!  

[2talltodd]

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.

[nn56843031]

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. 

[Gwendee3]

The first time I experienced a feeling of the empty nest was when our son Victor went to boarding school at the age of fourteen.  This helped set the stage even though we drove down to spend part of every weekend.  Then our daughter Tamika joined him after her 8th grade graduation.  Had we been in better financial shape we would have simply had them live and home and go to the nearby church school but this for us was the best solution.  We burned thousands of miles traveling back and forth every weekend until both graduated and moved on to college.  We also spend thousands of dollars affording this educational adventure.  After the high school experience college was a breeze .  The children were closer and we could breath because tuition was more affordable. Both of the children graduated from college and moved on to their professional lives.  

[CherylB844936]

Love having an empty nest for a while now. Grand parents of 8. Some live right down the street, but the newest one lives 3 hours away. I miss not being able to see him. We still have to work 6 days a week so we can’t take the time off to go. Our car is wearing out and we’re barely make it each month for money. SS and income are not enough. Maybe I’ll win the lottery and won’t have to work. 

[RichardC312380]

The echo was the first thing they noticed. For twenty-five years, the house had been filled with the low-thrumming beat of teenage life: refrigerator doors slamming, video game shouts, the distant, muffled sound of a washing machine running until 2 AM, and, most recently, the celebratory roar of LSU football broadcasts that rattled the windows.

Now, silence. A beautiful, profound silence.

The last of the moving boxes—packed mostly with well-worn textbooks and slightly-too-small purple and gold hoodies—were finally gone, driven off to two separate apartments in two different cities where Dean and Daniel had started their careers. Their boys were launched, and now, it was Janet and Ricky’s turn.

“Are we doing this right?” Janet asked one Tuesday evening, pausing the remote halfway between Survivor and S.V.U. She was curled on the couch, her feet tucked under Ricky’s leg.

Ricky, who was scrolling through vacation rentals on his iPad, didn't look up immediately. “Are we doing what right?”

“This,” she gestured vaguely at the living room, which was pristine—no abandoned socks, no stray chip bags, no debate over which console needed the HDMI port. “We haven’t eaten dinner before 8:30 PM since Daniel was a toddler. We're watching movies we choose. We’re traveling to places where there are no required university tours.”

Ricky finally put the iPad down, turning to meet her eyes. “I think we are, darling. I think we’re entering the victory lap.”

Their first real taste of freedom was a weekend trip to Gulfport, Mississippi. They booked it on a Thursday morning, leaving on Friday afternoon. No complex schedules to coordinate, no texts about forgotten assignments, just two mid-fifties professionals throwing clothes into a bag and driving south. They spent Saturday afternoon walking hand-in-hand along the coast, eating seafood that didn't involve a drive-thru, and marveling at the luxury of only paying for two airline tickets in the future.

But the real magic happened in the mundane. Now, date night wasn't an event—it was just Tuesday. They found a new tapas place downtown with dim lighting and fantastic sangria. They talked about work, retirement fantasies (which always involved a beach and better Wi-Fi), and, often, they’d spend twenty minutes laughing about a ridiculous anecdote from one of the boys’ childhoods—a memory that had been too recent and too painful to be funny when it actually happened.

At home, their new rhythm was simple and profound. After a long workday, they would trade their tailored clothes for comfortable sweats, cook a simple, delicious meal (usually something messy and flavorful that they knew the boys wouldn’t have touched), and retreat to the sanctuary of the living room.

The couch, once a battleground for territory and volume control, was now their fortress. They binged shows and films, sharing a massive bowl of popcorn and debating every plot twist. More often than not, Ricky would wake up to the sound of the end credits rolling, Janet asleep against his shoulder, her hand resting softly on his chest.

It wasn’t just silence in the house; it was space. Space to breathe, space to connect, and space to anticipate. As they watched their boys build independent lives, Ricky and Janet found themselves feeling lighter, filled with pride and a deep, quiet excitement for the future.

“You know,” Janet murmured one night, looking at a photo of the two boys shaking hands with their LSU dean. “The house is too quiet, sure. But just think, someday, we’ll need to make room again. For grandkids. Tiny little Tigers running around.”

Ricky smiled, pulling her closer. “Let them figure out the careers first. But yeah. We’ll be ready. We’ve got the quiet house, and we’ve got all the practice we need being supportive. For now, though,” he picked up the remote, “turn off the light, and let’s see if we can finish this movie before midnight.”