Gina

Guys my dad's 70th birthday is coming up AND he's retiring. 🥳

What would be a good gift for a boomer dad with lots of time and zero hobbies? He's super handy, but not interested in tech.

Mar 7 at 8:08amWeb
Show threadEgon Willigh☮gen 🟥Mar 7
@Gina something like a Wikipedia account? Or even Wikidata?
Show threadGinaMar 7
@egonw Lol he can open a browser, but that's where his interest in the internet ends.
Show threadkammeMar 7
@Gina a fixer upper small boat and a fishing pole
Show threadDandelionMar 7
@Gina quality tools. Even if he already has one, he'll appreciate an additional one if it's good.
Show threadGinaMar 7
@dashlion He just sold all his good tools 😭 He's a carpenter / mason and used to do contracting.
Show threadNoshMar 7
@Gina drawing supplies
Show threadnikoMar 7
@Gina ukulele
Show threadPeter KulcheMar 7
@Gina a wood working course? Never too old to learn something new. And it is a social activity; meeting new people…
Show threadGinaMar 7

@peterkulche He was a carpenter, I think he could be teaching the course 😅

I do remember him building model ships when we were younger, but I'm not sure he'd enjoy working with super small parts anymore. Dude is getting old :'(

Show threadMurray 🇪🇺 Mar 7
@Gina
I'm 66. Two of my sons bought me an airbrush to encourage me to finish painting a Warhammer box set that I started in 1990 so that the eldest who is now 45 could play the game that I'd promised back when he was 10. The ploy is working now that I'm retired 😁
@peterkulche
Show threadRonny LamMar 7
@Gina a museumjaarkaart
Show threadGinaMar 7
@ronnylam Lol normally a great suggestion, but my parents are cultural barbarians (think Telegraaf readers).
Show threadRonny LamMar 7
@Gina hmm, rough, not even a comedian, play or concert at the local schouwburg?
Show threadGinaMar 7

@ronnylam Yeah but that's a one time thing, I'm kind of looking for something he can fill a few days with.

He used to build model ships, and had a massive miniature train city (lol nerd) in the attic before we were born.

Show threadRonny LamMar 7
@Gina one of our parents went full in on woodturning. He is now spending most of his time in the garage. And now we hold our breath every time they come visit us, anxious to see what new present we have to make room for.
Show threadGinaMar 7
@ronnylam That's so cute 😭
Show threadIvan Enderlin 🦀Mar 7
@Gina Time with family.
Show threadGinaMar 7
@hywan They have a grandson they love (my nephew), so we got that covered :)
Show threadDisisdeguey🔻PalestineAction🇵🇸Mar 7
@Gina A small piece of land, some garden tools and a book for gardening your own food for fun. #GardeningMastodon
Show threadGinaMar 7
@disisdeguey You know what, they have a nice backyard and a little green house, so a book on how to grow food might be a good start. Thanks!
Show threadDisisdeguey🔻PalestineAction🇵🇸Mar 7
@Gina I think is a nice project. I do have my little piece of land and I really enjoy working there. Have a nice day and congratulations on your dad's retirement 😍
Show threadSynchronMar 7
@Gina a membership for the public library and a maker space/fablab if you have something near by. :)
Show threadM DellMar 7
@Gina (indoor)skydive
Show threadGinaMar 7
@Mndell Dude is 70. 😂
Show threadM DellMar 7
@Gina as long as he’s not too heavy, no problem!
Show threadwebhatMar 7
@Mndell @Gina never too young to learn
Show threadGPMar 7
@Gina leather working or wood carving? Both can start small and scale up if there’s interest
Show threadWouter KobesMar 7
@Gina metal detector
Show threadGinaMar 7
@wouterkobes They don't live near a beach 😅
Show threadWouter KobesMar 7
@Gina it is more fun on farmlands, more historical finds
Show threadDieter HametnerMar 7
@Gina Something where he remains physically active. Fitnesscenter membership, Hiking guide. Make him travel a lot (if possible) on his own... No cruise ships!
Show threadGinaMar 7
@tadi He has a gym membership that he goes to like once or twice a week. And he goes cycling with his grandson a lot, so I think that's covered for now.
Show threadDieter HametnerMar 7
@Gina Nice to hear. Ensure he keeps up with that. I currently regret that I didn't encourage my parents in all of the above mentioned activities, when they retired.
Show threadMax - Poliverso 🇪🇺🇮🇹Mar 7

@Gina

Gift cards to spend in restaurants and/or hotels?

A couple of rounds on a Ferrari at the nearest racing circuit?

Show threadGinaMar 7
@max They don't really like to go places or try new things. I'm still working on getting them to try sushi.
Show threadadam l’anatra has movedMar 7
@Gina If he's super handy, maybe occasionally ask his help doing odd jobs around the house? One of the biggest adjustments that I dealt with when I retired was loss of purpose, feeling needed. Just don't throw too much at him, he may have ideas of his own. When the dust settles, meet for lunch or drinks.
Show threadadam l’anatra has movedMar 7
@Gina If he's super handy, maybe occasionally ask his help doing odd jobs around the house? One of the biggest adjustments that I dealt with when I retired was loss of purpose, feeling needed. Just don't throw too much at him, he may have ideas of his own. When the dust settles, meet for lunch or drinks.
Show threadGinaMar 7
@ldamlanatra This used to be our way of bonding (dude has the EQ of a brick and we have nothing in common). My previous house was a mess of a fixer upper, he'd come by and teach me how to fix things. I now live in a new build, so we don't see other much anymore.
Show threadChristian BehrendsMar 7
@Gina could you get him into gaming? Buy him a Switch + Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?
Show threadGinaMar 7
@webdevtrust I don't think he's much of a gamer. 🥲
Show threadChristian BehrendsMar 7
@Gina 😢
Show threadstibbonsMar 7
@Gina Telescope and a sky map.
Show threadGinaMar 7
@stibbons putting that on my own birthday list. ✅️
Show threadBart van LeeuwenMar 7
@Gina https://vu.nl/nl/onderwijs/hovo-amsterdam
HOVO Amsterdam - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

HOVO Amsterdam biedt u een veelzijdig cursusaanbod, academische kwaliteit, inspirerende docenten en een goed bereikbare locatie: de VU-campus in Amsterdam.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Show threadBart van LeeuwenMar 7
@Gina context, my dad loved to go there after his retirement
Show threadGinaMar 7
@semanticfire aww. It's a good idea, but a bit far for my dad. He likes watching youtube videos on technical subjects though.
Show threadBart van LeeuwenMar 7
@Gina Yeah, you didn't specify geographic whereabouts, but maybe universities nearby offer something similar?
Show threadBart van LeeuwenMar 7
@Gina not really a present, but would a repair cafe be a place for him?
Show threadGinaMar 7
@semanticfire Meh he doesn't really like people that much.😅 I think he's perfectly happy with staying at home. He'll probably do endless projects on the house.
Show threadBart van LeeuwenMar 7

@Gina we build an image of your dad based on the things he doesn't like.
The infamous quote doubtfully attributed to Michelangelo on the creation of David, "I just chipped away all the marble that wasn't David"

We end up with what your dad likes, based on everything he doesn't like. 😉
#vianegativa

Show threadGinaMar 7
@semanticfire I think I've decided on a book about growing your own food (they have a little greenhouse in their back yard), with some recipes (we always joke about his 2nd career being a chef - he can't boil an egg right now) and a seedling starter kit. Thanks for helping :)
Show threadnop2net 💛💙Mar 7
@Gina Artiscard or another subscription to a zoo.
Show threadMalvinMar 7
@Gina an interrail ticket :-)
Show threadMark RotteveelMar 7
@Gina A model train starter kit?
Show threadMark RotteveelMar 7
@Gina And I hadn't even read this reply yet when I wrote that: https://fosstodon.org/@Gina/116186923720078396
Show threadGinaMar 7
@mrotteveel Lol it's a good suggestion, but holy crap are model train sets expensive!!
Show threadMark RotteveelMar 7
@Gina Yeah, especially as its audience keeps shrinking, and there are only a few companies making them still in business.
Show threadHealth Is WealthMar 7
@Gina
Happy Birthday to him in advance 🎂 You might have to give us something to go on! Zero hobbies?... Gardening? Music? Cycling? Exercise? Reading? Drawing/Painting?.. I'm sure we can come up with something 🤔
Show threadGinaMar 7

@healthiswealth They don't like to leave the house much, or try new things. But I did realize that he loves gardening and has a little unused greenhouse, so I think I will go with @disisdeguey 's suggestion and buy him a book on building your own food and a seed starter kit. :)

https://expressional.social/@disisdeguey/116186904204284483

Disisdeguey🔻PalestineAction🇵🇸 (@[email protected])

@[email protected] A small piece of land, some garden tools and a book for gardening your own food for fun. #GardeningMastodon

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