Retirement Gift Advisor

Exchanging One Loud Noise for Another

Why not retire in quite contentment?

Where I live, it’s supposed to be quiet. The neighborhood is full of retired people who, you might think, are generally non-noise making and peaceful people. This, however, is not so. From construction work to weed whackers and other lawn equipment, super loud big trucks that rattle your windows and cars with their volume turned up beyond any decibel level that should be appropriate for human ears, there is plenty of noise to go around. Don’t even get me started on weekends!

See, now I sound like an old retired curmudgeon.

Much of this noise, however, stems from the bulk of yippy dogs on the block. You know what I mean—those teeny, tiny dogs that are so insecure about themselves and their size that they have to jump up and down and bark at every little thing that passes by—from crickets to people to my daughter and I playing in our own yard. This can go on for hours. It’s beyond irritating; my daughter and I have had to go back inside on some days just because the dogs won’t. Stop. Barking. And the owners sometimes just yell at them, as if that helps anything. If anything, it just adds to the noise!

Don’t get me wrong—I love dogs. We had a border collie for a while whom we adored but could not keep because he kept jumping the fence and the inside our home was simply too small for him. I grew up with beagles (who didn’t bark, despite peoples’ claims that beagles bark incessantly) all my life (okay, they were all mixed mutt beagles, but I loved them all) and I know how much a dog means to you. But when you get all of these tiny dogs that spend their days barking all of the time on one block, it’s sheer migraine inducing. I should be able to come home and not be barked at, play in my yard and not be barked at—or even take a walk and not be barked at!

So please don’t buy tiny dogs as retirement gifts. I know you are worried about your loved one having sufficient company when he or she stops working, but you can take care of that yourself by stopping in every once in a while rather than dumping off another mouth to feed (particularly such a noisy one). How about a nice watch or some football tickets instead?

The Value of Commemorative Retirement Gifts

Retirement is a sentimental time because it closes the book on a particular life journey or passion. The teaching, nursing, or steelworker's career is over -- except for the memories. I've read that many people actually go through a grieving stage after they retire due to the sense of loss, whether loss of identity, loss of stability, loss of status and recognition, or loss of habit. Don't overlook the ability of a well-chosen highly personal commemorative gift to help bridge the transition from career to leisure life.

A commemorative gift is a symbol of all the years that have gone before. With just a glance at it, memories, joys, laughs and a sense of accomplishment are all triggered.

Here are some considerations:

A plaque. Often a supervisor might invest in an engraved plaque for the retiree, but many times they don't. Never fear; a neighborhood trophy shop can create one for the family with just a few days notice.

Legacy or custom jewelry. This can be rather expensive -- unless it's a charm bracelet -- but it's worth it. Necklaces, rings, watches, earrings, ankle bracelets or wrist bracelets adorned with the emblems of the retirees' trade or profession makes a wonderful and personal gift. Arrange a consultation with a local jeweler at least three months in advance in case adornments have to be custom made.

Surprise Photo Album (or Video). This project will require help from the retiree's coworkers. Ask them for copies of any office pictures they've taken over the years. Go into the retiree's place of business when they are off. Ask the supervisor if you can take pictures for your album gift. Snap all the places that have become daily hang-outs: The employee lounge, the retiree's desk, the cafeteria, the smoking area, the picnic area, etc. Get as many peers in the pics as you can. In lieu of photos, record a video of these areas along with office staffers giving their well-wishes.

Travel Gifts for the New Retiree.

My father had a one-track mind in the years before he retired: he was going to sell the house, buy a motor home, tour the world, and never stay in one place again.

Of course, my mother's rational mind prevailed over his and they didn't sell the house. However, they took to the open road every chance they got.

You might not be able to afford a motor coach, camper or recreational vehicle for the retiree you love, but anything that can encourage them to travel and explore makes the perfect gift.

It's so easy for retirees to leave the rigors of the 9 to 5 life they've known for years and feel like a useless hermit when they retire and find their main destination is home. Travel gifts remind the retiree that they are never too old to discover a new place.

10 Great Travel Gifts for Retirees

1. State-of-the art tent.

2. Compass

3. Gift certificates to travel stores or stores that supply goods for outdoor recreation:

Magellan's Travel Supply
Travelsmith Travel Store
Cabela's
Gander Mountain

4. A new set of leather luggage.

5. A cool Swiss Army knife so they can play MacGyver.

6. Binoculars

7. A new fishing rod

8. A small inflatable boat.

Some models are priced at under $300.

9. A hand-held global positioning system (GPS)

10. A good high-quality cooler -- so they can throw out the old foam one in the garage.

Look at it this way, even if the retirees don't end up going hunting or fishing, maybe they can use the luggage to visit grandkids and use the rest of this stuff in the backyard playing with them!

The Ultimate Gift: A Gas Station Gift Card

Over the holidays, my husband and I neither exchanged nor received much; it has been a tough year for most of the people we know. We are really okay with this, and we are trying to phase out gift giving as a general family practice to simply reduce the waste and commercialism in our lives.

That said, the gifts that we did receive were extremely thoughtful and generous, and one of the most handy ones we received was from my beloved aunt, who gave us, among many other helpful things, a gas station gift card. You might find this impersonal—it was among many personal items too, I assure you—but in 2012, if you are looking for the perfect gift, I have to say that it’s probably the one if you can’t find anything else.

Here’s the deal—you can use it for just about anything, as far as I know. We bought milk with ours when we didn’t have any cash on hand, and we were able to save the rest for gas. But you could also buy a few groceries with it if you are broke. You could use it to get a coffee or juice each morning on the way to work—or lunch during your break, especially if the gas station carries hot foods. You could spend it getting snacks for game night or movie night with the family, or pick up something quickly on your way to a party that you forgot to get in the first place.

Out of cat food, pain killers for your toothache, or menstrual pads? Use your gift card. Need some toilet paper, or have unexpected company coming that will require some ice and soda? Use your gift card. Run out of gas early in the week, forcing you to cancel plans (which happens to us a lot!)? Use your gift card.

I didn’t think it was so versatile at first, but now that we’ve used part of it I must admit that it’s a truly thoughtful gift that is both generous and practical. It’s better than a generic store gift card since you can also purchase gas and food—but you can also pick up essentials if you need them, too. And helping out a loved one in a pinch—which is pretty much what this gift does—is always a thing of beauty. So if you are looking for that perfect gift for the hard-to-shop-for people in your life or those you don’t know, how about a gas station gift card?