I felt the same way; after 35+ years of working, I didn't want to have to report in at any given date or time. So, I crochet baby blankets for the maternity ward for the new moms who don't have anything to take their babies home in :-( That way I can go at my own pace. I use mostly colorful acrylic yarn; very little of the baby blue and pink which I usually get from donations.

Sounds like you have plenty of activity in your life and I don't blame you for not wanting to get tied down.

Hi. I don't volunteer but have been thinking more and more about looking for a good opportunity. I retired just over a year ago and find myself spending way too much time doing nothing. I have children and grandchildren but because of work schedules etc don't see them as much as I would like. I also feel that volunteering puts a good feeling in our hearts and I could certainly use that. You could look for something that is a real interest to you- - maybe teach quilting at a senior center with the understanding that you are doing this on a trial basis. See if it works for you. Good luck Satine

I make animal toys for local animal shelters.

I used to volunteer at the Area Agency on Aging. They are always looking for volunteers to help in various ways. DH is now disabled, so it's not practical for me to commit to being away from him unnecessarily.

I am a quilter, and have donated quilts as my way of doing good for others. There are so many worthy causes, and they really appreciate a quilt for raffles or auctions. I have given repeatedly to Quilts of Valor, American Legion, and a breast cancer organization. I love quilting, and I'm helping others--what could be better?

I use to volunteer at the hospital, as a greeter in the waiting room till my health went down hill.

I volunteer at my local library one morning a week, processing books and I knit baby hats and oncology blankets for my local hospital. My library work is such that if I can't come, it's not a problem. I just need to let them know in advance.

A good volunteer "job" should not be a terrible imposition on your time. A Meals on Wheels driver might do one 2 or 3 hour-day every week or two. When I was a Peer Counselor, I saw my client once a week for an hour for 10 weeks, plus two staff meetings a month, which were wonderful experiences. Now I'm with the country's area agency on Aging: committee meets 1-1/2 hour every month, full council meets every other month.

There's always time to volunteer, you can pick your own level of involvement and times!

When I quit my paying job in 2005, I immediately signed up as a volunteer at my town animal shelter. They suggested I come in one hour, one day a week. I kept it up for about a year then stopped. sometimes I think I'd like to go back, but I'm hesitant after six years of not going.

I volunteer at my kids school once a week for lunch and playground duty.

My beautiful MIL passed over the holidays and she loved to volunteer.

Her favorite activity was on Friday afternoon. She went to the nursing home and helped with Bingo and then just hung around and visited for awhile. She loved it and they loved her. Miss her so much.

I have in the past...meals on wheels, book mobile, hospital, girl scouts, boy scouts, etc. but I'm so busy now, I just do volunteer jobs in the groups I belong to.

Gary and I have volunteered occasionally but not regularly. It's something we think we might like to do more when we retire, just not yet. The last thing we volunteered for was delivering Thanksgiving dinners for Little Brothers. Before that, we helped build a deck for a Nature preserve several miles from here. I'm not sure whether we'd choose something with a set (weekly or whatever) schedule or something more random. My daughter and son-in-law (both in their thirties and both working) do serve as volunteers at the Smithsonian Air and Space museum on the National Mall in Washington D.C. and they love it! They are there generally two weekends a month, driving down from near Baltimore, MD, and often making a two day weekend of it!

I was also an animal shelter volunteer when I was younger. It's not something I would do again. That kind of work is too emotional for me.

Sometimes I feel guilty that I don't do volunteer work. It kind of seems like ones civic duty to give back to the community. I soften my guilt with the self reminder that I do actually work a part time job.

I also do not financially support any charities but I give my fair share to school fundraising through the grandkids.

Fran, you sound like you have a busy, active and happy life. Not everyone has to do volunteer work to feel fulfilled. You are probably a good mother to your kids, a good friend and a good neighbor.
I volunteered as a Girl Scout leader for both my girls for over twelve years. Toward the end of that I started to work part time. I am now down to one part time job and thought that I needed to fill some time. I tried volunteering at a organization that I thought would be a good fit for me. But, I realized that I did not want to be tied down to specific hours etc. It felt like work that I of course wasn't getting paid for.
As mentioned above, the trick is finding something that you truly love and feel that you are making a difference by contributing your time.
For me, I think I would like a volunteer job that can be drop in when you feel like it. I don't know if something like this actually exists.
Moonie, don't feel guilty. I am not sure who came up with the idea of "giving back" or "civic duty.' If you are a hard working, honest good citizen than the icing on the cake can be helping those less fortunate.

I did volunteer work when I first retired: educational dept at the zoo; complimentary birth certificates nearby hospital. Really enjoyed, plus reading to my grandson's 3rd grade class.

"Reading to my 3rd grade grandsons class".

Our school loves to have grandparents volunteer.

Shortly after retiring 6 years ago, I began volunteering at the local large VA clinic. It took time to learn all the clinics and answers to the frequently asked questions. After 4 years on the Information Desk where people first check in, I've grown to love my 2 mornings a week there. I've met some really great people, WWII vets as well as much newer vets. Always a few grumps but all in all a wonderful place to volunteer.

I used to " work" as a Family Support person at my ex's army weekends.
Then I taught 4th, fifth and sixt graders to knit and crochet. Later I was vice and then president of the Family and Community Education Group (formerly Extension Homemakers). Served as president of two different bicycle clubs.

Worked in nursing home gardens through the Master Gardener Organization, and after my move to OKC in the MG gardens.

Led training rides (aka, got people in shape for longer rides) for the local bike club and the Oklahoma FreeWheel organization.

Presently, I work again. I plead no time. In reality I work in my yard, and on my house. Both keep me plenty busy, sometimes to busy to go ride my bike.

No, I don't volunteer right now.

Moni

Do I volunteer? Well, kind of...I have another Quilt of Valor in progress - and this makes probably 30. They take time to construct. I've been making them since before I retired 5 years ago.

Would I volunteer anywhere with regular hours? No. It's why I retired - I don't want to have to work on anyone else's schedule.

I volunteer one afternoon a week for 3 hours at the front desk at the hospital here. The hospital is just 3 blocks from my home. I used to work there and enjoy my afternoon.
I also deliver meals on wheels when they are short handed. I do various volunteer work at my church baking for funeral receptions and for the Easter brunch. I have always enjoyed volunteering because organizations are so grateful and you can always take time off if you let them know ahead of time.

Used to do a LOT of volunteering. To the point being taken advantage of but most all of it was very enjoyable. For a variety of reasons I don't anymore.

Jannie, I'm confident they'd LOVE to have you come back if you can find the time and desire. Especially the critters would be much indebted. It's kind of hard for me to go to the pet stores with the adoption spots and not come out with an armload.

fran1523, there's a lot of volunteer opportunities where you could set your own time frame. Look at what things interest you or causes you're passionate about. Maybe you could find something there. Another option often overlooked is election judges. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. Even if there's something like going to the store for a neighbor or something. There's needs everywhere. Some are worthwhile, some not. Some with which you'll agree and some disagree. Like I said, lots of options.

Some people just plain want to be a bum when they retire. Some like having a schedule so they have a reason to get up. All up to the person.

I volunteer once a week at my local library and I love it. It's good for me. It is the one thing that I do that is scheduled and that I have to dress a bit more professionally (although not in the suits and heels I wore to work for so many years.)

I enjoy chatting with the patrons and I love the people who work there. It's also fun to get first choice of the books and movies.

Sometimes I feel like doing something else that day, but I always go to "work" because the teensy bit of discipline it requires is a good thing. I also feel as if I am truly helping them, not just given busy work.

I did my volunteering the first part of my life. Spent a lot of time at my DD's school volunteering in the library, room mother, cookie maker and helping teachers with whatever they may need. That led to a part-time job tutoring reading to 1st and 2nd graders and spending an hour a day in the kindergarten room teaching phonics. Best job I ever had, but the pay was pretty awful. I was a Brownie leader, March of Dimes Moms, worked for my political party registering people to vote and working the polls on election days. (Although we did get paid a little for that.) At one time when I was a Brownie leader I had my whole living room full of GS cookies. My house smelled like thin mints for weeks :-) I belonged to a philanthropic sorority and we ran a thrift shop which I volunteered to man two afternoons a month. We also did other things for the community which we were all involved in.

I finally had to learn to say "no" because when people find out you volunteer, believe me, in a small town, you WILL be getting calls!!