9 Things Past Presidents Did in Retirement That Florida Retirees Will Recognize

Whether you spent your career running a hardware store or running the country, the day comes for most of us when work ends and retirement begins.

Former presidents face that same transition.

Here are nine things past presidents did in retirement that many Florida retirees can relate to.

Woodworking in the Garage

Some retirees head straight for the garage workshop, and Jimmy Carter was right there with them.

After leaving the White House, our 39th president became a serious woodworker, crafting furniture by hand in his shop back in Plains, Georgia.

He made chairs, tables, and other pieces, some of which were auctioned to raise money for his Carter Center.

It’s the classic retiree move.

A quiet workshop, a project to focus on, and the satisfaction of building something with your own two hands.

Carter proved you’re never too important to enjoy the smell of sawdust and the pride of a finished piece.

Any retiree who’s puttered away a Saturday in their garage knows that feeling.

Discovered Painting Later in Life

You don’t have to be young to pick up a paintbrush, and George W. Bush is living proof.

The 43rd president stunned everyone when he took up painting in retirement, studying under a Texas artist and producing a surprising body of work.

He’s painted portraits of world leaders, military veterans, and even a whole collection honoring immigrants, published in a book.

Bush has said he took it up because he wanted to keep learning and growing after the structure of the presidency disappeared.

That’s a story countless retirees share.

Their career ends, and suddenly there’s room to explore a creative side that was buried under decades of work.

Wrote Their Memoirs

For a lot of retirees, the urge to get their life story down on paper finally wins out, and presidents are no different.

Nearly every modern president has written a memoir after leaving office.

Bill Clinton penned his lengthy “My Life” entirely by hand. George W. Bush followed with “Decision Points,” and Barack Obama landed a record-setting book deal for his.

These aren’t just for the history books. They’re a way to reflect, make sense of a life’s work, and leave something behind for the family.

Whether you’re writing a bestseller or just filling a notebook for the grandkids, the impulse is the same.

Retirement is when many people finally have time to tell their story.

Spoiled the Grandchildren

Ask many retirees what they love most about their golden years, and “the grandkids” tops the list.

Presidents are no exception.

When Barack Obama spoke at the dedication of George W. Bush’s presidential library, he joked about watching Bush settle into being a grandfather, just beginning to spoil his brand-new granddaughter.

Bush and his wife, Laura, have treasured their role as grandparents, building family time into the center of their post-White House life.

After years of putting country first, these men finally got to put family first.

It’s the most relatable thing in the world.

The work is over, and the reward is a grandchild on your knee and all the time in the world to enjoy them.

Played a Whole Lot of Golf

The retirement golf habit is practically a national sport, and more than one president leaned into it.

Dwight Eisenhower was famous for his love of golf, playing constantly during his presidency and right on into retirement.

Gerald Ford retired to California in part to enjoy the golf life, hitting the links as a happy retiree.

For these men, golf offered exactly what it offers any retiree.

Fresh air, friendly competition, and a good reason to get out of the house.

The course doesn’t care if you used to run the country. It’s just you, the clubs, and a beautiful morning, the same simple pleasure retirees chase every week.

Got Out and Saw the World

After decades of being strapped to the office or travel dictated by work, retirees often want to see the world on their own terms, and ex-presidents are no different.

Once the obligations of office lifted, former presidents found time for the kind of travel they’d never controlled before.

Some returned to favorite spots, splitting time between homes, like George H.W. Bush dividing his retirement between Texas and his beloved Maine coast at Kennebunkport.

There’s a freedom in finally going where you want, when you want.

Retirees know the feeling well.

The trips you put off for years suddenly become possible, and the map opens up in a way it never could during your working life.

Threw Themselves Into a Good Cause

Many retirees find new purpose in volunteering and giving back, and Jimmy Carter built the gold standard for it.

Carter spent his retirement championing Habitat for Humanity, picking up a hammer to help build homes for families in need well into his 90s.

He and his wife, Rosalynn, became the public face of hands-on volunteer work, and his humanitarian efforts earned him a Nobel Peace Prize.

It’s a powerful version of something retirees everywhere do.

With time finally freed up, they pour energy into the causes and communities they care about.

You don’t need a foundation to do it.

Whether it’s a food bank, a church, or a local charity, retirement is when many people finally give back in earnest.

Picked Up Puzzles and Games

Retirement leaves plenty of room for the small daily pleasures, like a good puzzle with morning coffee, and presidents had their favorites, too.

Bill Clinton was a devoted crossword fan, working the New York Times puzzle daily and even creating one himself for the paper to publish.

Other presidents relaxed with card games. Harry Truman and others loved a good hand of cards to unwind.

These are the everyday rituals that fill a happy retirement.

A puzzle to keep the mind sharp, a card game with friends, a little daily routine to look forward to.

It’s proof that the simplest pastimes are often the most satisfying, no matter who you are or what you used to do for a living.

Stayed Active and Kept Moving

Staying healthy and active is a top priority for many retirees, and several presidents made a point of keeping their bodies moving long after the job ended.

Ronald Reagan loved horseback riding at his California ranch and spent his retirement enjoying the outdoors there.