Thoughtful reader, Klaus, suggested adding “learn something new” to the list of Cyber Advice for Sixty, that I posted last week. I think that’s a terrific idea, so I wondered what kinds of things do people want to learn at this age? It’s obviously a very personal choice, but there must be some commonalities.

With the modern miracle of AI, it’s easy to query every thought on the entire internet. I asked the question a few ways (“What do people want to learn in retirement?” or “What do retired people wish you had learned earlier?”) and then combined the results into this list of 12 areas in priority order …

In my early retirement, I’ve focused on quite a few of these areas. Health & fitness, which shows up in four different ways has certainly been a focus. In addition, I’ve spent a lot of time on “Personal Finance & Tax Strategy” (this blog), “Travel Planning & World Cultures” (almost every retirees’ favorite hobby), and “Technology & Digital Skills” (so necessary nowadays). I imagine that you, too, see yourself in many of these topics.

The one that I would have put at the top of the list is “Building Social Circles”. Research shows that the one thing critical to long-term happiness is a strong friend network. Friendships bring activity, belonging, emotional support, purpose, accountability, and the shared experiences that become life’s most meaningful memories. They make all of the other aspects of life meaningful.

What new areas of learning are you interested in over the next 10 years?

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