I would suggest tutoring. It will have flexible hours and you can still interact with kids. Tutors by me charge very high rates (especially if you tutor AP classes with your higher ed experience).
If you love libraries, don’t limit yourself to just your local library. I suggest getting on the mailing list for a few other nearby libraries so you can explore what programming they offer. At my library in NJ, many of the most regular program attendees live in neighboring towns (where their libraries don’t offer the programs they enjoy attending).
One other volunteer activity you might enjoy is ESL work. See what local literacy organizations by you run ESL classes. I know a few people who do this and love it.
What about kicking off a “little library” movement in your town? There are models and patterns online, so you don’t need folks with design experience- just people who can use a drill and a tablesaw, own a paintbrush, and help with installation. Once they are installed, get the word out that anyone who wants to clean out their kids rooms-- you are accepting books for the curbside libraries!
The ones in my area range from gorgeous to basic… but I see people walking away with real joy when they snag a free book- and the kids look jubilant! And when they are done- the books go back into circulation!
And to add to Kiddie’s fine suggestions- my library offers citizenship classes (not just what you need to know for the test- more like an old fashioned HS civics class- why voting is important, how to contact your Senator, etc.), “how to apply for a job online” class, and a “welcome to America” class for newly arrived immigrants which covers everything from “what is a lease” to “why paying into social security is important”.
Building off of what Blossom said, English literacy organizations are always looking for tutors for adult English learners. I often see pairs of folks at tables in my library, reading through different materials together. I don’t think the library runs it, but it’s the place the volunteers use. Probably could find a literacy organization in your area.
I was a substitute teacher. It’s not easy work. It is flexible, though. I had considered doing it again, but my teacher friends advised against it. They said that it is even more difficult post-Covid. You could always try it to see if you like it.
My mom used to tutor at an elementary school. She really liked it.
If I were retired and was looking for something to do I would go down to the local school and see if I could help with tutoring some kids. Or I would be a volunteer coach for a sport.(I had a football coach in 6th grade that didn’t have kids on the team and I always thought we was a good guy)
Lastly because of my skillset I would give out financial advice to people that need help getting their life on track. Maybe set something up at the library.
I retired in April, after 33 years at the same job, at age 60. My husband retired this summer but he’s taking grad school classes so very busy with those. Similar to what you wrote “people are hard for me.” I also felt very lost for the first few months. My advice is: give it time - it takes time to adjust to a new routine (and you’re also mourning a loss), try different things - I finally realized that despite what everyone asks, you don’t have to declare definitively what you’ll be doing in retirement and then be locked into that, and you can do anything YOU want - there are tons of opportunities out there. But doing “nothing” is ok too. Sometimes if the weather is beautiful I put aside what I’d planned to do that day and go for a walk or bike ride. I also try to notice other people doing things solo because it makes me feel not so lonely about doing things alone. And once I started noticing I realized there are a lot of them.
I’m wondering what state you are in and your climate. Gardening seems to be a love. Is there a botanical gardens nearby to volunteer or skein part time at? A plant store or florist?
A soup kitchen to use produce to turn into meals?
Children’s hospital volunteer? Reading aloud on a peds floor would be a solo activity and is great for the kids who are often isolated to their rooms.
Someone told me that after you retire, you should expect it to take at least a year to develop your new routine. I think that’s true, but not just for retirement from a paying career but for any life change that reorders your time – becoming an empty nester, ending a parental care-giving role, whatever.
If you can articulate your needs (beyond alleviating Puritan guilt!), you know what to start looking for. Give yourself grace and time and appreciate that the discomfort you are feeling is also direction on what you’re seeking. It’s also totally okay to try things and decide that they are not providing the satisfaction you’d hoped they would and move on to something else.
I agree with being patient with yourself as you transition to your new stage.
I am an introvert. Here are ways I have occupied myself over the years, in case they provide any inspiration:
Clean out the attic and garage and sell unwanted treasures on Facebook marketplace
Take a community college class or extension class (cooking, gardening, etc.)
Take guitar lessons
Attend a women’s study group at church. (I eventually started a spin-off book club and collected some of my favorite “coffee date” friends that way.)
Take up photography and take walks through college campuses and wildlife refuges, etc., with camera in tow. Create your own calendars or photobooks with your best work
Learn to kayak or stand-up paddleboard
Take a pilates class
Paint rooms in your house
Do genealogy research on your family and plan a trip that traces some of your roots
Get season tickets to a local theater group or sports team
You are getting so many good ideas here. They are helpful to me too. It has been just over a year for me, and apart from spending more time with my children/grandchildren I still haven’t found my new routine.
Being post-pandemic has also proved to be a bit of a hurdle at times. Our community college classes are mostly online. I don’t want to take a zoom class! The point was to meet people! Even the local quilting guild is still having most of their meetings online. While I love a monthly friend gathering of folks from all over North America, I have no desire to add more zoom to my life!
A neighbor of mine retired from teaching HS last year-- and despite everyone’s predictions that he’d be bored, lonely, at loose ends, he has declared himself a one man business driving people to chemo, picking up their meds and creating tracking spreadsheets for their dosage monitoring, following up on insurance claims, etc.
He charges nothing for people who can’t afford it; gas tolls and a modest fee for people who can; has officially moved to the “Saint” column in everyone’s ledger. He rejected most of the ideas people had for him (he also hates Zoom; that’s one reason he retired) and says he is finally getting closure on his wife’s premature passing (terrible journey with cancer, which is why he is so good with meds and insurance).
It would be a stretch to say he makes his own hours (people tell him when they need to be at the doctor’s, and that’s his schedule) BUT his evenings are free, and other than making sure there’s gas in his car, his new career requires no prep (unlike teaching HS). But most of all- it’s an untapped need for sure. Nobody wants to be a burden on their loved ones when they are having medical treatments-- but many people just don’t have a family member close by to provide hands on support.
I kind of actually love this idea, but I hadn’t thought of it exactly. I am the go-to person for friends and family when they have questions about their medical treatment or need someone to go to the doctor with them, not like I give medical advice, I’m just good at interpreting what is going on and what they need to do. Hmm. Thanks for yet another unique idea!
My DH actually does quite a bit of this now. Once the word got out that he would drive elderly people to major appointments (the nearest major hospital is almost two hours away) and wait for them, he had a fan club. But I love the idea of the spreadsheet! What a great idea
I was a career primary school educator. I did long term leave positions when I retired…but I hated…absolutely hated regular substitute teaching which I did exactly four days. I did not view it as fun. Most of the time, I was called at 6 a.m. to come to school that morning. Some teachers left great plans and others…did not. Kids were variable in terms of how classroom management was.
And this was at my old school where I had taught for 30 years.
The fourth time I did it, I politely told them never to call me again.
I think there are lots more jobs that are actually fun!