Events, places provide numerous opportunities to stay socially active
Getting out to see the world around you is just one of the benefits of being retired and having a flexible schedule, so it’s wise to take advantage of all the opportunities that await you locally in Houston.
Being social, which has numerous pluses when it comes to your health and outlook on life, helps with solidifying friendships as well as keeping your brain and outlook on life thriving.
According to GreatSeniorLiving.com, staying social is one way to inject laughter, education, improve brain function and maybe add some physical activity to your day. The site recommends a wide variety of activities from karaoke to animal interactions, gardening, birdwatching, arts and crafts, parties, traditional games, puzzles, as well as active games and sports.
In Houston, there isn’t a shortage of exciting and diverse things to do in all of these categories.
The YWCA Houston is a great place to enjoy outings of all kinds, according to Allison Booker Brooks, executive director of YWCA Houston.
Seniors have all types of local outings, including the Houston Zoo, NASA, the Houston Arboretum, and even outside city limits to the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham. It also coordinates a trip to casinos.
“There’s something for everyone,” Brooks said.
They also take classes at the Alice McKean Young Library, then come back to the YWCA for lunch. Getting some exercise is also possible with water aerobics at the West Gray Recreation Center.
“They don’t like to just sit. They like to keep on going, and there’s usually food involved. We also have cooking demos with a local chef partnering with the YMCA and the Houston Food Bank. We do something at least once a month,” Booker Brooks said.
At the Houston Museum of Natural Science, there’s an event exclusively created for HMNS Senior Members. A $2 ticket will get you into the monthly Senior Social, which is typically held on a Wednesday starting at 9 a.m. Dates vary, but are available at www.hmns.org. Guests will be able to enjoy a light breakfast and have an exclusive tour of select permanent exhibits during this new special event series for seniors only.
Latha Thomas, HMNS vice president of marketing and communications, said it developed the program after seeing a real need for it since there had been numerous requests to something specific for senior members. The response has been “extremely favorable.”
With this outing, seniors can get a guided tour of the Paleontology Hall as well as the newly revamped Wiess Energy Hall. HMNS said the biggest focus area involves the guided tours, and it will continue to grow the program. The goal is to provide an event for their members and create an incredible outing.
“We hope that they really get to know and understand our objects in each hall and get the most out of their membership. This program was created with what they have requested in the past. We want them to know that we hear them, and they are an important part of our audience,” Thomas said.