Posted on by Steveark

Tribes

A common retirement theme is the danger of loneliness. It makes sense that leaving a busy work environment where you are forced to interact with coworkers, customers and bosses is going to instantly remove most of the people you talk to on a daily basis from your life. Replacing nine hours a day of human contact with…what? Television and the internet are not the best solutions. My recommendation is to join a few tribes.

I’m no expert at living life, in my late sixties and eight years into retirement I’m still learning as I go. But one of the lessons I have learned is I need social contact with others. Preferably time with others spent trying to achieve common goals. And that is where joining tribes makes all the difference.


Some of these tribes feel noble, because they are focused on helping others. The people I volunteer with serving on the local college board are like that. We get zero pay and devote a lot of hours each year steering the mission and vision of the college. I’ve watched our school give a young Mexican immigrant the tools to climb from a minimum wage housekeeping job to obtaining four nursing degrees and making a large six figure income as a PhD level Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Watching someone change their stars, that’s magical.

That tribe is quite diverse and includes many I would have never met otherwise. But we are bonded by a common goal of changing lives through education and we have become friends in the process.

The foundation board is an entirely different group of people. But one also focused on helping others, primarily in improving healthcare in our county. We manage the foundation endowment, decide which programs should be funded and what new missions we should undertake. Most of our effort over the last year has been in funding and building a new nonprofit organization to buy and run the local hospital.

Being a part of that project landed me on the board of the reinvented local medical center with a group of committed business leaders and medical professionals. We have had to become hospital experts starting from scratch, with most of us having no prior experience in that business, and it has been a wild ride to get to where we are today.

Both the foundation and the hospital are nonprofit corporations whose mission is improving the health and saving the lives of people regardless of their ability to pay. There is no pay for the hours donated to helping these organizations fulfill their missions, but when you see the results first hand the emotional rewards are priceless.


All three of these boards have provided me with many hours of social interaction, lots of laughter and acquaintances who are now fast friends. I also mentor university students at my alma mater and am involved at our church in various ministries. And I’ve made new friends at both.


But lest it appear that all tribes involve hard work and hours of meetings that’s not at all the case. In fact my favorite tribes are all about fun. It’s the people I play tennis with several times a week. Both my local tennis buddies and the two tennis teams I compete on. Then there is a group of around 40 pickleball players who meet at the courts three times a week. I haven’t met all of them yet, but I have become friends with many. There is the running group I’ve been in for over twenty years who meet at 5:30 AM three mornings each week. There are my fishing buddies who are constantly swapping texts and photos of what we’ve been catching. The same for our off roading friends, cyclists, hiking pals and kayakers. I’m also one of eight mostly retired guys who take baseball and football trips each year, Cardinals and Saints games. We’ve been doing this for years and we love the time spent together.


I’m a member of two tribes who are not local. One is an alumni group of chemical engineers of all ages who graduated from our state university. That group sponsors the tutoring I mentioned earlier but also helps the department in other ways. We get together once a year for a mass meetup and it’s a lot of fun.


The other is the Millionaire Money Mentors forum. I’ve been a mentor in that group for several years but just attended their annual meet up in Florida for the first time. It was so interesting to put faces with the pen names I had corresponded and swapped forum comments with. I’m on the upper age end of the bell curve for that group but I never felt left out. They were the warmest and kindest group of folks. I will be going back next year for sure.

So what is the point of all these tribes? The point is I’m not lonely because my life is filled with social interaction. Even on a slow day, like today, when my wife is out of town, I’ll see plenty of people. I skipped the group run and slept in, because my knee is pretty sore. But I’ll still ride my bike and play tennis this afternoon. I’ll see a number of people since I’ll ride a bike trail that also has a lot of walkers on it, many of them old friends. I have a lunch meeting with an advisory group that oversees a low income medical clinic, that’s one I failed to include above. And I have a zoom call to go over some medical education scholarship requests with the foundation committee.

And I’ll still have plenty of time to post this. All in all it should be a very good day, and a very typical one in my retired life. I’m not advising everyone to take up volunteerism. But I am suggesting that if your retired life has too much empty space in it, consider joining a tribe or two that you share common interests with. It certainly has added much to my retirement. And if you can find one or more that is centered on serving others you might be surprised at how good that feels.

What about you, what are some of your favorite tribes?

I’m on the outskirts of a small town of under 20,000 people. Do you think finding tribes to add value to your life is easier in small town America or in an metro setting?

27 Replies to “Tribes”

  1. Yes, I have to think finding a legitimate board, especially a hospital board, is easier to find in a small town. They are fortunate to have you, with your experience and abilities. But, no such thing here in metro DFW. That said, there are plenty of clubs (tribes) for any activity you could imagine.

    1. I think you are correct about that, I got on the college board because I was politically connected and the governor appointed me. The foundation board liked having someone from most of the major local employers, and there were only a handful of us to pick from. Plus I became known as a board member that prepared for meetings and always showed up. But mentoring and church work were purely volunteer tribes who are always looking for extra help. Some people, like Fritz and his wife, start their own charitable tribe. But in my case it kind of came along with my former career.

  2. Tribes, indeed. A great way to summarize one of the most important aspects of retirement, Steve. Like you, I belong to many Tribes. My favorite is the “Freedom For Fido Tribe” (which we affectionately call the Fido Family), based around my wife’s charity. I spent time with that tribe this morning building our 131st fence. Physical activity, relationships, and giving back all at the same time.

    Tribes for the win.

    1. Yes, you and your wife are examples I follow as people doing retirement right, Fritz.

  3. It seems funny (ironic) in a way, I am lucky to be in a recovery program. Since I retired last year, I have been able to devote more time to it. Talk about a diverse group of people! We have a common goal as well as committed purpose for good. It is more than enough for me with “just” this one tribe.

    1. That’s a great observation. Tribes can vary widely in terms of how much of our lives they occupy. Some people may have dozens of very low committment tribes and others only one or two that they are deeply involved in. Thanks for commenting Suzie.

  5. 꽁 머니,꽁 머니 사이트,토토 꽁 머니,꽁 머니 토토,토토 사이트 꽁 머니,꽁포 사이트,가입 머니,토토 꽁 머니 사이트,꽁 머니 게시판,가입 머니 1 만,첫 가입 꽁 머니,신규 가입 머니 지급,꽁 머니 게시판,가입 머니 사이트,첫 가입 꽁 머니,가입 머니 즉시 지급,토토 가입 머니,꽁 머니 토토,토토 꽁 머니 12점차 리드에도 경기 포기한 고교 여자농구…엘리트 스포츠의 몰락 – KBS뉴스 ggongto.com

  6. Your work was remarkably enlightening! The thoroughness of the information and the riveting delivery enthralled me. The depth of research and proficiency evident throughout significantly heightens the content’s excellence. The insights in the introductory and concluding portions were particularly compelling, sparking new concepts and inquiries that I hope you’ll explore in future writings. If there are additional resources for further delving into this topic, I’d be eager to immerse myself in them. Gratitude for sharing your expertise and enriching our understanding of this subject. The exceptional quality of this piece compelled me to comment promptly after perusing. Continue the fantastic work—I’ll certainly return for more updates. Your dedication to crafting such an outstanding article is highly valued!

  8. Your composition was remarkably enlightening! The comprehensiveness of the data and the riveting presentation enthralled me. The magnitude of investigation and proficiency apparent throughout substantially elevates the substance’s caliber. The revelations in both the opening and concluding segments were particularly gripping, igniting novel notions and queries that I hope you’ll explore in forthcoming compositions. If there are supplementary resources for further delving into this subject, I’d be delighted to immerse myself in them. Gratitude for sharing your expertise and enriching our comprehension of this topic. The exceptional quality of this piece compelled me to comment promptly after perusing. Maintain the fantastic endeavors—I’ll undoubtedly return for more updates. Your devotion to crafting such an outstanding article is immensely appreciated!

  11. This piece was incredibly enlightening! The level of detail and clarity in the information provided was truly captivating. The extensive research and deep expertise evident in this article are truly impressive, greatly enhancing its overall quality. The insights offered at both the beginning and end were particularly striking, sparking numerous new ideas and questions for further exploration.The way complex topics were broken down into easily understandable segments was highly engaging. The logical flow of information kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish, making it easy to immerse myself in the subject matter. Should there be any additional resources or further reading on this topic, I would love to explore them. The knowledge shared here has significantly broadened my understanding and ignited my curiosity for more. I felt compelled to express my appreciation immediately after reading due to the exceptional quality of this article. Your dedication to crafting such outstanding content is highly appreciated, and I eagerly await future updates. Please continue with your excellent work—I will definitely be returning for more insights. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to sharing your expertise and for greatly enriching our understanding of this subject.

  12. Your blog has quickly become my go-to source for reliable information and thought-provoking commentary. I’m constantly recommending it to friends and colleagues. Keep up the excellent work!

  13. This piece was incredibly enlightening! The level of detail and clarity in the information provided was truly captivating. The extensive research and deep expertise evident in this article are truly impressive, greatly enhancing its overall quality. The insights offered at both the beginning and end were particularly striking, sparking numerous new ideas and questions for further exploration.The way complex topics were broken down into easily understandable segments was highly engaging. The logical flow of information kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish, making it easy to immerse myself in the subject matter. Should there be any additional resources or further reading on this topic, I would love to explore them. The knowledge shared here has significantly broadened my understanding and ignited my curiosity for more. I felt compelled to express my appreciation immediately after reading due to the exceptional quality of this article. Your dedication to crafting such outstanding content is highly appreciated, and I eagerly await future updates. Please continue with your excellent work—I will definitely be returning for more insights. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to sharing your expertise and for greatly enriching our understanding of this subject.

  16. I loved as much as youll receive carried out right here The sketch is attractive your authored material stylish nonetheless you command get bought an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike

  17. [먹튀검증] 불법 먹튀 사이트를 차단하고 안전한 온라인 도박 환경을 조성하세요! 먹튀 사이트 차단 방법, 검증된 사이트 목록, 안전놀이터 추천 등을 제공합니다.

  20. This is an excellent article! I appreciate the depth and clarity with which you addressed the topic. Your insights are valuable and provide a lot of useful information for readers. It’s clear that you have a strong understanding of the subject matter, and I look forward to reading more of your work. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise.

  21. Thank you for sharing such an insightful and well-written article. I appreciate the thorough research and clear presentation of the topic. Your ability to break down complex concepts into easily understandable information is impressive and beneficial for readers. I look forward to reading more of your content and learning from your expertise. Keep up the great work!

  22. This piece was incredibly enlightening! The level of detail and clarity in the information provided was truly captivating. The extensive research and deep expertise evident in this article are truly impressive, greatly enhancing its overall quality. The insights offered at both the beginning and end were particularly striking, sparking numerous new ideas and questions for further exploration.The way complex topics were broken down into easily understandable segments was highly engaging. The logical flow of information kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish, making it easy to immerse myself in the subject matter. Should there be any additional resources or further reading on this topic, I would love to explore them. The knowledge shared here has significantly broadened my understanding and ignited my curiosity for more. I felt compelled to express my appreciation immediately after reading due to the exceptional quality of this article. Your dedication to crafting such outstanding content is highly appreciated, and I eagerly await future updates. Please continue with your excellent work—I will definitely be returning for more insights. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to sharing your expertise and for greatly enriching our understanding of this subject.

  23. 먹튀 사이트로 인한 피해를 100% 예방하고 싶으신가요? 먹튀검증으로 안전하고 신뢰할 수 있는 온라인 베팅 환경을 경험하세요.

  24. 먹튀 사이트로 인한 피해를 100% 예방하고 싶으신가요? 먹튀검증으로 안전하고 신뢰할 수 있는 온라인 베팅 환경을 경험하세요.

Comments are closed.