Lately I have invited the most unlikely cast of characters into my life – a skydiver, a biking/hiking enthusiasts, a writer, a quilt maker and a frugal grandmother to name a few. They do not live in my hometown nor even close by. In fact, I have never met any of them face to face. They live in places like Oregon, Washington, Arizona, California, Texas and Hawaii. We have become acquainted via the blogosphere and visit each other regularly with the click of a mouse.

I never know exactly what to expect as I make my morning rounds to visit each of them – a daily devotion to ponder, a piece of retirement advice, motivation to get off the couch, DIY instructions, or photographs of breathtaking views in far away places. But I know I will be informed and challenged by each of them. My visits involve less time than it takes to finish my morning coffee and they leave me with much to consider.

What these bloggers have in common, and the thing that draws me to each of them is their passion for living and learning. They challenge me every day to consider what a “successful retirement” really means.

Social interaction with my “face to face” friends is important, but because I live in a fairly homogeneous community I tend to associate with people just like me. I largely look to them for companionship and entertainment and can honestly say that I don’t often learn from them. We generally share the same interests, political opinions, and lifestyles so conversations are fairly predictable.

The atmosphere of the blogosphere that I hang out in is fairly congenial and the people who visit my blog are polite and often encouraging with their comments. I behave likewise on theirs. I feel like most of the bloggers I read offer a realistic depiction of themselves as opposed to a “glossy” Facebook image. They are relatable as real people and I can picture myself sitting down to coffee with any one of them.

I have always found inspiration and have acquired knowledge in unlikely places so it comes as no surprise that stumbling into this arena has been gratifying in terms of my own personal growth. The budding friendships were a welcome surprise. I am learning that this stage of life holds many welcome surprises and I can’t wait to embrace each one of them as we continue on our journey.

What good surprises have you encountered during your retirement years?