‘Write’ Uptown: Making the most of Oxford as a retiree

Hello Sally,

I just moved to Oxford to be closer to family, I am older & retired. Can you give me an idea how I, as an older person, can enjoy my time in Oxford?

Thank you much,

Carrie

Hi Carrie,

Thank you for your question.

While Oxford may be a small town, it is filled with activities for visitors and residents of all ages. Oxford is a perfect place to retire because it has a small town feel with diverse amenities thanks to Miami University.

As a retiree in Oxford, you have a lot of ways to fill your days and enjoy your nights. The city offers plenty of opportunities to volunteer and help an organization that is close to your heart. You could also continue your education and learn new skills or find like-minded people to enjoy a hobby. So let’s find out where you can do all of this in your brand new town.

Multiple places in town welcome volunteers. Here are a few good places to start, but more opportunities are always popping up! TOPSS (Talawanda Oxford Pantry & Social Services) is a great place to volunteer — you can go to www.topss.org/volunteer to register. The Oxford Community Arts Center often has volunteer opportunities as well. The organization has some great people to work with and a variety of ways to get involved. You can apply to volunteer by visiting www.oxarts.org and clicking “Apply to Volunteer” under “Support Us.”

If you are interested in continuing your education or learning new skills you can take advantage of Miami University's Institute for Learning in Retirement. The deadline to apply for fall classes is coming up on Sept. 30, and classes will run Oct. 7 through Nov. 8. Miami has both in-person and virtual options, and this year the offerings include courses on history, poetry, politics, science and more. Make sure to register by visiting the ILR’s website at https://miamioh.edu/global-initiatives/continuing-education. 

Lastly, you can get together with like-minded folks in Oxford that share your interests. It’s easy to find these people through resources such as the Lane Public Library and its calendar with events ranging from book clubs to knitting groups. You can also become a member of the Oxford Seniors, an organization with a wide array of events and programs for any interest.

Carrie, I hope this was helpful, and thank you again for your question. If you have a question for me about how you can enjoy Oxford to the fullest, email me at write.uptownsally@gmail.com. Email me by Oct. 10 to have your question considered for my Oct. 18 column.

Sally Roi is a lifelong resident of Oxford and a Miami University graduate. She has worked at several local businesses and is now operations manager for Enjoy Oxford.