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By Vance Lane

When people retire today, they no longer get the gold watch with their name engraved on the back and the dates they worked for the company. These were old retirement gift ideas and went away when companies started to cut back. It is just too expensive and most companies are too cheap!

Instead, the happy retiree gets a mug with the company logo (Most likely the same as the one he got instead of a Christmas bonus.), a t-shirt so he can advertise the name of the company every time he wears it or, if the boss sincerely likes the worker, a plaque.

Retirement gifts are difficult for both bosses and coworkers to choose. They should not cost a lot of money so most people resort to choosing a pen, a mug or again the t-shirt that is always a size too large. (Really, one size does not fit everyone!)

Most retirement gift ideas that co-workers come up with tend to be gag gifts. Why? Because they are not only funny they often say so much more. A good, well thought out, gag gift lets the recipient know that you think they have a good sense of humor, you know something about them, you think of them as a friend and you feel comfortable teasing them.

People that get gag gifts tend to cherish them because they do mean fun and friendship. Consequently, they keep them in a prominent spot in the home. They also are in full view so the recipient can show the gift to someone else and get a laugh too.

Retirement gift ideas require thought and a good gag gift is not any different. If you choose a gag gift for a retiree, do not make it a run of the mill idea that could fit your Uncle Ned or even Crazy Cousin Bill. Make it unique to the individual so that they truly cherish and appreciate it.

A lot of retirees are not like their dads. They are still active and vital people. Think about the typical retiree pass times, are they golfers, gardeners, hikers, bicyclists, triathletes, divers, etc. This is where you find the best retirement gift ideas.

Look for the obscure, maybe your retiree rides a bike, the ones with a big motor and a twisty handle. More & more people over 60 are continuing or taking up the hobby of touring via motorcycle.

Make sure your gift is relative to an activity they love and something they will find useful. Yes it will take a little more snooping then you are used to but a figurine that says Worlds Greatest Golfer just aint that personal and only useful if your hobby is dust collecting.

Some personal gift ideas that tease might be: pink golf balls to a super macho athlete, an analgesic balm named Old Fart Spray for an ex jock with bad knees and a bunch of pansies to a jock that likes to garden. If you have a car enthusiast, you can have a little fun with the help of a spouse, by getting them car keys that look like they belong to a Ferrari but fit their own Kia. Every time they look at those keys, who do you think will come to mind?

Unlike many gag gifts which are just for laughs and serve no practical purpose, really well thought out retirement gift ideas offer so much more. When you get a gag gift that serves a real purpose and has a use, you provide the recipient with a daily, weekly or monthly reminder of you and the good times. The gift has transcended the item and become an experience and you are now fondly associated with.

Look to the movies for gift ideas. Many retirees are baby boomers that never had the chance to live out their dream when they were young, absorbing every second of Easy Rider or Bullitt. Now, they have enough money and they gladly spend it on the bike or car of their dreams. You have seen a prime example in the movies, that gang of boomers in Wild Hogs. It’’s another case of Hollywood mimicking reality.

A large portion of successful professionals own bikes, Hot Rods, classics, etc. If your retiree is one, then a gift that fits their passion is the way to go. Everyone loves a good natured laugh and a well chosen gag gift will make a great retirement gift, if it is a quality product and something they can use all the time.

About The Author

The Time Rider,Time Rider (TRACLLP) is a company created by bikers for bikers offering motorcycle tours, a character with a story line and a product line called Shtuff For Bikers which have natural ingredients and crazy names. See the humorous product write ups at http://www.shtuffforbikers.com