Retirement celebrations are a time to acknowledge career contributions, as well as the friendships made with co-workers. But what are the best gifts to give to the retiree? As a recently retired USPHS Officer, I’ll share with you some of the most treasured gifts I received. I suspect these will work for most any sort of career, but some take planning, so don’t wait.
- Photo Book
There are lots of places to do this: Walmart, Shuttlerfly, Walgreens. The one I received was full of pics taken through the years. My co-worker had solicited some from others, as well as pulled some relevant pics from my facebook page. In addition, she included awards, a recent letter of commendation, and a few pages of comments from others about our work together.
- Personalized Coffee Mug
Go funny or heartwarming or include a favorite pic of you and the retiree. The key here is personalization.
- Gifts with Personalized Inscriptions
Years ago this was much more time consuming. Now you can just go to one of many on-line shops like Personalized Creations, find a suitable product, and add the inscription.
- Gift Cards
If you find yourself searching for gifts at the last minute, a gift card is perfectly suitable. Pick a favorite restaurant or bookstore. Or better yet, hobby-related gear. Hey, after-all that’s a big reason some folks retire when they do….to spend more time doing things they enjoy.
- Leather Bound Journals
Retirement is a time of significant reflection for many people. A well-made journal can be inspiring in itself. It send the message that you know this person has meaningful thoughts and ideas.
- Gift of Art
Let’s face it, by the time most people get to retirement, they are buying what they want and need when they want. A gift of art is unique and can be cherished long into the future.