We Needed Something to Do Together
First-person account of a couple finding a shared hobby through croquet after retirement.
When my partner retired six months after I did, we realised something awkward. We didn't have much to do together.
We'd spent decades with our own work lives, our own friends, our own routines. Now we were home together, and the days felt long. We loved each other, but we needed something outside the house that was ours.
A friend suggested croquet. We went together, mostly out of curiosity.
What We Didn't Expect
Croquet has a doubles format. You play as a team. You talk strategy between shots, plan your moves together, celebrate when something works. It's the first time in years we've worked on something as a unit.
The game forces you to communicate. Not about whose turn it is to cook dinner or whether the gutters need cleaning. About tactics. About what you're trying to achieve. It sounds small, but it changed our week.
The Social Part
We also didn't expect the social side. We joined the club together, which meant we walked into a new community as a pair. No awkward "my partner doesn't really know anyone" situations. We both knew the same people.
Wednesday afternoons became our thing. We'd play, have morning tea, catch up with the others. Then we'd drive home and talk about the games. We hadn't had that kind of shared experience since we were both working.
It Suits Us Both
My partner is more competitive than I am. Croquet works for both of us. The game rewards precision and thinking, not strength or speed. We're equally matched, which matters.
Some days we play as partners. Other days the club mixes everyone up and we end up on opposite sides. That's fine too. We're still there together.
If This Sounds Familiar
If you and your partner have been looking for something you can do together, something with a bit of structure that gets you out of the house and into a community, you might find what we found.
Most couples join without knowing anyone. The club provides all the equipment. All you need is flat-soled shoes.
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