Retirement Gift Ideas?

[FamilyMan]

Never a shortage of opinions here so I'll through out a practical question. A coworker/friend will be retiring at the end of this year after 25-plus years of service and some of us would like get them something to mark the occasion. He is an old curmudgeon who mostly just likes to be left alone. Lives with his wife in family cabin. Out of shape so no longer interested in outdoor pursuits.

Any ideas for a retirement gift say around $500 or so?

Thanks.

 

[TN2shot07]

Does he like knives?

For retirement gifts I like to give something nice but also practical, don’t want something to just sit on the mantle…

 

[SaskHunter]

25 years in what field?

 

[Wild Bill]

Carton of smokes

 

[FamilyMan]

25 years in what field?

Drafting/design of roadways.

 

[jimh406]

Gift card for nice restaurant nearby and plaque/knife/clock.

 

[SaskHunter]

Drafting/design of roadways.

We 3D printed Bailey bridge angles and parts, and assembled a scaled down Bailey Bridge for a Combat Engineer buddy of mine with crayons as the beams, because you know, army guys eat crayons. Mounted on a nice plaque.

We do a lot of plaques, shadow boxes, drill canes, and stuff that represents one's military career.

I think something similar and personalized can be done for other fields. A framed old map or vintage tools of the trade, etc.

Everybody loves knives and axes, but something personalized goes a long way.

I received a very nice drill cane made by one of my Sergeants when I relinquished my last appointment of Sergeant Major. It meant a lot and I was quite proud that I had impacted him enough that he took the time to make me something a little more personal than the usual certificates.

 

[kodiakisland]

Knife/watch combo. Sensible knife and watch with large numbers. Nothing electronic or requiring WiFi.

 

[hank4elk]

A good pair of binos for watching...olds like to watch.
Print of Goldengate or Brooklyn bridge being built.

 

[Letthemgrow]

$500

 

[David58]

Deep down inside, most curmudgeons like to be recognized. But something useful.

David
NM

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Does his cabin have a wood stove? Maybe an electric log splitter?

 

[WinkB]

I don't think you can go wrong with a good knife. Got my cousin one who was an avid outdoorsman and he was very grateful.

However, your buddy may react like mine did a couple weeks ago when I gave him one for a retirement gift. Got him a Montana Knife company blade. He said cool and threw it in the back of his truck. I mentioned he may want to be a little careful with it as they are really not just another throw away knife. I don't know if he ever looked them up to see how much they were.

 

[Keep on]

We usually do a card signed by everyone and a gift card to the store of their interest. We've done golf stores, sporting goods, lowes/home depot, Disney, cruise lines, etc. Then they can choose exactly what they want.

 

[mtmiller]

I never got the knife thing, well at least in the last couple decades.

Many years ago, IIRC, @Bambistew mentioned something about Victorinox knifes and I picked up a couple. Light and held an edge pretty cheap, so I am now also a fan.

If someone gave me a $500 knife I would be grateful, but I already have metal appliances that cut shit.

I will second the gift card to a store of interest.

BTW, I am eligible in 28 months, so you all have time to overthink my gift.

 

[deer_shooter]

A decent watch is an option

 

[Dsnow9]

are there any notable roadways he worked on or were specifically proud of?

A nice photo of that roadway in a rustic looking frame or something would be a nice touch and then you all could sign the back of it. And whatever you had left in the budget you could put towards a gift card or cash. It’s like a card but would last a lot longer. To me something that had meaning is gonna mean a whole lot more to me than something I could just go buy. I’m pretty picky when it comes to a knife, watch, or other small item that might never get used again.

 

[TOGIE]

nobody's mentioned a nice bottle of bourbon or scotch?

 

[Mallardsx2]

$500 in $1 scratch off lottery tickets. He had probably been too cheap and miserable to buy them for himself over the years. That will keep him and his wife entertained for a couple hours.

 

[Nick87]

Strippers.