I need some suggestions for a retirement gift.....

[a kennedy]

this woman was in the service, plays the violin, has 3 grand kids, plays poker, knits, will do some traveling, and I swear I can not come up with an idea for a retirement gift. Our women's poker group are going in together to buy a gift, and I need some ideas to float around. Thank you.

[TexasTowelie]

1. Depends.

As a gag gift.

Maybe a nice phone so she can listen to music while she is traveling.

[Wait Wut]

2. How much?

She sounds pretty active, so something travel related?

[LeftofObama]

3. Gift cards are always convenient

especially when traveling. Not very personal, but extremely practical.

[riderinthestorm]

4. How about a tree? She can plant it (or have it planted).

It will remain in her life for many years and hopefully she can someday sit under it and reminisce...

My husband was gifted a beautiful set of Adirondack chairs (the real ones) when he retired from a wonderful group of friends who went in on the gift together. He's loved that gift. My gift to him was a hammock to go with! (not that he's ever used THAT he likes to stay too busy).

We have given gift certificates to Chicago concert and theater series (theoretically now that the person has more time to actually attend at their leisure) as retirement gifts.

[Chan790]

5. Maybe a poker chip set?

It seems appropriate considering it's a group gift from a women's poker club.

A perfunctory search yields that there are options out there ranging from $20 to several hundred dollars depending on how fancy you want to get, from 200-chip plastic sets to 500+ chip casino-grade clay chip-sets in aluminum cases with all the assorted markers, included decks of cards, dice and minutia.

[HappyMe]

6. You could always get her a pattern

and some high end yarn and knitting needles.

Subscription to a travel magazine.

Gift certificate for some sheet music.

[TuxedoKat]

7. Maybe a nice

travel related gift? A small hand-held video camera? I just got one for Christmas, a Sony HDR-CX210. It's about the size of a digital camera. Maybe a nice pair of headphones to use while she is travelling? The Sol Republic's that Michael Phelps used during the Olympics are popular and get good ratings on Amazon. I think this would be a nice gift, not too expensive, practical and useful too.

http://www.amazon.com/SOL-REPUBLIC-Tracks-On-Ear-Headphones/dp/B005OLPJ0G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358902306&sr=8-1&keywords=sol+republic+red+white+and+blue

[Tobin S.]

8. A fishing pole and a six pack

Sounds like a good time to me.

[agracie]

9. How about a nice tote bag filled with items that relate to her interests ? That way, everyone...

can participate. Don't forget to include some chocolate !

[Moondog]

10. Nice symbolic mementos can be meaningful.

I got a bunch of stuff when I cashed in. The two that actually meant something to me, and that I actually kept, were symbolic of where I had been and where I was going.

In my case the first was a small, solid black crystal globe, about 2 1/2" in diameter, on a nice silver stand. It was a visual pun, one that was well known in the DC world that I was leaving.

The other was a nice oval stained glass piece, the kind you hang in a large window, of a seascape, with palm tree, seabird, etc. Oval, oak framed, about 18" across. My boss, who did stained glass as a pastime, made it for me as I was returning to coastal FL, from whence I came.

This was well over ten years ago. I still treasure them both. And when I look at them, I still think of those who gave them to me.

Try for something like that. It doesn't need to cost a lot. It truly is the thought that counts.

[a kennedy]

12. love the stained glass piece also....

thank you.

[a kennedy]

11. Thank yo all for your suggestions....

I'm thinking also of a gift basket with may-be a CD with violin music, poker chips which is a great idea, and may-be a piece of luggage. Love the tree idea also..... thanks again.