I need to get a retirement gift for my dad. Please help.

Walking Man

Walking Man

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My Dad is one of the guys who is impossible to shop for.
I guess his main interests would be history, no real sports hobbies. He likes some movies (foreign, and others... mostly dramas), classical music and even opera. He is a doctor, and he retires next week.
I really want to get him a nice gift from $50-$500.
but not a knife. Also, it doesn't have to do anything with his interests.
I want it to be classy and gentlemanly.
Thoughts? Thanks.
And NO suggestions for a gold watch. Duh.
 
A bottle of single malt whisky, cognac or port.

A leather-bound commonplace book, maybe something by Moleskine.

A portrait photo of his family.

A pair of walking shoes or boots

A pair of binoculars.

A good cromach or walking stick, possibly a blackthorn with a silver mount.

A trial gym membership.

A Tilley hat.

A model glider.

A compact digital camera.

maximus otter
 
A set of History DVDs from the History channel on a subject he likes and a nice single malt.
 
Walking Man said:
My Dad is one of the guys who is impossible to shop for.
I guess his main interests would be history, no real sports hobbies. He likes some movies (foreign, and others... mostly dramas), classical music and even opera. He is a doctor, and he retires next week.
I really want to get him a nice gift from $50-$500.
but not a knife. Also, it doesn't have to do anything with his interests.
I want it to be classy and gentlemanly.
Thoughts? Thanks.
And NO suggestions for a gold watch. Duh.
Click to expand...

move out of the basement.:D
just kidding.:)

a custom knife is an excellent gift.:thumbup:
he can't have too many knives.

or season tickets for his favorite team.
 
Is there anything he has indicated he would have liked to have but just didn't get it for some reason?

Season symphony tickets

Season tickets to series of plays

Tickets and transportation to some special show or program that might be coming up this summer

Otter had a good list , might add good bourbon depending on his choice of beverage...

A really comfortable chair to sit in and drink coffee and read the paper.

Ottoman with chair if he likes that.

Some really comfortable casual clothing for lounging around the house and/or working in the garden if he likes doing that

hammock

deck or porch furniture

good steaks to cook on the grill

a puppy...but he has got to want one
 
You said he likes history. Are there any historical location you could take him to, either one (relatively) close to where you live, or else even one further away--make it a father-son trip; or buy him the ticket on the tour/airplane flight/return bus ticket? Preferably somewhere he's not been before? You see, if he's A) got everything material in his life he needs or B) doesn't care much about material stuff, then I think what he'd probably really appreciate is the experience, and the memories from it.
 
What does he plan to do after he retires? Most people don't plan on becoming couch potatoes so have some kind of plan, gardening, travel, whatever? Get something to help him enjoy his retirement or open him up to a new hobby, My son got me two passes to an indoor rock climbing place close to my apt and it was a blast!!!
 
I second the idea of the single malt scotch. If your doesn't like it, you can always send it to me. :)

I also second the idea of a round trip train, plane ticket to some place of historical note.

Since you mention your dad is a doctor, and I'm assuming that's MD, it's a safe bet that's he's got enough change to buy just most anything he wants--except maybe more time with his family. Those are the things you can't buy.

If you have kids, maybe he'd like to spend more time with them. Maybe plan a trip together with your family, eh?
 
Not sure if they have gift certificates, but you could get him something from The Teaching Company:

http://www.teach12.com/teach12.asp?ai=16281

a bunch of history lectures -- maybe get him an ipod as well and rip them for him to it? My dad recently got an ipod and loves it -- particularly to put books on it.

And yes, some whiskey is a great idea-- 500 could get him a case of of good bourbon.
 
If he's an ex-doctor then how about a Case Doctor's knife with mammoth scales to remind him of the joys of being free:D

Decent blackthorn walking stick/cudgel

Does he do any fishing or gardening? Plenty of valuable gear for those pastimes.

A high quality leather rucksack for day walks, walks around town or carrying books about.It's a nice piece of 'clothing' too if you get a decent Italian or S.American rucksack.

A Skunklights solar flash-light, incredibly small and recharges from the sun, gives a very good light too.

Decent Cognac or Calvados could be an option.

Kite or hang-glider:D

If it were me, the list could be massive. Yippee no more time wasted at work when there's lots to be done! I'd like a starter kit for keeping bees, hives,combs etc.But now I hear they're dying out in the US:eek: Could be a very good hobby though.

Whatever you give him, include a card to tell him how much you appreciate him and what he's done for you.(and no naff humour card or tacky crap, some artwork)
 
bammann45 said:
Not sure if they have gift certificates, but you could get him something from The Teaching Company:

http://www.teach12.com/teach12.asp?ai=16281

a bunch of history lectures -- maybe get him an ipod as well and rip them for him to it? My dad recently got an ipod and loves it -- particularly to put books on it.
Click to expand...

The Teaching Company is wonderful! I just bought myself 3 new courses. I previously has purchased one for my HHBL (hunka hunka burnin' love).
 
How about "The World At War" on DVD?

Just a thought.

OR

A family photo album put together from everyones photos from the last 20 or so years with written comments from those in the photos!

Will be a memory trove if nothing else.........
 
Get some pictures from Abisko National Park (www.abisko.nu) in sweden, make him guess where the places are and when he can not guess you take out the already filled backpack and tell him to go there himself to find out.
Either you send him off by himself or you bring some other people along as well.
Since he is a history buff he can visit the train station where the only swedish soldier was killed in combat. He can visit Narvik and all the places in between. He might even take the train and travel over to Norway and Russia and visit Murmansk. When he is done, he could take the train to southern Sweden and visit Stockholm and then fly from there back home. Just remember to visit the town Boden and the Fallkniven factory :)

I missed the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi www.icehotel.com
 
Don't know how classy it is, but if he likes movies, he might like a subscription to NETFLIX or something like that.
 
nodh said:
Get some pictures from Abisko National Park (www.abisko.nu) in sweden, make him guess where the places are and when he can not guess you take out the already filled backpack and tell him to go there himself to find out.
Either you send him off by himself or you bring some other people along as well.
Since he is a history buff he can visit the train station where the only swedish soldier was killed in combat. He can visit Narvik and all the places in between. He might even take the train and travel over to Norway and Russia and visit Murmansk. When he is done, he could take the train to southern Sweden and visit Stockholm and then fly from there back home. Just remember to visit the town Boden and the Fallkniven factory :)

I missed the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi www.icehotel.com
Click to expand...

ON $500 (or less) ???????:confused: :eek: :confused: :eek: :rolleyes:
 
You put the idea in his head and supply him with some of the gadgets needed for the trip and he pays for the rest. :) A fancy thing would be to get some local company to make something personal that he gets when he arrives at the destination.

Or you could as said before get him a set of ancient medical tools, like those Jack the Ripper used :).
 
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