John’s Blog

Fun Retirement Projects and Activities (other than playing Mah Jongg)

If you do want to learn to play American Mah Jongg, here’s a guide: American Mah Jongg Basics.

New items (9 Apr 2026):

  1. New Mah Jongg report in Secrets of Mah Jongg – Analysis of NMJL 2026 Card

Volunteering

Fun Volunteer Gardening Group at Harkness State Park

Math, Physics, Science & Technology

Sun-Tracking Solar Panel Lights Plants Inside During Winter

Cottage Rental Business

Cottage Rental Business is Worth the Effort

Investing & Finance

App Development

Our Mah Jongg App is JLMahJongg

Aquarium

Aquariums on Christmas 2025

Garden & Plants

A Few Succulents in Winter

Patio & Garden Design

Ornamental Garden

Recipes & Cooking

Spicy Chicken Riggies are My Specialty

Winemaking

Taking Stems Off Boxes of Grapes

Music & Piano

Developing an App to Convert .wav Music Files to Sheet Music (Midi)

Literature

Stamp & Coin Collecting

Example Marine Life Stamps from My Topical Collection

Jury Duty

Woodworking & Crafts

Custom Box for Custom Tiles (Birthday Gift for Susan)

Sailboat Racing

Hanging On

Language Learning In addition to English, I’m trying to learn French, Italian, & Korean. Not too useful in the US but probably good brain exercise.

Tools

I love and have so many tools. Mostly thanks to my dad. I just finished refurbishing and rebuilding this nice 4″ Wilton Bullet vice. It was originally in bad shape. My father started fixing but never finished. Here’s photos after I worked on it. Should have taken a before picture.