- RetireHub
- Posts
- The Power of Shared Meals: Starting a Dinner Club in Your Community
The Power of Shared Meals: Starting a Dinner Club in Your Community
Trivia: Who portrayed Hawkeye Pierce on the TV series MASH?*
RetireHub
October 26, 2025
Rise and shine, RetireHub community! ☀️ Your Sunday newsletter is here!
Today we’re sharing fun tips on The Power of Shared Meals: Starting a Dinner Club in Your Community, along with the best deals, fun trivia, and more!
Top Deals From Around The Web
We find the best daily online deals so you don’t have to!
🦷 27% OFF – Philips Sonicare Rechargeable Toothbrush
Upgrade your oral care with this highly rated Sonicare set, featuring gentle sonic technology that removes plaque and protects gums. With pressure sensors, smart timer, and BrushSync replacement reminders, it's perfect for couples or as a backup brush. Rechargeable and travel-friendly, it offers dentist-level clean from the comfort of home.
🔔 50% OFF – Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (Head-to-Toe HD Video, Motion Detection, Two-Way Talk)
See more at your door with this upgraded Ring model that delivers expanded head-to-toe video coverage. With advanced motion detection, two-way talk, and enhanced night vision, you’ll always know who’s outside—even from your phone or Alexa device. Battery-powered and easy to install, it’s a smart boost to your home’s safety.
🍲 50% OFF – Electric Warming Tray (Large Buffet-Style Food Heating Mat)
Keep meals warm and ready to serve with this spacious electric warming mat. Ideal for entertaining, potlucks, or everyday dinners, it heats up quickly and evenly, with a sleek tempered glass surface that’s easy to wipe clean. Perfect for keeping side dishes hot without drying them out.
What We’re Reading
Get these e-book deals before they’re gone.
 | By: Kristy T Dixon Neeley Kelter runs a flower shop next to her grandpa’s old mortuary, but her quiet life is upended when a gravedigger is found murdered in the morgue. The investigation is led by her estranged former best friend, Sheriff Troy McGregor, stirring up old emotions and long-buried secrets. With help from her quirky grandpa, a mystery book club, and a stubborn pug, Neeley must dig into the truth before another victim turns up. |
On this day in 1825, the Erie Canal Opening officially opened, creating a navigable waterway that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie and dramatically transformed commerce and travel in the young United States. This innovation helped reduce shipping costs, accelerate settlement of the Midwest, and promote economic growth for regions throughout the country. Over time, the canal’s success highlighted the power of infrastructure in connecting communities and enabling opportunity.
The Power of Shared Meals: Starting a Dinner Club in Your Community
In an age when fast food and packed schedules often pull us in different directions, the simple act of sharing a meal can be a powerful remedy. A dinner club—a rotating gathering where members take turns hosting meals—can foster community, combat loneliness, and bring a spark of joy to everyday life. Whether you're newly retired, an empty nester, or simply looking to connect with others, starting a dinner club might be just the invitation you (and your neighbors) didn’t know you needed.
Dinner clubs don’t have to be fancy. In fact, the most memorable gatherings are often the most relaxed—potluck-style meals with paper plates, laughter echoing in the kitchen, and stories shared over second helpings. You can build your club around themes: comfort food, recipes from your childhood, a tour of world cuisines, or “one-pot wonder” nights. Some groups even center their meals around a shared book, hobby, or life stage.
To get started, think of 4–8 people you’d enjoy spending time with—friends, neighbors, or acquaintances who might also be looking for more connection. Set expectations upfront about how often you’ll meet (monthly works well for most), whether everyone cooks or one person hosts, and whether alcohol or dietary needs should be accommodated. The key is consistency and shared contribution—not perfection.
Beyond the meal, dinner clubs often become safe spaces for conversation, celebration, and support. They mark birthdays, toast retirements, and offer shoulders during hard times. They remind us that we’re not meant to live in isolation—that joy multiplies when shared.
And for older adults, the benefits go beyond socialization. Regular social interaction has been linked to improved mood, memory, and even physical health. Starting a dinner club isn’t just a nice idea—it’s an investment in your well-being and in your community.
So dust off your casserole dish, dig out Grandma’s meatloaf recipe, or try that new soup you bookmarked. With every bite and every conversation, you’re nourishing something far more meaningful than just your appetite.
Yesterday’s Poll Results: If you were to pick up a new instrument today, which would it be?
It looks like music is calling — and most of you are answering on the keys! Nearly half of all voters said they’d choose to learn piano or keyboard if picking up a new instrument today. Guitar and ukulele followed as the next favorites, while a few dream of trying their hand (or bow) at violin or cello. Others would rather raise their voices than a bow, with a notable number hoping to explore singing. Whether it’s strumming, singing, or tickling the ivories, it’s clear that creativity and curiosity around music are alive and well in this community!
TOP COMMENTS
“I sing in several choirs but I would love to strengthen my vocal techniques.”
“Accordion.. I have two of them in my attic!!! I use to play in the 60s.”
“Flute or piccolo, glockenspiel or xylophone.”
“I played drums in grade school, when the instructor told me I was going to play in a show, I switched to trumpet. I was practicing in front of the house and a guy stopped his car to tell me I sounded like a sick cow. I quit. Dad gave me a guitar many years later, but I never got a chance to learn, it was stolen.”
“Trumpet or trombone.”
“Played in elementary school and loved it, the sounds. Have always wanted to play again.”
“Banjo-always have loved the sound of a banjo.”
“Music has always soothed my soul and I would love to learn piano which is a beautiful instrument. Even if I juts learn the basics it would mean the world to me. I'm also hoping it will pique my grandchildrens interest.”
“I’ve always wanted to learn to play guitar - acoustic and electric.”
“The harp!”
“I've always loved the haunting notes of the flute and wished I could play one.”
Why It’s Time to Bring Estate Planning Out of the ‘Quiet Drawer
Creating an estate plan is more than drafting a will—it’s a powerful way to communicate your wishes, protect your assets, and spare your loved ones confusion during difficult times. Many overlook this task, but an estate plan includes important documents like powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and login lists—everything your family may need if you become incapacitated or pass on. The article emphasizes that the real test starts when someone tries to access a safe deposit box, locate passwords, or understand the “why” behind your choices—so the author encourages open conversations with your family and transparent sharing of where documents are stored.
Follow us on Social Media!
Join an online community thriving in retirement! Find us on:
Every day we post retirement tips, highlights from our newsletter so you can comment and discuss in the community, and some fun retirement-themed motivation!
Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: Mad
Meaning: In modern slang, especially in casual or urban contexts, "mad" is used to mean “very” or “extremely”—not angry. It emphasizes intensity or abundance.
In a sentence: "That community potluck had mad good food—I haven’t had peach cobbler like that in years!"
Good News of the Day
95‑Year‑Old Omaha Resident Launches Taylor Swift Fan Club—And Inspires the Community
In Omaha, Nebraska, 95‑year‑old resident Frank Uryasz has become the unexpected leader of his retirement community’s fan club for pop star Taylor Swift. What began when a worker expressed disappointment that Swift hadn’t responded to fans became a full‑blown movement: Frank started a fan club at his center, and membership quickly grew from 10 to over 100—with Taylor‑inspired pins, cookies, and friendship bracelets arriving from fellow fans across the country. Frank and his fellow “Swifties” dream of welcoming Taylor herself for a visit and share a message of joy, connection, and the idea that it’s never too late to find new passions.
Other Publications We Like
Check out these other email newsletters we think you’ll enjoy!
RetireHub Trivia
Want more trivia? Play our “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our site! We add fresh questions daily, so there’s always something new to test your knowledge.
Not into trivia? No worries! We’ve got plenty of other fun games to enjoy, like:
Who portrayed Hawkeye Pierce on the TV series MASH?* |
Which U.S. president brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel (1978)? |
Which river flows through Paris? |
A QUICK ASK: First off, thank you for reading RetireHub every day. It fills our cup that so many thousands of people get joy from our little publication.
As you know, good content costs money. In order to continue supporting ourselves and to continue delivering the content you enjoy every day, we need to pay our writers. If you can, we ask you to subscribe to our paid account (for $5/month - less than a cup of coffee!) below.
If you choose to purchase a paid subscription, please know you’re supporting not only our publication, but tens of thousands of other 50+ year old Americans that get joy, entertainment, financial tips, and more from RetireHub every single day.
If you don’t join the paid plan (or can’t), no worries at all. We know times are tough. Thank you for being a part of our tiny, joyful part of the Internet.
- Jay
**RetireHub may receive affiliate compensation for links clicked within this newsletter.
***RetireHub may share poll results with advertisers.