I’m a few years short of your target demographic, but most of my friends would assure you that I have early-onset Cranky Old Man Syndrome. I’m in the “no stuff” camp. The aforementioned ideas of tickets or car detailing are great, as are consumables like a good bottle of something he likes. Also, an alternative to taking him out to dinner is to get him a gift certificate to someplace he likes to eat, so he can take your mom out for a nice evening.
We always got my dad a bunch of undies.
Trust me, watching a 260 pound man wander around the house in bikini briefs that looked like he took a load of buck shot to the ass was no treat.
In retrospect, it may have been a gift to the whole family.
My husband is 48 - and here is his wishlist (for what ever that might be worth…
[ul]
[li]T-Shirts[/li][li]Jeans[/li][li]Socks[/li][li]Boots - for work[/li][li]CD’s[/li][li]Jager - big bottle[/li][li]Goldschlager - big bottle[/li][li]Beer Mugs - that will fit in the microwave so he can have coffee out of them too[/li][li]A singing moose for the wall like you would get from Menards[/li][/ul]
Mature Gentleman (read: old fart) here. I’d like some nice shaving soap; maybe a winter hat (is a Stetson 0411 asking too much?); a bottle of the 16 yr old Bushmills would do the trick; some warm socks; a few Clayton Gold .72’s, an extra G7 capo; some of that peppermint bark from Pudding Hill Mary’s; the coffee gift assortment from Coffee Fool would be very cool; any one of these would make my day.
Generally, anything to do with hobbies or to eat or drink will be well received. Know what his interests are and do a little investigating to find something meaningful. It doesn’t have to cost much to put a smile on his face.
If the mature gentleman in question plays golf, see if some local high-class course sells gift certificates. This way he can play some links that he might consider too high-falutin’ to pay for out of his own pocket. I do this for my brother every year, and I try to vary the course among three or four nice venues in his area.
My father passed some time ago. No one has ever acused me of being mature, but if the question still applies to me, a Stihl chainsaw.
Well, if he likes tools at all, then there’s really no question.
The power drill to end all power drills
There is no comparison. Anybody else with a drill will just feel inadequate. Anything else is an embarassment. People use these as drive motors!
If you go to the North Pole, and stick this into the ice, you can use it to adjust the Earth’s rotation.
I want one sooooo bad.
Me, I want a billfold. I haven’t been hinting, I’ve been outright telling my son: Billfold! He knows what kind.
I gave my dad a picture I had framed. It was a blow up of a black and white picture taken about 1960. It’s a picture, taken from the back, of him and me on a dock. He’s reeling something in and I’m squatting down looking at the water.
I don’t remember what it was he caught, but I remember the times fishing with my dad.
My mother has the picture now, but I’ll have it someday.
Another thought - does he have any favorite TV series from a long time ago, like when he was a kid? Finding DVDs for those could be a real hoot. My wife found me a Rocky Jones Space Ranger DVD, not knowing how much I loved it as a kid. I think it cost a dollar, but it was one of the coolest presents I got last year. That’s the kind of thing someone might not know exists - getting stuff you want without knowing is quite excellent.
Wow, Scylla, a hand drill with a motor from a riding mower!
Ho ho ho indeed.
Tris
Funny. When I was a kid my family got it into their heads that I collected owls. I have no idea how it started but by the time I went away to college I had like twenty of them. I left them at home when I went off to school.
Oh, yeah! My Dad loves his WKRP set. We watch the Thanksgiving episode every, er, Thanksgiving.
“They’re hitting the pavement like a sack of wet cement.”
“As God is my witness I thought they could fly.”
I need nothing. Wife daughters get told- if you must a 70’s CD (but let me nominate it) or a book (let me pick the subject).
In retirement you can’t have enough of the above. And nothing expensive- I am in a far better position to buy that than you- and if I really want it, I won’t wait for Christmas for it.
Snow!
On Christmas morning I want to get up early and see the the place coated with a fresh fall of snow.
Clean and untouched.
Then I want whatever people have bought me and I don’t care what it is, they’ve taken the time and trouble to buy for me what they think I would like and that’s just fine.
Since I’m on the cut-off line for “mature” and in spite on not knowing if I fit the other catagory, I’ll give my two cents.
I agree with the better a single more expensive item than a cheap set. Also, I like “nice” things, so cool really gadgets are fun. I wouldn’t mind a really cool brass letter opener, for example.
Good Scotch or wine is great, but even on a budget, you can find accessories which are cool. Brookstone is a good place to look.
If you aren’t sure, get something small so that it doesn’t take up too much space if it’s not used.
I assume from the wording that the original question is aimed at those of us who are ::ahem:: mature (gentle or otherwise) and the poster is seeking guidance. I have to say to my fellow old farts that I think it’s really our duty to help younger people who really don’t know what to get us. My father always told me he didn’t care what I got him, and I always interpreted that to mean he didn’t care about me. I don’t know if that’s what he meant, but it was how I took it. To that end, I put some thought into compiling a list of things I would like people to buy me. I periodically update the list and leave it in Razorette’s care to e-mail to my sons, brothers and others who might be inclined to give me gifts. It includes books, music, unique hand tools from a specific catalog and other things (I can always use another pair of good brown leather dress gloves in dark brown, size large). I make sure there are items to fit everybody’s budget. True, there aren’t many surprises in my life any more, but at my age surprise can be a mixed blessing.
Spot on!
Does it come with the outboard motor attachment?
Oh hells yeah! I don’t know what I use it for yet but I’m sure I could think of something.
I thought about this one, then realized that my dad lives on an island that has nine golf courses. Man lives in a golf resort. How do I top that? But he was really thrilled when I bought him the first season of Moonlighting last year, because I remember watching it with him when I was a kid. I’m thinking this year he’ll enjoy the first couple years of MASH.*
You still got 'em? You could be like Harry Potter, and send someone an owl every now and then. 