What happens when an empty nest meets curiosity, creativity, and a box of puzzle pieces? In this episode, Agnes speaks with Monica about how puzzling became a powerful way to navigate retirement, deepen partnership, and build joyful community — one piece at a time.

• The emotional reality of the empty nest — and how quiet can feel heavier than expected

• How puzzling evolved from a solo pastime into a shared passion with her husband

• Learning new technology and social media later in life — without fear

• Why puzzling is far more social than people realize

• From pubs to cruise ships: creating connection through play

• Staying curious, relevant, and engaged at any age

This conversation is a reminder that reinvention doesn’t need to be grand — sometimes it begins at the dining room table.

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After 41 years of marriage, busy careers, and raising three children, life had a steady routine. When the kids left, it was a shock — no one really prepares you for how empty the house will feel. It sounds great, but you miss them every time you turn a corner. Suddenly, it’s just you and your partner 24/7, and that can be stressful. In our retirement, we discovered a shared passion that completely transformed this stage: puzzles. What started as a way to stay busy quickly became a world of creativity, connection, and fun. Puzzling has strengthened our relationship, teaching patience, teamwork, and the joy of tackling challenges together. We feature puzzles in imaginative ways — from playful stop-motion reels and trending social media videos to location shoots that get us exploring our city — and share these experiences with a growing online community.

As empty nesters, our children are proud of how we’ve navigated this stage of life and found a fulfilling, creative, and purposeful way to stay busy. If we’re not posting, that’s when they need to check in! They can’t believe how we continue to learn, keep up with new trends, and even become influencers on social media — who would’ve thought?

We’ve always loved cruising, and after retiring, we thought it would be fun to bring our puzzles on board. What started as a personal idea has grown into a collaboration with Royal Caribbean, where we now host interactive puzzling events for passengers. Some of our most rewarding moments have come from making personal connections — helping a passenger rediscover their love of puzzles, sparking laughter as strangers team up, or seeing families bond over a challenging puzzle. Many of our favorite stories come directly from the cruise, and it’s wonderful to be that connector for people, creating shared memories and moments of joy. Who knew we would become what some call “puzzle ambassadors“.

Our work has also brought us in touch with almost every puzzle brand, who send us puzzles to feature on Instagram or take on the cruise. It’s never work — it’s pure fun. Sharing puzzles with people of all ages, creating memorable experiences, and connecting with the community has made this hobby an incredibly rich and rewarding part of our lives.

Our story is worth telling because it shows how a shared passion can spark creativity, foster meaningful connections, and keep life exciting at any stage. We bring energy, humor, and inspiration to every project, encouraging listeners to embrace curiosity, creativity, and the joy of shared experiences — whether they’re puzzlers or just looking for ideas to make life after retirement vibrant, social, and fun.