Chess, Go and Thai food sound ideal.
Too bad Littlefield is gone, I could easily see your spending your retirement restoring 1:1s.
Maybe find a smallish piece and do your own.
Guys like Jentz and Zaloga all worked DOD, then followed their ambitions in WWII history after retirement. It's easier on the East Coast with proximity to the National Archives, etc, but maybe you can find a niche.
I'd buy 'Zen and the Art of Pak40 restoration'.