So many of you sound like early retirees. Most fortunate circumstances.
My husband, a workaholic, retired at age 66. The entire process of shutting down his business was exhausting, to say the least. It took him awhile to regain his stamina.
Self employed folks do not travel the same path as those who retire from big corporations. Clean off the desk and "out of there" vs. literally shutting down an entire business and disposing of everything which is part and parcel of that business. Also, no pensions to fall back on.
The old joke about husbands , retired with time on their hands, now trying to tell the wife how to run her kitchen, her entire home, etc...........is no fable. It's the truth.
They are used to being in charge of their domain, whatever that might have been.
For the wife, who might have run a small business from the home........the schedule is now changed with "more mealtimes" for hubby........but for a homemaker, it's still the same old same old.......with husband at home 24/7. Kids long gone, graduated from university, married, with children. Not living in area.
We are both the same age, so both retired at age 66......two years ago.
We didn't rush into any major decisions that would change our environment, but did "explore" our options..........we discuss it all the time.
We never had a retirement plan, but money is not an issue. Slowly but surely, we are "on our way".......just don't believe in rushing......or repenting at leisure.
The rain which has been inundating our state, unprecedented as our governor said this morning.........with towns' neighborhoods (not in flood zones) being covered in mud from the flash flooding this spring and summer............has made up our minds for us. Climate change in general has made up our minds. Now, this past week or so we've gone through 90+ degree days and 70+ degree nights with HIGH HUMIDITY, so we don't need another trip to TV to let us know that we can survive as long as we have air conditioning, which we do have up here...........still better than ice and snow and bone chilling cold.
I told hubby that the first thing I will sign him up for is the Deep Sea Fishing Club.
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