Retirement: Best Thing about not having a Boss

[DruannB]

After receiving no less than 7 emails from my boss today with to-do items (it's Sunday, you know), I was wondering what everyone thinks is the BEST thing about no longer having a boss (spouses not included).

[lovsthosebigdogs]

As a former teacher the best thing about no longer working is being able to go to the bathroom whenever I want to not when I have a prep time. Other teachers know what I mean.

[Blessed2BNTV]

Sunday night is great! While I owned a company, I still had many frustrations and great days as well.

It's 10 pm now and I use to be fast asleep in preparation for Monday morning going to work.

It's been 4 months since I HAD to be somewhere and I still wake up EVERYDAY so happy, blessed, and relaxed.

How much longer do you have before you are retired DruannB?

[Lbmb24101]

Boy do i ever! lOL
Or spending evenings grading

[CFrance]

I worked with television deadlines looming over my head. I still look at doctor's appointments, lunch dates, entertaining, etc., as a deadline. Maybe I'll never get over that. But it's so nice to know they are my own deadlines and not my bosses'. I can always change them.

[DruannB]

I'm a professor and former journalist. Deadlines are my life. I can't wait until I set my own schedule--and bathroom breaks. We plan to buy in TV this summer and I will retire at the end of the 2015-16 school year...fingers crossed. I'm not sure I can quit cold turkey, however. I've been working at my home desk today for about 12 hours. How do you just stop that kind of living cold?

[senior citizen]

After receiving no less than 7 emails from my boss today with to-do items (it's Sunday, you know), I was wondering what everyone thinks is the BEST thing about no longer having a boss (spouses not included).


We've always been self employed, for the most part, since 1973; thus, no boss but ourselves...........however:

TAKING A NAP ANYTIME OF THE DAY THAT YOU WISH.........

STAYING UP AS LATE AT NIGHT AS YOU WISH.......

[rhood]

Sounds like your boss is a jerk.

[Blessed2BNTV]

I'm a professor and former journalist. Deadlines are my life. I can't wait until I set my own schedule--and bathroom breaks. We plan to buy in TV this summer and I will retire at the end of the 2015-16 school year...fingers crossed. I'm not sure I can quit cold turkey, however. I've been working at my home desk today for about 12 hours. How do you just stop that kind of living cold?

While my husband retired in 2013, our plan was me to sell my company 2015/2016. The more time we spent in TV, the more relaxed I became.

I too didn't think I could quit cold turkey BUT I love our new life. Knowing I am more healthy by being so much more active and able to have time to cook. Yes I love cooking now!

To answer your question about stopping "that kind of living".....there is so much TV has to offer, you quickly forget about your old life! I promise :)

[Abby10]

While my husband retired in 2013, our plan was me to sell my company 2015/2016. The more time we spent in TV, the more relaxed I became.

I too didn't think I could quit cold turkey BUT I love our new life. Knowing I am more healthy by being so much more active and able to have time to cook. Yes I love cooking now!

To answer your question about stopping "that kind of living".....there is so much TV has to offer, you quickly forget about your old life! I promise :)

Thanks, Blessed2BNTV, for your post. I especially liked your last statement which is what I was hoping for myself. Now, if it will only instill the love of cooking in me, I'll be golden!! :laugh:

[tedquick]

I'm a professor and former journalist. Deadlines are my life. I can't wait until I set my own schedule--and bathroom breaks. We plan to buy in TV this summer and I will retire at the end of the 2015-16 school year...fingers crossed. I'm not sure I can quit cold turkey, however. I've been working at my home desk today for about 12 hours. How do you just stop that kind of living cold?

I started selling real estate in 1973 and was a seven-day-a-week guy. About 3 years ago my wife and I visited TV. The second day I told her that if I ever retired, which I really didn’t think I ever wanted to do, that we would have to live in TV. A year and half later we purchased the home in which we now live. As time marched on, the more I thought about it, the better “retirement” began to sound. While I truly loved my career, the closer we got to my wife’s retirement-date, and the more I thought about my time being my own, the greater became my inclination to also retire. Well, we both retired last August.

We became frogs last September and have not had one moment of regret or of second thoughts since, but then I had the advantage of being able to process, for 3 years, what my life would be like without my career. Even though I really did quit cold turkey, I had those 3 years to consider and evaluate my “new life” and while I loved my career, I love even more that my life now belongs to me. I was blessed with a fulfilling 41-year career but am even more blessed now that I have my new TV-life.

That is a long way of suggesting that you dream of, fantasize about and imagine what your new life will be like, but perhaps, of greatest importance, “process” the change. I am still developing and creating my new TV-life here and I find the process to be exciting and stimulating. My life now is better than I ever imagined that it would or could be. (And BTW, if you’ve been working for 12 hours, and you wrote this at noon, then you’ve been working since midnight. It’s time to retire).  And the very best of luck to you!!

[Cedwards38]

I'm retired. I'm married and I have two daughters still in college. You think I don't have a boss? :-)

[Bonnevie]

it's so nice not having to hear what new work procedures are being adopted by management without any input from the staff who actually have to do the work. wonderful not to have to attend meaningless meetings.
it's the feeling I used to have on Sundays when we had a holiday on Monday so I could stay up reading as long as I wanted. Now I have that every day.

[Shimpy]

it's so nice not having to hear what new work procedures are being adopted by management without any input from the staff who actually have to do the work. wonderful not to have to attend meaningless meetings.
.

Yes and I certainly don't miss all the rumors about pending lay offs or if the company is moving.

[rubicon]

Even after 8 years, I miss my work life and wish I never retired

[DruannB]

Not everyone adjusts well to retirement, especially if you get your self worth from your career. I just know I can be equally as successful at learning to line dance, and I've always wanted to learn to quilt. And my golf game needs work.

[pbkmaine]

What do you miss, rubicon?

[gomoho]

The best part of retirement and no boss is FREEDOM to do what you want when you want or even if you don't want. Your life is once again yours to claim! Took me a few time in and out of retirement to figure this out, but at 65 I am content and no longer have the need to work to be who I really am.

[ureout]

I'm a professor and former journalist. Deadlines are my life. I can't wait until I set my own schedule--and bathroom breaks. We plan to buy in TV this summer and I will retire at the end of the 2015-16 school year...fingers crossed. I'm not sure I can quit cold turkey, however. I've been working at my home desk today for about 12 hours. How do you just stop that kind of living cold?

I worked in the auto industry for 30 years....most of the last 10 years I was scheduled 13 days on 1 day off (NY state labor law) I loved my job (skilled trade machine repair) I was worried what i would do with my time when I retired ....I got out at 49 and moved here when just turning 50....that was 13 years ago....it was the best decision I ever made....there's so many things you can choose to do... or not do anything at all, it's your choice

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Wow...

[rubicon]

What do you miss, rubicon?

Hi pbkmaine: I miss achieving. I miss my employees. I miss being the one who has the answers to their problems. I miss my speaking assignments at company functions. I miss interviewing people. I miss the business climate
I miss evaluating people and programs. I miss planning and conducting office meetings. I miss planning and conducting my educational meetings.
I miss traveling and visiting satellite offices I miss my customers....and so much more

My plan was to work until my company threw me out but I retired because of health and the irony is that time heals all things and I am healthier now than when I retired. I learned and love to work and I never learned or love to play because the latter always seemed a waste of my life.

Good advice is to do what you love and I loved what I did and had to let it go

[tomwed]

I was a tenured teacher and I treated my bosses with respect.
Having said that, I would also observe how non-tenured teachers felt required to laugh at the VP's and Principals jokes while the rest of us smiled and thought of a specific insult you wouldn't say in class or church.

[Villages PL]

I would guess that many people tend to maintain the same busy schedules in retirement that they had when they were working. Type A personalities don't stop being type A just because they're retired.

[pbkmaine]

I feel like I have the best of both worlds, because I work on a very limited basis for my former employer, mostly from right here in The Villages. I retired December 31, but then started work on a small project January 19. There's another project in the offing, a potential client in central Florida, and the opportunity to "pinch hit" when my former colleagues are double booked. My company is estimating 200 hours this year, but it may end up being 400 hours or 20%. That sounds about right. Consulting is 24/7/365, and everything seems to be an emergency. I am now insulated from most of the emergencies, and I sleep better for it.

[Polar Bear]

You mean when you retire you're not supposed to have a boss?? Would somebody tell my wife that!?! [emoji8]

[LI SNOWBIRD]

I miss absolutely nothing about my former job. Just glad I escaped relatively intact.

[Ed Krik]

:gc:The only thing I miss about not working is Friday night. I know now every night is

Friday night, but there was something special about the end of the work week. It

was time to kick back and relax. Friday night we would rent a movie and watch having

pizza and beer.

I would not go back to work just to have Friday nights like that again. It's

nice being retired and not have the work pressure.https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/images/smilies/golf-cart.gif

[tomwed]

:gc:The only thing I miss about not working is Friday night. I know now every night is

Friday night, but there was something special about the end of the work week. It

was time to kick back and relax. Friday night we would rent a movie and watch having

pizza and beer.

I would not go back to work just to have Friday nights like that again. It's

nice being retired and not have the work pressure.https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/images/smilies/golf-cart.gif

Friday afternoons were the best. If you saw a teacher in the hallway you would ask them if they were going home after work. If they said they were going to the dentist or the post office that meant they would meet you at the bar.

[Bonnevie]

what I like most is being able to come off blood pressure medication after retiring. started needing it the last few years I worked. was one of the reasons I left when I did.

[stroglass]

Being a nurse casemanager was. Very stressfull and the day never ended on time.The best thing about retirement is the lack of stress ,doing things on my timetable. I am busy everyday.
Love all I do and I do not miss my old life at all

[2BNTV]

I've had bosses that became like family and I had a couple of bosses, from hell!

Some people really enjoy their careers and want/need to work. There are people who haven't enjoyed going to work and retirement looked like a great option.

After your retired for awhile, you will realized that you are more relaxed and want to have a continuous enjoyment of doing, "what you want , when you want and with whom you may want". You may even wonder how you have had the time to work, as they are so many enjoyable things to do here in TV.

Like all things, one most focus on good thoughts and put the thoughts of stress behind them, as you will no longer be controlled by someone else's demands/wishes.

People at work who showed they really cared about you will stay in touch and those who really don't care about you, won't. I found it amusing how some people I worked with thought some of the people they were close to, would stay in touch and they didn't. In one instance, I was amazed, a good friend of mine, (coworker),was so disappointed, his so called best buddy at work, dropped the friendship, like a rock, (my boss from hell).

Retirement is great and very relaxing. IMHO

BTW - I don't miss anything about work!!! One must move on to more enjoyable pursuits and let go of the stress, of working!

[Walter123]

I'm retired but still have a boss only now it's my doctor! He tells me what to do and what not to do........

[rubicon]

I would guess that many people tend to maintain the same busy schedules in retirement that they had when they were working. Type A personalities don't stop being type A just because they're retired.

Hi villages PL: I agree with your assessment but another factor beside energy (Type A) i interests which is why some folks have an easier transition. There are many examples in every industry and or profession where people work until they drop because ther interest is their love for what they do.

Too often people feel they want to retire but what they really want is just a break. In my previous life I had employees who after up to a year came to my office begging for me to rehire them. finally I believe more people retire because of political considerations (climate) than for any other reasons....My boss doesn't know,,, this is not the same company I started with.... Home Office has no idea what we do out here...................................

[dewilson58]

You mean when you retire you're not supposed to have a boss?? Would somebody tell my wife that!?! [emoji8]

Sounds like you have a Bear of a wife.

:1rotfl:

[2BNTV]

You mean when you retire you're not supposed to have a boss?? Would somebody tell my wife that!?! [emoji8]

That would be un/BEAR/able to me. :D