How’s Retirement Newbies ?

[Wiotte]

What’s good, what’s bad for you ?

I’ve experienced my bad, boredom. I’m task oriented, always need to accomplish stuff, no matter how small or detailed. I’m not ready to drop the wrench and pick up games. I don’t feel I’ve retired early, just want to work on my terms, having no boss is heaven for me. Although I’ve noticed my wife seems to have picked up that baton. RESIST-RESIST-RESIST !

[CFrance]

I love not having to be on somebody else's imposed schedule. (Except for the dog's.) I'm not bored. I just do more of the enjoyable stuff I didn't have time to do enough of when I worked. I had a fantastic job virtually "watching TV for a living," and I miss the process/content of my job but not the time restrictions and deadlines. Retirement has been great. If we get bored, we go do something else, take a trip, take a class, etc.

[Two Bills]

Been at this retirement lark for 21 years now, and I don't know how I ever had time to hold down a job. Days are so full, even when sitting on my butt doing nothing!

[Nucky]

What’s good, what’s bad for you ?

I’ve experienced my bad, boredom. I’m task oriented, always need to accomplish stuff, no matter how small or detailed. I’m not ready to drop the wrench and pick up games. I don’t feel I’ve retired early, just want to work on my terms, having no boss is heaven for me. Although I’ve noticed my wife seems to have picked up that baton. RESIST-RESIST-RESIST !

It does take time. I think everyone has their moment when they finally surrender to the new way of life. It took me about a year. Some people have posted on here that they had to go back to work and re-retire again down the road a few years. You will find your niche. Let it happen. Forget about the good old day's, these are the good old days. :thumbup:

[BRN_RI_FL]

I’ve decided that my retirement will be time to finally get in shape. I turned 64 in December. I felt that way prior to a December somewhat high blood sugar diagnosis but I must admit that was an extra incentive to motivate me. Presently in RI as my wife is a tax preparer up here but will be back in the Villages at the end of the month. I take the dog for a 2 mile walk at the high school cross country trail each morning. After that, I will return to the high school and walk 20 laps briskly on the track (5 miles) while listening to music or talk shows. In the afternoon I usually do a small project in the yard. Usually asleep by 9- 9:30 each night. I’ve lost about 30 pounds but don’t want to lose much more. When I get back to Phillips Villas, I’ve got the routes mapped out to continue walking about 7 miles a day. Also want to begin occasionally using exercise equipment at Mulberry Rec Center, playing more golf and teaching the wife how to play golf. I’m really not bored at all and enjoy doing what I want, when I want. I previously worked 32 years at Hasbro, the toy company.

[BRN_RI_FL]

Also read a lot (news junkie), watch the tube at night and took up oil painting to give our Phillips Villas wall decorations a personal touch.

[ColdNoMore]

Been at this retirement lark for 21 years now, and I don't know how I ever had time to hold down a job. Days are so full, even when sitting on my butt doing nothing!

My Dad warned me about the same thing...and he was correct. :D

[Trayderjoe]

I was fortunate to be able to retire early on my terms. I am immensely enjoying retirement, actually branching out with my interests. I still do some volunteer work, but find that I do things at my pace which makes it more enjoyable.

I used to work "on the edge of chaos", which was a philosophy of my last employer-the idea being that it would lead one to find better ways to do things (it doesn't). The result was that I was constantly in "fire fighting mode". I don't miss it one bit.

What made my transition easier was picking at least one goal to accomplish on a given day and not forcing a schedule. Things get done, albeit a little slower than in the past, but I also do more "fun" things. I would never go back to the corporate world, and if I ever do go back into the work force, it would only be for something fun.

[Packer Fan]

My Dad warned me about the same thing...and he was correct. :D

My parents have the same story - always too busy for me!

[manaboutown]

Over my adult years I have heard many stories, observations and warnings about retirement.

More than one of my male friends has told me 'I'll never retire. My dad did and died of a heart attack (usually) within a year.' Now either the father retired because he was not feeling well or he became isolated and bored after retirement - IMHO.

Mostly I have heard 'It takes a year or so to adjust (just as in any move or life change) and then I became so busy I don't know how I ever handled things that needed to be attended to while I was working'.

My brother, who moved to an Arizona 55 and over community two years ago, tells me he is busier than he has ever been in his life. He plays golf, pickle ball, works out, socializes with his wife and their friends almost every night, is involved in community management and travels. Whew! He is very happy.

After a couple of earlier dry runs I finally semi-retired for the third time when I was 52. I am 76 now and still semi-retired. I enjoy what I do part time. It keeps my brain active and I am challenged with dealing with new technology and business methods. I also have plenty of time for reading, travel and the gym which has been my thing since I was 15.

As I understand it the most important thing for men is to find a way to continue to socialize and maintain friendships. I had to leave behind many 'work friends' and add some 'social friends' although I do maintain a few work friends due to my continued income producing involvements.

Most of the retired men I meet are thoroughly enjoying their retirement years and wish they had retired earlier.

[Fredman]

I enjoy golfing 4 days a week and the other 3 days I excel in doing nothing.

[OpusX1]

Retirement is hell, you never get a day off!

[Skip’dabeat]

Retired 5+ years ago. 65 now. At first had to keep telling myself it was OK to sit and read a book or just relax. The first year really took some adjusting. Pickleball and softball really helped me keep busy, meet new friends and get/stay in shape. Moving to TV next month so the winter months can remain as active as the summer months do.


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[thelegges]

One of very happy with golf 7 days a week, and many club activities. Not so much the other half. Flys down every 4 months for 6 weeks, and then travels for 4 months. Everyone is happy.

[Villagevip]

deleted

[EPutnam1863]

My Dad warned me about the same thing...and he was correct. :D

My dad warned us to not retire as long as we can.

[EPutnam1863]

One of very happy with golf 7 days a week, and many club activities. Not so much the other half. Flys down every 4 months for 6 weeks, and then travels for 4 months. Everyone is happy.

Very happy playing golf during the summers?

[Wiotte]

My dad warned us to not retire as long as we can.



My dad died at 48, I’m 63, I’ll take all I can get and enjoy it.


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[thelegges]

Very happy playing golf during the summers?

Yes play early, or late, summers are not a problem for us playing golf

[queasy27]

I may be in the minority who easily adjusted to retirement. My last job was at a start-up tech company. I worked from home but often put in 12-14 hour days. My work phone was always on and I was on call 24/7 in case of an outage or client emergency.

Even though I enjoyed my job, it was very good to let it go. I'm partially disabled and enjoy my own company, but I absolutely love having no schedule. I sleep and eat when I feel like it. My idea of living the dream is no commute and nowhere to be. "Keeping busy" means reading, cooking, listening to podcasts, engaging in discussion boards, playing online games, and catching up on a crap-ton of TV and movies.

(I moved here to be close to my siblings and the social activities were never a draw for me. As I said, a minority viewpoint!)

[fw102807]

I may be in the minority who easily adjusted to retirement. My last job was at a start-up tech company. I worked from home but often put in 12-14 hour days. My work phone was always on and I was on call 24/7 in case of an outage or client emergency.


I could have written this myself, my experience exactly.

[Retiring]

I’m 56 and psychologically not ready to retire. I thought I was but I’m not. I truly love what I do. Yes, there is much c..p that goes with the job but the pluses far outweigh the minuses. In my field retirement is permanent so there is no changing your mind. I may be ready in a year, but not today. I envy those that retire and never look back. We’re all on a different schedule.

[CFrance]

I may be in the minority who easily adjusted to retirement. My last job was at a start-up tech company. I worked from home but often put in 12-14 hour days. My work phone was always on and I was on call 24/7 in case of an outage or client emergency.

Even though I enjoyed my job, it was very good to let it go. I'm partially disabled and enjoy my own company, but I absolutely love having no schedule. I sleep and eat when I feel like it. My idea of living the dream is no commute and nowhere to be. "Keeping busy" means reading, cooking, listening to podcasts, engaging in discussion boards, playing online games, and catching up a a crap-ton of TV and movies.

(I moved here to be close to my siblings and the social activities were never a draw for me. As I said, a minority viewpoint!)
I appreciate and share most of your viewpoint. Pickleball, the weather, the no-schedule. I endure a minute amount of golf just to spend time with some very dear friends. I love to cook and read. You can do as much or as little as you want here.

[Schaumburger]

If I could afford to, I would cut back to working 25 hours a week. Alas, unless I win the lottery, I will have to work full-time for probably another 7 or 8 years, but I'm just 57, so that is to be expected. I'm sure hoping by the time I turn 65 I can just work part-time, for the supplemental income and to stay busy.

A former co-worker of mine worked full-time until a month before her death in February. Pat had just turned 74 a few days before she passed away. A couple of years ago, she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and her doctor ordered her to go to the hospital to get her blood sugar under control. She said "I can't go to the hospital, I'm too busy at work." I told Pat that she had to listen to her doctor, otherwise she could end up dying at work. Well, she half listened to her doctor's advice, but work was her #1 priority up to the end. Pat didn't need the income from her job, but she had never developed any outside interest, hobbies, or volunteering experience. Her "retirement" lasted all of 4 weeks before she passed.

Working full-time in today's economy, where most employees are seen as expendable, is not the way I want to spend my golden years, but to each his or her own.

[dave042]

following. some great responses.

https://media.giphy.com/media/l2YWzPphbDnbhuvqU/giphy.gif

[Barefoot]

One of very happy with golf 7 days a week, and many club activities. Not so much the other half. Flys down every 4 months for 6 weeks, and then travels for 4 months. Everyone is happy.If everyone is happy, that's a perfect arrangement!

[Transplant]

If I could afford to, I would cut back to working 25 hours a week. Alas, unless I win the lottery, I will have to work full-time for probably another 7 or 8 years, but I'm just 57, so that is to be expected. I'm sure hoping by the time I turn 65 I can just work part-time, for the supplemental income and to stay busy.

A former co-worker of mine worked full-time until a month before her death in February. Pat had just turned 74 a few days before she passed away. A couple of years ago, she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and her doctor ordered her to go to the hospital to get her blood sugar under control. She said "I can't go to the hospital, I'm too busy at work." I told Pat that she had to listen to her doctor, otherwise she could end up dying at work. Well, she half listened to her doctor's advice, but work was her #1 priority up to the end. Pat didn't need the income from her job, but she had never developed any outside interest, hobbies, or volunteering experience. Her "retirement" lasted all of 4 weeks before she passed.

Working full-time in today's economy, where most employees are seen as expendable, is not the way I want to spend my golden years, but to each his or her own.

Sorry for the loss of your friend. I see it a lot at my job too and vow not to be one of them. I'm 56 now and will start spending more time down there with a full retirement at 62.

[joldnol]

After 37 years in the classroom (Duval Co. Fla) I was ready. The Good Lord was looking out for this fool since I wouldn't recommend education to any young person which is a shame. The Legislature and Gov. have waged a twenty year war on Public Education in Florida. It was a great gig for 30 years and hell on Earth the last five. I haven't been bored a moment during the 3.5 years I've been retired.

[Nucky]

After 37 years in the classroom (Duval Co. Fla) I was ready. The Good Lord was looking out for this fool since I wouldn't recommend education to any young person which is a shame. The Legislature and Gov. have waged a twenty year war on Public Education in Florida. It was a great gig for 30 years and hell on Earth the last five. I haven't been bored a moment during the 3.5 years I've been retired.

37 years. That is just amazing. It really isn't easy for educators nowadays when they get little backup from the student's homes. Several people we know in N.J. retired from teaching in the inner city because of the conditions. I'll just leave it at that, it was rough. The Jersey people who were teachers are struggling with finding their niche in retirement. We had one of the come for a week and check it out and she fell in love with the entire operation. We took them on the three Trolley rides. This place is like a humongous magnet. They wouldn't believe the tax's here. The entire year taxes here is about one months worth in Jersey and its only getting worse. Glad you're happy here I always enjoy your posts.

[manaboutown]

God bless the teachers who stuck it out. Way back in the 1980s a friend of mine who had moved to Massachusetts and whose older brother was an 8th grade math teacher in our home town connected with me. We visited his older brother and a shop teacher from our old Junior high school. They each had retired literally the day they had become eligible. I asked them why. They said "The kids changed". Nowadays 'the parents have changed', if they are even around or known.

Twenty years or so ago I met a mid school principal, again from my home town. Sadly, she could not name even one student who lived with his or her natural parents, married or even unmarried. They lived with a grandparent, cousin, older sibling or...

[Vladimir]

37 years. That is just amazing. It really isn't easy for educators nowadays when they get little backup from the student's homes. Several people we know in N.J. retired from teaching in the inner city because of the conditions. I'll just leave it at that, it was rough. The Jersey people who were teachers are struggling with finding their niche in retirement. We had one of the come for a week and check it out and she fell in love with the entire operation. We took them on the three Trolley rides. This place is like a humongous magnet. They wouldn't believe the tax's here. The entire year taxes here is about one months worth in Jersey and its only getting worse. Glad you're happy here I always enjoy your posts.

You are so right. No backup from students homes. My wife was a teacher in an upper class community in NJ so it was different and she was lucky. But Newark, Camden or Trenton...no way. NJ has or had great teacher salary and retirement benefits but Florida teacher compensation is low and even lower in Florida charter schools. I dont see how teachers can make a living in Florida.

[Packer Fan]

After 37 years in the classroom (Duval Co. Fla) I was ready. The Good Lord was looking out for this fool since I wouldn't recommend education to any young person which is a shame. The Legislature and Gov. have waged a twenty year war on Public Education in Florida. It was a great gig for 30 years and hell on Earth the last five. I haven't been bored a moment during the 3.5 years I've been retired.

Well, I know how you feel, until our current president, Washington DC has been waging a war on US manufacturing. I have lost 2 jobs to the Chinese. Not sure even now I would recommend anything in the Mfg sector to a young person either. Of course all the non-mfg people who I told to buy american said things like "it is my business who I buy from, etc." No support at all.... I think if I had to do it all over again I would go into IT.

[ColdNoMore]

Well, I know how you feel, until our current president, Washington DC has been waging a war on US manufacturing. I have lost 2 jobs to the Chinese. Not sure even now I would recommend anything in the Mfg sector to a young person either. Of course all the non-mfg people who I told to buy american said things like "it is my business who I buy from, etc." No support at all.... I think if I had to do it all over again I would go into IT.

To set the record straight, it has been demand from consumers who wanted low prices and stockholders who demand maximum stock appreciation for 4+ decades...that resulted in off-shoring/foreign manufacturing.

The fact that some American industries, such as automotive manufacturing, thought they could build vastly inferior products and shame people into "buying American"... exacerbated the problem.

[CFrance]

To set the record straight, it has been demand from consumers who wanted low prices and stockholders who demand maximum stock appreciation for 4+ decades...that resulted in off-shoring/foreign manufacturing.

The fact that some American industries, such as automotive manufacturing, thought they could build vastly inferior products and shame people into "buying American"... exacerbated the problem.
Besides which many foreign automobiles are built in the US, providing jobs here.

There are many sides to that story. Some say the real thing that killed manufacturing jobs was automation.

[ColdNoMore]

Besides which many foreign automobiles are built in the US, providing jobs here.

There are many sides to that story. Some say the real thing that killed manufacturing jobs was automation.

Good points. :thumbup:


In all honesty though, automation was but one (albeit, probably the biggest) result of consumer/stockholders demands.

[Moderator]

Topic is adjusting to retirement. Let's not let political topics intrude or the thread will be closed.

[eweissenbach]

I've been retired for ten years and have enjoyed every minute. When I retired I loved my job, but was commuting two hours from my lake home (had an apartment near work where I stayed during the week) and wanted to get out of that rut. My kids own a successful healthcare staffing company and gave me a part-time job to allow me to transition to medicare (I still work one day a week for them). The thing that helped me, and that I advise all new retirees, is that I have continued to get up between 5:30 and 6:30 every morning, including weekends. I Shower and shave and get dressed just like I'm going to work even though I may not have anything planned, or I golf early in the morning when in TV. I think, for me, sleeping late and lounging in my PJs would be a concession to age and self-defeating. I am 72, active, and feel great.