Is It "Normal" To Miss Working?

[cappyjon431]

When my wife and I sold our business in Panama we felt we were ready to retire. We worked 12+ hours a day, 6-7 days a week for many years to make the business successful, but once we sold we were literally exhausted. We had worked hard and put ourselves in a position where we felt financially able to slow down and relax. We were able to wisely invest, we paid cash for our home, and we live debt free.

For my wife, it wasn't a month before she felt she needed to work, so she went back to her earlier career and went back to nursing. I think nurses are a special breed and I do understand her desire to go back to a career that she loved (she gave up nursing when we bought our business in Panama).

I lasted a little longer, but after six months of "retirement," (not exactly because I did substitute teach about a dozen times in the last six months) I find myself missing working everyday and the pride I take in doing a good job and earning an honest day's pay.

There is a lot to do in TV and I am heavily involved in a number of activities and clubs, but there is something that feels "missing." Is this a normal feeling? Perhaps I am too young to retire (I am 50).

[redwitch]

How about volunteering? Becoming a guardian ad litem?

Honestly, I hate to see TVers work who don't need the money unless they are working in a field that requires specialized skills and/or education (such as teaching and nursing). Most retirees are more than willing to take a very low wage and thus make it harder for the younger people/families to find employment that isn't above poverty level.

As to missing work, I honestly can't imagine not working or at least doing something that makes me feel worthwhile. Guess I'm too much Type A to not be doing something constructive. When I finally reach retirement age, I have no doubt that I'll keep a part of my business because I love some of what I do but I also know that I'll be doing a lot of volunteering. Clubs and activities wouldn't be enough. My personality just requires it.

[NotGolfer]

Your post is interesting Cappy...it made me think of a conversation that was had earlier in the week within a gathering of some friends. It went something like this...."so many of us change things in our lives to be busy and gratified but somewhere down the line we find out that there is a hole inside that 'needs' to be filled." It really boils down to how we are created and has a spiritual component to it. Something to ponder on. Your wife being a nurse....I believe nursing (among some other careers) is a "calling" and she realizes it. Bless her in that endeavor!!!

[birdawg]

I retired at 53 from verizon stayed home for about 4 years, You know hunting and fishing working on the house but eventually got bored, found myself one day in my pj's at 3 in the afternoon watching judge judy. My wife said time for a job, Went out got a job driving a school bus for a board of ed but I'm ready to retire again, soon as I sell my home I'll be bored in the villages

[Jim 9922]

I think anyone with even an ounce of Type-A in them would have a hard time kicking back at age 50. So I can imagine your doubts, especially if you are good at directing people and managing a successful business. In fact I have 3 banker friends who all retired early for various reasons; who all lasted about 2 years as retired; and now we are organizing a new community bank to re-utilize their skills and to get them back to a more fufilling life (their words).

Age 70 has wizzed past me with little thought of sticking it in neutral. I bill 1,400 to 1,500 hours a year which still gives me more than 4 months for retirment fun. As long as my clients want me, and I add value to their lives and businesses, and I can mentor their employees, I will probably stay at. And, I feel a personal reward for the values I bring to the table.

A review of my famlies' histories and observation of the lives of close relatives gives me confidence that it will only be after age 92 that I have to worry. So, there's lots of time for me to kick back, and if I don't make it I will never know what I missed. So be it!

To each their own, but for now my biggest worries are not going to be the dog poopers, neighbors' lawn trolls, grandkids driving golf carts down my neighborhood side streets, crazy round-about drivers, which restaurant for tonight's dinner, the alleged awful behavior of Snowbirds, etc.

I feel sorry for people who did not enjoy their jobs/careers, or worse hated it. And for those I hope they find some happiness in retirement. I enjoy life, our American society and to be gainfully contributing to it on a daily basis.
:beer3:

[Mimivillager]

I am thoroughly enjoying retirement here in the Villages. I worked from age 10 (picking cherries and babysitting). until age 62 with no time off. I had a fabulous job for 30 yrs plus others before that. I loved my job but have never looked back after moving here. I have not had a chance to miss it. I volunteer for several organizations of my choosing and expertise and I do sewing. I also play golf and go to exercise classes. I love what I do every day. I hope I never have to give it up. We saved all of our lives for comfort at this time.
As was mentioned, each to his own.
I probably would not have been ready for this at age 50 though. and I could not have moved away from the family at that time.
There is a time for everything in our lives.

[borjo]

After about 6 months of playing, I, too, got rammy to work. Got a non nursing job at the hospital, a few nights a week then changed to the movies doing what I did as a teenager. Then finally I stopped altogether. I still miss doing something but have exchanged that need with volunteer work. Yes, it does take some time to wiggle into your own slot to feel satisfied.

[KEVIN & JOSIE]

I retired at 53 from verizon stayed home for about 4 years, You know hunting and fishing working on the house but eventually got bored, found myself one day in my pj's at 3 in the afternoon watching judge judy. My wife said time for a job, Went out got a job driving a school bus for a board of ed but I'm ready to retire again, soon as I sell my home I'll be bored in the villages

I too left Verizon in August 2010 after 30 years. I was only 52. It's hard at first, because my routine of getting up at 5am, getting home at 4pm, and doing a job I really did enjoy was gone. My wife kept emphasizing, be thankful for your health and being able to retire. So many people never do. She kept telling me, as others on this forum, Don't trade your time for money. We only have so much time, and when it is gone, it's gone. Enjoy each other, friends, and the time we have left.

[rubicon]

For health reasons, since resolved i was forced to take retirement or otherwise I would have continued to work until the company threw me out.

In most states you are forced to retire by 70 1/2. There are exceptions like New York where there are no age resrictions.

[keithwand]

I retired 10 years ago and am now 58. Do I miss work?
Sometimes but not often.
I traveled nationally 3 weeks a month and enjoyed it.
After 9/11 I could not get back on a plane for work so I quit in Jan. 2002.
Moved to Orlando in 2004 and did do some real estate appraisals until the mortgage and economy collapsed in 2006 and nothing since.
Moving to TV in June and looking forward to my next chapter.

[Mark1130]

I am 51 and my wife and I bought in Buttonwood last year with plans to move there in 2013.

She is 6 years older than I am and is ready for retirement. I am not. I want to keep working because I enjoy the challenges and the satisfaction of taking care of my customers. Right now I have a very good paying job. I know that I will not find anything close to that level living in The Villages so we are preparing for a huge cut back in our spending.

Like you, I am debt free and do not require many "things" to live but I do not want to be golfing everyday or watching TV. I hope that by this time next year I can call The Villages my home and have a start in another career field.

I do think that 50 is to young to quit working but we do not have to work so hard. Find something that give you a challenge and a sense of purpose.

[BarryRX]

I have found that it can be difficult to find the next challenge. When we work, we often have a dual set of challenges....one challenge set by your boss, and the second challenge set by yourself (to complete your bosses challenge to the best of your ability). Now that I am retired I have had to discover my own challenges, but have found that with a little introspection it is not difficult to do. I have always wanted to "give back", so now I volunteer and am always looking for other volunteer opportunities. I have found golf to be a sport that will challenge me to improve every day. The trick is to be able to climb the mountain (making and saving enough money to retire) and then being able to look around for the next mountain to climb.

[ajbrown]

Interesting reading. First off I am blown away by the folks that have enough money to retire at 50 or less. :bowdown:

I consider myself lucky. I am 55, I get to work at a company in Lexington, MA four days a week from my home in TV. The pay is good enough, having health insurance is a such a relief, and being here playing golf with my father is priceless.

If/when this job ends, I "likely" have enough money to retire, but I am not sure how I would miss what i do now. I hope to keep my health and have the chance to find out someday, but I would be happy to do this for quite a bit longer, maybe two or three days instead of four.

BTW, My Dad still works for a golf course in MA as a consultant. He loves it. IMO it keeps him 80 years young. His latest project is being a key part of the team to oversee a huge irrigation redesign. The differences between my Dad and I is 1) he can NEVER sit still, where as I can kick back and 'veg' and 2) he is a heck is a lot smarter than me.

I do not think they will be lined up for my services at 80 :)

I enjoy reading your experiences and hope you all find what 'floats your boat'

[billethkid]

what I miss most about work is being right once in a while!!

btk:bowdown:

[batman911]

I know the clock is ticking but I'm still not sure I want to retire. I believe having a job you like (most days) makes that decision difficult. I will be 66 this year but still feel I can work every day. Retirement is nice but it's not like I'm not having any fun now. Working with young people keeps me young.

[jsw14]

There's a place for everybody in TV......:)

[Sail41]

I'm 65 and still enjoy what I do. I do remodeling and nothing pleases me more than standing back after a job completion and being able to say "I did that". I quit the first time at 38 and then again at 45 moved aboard the boat and cruised and lived aboard our boat for 7 years. After buying a condominium I got board and starting working again a little at a time. Wound up that I was as busy as before retiring the second time. I'm winding down now, but still enjoy what I do and the pride that comes with doing a great job and having a pleased customer. With that said, pickleball and golf sure eat up a lot of time.

[cappyjon431]

Thanks for all the insightful replies. I am very impressed with the depth and breadth of the responses. There is lots of wisdom in these posts, one of the reasons I enjoy TOTV. Still not sure what i am going to do when I "grow up," but at least I am getting some good advice.

[eweissenbach]

This is a very interesting thread. I am not sure I would have felt good about retireing at 50. I wasn't able or ready to do so, and so can't say for sure. Looking back I probably would have said "hell yeah" at the time, but not sure I would have lasted long. I had some very productive and interesting jobs after 50, as a regional manager and trainer for two insurance companies for seven years, and five years as a marketing manager in the home office of another large finacial services company. I can't imagine how I would have enjoyed life and felt as fullfilled as I did had I spent those years in retirement. I might have been fine with it, but who knows - as I look back on it I absolutely treasure those 12 years before I retired at 62, and felt those were the most productive and rewarding years of my entire career. 50 just seems rather young to live a life of leisure, but if you are financially able and comfortable with the lifestyle, I say go for it. It is easy for anyone else to say it is good or bad, but at the end of the day, it is your choice and your life. It seems to me that your concerns may indicate an unease with that decision,

[JimPete]

I've been reading this thread with some interest. In my early 50's my thoughts of retirement were centered on preparation for it not on actually retiring. It just seemed way too early. But everyone's story is different and everybody writes their own.

I'm now nearing 64 and the time seems right to me. I'm comfortable with retiring and don't think I'll be looking back. But that may just be my personality. I am sometimes slow to change but adapt pretty easily to most changes when I do.

Jim

[2 Oldcrabs]

I retired as soon as I could, because life is short! The average male only lives to 78. I know many villagers live into their 90's or more, and that is one of the reason we moved here. We have taken care of several elderly relatives. IMHO, around 75 years old, they went from "living" to "existing". I also know of someone who worked until he died at the age of 92, and loved life every day. I plan on living until 90 but, wonder why I think I am better then "average" Heart attacks, stroke and cancer are my biggest fears at the age of 58 but if I die tomorrow, at least I had eight good years. Life is short do what makes you happy.