[fb32162]

Anyone else find adjusting to retirement difficult? After decades of 60+ hr work weeks as a business executive, I was thrilled to be able to retire and live full time in TV. Now 3 months into it, I'm finding it very difficult to adjust to the slower pace. I've never had any hobbies and have never been a big "joiner" of clubs. I've explored a few hobbies and groups since moving here but none have appealed to me. I either swim or golf every day and I read a lot but that only kills a few hours a day. My career was so demanding, I never had time to be bored. It never occurred to me I would be bored in retirement. I've been told this is just a part of the adjustment phase. Any suggestions to assist my transition would be greatly appreciated

[phillygirl]

I'm starting to think the same. It's been 4 months now. I am heading to TV this week so maybe I will feel differently. Everyone says it takes a year. Will see.

[pbkmaine]

I still work 1000 hours a year from home and traveling for my company. Next year will probably be 500 hours. That's the way I am transitioning. Had I not done that, I would have found a way to volunteer, or I would have found a vastly different job. My oldest friend, an OB/GYN, wants to be a barista at Starbucks. I have a CPA, so if I get bored I might prepare taxes or work as a cashier.

[redwitch]

There are so many ways to volunteer here: working with kids, helping the disadvantaged, veteran organizations, pets and so on. It's a lot more rewarding than working and some volunteer positions can keep you hopping.

[Polar Bear]

I feel some of what you describe. I partake in quite a few activities, including volunteering, and do things with my wife. But there is so much time compared to the working years that it is still quite an adjustment.

Also, my wife and I are both a bit shy, so making friends is a slow process. But we're doing well. As you said, I've also often heard to plan on the adjustment being a gradual process. So far that seems to be true.

Maybe there's a club here...the Retirement Adjustment Club...hmmm.

[Madelaine Amee]

Retirement was almost forced on us by an over the top package offered to my husband and to my job being relocated to down town Boston! Neither one of us had any interest in retirement, we both loved our jobs and had never even discussed retirement and certainly not to Florida - which we were repeatedly told was for the "newly wed and almost dead"!

We took the "retirement package, along with the pension and the benefits" and settled into retirement. My otherhalf did great, got a job in the pro shop at our local golf course which left me in the house 24/7, while he was out meeting and greeting and bending the elbow with his friends at the club! I was ready to do something drastic and ended up taking a part time job in a local store which passed the time and gave me people to communicate with.

After several years we "found" TV and are now very happily settled into retirement, but we are on the go five out of seven days a week. Thankfully, there is more than enough to keep your mind and body occupied here, so a satisfactory retirement adjustment has been made - but, I would not want to go through it again.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

I feel some of what you describe. I partake in quite a few activities, including volunteering, and do things with my wife. But there is so much time compared to the working years that it is still quite an adjustment.

Also, my wife and I are both a bit shy, so making friends is a slow process. But we're doing well. As you said, I've also often heard to plan on the adjustment being a gradual process. So far that seems to be true.

Maybe there's a club here...the Retirement Adjustment Club...hmmm.

I think that is a great idea - how nice to be able to meet people who are going through the same adjustment problems as yourself. It would probably be one of the biggest clubs in TV!

[Love2cruise]

Fb32162, as said previously there are many volunteer opportunities here. As a former business executive have you heard of SCORE (Senior Core of Retired Executives). The focus is to mentor people that want to start up a new business. If you would like more information please pm me and I can provide you with some information. Good luck and give it some time, you will find a niche.

[manaboutown]

At my first real job, just out of college, I had a very wise boss well into his 60's. He was preparing for retirement and thought retirees should retire slowly, gradually cutting back on work hours, and learn to use their free time after being in the work force for 40 years, plus or minus.

Several fellows I have known over the years saw their fathers drop dead within a year or two of retiring. It must be a shock to some.

The solution may to to prepare well by planning how one is going to spend time in retirement, be it volunteering. hobbies, a part time job, whatever.

[Bonnevie]

I had felt that way as well. I'm now volunteering. I find it fulfills my need for a purpose and I feel better on the days I just do recreational activities.

[bfdretired]

I too had the same problem.....the dream of retirement did not end up as i expected. when all you do is work and put in 60-80-100hr weeks it does not leave time to develop hobbies or special interests.....upon retirement ...I joined organizations that benefit the community..ie the lions club....volunteered at a nursing home..and hospital......
i found that if you have a purpose to get up and GET to it....whatever IT is....makes a difference......part time work may fill the gap....i had a friend that liked hand guns and he got a part time job in a gun shop......another friend liked brewing beer and he became a brewmaster??....i have friends that teach part time.....
keep looking its out there.........But remember you are Retired so have fun!!....good luck

[rubicon]

Like a number of posters have stated retirement was something that was more or less force upon me. I had learned to work well and loved to work. I never learned how to play and in fact from a personal point of view believe play time is a tremendous waste of energy. I suppose that is why experts suggest making a living at something you love to do.

Like many here I made a good living and so a part time job at minimum wage does not have the appeal

I miss my work and would have worked until the company threw me out .

[Medtrans]

I agree with volunteering. While I'm several months out from retirement, I have previously been involved with a food bank and it was so rewarding. I felt I was helping others, it kept me physically active and involved. I loved every exhausting minute.

[OBXNana]

Is there a place within the volunteer community where the skills you acquired, and in some cases enjoyed, can be utilized? Did you do computer related work and now can do web pages for animal rescue. Did you do construction, but the body isn't as limber as it once was, but you could help inter city youth paint walls that now have words you wouldn't want your grandchildren repeating. Is there a hobby you wished you would have had more time doing and can put that into use? Maybe you played the piano and a Dementia unit would love to have you play for the residents.

As my husband approaches retirement it is something he is trying to work out before his final day. How do you go from working 60 plus hours per week and your work ethic says it isn't right to sit at the pool, drinking Bud Light, reading a book 7 days a week? We were both taught when you work you work hard and when you play you play hard, but work must be first. We never truly learned how to play. It isn't always easy adjusting to retirement and a forum like this with sharing of ideas is a wonderful tool.

[John_W]

Since you got into golf, have you thought about softball? You can play 2 weekdays in the rec league and on Saturday in the neighborhood league, or all three days. We have the largest softball league in the USA, nine diamonds and 2500 players.



If you want something a little more demanding, how about a pilots license. It's only about 30 minute ride over to Leesburg Airport and once you're licensed, they have fly-ins to other airports all over the state for breakfast and lunch.



If you want to keep your feet on the ground. They're bike groups that have rides to various locales. If you have a problem with balance, there is the Harley and Honda trikes or a Can-Am Spyder.



Myself, I use to fly but it was too expensive to stay with it. Now, I play golf, softball and go to MVP Athletic Club at Brownwood 4 or 5 days a week. I didn't even mention all the things you can do on the water or the beach.