Originally Posted by coolkayaker1
(Post 705410)
You will think I'm making this up, but I'm not: my last day at work is tomorrow, Wednesday, July 10! I have gone to college, grad school and worked continuously since age 18. I decided to pull the plug now; I will turn 49 in August. I have run every financial calculator online, twice each, and spoken to my financial guy at length several times, and decided "what the hey".
I can't say I have any experience at retirement yet; you are all sages to me, with experience and wisdom. I respect that greatly.
I'm taking the tact that a few others have mentioned to me: do something "big". A long-term project that is fulfilling emotionally, takes effort and time to complete, requires dedication and self-imposed discipline, and make it a "mission".
For me, I'm writing a full-length manuscript of publishable quality (well, two really--one a medical thriller involving the US Govt, and the other a literary fiction work about a man who has lost it all--and I pray that it's not an autobiography!). I love writing, and will treat this like a "job", but one where I'm chief cook and bottle washer. I'm inspired in the morning and love solitude--although I will be writing in coffee shops and library most of the time--and will spend at least four hours a day at it.
The contribution I can make to TrudyM, and this works for only some, I think, is to pick something "big"--write a publishable novel, run a marathon for the first time, RV to every state in the nation, open an orphanage in Ecuador, win Nathan's national hot dog eating contest--and work to accomplish it.
If we first place one large rock in a big clear glass jar, the tiny rocks will work themselves in around it and the jar is destined to be full.
Sometimes it helps to begin with that large rock.
:smiley:
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