Life after retirement...

I have been retired for almost twelve years. It is during these last twelve years that I am able to say with absolutely no reservations that I am doing something at which I truly excel.
 
A few days after I quit work I was drinking coffee and looking out the window and my wife asked when and what I was going to do next. I told her I was going to keep doing what I was doing until I thought of something I had rather be doing. Then I would do that until I thought of something else I had rather be doing. That has pretty much been my life since April 1, 2002. Larry
 
Life has never been better. No boss, able to do things when you want without having pressure to get it done and able to come and go as you please. Sleep comes easy without thinking what work is going to be done the next day. Yard work is no longer "get it done before the end of the weekend".

Best part is to go by where the crew is working and just stand an smile.

Had to turn in my security badge when I retired but the same thought crossed my mind many times.
 
The only downside is if you have health issues. Changes the perspective. That aside, I never regretted retiring when I did at age 59.

So true!! Too many people don't (or can't) plan for retirement because of different circumstances in their life.A plan for post-retirement is just as important as planning to retire.
 
A few days after I quit work I was drinking coffee and looking out the window and my wife asked when and what I was going to do next. I told her I was going to keep doing what I was doing until I thought of something I had rather be doing. Then I would do that until I thought of something else I had rather be doing. That has pretty much been my life since April 1, 2002. Larry

A little (?) time to let it soak in never hurt anyone.I had a few times early on where I panicked thinking I had to work the next day. :eek:
 
Retired a little over six years ago, a month before my 71st birthday. Had to for medical reasons. The feeling of being a useless drag on society hung around for a while, then slid away. Now I have a lot less money and can't buy guns, but it's wonderful on a nasty morning not to have to scrape car glass and leave home.

I'm a widower of a good many years, so there was no wife to be driven crazy by having me around. I have health problems and a lot of pain, but also have the freedom to pace myself.

I still get up at a regular time every day, but it's gradually moved from 0700 to 0830. I do pretty much as I damn please as long as it doesn't cost money, have good times with my insane little dog, and feel that on the whole life is good.
 
Quote: "A little (?) time to let it soak in never hurt anyone.I had a few times early on where I panicked thinking I had to work the next day."

After being on-call 7x24 for nearly 40 years I still have those nightmares. Dreams of a call from a VP threatening to shut down a factory for a line stocking problem at 3:00 AM and I wake up in a cold sweat. To this day I'm not sure it was worth it.
 
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Retired a little over six years ago, a month before my 71st birthday. Had to for medical reasons. The feeling of being a useless drag on society hung around for a while, then slid away. Now I have a lot less money and can't buy guns, but it's wonderful on a nasty morning not to have to scrape car glass and leave home.

I'm a widower of a good many years, so there was no wife to be driven crazy by having me around. I have health problems and a lot of pain, but also have the freedom to pace myself.

I still get up at a regular time every day, but it's gradually moved from 0700 to 0830. I do pretty much as I damn please as long as it doesn't cost money, have good times with my insane little dog, and feel that on the whole life is good.

If nothing else good came from retirement I have at least finally gotten to know some of my neighbors pretty well.
 
Don't forget about "shooting" when the urge strikes ya! Today was gloomy & windy. At 4:00PM I decided to walk to my "home shooting range" and "punish" some steel targets with my 38sp & 357. I try to enjoy every day to its fullest..........who knows.............it may be my last one here on earth. :)
 
OK, I've past the 4 year mark...6 months ago. I try to sleep in every day. So far I haven't been very successful. Often I get up as early as 9. But I don't care. Friday I need to get up really early to make the gun show by 10 or so. Its over an hour away. Saturday will be significantly worse. I've got to leave the house by about 7 or so. Gawd that will hurt.

The worst thing so far was my wife retiring a year and a half ago. She's a pain, and she still gets up early and makes a lot of noise. Sometimes I think her purpose in life is to make me miserable. But I take her with me everywhere I go. If I didn't, I'd have to kiss her goodbye. :(

And I still work a little. My old boss keeps me on "retainer". Its OK because he still sends me a check once a month. That was today. :D So I cashed it to take the money to the gun show. Maybe I'll even spend it, or not. On the money fairy thing, I think y'all need to reconsider it. Sure, I get a bank statement that says they paid me. But I never see it. And it just flows out, again with me not seeing it. Its imaginary money. Kind of like when I earned money while working. They said they were paying me a bunch, but the check was for less. And a bunch of that money went to the money fairy so he/she could pay others who had retired before me. Not sure I trust them.

And some days my wife asks me what I'm going to do today. So I give her the stock answer, "nothing". She's stopped telling me I did that yesterday. She doesn't like it when I tell her "I'm wasn't done."

But now I have a new thing. I have a "white board" calender. And when I learn of something coming up or going on, I write it on the board. That way I can see the things coming up that I'll probably skip. No responsibility seems much better.
 
Been retired a little over 3yrs.Took me almost 3yrs.to get used to it.Got called & asked if I wold like to come back as a contractor....told them nope! I'm beginning to like this retirement idea.
Jim
 
On the money fairy thing, I think y'all need to reconsider it. Sure, I get a bank statement that says they paid me. But I never see it. And it just flows out, again with me not seeing it. Its imaginary money.

People have been accepting my imaginary checks for sometime so Life is good. :)
 
I plan to retire in 12 to 18 months, sell my ridiculously over priced house in San Jose, and move to the Minden/Gardnerville area of Nevada. One of my friends who is retired and living in Carson City will get a good horse for me. We are going to spend our time riding around Nevada looking for lost mines and buried treasure. When we aren't doing that, we'll be on cattle drives. If I have any spare time, I'll be picking on my banjo.

There have been times when I wasn't sure if I would retire, but now I see that retirement is just around the corner.
 
I'm 6 years away from retirement and just hope that i
still have good enough health to enjoy myself and partake
in some of the things you have shown.
As well as doing some shooting and hunting i simply plan
to relax and smell the roses so to speak.
Enjoy your retirement.

Chuck
 
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