Retired today....now what?

[robrossk]

Congrats and enjoy. Your "new" days will fill themselves slowly but it will happen. Then you might wonder how you ever had time to work!!

 

[bummer]

Smith & Wesson is hiring

 

[Bekeart]

Many have said "do what you want."

On the flip side - "do not allow yourself to be pressured to do things you don't want to."

One problem with "doing nothing" - How do you know when you are done?

 

[pawncop]

I have had a more difficult time than others I think. I retired because I needed to, not because I wanted to.

I loved what I did, but recognized I could not keep the pace that was required in a busy ER.

I have struggled with "Now what do I do?" It is getting better but I still have issues.

 

[lawandorder]

Congratulations on this milestone! May you enjoy a long, happy retirement filled with blessings!

 

[Maddog 521]

Enjoy your new adventure one day at a time.

 

[dsf]

I have less than a year to go. I've been told "have a plan" but so far as I can figure my plan is to do a fair amount of yardwork, reloading and shooting. My retirement home in Grants Pass has about 2.5 acres that always needs something done and I kind of like that sort of thing. It's across the highway from the gun club so anything 300 WinMag or larger reminds me I should be shooting.

After 30 years of city living and cramped as heck reloading bench just being able to spread out, relax will keep me going.

About the only way I'd go back to work for fun would be in a local gun store. Which oddly enough was my 1st part time job some +45 years ago.

 

[GB]

As I have stated before: The only part of my last job that I miss is, the four weeks of vacation and ten holidays-personal days. The days that they paid me to not show up. If after a couple of months, you feel that you must go back to work, there are hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country going begging because nobody wants to work. With your history and the fact that you are willing, a part time or even full time job will be easy to come up with.

 

[Old cop]

My wife & I have been fully retired for quite awhile now and the best I can offer is to guard your health. We saved for over 50 years and had all sorts of travel plans but her health failed early on & mine is not too far behind.

 

[GypsmJim]

I worked for 50 years to the day. Never got fired or laid off. For the few jobs I had when I did quit for a better opportunity, my bosses asked me to stay.

I met a guy a few years ago and asked him how retirement was. He said: "Living the Dream". A year after retirement we bought a new boat and that is what we named her.

I do what I want, when I want and make no excuses to anyone. If a family member needs help with something, I'm right there. I never get bored. If the weather is good I go fishing. If not I go to the indoor range at my club. The grass at my house and (gardens) at our summer camp / hunting camp are pristine. If there is nothing needed today I am quite happy sitting on my patio reading the American Rifleman.

Its all what you make of it.

 

[arjay]

I have had a more difficult time than others I think. I retired because I needed to, not because I wanted to.

I loved what I did, but recognized I could not keep the pace that was required in a busy ER.

I have struggled with "Now what do I do?" It is getting better but I still have issues.

I did too,I had ruined my back working as a carpenter/contractor for too long
Keep looking,there a lots of interesting things to do.I don't recommend trolling the forum though ;-)

 

[RangerRRP]

I hate retirement. I have been Blessed to have been able to serve with America's Best from 1969 - 1975 and again from 1980 - 2011. Although I stay busy with various activities including CrossFit, Free Fall parachuting, SCUBA diving, range time with handgun and rifle, travel, nothing has been, or ever will be, equal my time on active duty, the challenging deployments, and Brotherhood. Mother Army left me for a younger man. Just sayin…


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[swsig]

How did you retired guys handle this?

I took a nap.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

44 years, sometimes with no vacation Longer than a 3 day weekend for years on end!

I haven't started Social security yet so I have a 1.5 day a month job for walking around money. I also volunteer for things I like and am just too busy for things I don't like. Most weeks there one or two Gun Shop safaris which includes lunch with the guys!

My brother and like to shoot sporting clays together once or twice a week and another friend once or twice a month. So I do reloading also!

Ivan

 

[chuckie]

Keep active, do things you like and things will fall into place.

 

[Golddollar]

I do what I want, when I want and make no excuses to anyone. If a family member needs help with something, I'm right there.

I have an aunt and uncle who live a few blocks from me. I do some of their shopping for them because my aunt is disabled. My aunt and uncle looked after me for decades so now I'm helping them out.

 

[tominboise]

Congratulations. I actually retired one year ago today myself, at age 60. Since then I have shot a few thousand rounds out in the desert, put 15000 miles on our travel van, rode my motorcycles a few places, done a fair amount of car racing and have spent more than a few days just doing nothing.

Enjoy.

 

[Rudi]

Retirement was the best thing I ever did. Just do what ever you want!

 

[hittman77]

How did you retired guys handle this?

Congratulations on your retirement!

Do whatever you want and can afford. Honestly, I mean it. Life's short.

I sold my business the end of 2019. I was scared to death. Had never thought of retiring at age 60. I had owned it 20 years and worked there a total of 40. But …. A buyer appeared and the wife agreed that this must be Gods plan.

I wanted to work again about April 2020 but, COVID had hit. Not many were hiring here. Wife said if I didn't HAVE to be out with the public …. Why risk it. Then a knee problem and PT hit for June and July. Then cancer hit in October and yes, all is well now. That's water under the bridge.

So, my retiring was truly meant to be. I could focus on what I wanted to including my health and rehab. No work worries while all that was happening.

And I didnt have to navigate COVID rules with employees, no cares if COVID hurts the business, no anxiety about people quitting and having nobody wanting to work ….. and the list goes on and on.

Take your time. Don't sweat it when you sleep late or just "waste" a day doing whatever it is you do. Get over not being the "bread winner" cause you've already accomplished that.

Smile, relax, kick back. Go spoil your grandkids if you have them. Touch base with long lost friends.

 

[Tntcwg3]

Congratulations, hoping to join the club next year after my 60th birthday!

 

[Jessie]

That will get old quick.
Then you will start talking to your wife until that gets old.
Friend of mine told her husband that he could NOT retire until he had three friends with which to do stuff with (not including her) and at least two hobbies.

Does your friend have a sister?

 

[Exaviator]

Retirement can be the busiest time of your life, the only difference is that you choose just what you want to do, the hours and the amount you want to do. I have been retired 21 years, still busy and enjoying every minute.

Step aboard...

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I remember a man behind the gun counter of a now closed chain store, he was retired, said he always wanted to work with guns-and saw more of the grandkids than he wanted. I worked for a large limo company for years, got lots of retirees, most really weren't there for the money, too much of the wife's "honey do" list, several said too much of the grandkids, the MIL, the wife's friends, etc. "Time to go to work now." One said he was always being "volunteered" to drive her friends to doctors appointments, etc.

 

[MRB1]

The first two years were really hard making the mental adjustment to not working. After 15 years, I still have dreams that wake me up mad at nothing. It's not all roses like some people say. But I wouldn't trade retirement for anything, including the thorns.

 

[oldbrownhat]

You're married so you won't have quite the time off as you may think.....

And from your other half's perspective:

 

[jimmyj]

I retired after 25 years of "Protect and Serve".
Eight month later I went back to work with a different Agency.
20 yeras later I was injuried to the point I could no longer "Protect and Serve"
I am currently working Private Security.
My children are grown living in another area.
My Wife passed three and a half years ago so between working Security, American Legion, Church, and keeping a home and yard going, I am still lonely and bored.
However keeping busy all my life I have outlived fellow Officers, Family members, and Friends (which I consider a down side).

 

[arjay]

And from your other half's perspective:

You've been talking to my ex havent you .

 

[Model 19 6"]

Retired 6/30/06 have wrecked one recliner am working on number 2. What's not to like.

 

[Golddollar]

The first two years were really hard making the mental adjustment to not working.

Two years? It took me about 2/10ths of a second.

 

[DWalt]

After I "officially" retired, I took two other jobs, both working for engineering consulting companies. That was interesting for around five years, but I decided that there was no longer any real need to have a paying job as I already had a substantial income from my investments, retirement payments, and social security. And I haven't done much of anything productive since. I do have a nice shooting range at my second home near Del Rio TX (everyone knows about Del Rio today), and I am there at least three days a month. I will be there all next week.