As I have gotten older, I remember the words an old co-worker once told me..."the older I get, the better I used to be..." I bought a book, "How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free" before I left the company. It's not about investing in finance, it was about investing in life. Recommend it highly. Not a plug, I don't get anything from promoting it...but a previous co-worker that I had given a copy to, and retired shortly after, showed up at my retirement party with the book cover emblazoned on the front of a t-shirt. Will never part with it.
Retirement...a word to the wise..
- Thread starter Ron M.
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I have seen active retirees live through their 90s, and I have seen retirees who had nothing to live for pass away after two years. Keep your mind occupied and your body out of the chair!
Today I went shooting twice.....Going turkey hunting in the morning....going fishing Friday/Sat..........Sho don't miss going to work.
LittleCooner
Member
One has to stay active and in shape. Couch potatoes are usually listed in the obit column in the newspaper not long after they give up.
Their body thinks the mind "gave up" and the body just goes away. Stay on the move.
Their body thinks the mind "gave up" and the body just goes away. Stay on the move.
Big Cholla
Member
I'm so busy now as I enter my 77th year that I don't know how I had time for a formal job before retirement. I am a 'home shop machinist' now as opposed to a gunsmith before. Every day I get to 'play' with my machinery and not worry about the time I am taking in doing so.
A couple of weeks ago, I walked into the LGS that I prefer and they offered me a Winchester M 70 post '64 that they acquired in an estate sale. It was the action and barrel with no wood, no trigger, no sights and no bolt. All I had to do was pay the 'Brady Tax'. I took it and spent all of three days before I found a replacement bolt at a bargain price. I had a take off OEM stock, the scope mount and rings, a trigger and a reasonable scope in my parts bins. Four days later I have a very nice Win. M 70, 30-06. What a sense of achievement and satisfaction. It will probably be saved and given to a special grandson that is struggling financially, but loves to hunt Michigan Whitetail Deer. .....
A couple of weeks ago, I walked into the LGS that I prefer and they offered me a Winchester M 70 post '64 that they acquired in an estate sale. It was the action and barrel with no wood, no trigger, no sights and no bolt. All I had to do was pay the 'Brady Tax'. I took it and spent all of three days before I found a replacement bolt at a bargain price. I had a take off OEM stock, the scope mount and rings, a trigger and a reasonable scope in my parts bins. Four days later I have a very nice Win. M 70, 30-06. What a sense of achievement and satisfaction. It will probably be saved and given to a special grandson that is struggling financially, but loves to hunt Michigan Whitetail Deer. .....
I run into lots of retired military folks. Many -- too many in my mind -- still, after ten or fifteen years of being "out," only know how to talk about their time "in." I'm not saying I can't still spin a yarn, but it's not my whole knowledge base.
After we retired (both of us were active duty AF -- 24 years for Barbara, 28 for me) we pulled a 38' fifth-wheel with the big Dodge for about 18 months. That is Freedom.
Then we used the GI Bill to get degrees at the University of Wyoming. We renovated a really cool A-frame house in Laramie at the same time. Then we bought a dilapidated country inn and renovated it while hosting more than 1,400 guests in nine years. We "retired" from that last year. The inn's for sale, and we've already bought our next home (project) -- a cabin about a quarter mile up the hill. Oh, yeah, it needs a complete renovation.
Once a group of six retired AF guys and their wives came to stay at our bed and breakfast for their annual reunion. We'd been "out" about eight years at the time, and so had they. Each couple lived in a different state--near an AF Base. They all still spoke Air Force, in fact that's about all they spoke. We were amazed. I told them I was pretty sure I'd forgotten the lingo. They were amazed.
That's when Barbara came up with one of my favorite phrases: "I'm too busy looking forward to look back." Barbara, who never wrote more than a letter in her lifetime, has published three novels since we've been here. The pups and I go on a two to four mile hike every morning, even in a snow storm or when it's twenty below zero. Man, that'll let you know you're alive!
Thanks for the tip on the book, Ron M. I've cultivated this strong love of books. Always looking for that next great one. I focus on non-fiction, but occasionally I'll read a novel. I bought Don Quixote a few years back, and one of these days -- maybe next winter -- I'll put that monster behind me. It's one of those bucket list books for me.
Oh, yeah, and I thought I had kicked my addiction. But you all teased me into that first "fix" after a 30-year dry spell -- a flat latch Model 31 just like the one my Grandmother taught me to shoot at age 7. Now I'm a member of the "gun a month" club again.
Thank you, all of you.
After we retired (both of us were active duty AF -- 24 years for Barbara, 28 for me) we pulled a 38' fifth-wheel with the big Dodge for about 18 months. That is Freedom.
Then we used the GI Bill to get degrees at the University of Wyoming. We renovated a really cool A-frame house in Laramie at the same time. Then we bought a dilapidated country inn and renovated it while hosting more than 1,400 guests in nine years. We "retired" from that last year. The inn's for sale, and we've already bought our next home (project) -- a cabin about a quarter mile up the hill. Oh, yeah, it needs a complete renovation.
Once a group of six retired AF guys and their wives came to stay at our bed and breakfast for their annual reunion. We'd been "out" about eight years at the time, and so had they. Each couple lived in a different state--near an AF Base. They all still spoke Air Force, in fact that's about all they spoke. We were amazed. I told them I was pretty sure I'd forgotten the lingo. They were amazed.
That's when Barbara came up with one of my favorite phrases: "I'm too busy looking forward to look back." Barbara, who never wrote more than a letter in her lifetime, has published three novels since we've been here. The pups and I go on a two to four mile hike every morning, even in a snow storm or when it's twenty below zero. Man, that'll let you know you're alive!
Thanks for the tip on the book, Ron M. I've cultivated this strong love of books. Always looking for that next great one. I focus on non-fiction, but occasionally I'll read a novel. I bought Don Quixote a few years back, and one of these days -- maybe next winter -- I'll put that monster behind me. It's one of those bucket list books for me.
Oh, yeah, and I thought I had kicked my addiction. But you all teased me into that first "fix" after a 30-year dry spell -- a flat latch Model 31 just like the one my Grandmother taught me to shoot at age 7. Now I'm a member of the "gun a month" club again.
Thank you, all of you.
twodog max
Member
We have been retired going on three years. I have not taken up porch sitting yet and do not intend to anytime soon. I hunt a lot, shoot some, reload, garden, work around the house, walk 4-5 miles a day, hike the Ozarks in the colder months anything but vegetate. On the bad weather days when I am housebound I about go nuts.
If you don't keep active you just wither away.
If you don't keep active you just wither away.
I am busier now than I ever have been . . .
Ron M., thanks for this thread. My retirement started on Monday, and the title of that book sounds like my attitude. I will look for it at the local BAM. I'm going to the range today...gosh, I don't know if I know how to shoot on Wednesday. I am Free,(and single), Happy, and my friends seem to think I'm still a little wild, and so do I.
ordy
US Veteran
Better to wear out than it is to rust. Not sure who said it first (maybe Neil Young?) but it is true.
Comrad
Member
Don't completely discount a little porch sitting, just do it at the end of a busy day.
BearBio
Member
Taken to heart.
Was just diagnosed with "heart failure". Four years until I retire at age 70. Planning on teaching or going back to school (get my PhD), then travel with the wife by trailer.
Was just diagnosed with "heart failure". Four years until I retire at age 70. Planning on teaching or going back to school (get my PhD), then travel with the wife by trailer.
Just retired February 1st. Started a Tuesday morn retiree shoot at the club. More people showing up and food is becoming common. Larry
With a glass of Merlot...and watch the world go by. Sounds like a plan.
My mother used to say...better to burn out than to rust out. I have a brother in law who went for the latter...watches HBO and other premium channels from dawn to dusk...not my cup of tea. It is hard to avoid surfing the net, I will admit...but I only use it for educational purposes...yeah, right!
Frank237
Absent Comrade
Funny to read this thread this morning. i was thinking about basically the same subject yesterday.
Got up yesterday , after coffee I hauled out the hoses from the barn to start watering trees.
Got my backpack sprayer out, cleaned it up and mixed 4 gallons of herbicide. Took the dog and the ATV out and for a few hours walked my sidehills in the front field spraying mullen, toadflax and knapweed.
Came back in, washed the dog, took a shower myself and had a PB&J for lunch.
Back out again and there was a nice red fox in the field. The dog saw him and gave chase. Several minutes later dog returns, tired but happy.
Decided to push mow the lawn so I could bag the grass. Threw on shorts and grabbed the mower. Few hours later and two loads of grass to spread around the frt field...I was done.
It was about 6PM and I decided I wanted to crono a few .223 loads before i shoot tomorrow. So hauled out the bench, crono , bags etc and set everything up. Shot five loads over the crono and was done by 7 PM.
One five shotter went .287" at 100 yds. THAT made my day.
It was about 8:30 before I got the range taken down, my gear into the Pilot for todays LR shoot and finally got in for a late supper.
Yeah. NO idea how I ever did the cop job and got anything done around here. LOVING the retirement thing! Nine years and counting.
Got up yesterday , after coffee I hauled out the hoses from the barn to start watering trees.
Got my backpack sprayer out, cleaned it up and mixed 4 gallons of herbicide. Took the dog and the ATV out and for a few hours walked my sidehills in the front field spraying mullen, toadflax and knapweed.
Came back in, washed the dog, took a shower myself and had a PB&J for lunch.
Back out again and there was a nice red fox in the field. The dog saw him and gave chase. Several minutes later dog returns, tired but happy.
Decided to push mow the lawn so I could bag the grass. Threw on shorts and grabbed the mower. Few hours later and two loads of grass to spread around the frt field...I was done.
It was about 6PM and I decided I wanted to crono a few .223 loads before i shoot tomorrow. So hauled out the bench, crono , bags etc and set everything up. Shot five loads over the crono and was done by 7 PM.
One five shotter went .287" at 100 yds. THAT made my day.
It was about 8:30 before I got the range taken down, my gear into the Pilot for todays LR shoot and finally got in for a late supper.
Yeah. NO idea how I ever did the cop job and got anything done around here. LOVING the retirement thing! Nine years and counting.
Another factor to consider is the loss of a spouse. When my step-mother passed away, my father followed her three years later...he had given up. When my mother passed, my step-father, only 69, succumbed to a heart attack. I guess the point of this post is to cherish your better half. He/She may be a pain in the butt at times, but you will miss that pain some day. Mortality is something we have to live with. It reminds me of the Big Bang Theory episode when Mrs. Wolowitz (the actress portraying her) passed away. Sheldon stated he will miss her yelling at them.
StakeOut
US Veteran
I retired from the NYPD 33 years ago and collecting the 1/2 pay of retirement year plus COLA pension.
About 10 years into retirement I bit the bullet and married a woman 25 years my junior and 15 years after retirement I had my first child.
I worked at a university abroad for 20 years and returned stateside 2 years ago.
The suggestion I have to those that retire early in life from a job that required them to be at a certain place at a certain time 5 days a week is to have something lined up before retiring that will keep you busy.
Retirement is more about your health than the money that's needed to live a comfortable retirement.
Housing is where most of my money goes every month consuming half of my monthly incoming funds.
About 10 years into retirement I bit the bullet and married a woman 25 years my junior and 15 years after retirement I had my first child.
I worked at a university abroad for 20 years and returned stateside 2 years ago.
The suggestion I have to those that retire early in life from a job that required them to be at a certain place at a certain time 5 days a week is to have something lined up before retiring that will keep you busy.
Retirement is more about your health than the money that's needed to live a comfortable retirement.
Housing is where most of my money goes every month consuming half of my monthly incoming funds.
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I fully retired on April 19, 2008. It was the day my mother died. It was bittersweet to lose her, but at the same time I no longer had the responsibility for her care. She was almost 96 years old. I myself was getting no younger, and there were many things that I thought I could do in retirement. Since then I've been doing them. Being a free-lance writer/photographer has brought me both enjoyment and some income. I determine my own hours, and decide what I want to write about and photograph.
The biggest adjustment was getting used to the fact that every day is Saturday. I decide when to get up, what to do and where to go with no overriding obligations. When everybody else is out playing crinklefender on the freeways, I'm sitting on my back patio drinking coffee spiked with Bailey's Irish Cream and throwing a ball for my dog Joe. I keep the radio going just so I can revel in the fact that I am no longer involved in busting my butt in the workaday world.
I don't make as much as I used to, but we own our home outright, have two other properties that bring in some income, and it all balances out - not as much income needed because the outgo is not as voluminous. I save a bundle because I don't need to drive back and forth to work every day. My retirement "work" is done at home. My wife and I are now in training to spend quality time with wonderful abandoned and needy dogs at the local Humane Society.
Well, gotta go. I need to put some rounds downrange today.
All the best to you other retirees, and those that will retire soon. The good life awaits if you plan it right. Keep both your mind and your body active - retirement does not have to be a rocking chair at death's front door. You can still make a difference in the world.
John
The biggest adjustment was getting used to the fact that every day is Saturday. I decide when to get up, what to do and where to go with no overriding obligations. When everybody else is out playing crinklefender on the freeways, I'm sitting on my back patio drinking coffee spiked with Bailey's Irish Cream and throwing a ball for my dog Joe. I keep the radio going just so I can revel in the fact that I am no longer involved in busting my butt in the workaday world.
I don't make as much as I used to, but we own our home outright, have two other properties that bring in some income, and it all balances out - not as much income needed because the outgo is not as voluminous. I save a bundle because I don't need to drive back and forth to work every day. My retirement "work" is done at home. My wife and I are now in training to spend quality time with wonderful abandoned and needy dogs at the local Humane Society.
Well, gotta go. I need to put some rounds downrange today.
All the best to you other retirees, and those that will retire soon. The good life awaits if you plan it right. Keep both your mind and your body active - retirement does not have to be a rocking chair at death's front door. You can still make a difference in the world.
John
Retired from NIH at 75 as no retirement age in the gov unless LEO or ATC. Set up a single person LLC and started some consulting work in my scientific field. Have spent more time traveling and speaking (not paid but all exes paid) worldwide. Still actively writing and my aim is 200 scientific publications by 80. 180 down and three years to go. Dave_n
jag312
Member
When I retired on October 31, I was told it would take 2 months to get used to retirement. Actually, it took 2 days. I enjoy my new freedom. I'm now living in Nevada, having left the People's Republic of California. I think I'll get off the computer, feed some apples to my horse, and enjoy the beautiful Spring weather.
I really enjoy hearing tales like these. I'm 43 and I work at a place half-populated with young people, 18-24yr olds, but the other half of staff is "lifers" like myself. And it seems like most everybody there (of the older set) just -HATES- the fact that life dealt them this situation and they are stuck working there.
I'm not in that camp. I hope & pray that my body stays in decent condition so that I can work. I enjoy what I do and I'm very good at it. I'd like to run a cool fifty years off if I can manage it, and I've got nearly 26 in thus far. So retirement is a fun thing that I hear others talk about and I love when I hear about others enjoying it. To me, dreaming of "retirement" is like dreaming of a Ferrari. I'm nowhere, NOWHERE near that. It's really not in the plans.
I'm not in that camp. I hope & pray that my body stays in decent condition so that I can work. I enjoy what I do and I'm very good at it. I'd like to run a cool fifty years off if I can manage it, and I've got nearly 26 in thus far. So retirement is a fun thing that I hear others talk about and I love when I hear about others enjoying it. To me, dreaming of "retirement" is like dreaming of a Ferrari. I'm nowhere, NOWHERE near that. It's really not in the plans.
Old Corp
Member
Retired at age 50, in 2008. I have enjoyed it, and to shorten a long story, it has taken MUCH longer than we ever planned to make the move that we wanted. In '08, it was very difficult to sell a house, that took 5 years. Since, we have rented two places and are finally preparing to build what I hope will be our last house. (And I'll get my playroom back)
Living in a rental place denies me many of the projects I used to enjoy, so I'll be ready for a house.
But, can't complain - still shoot, accumulate, fish alot, eat too much, bike ride and beach-walk some.
It sure beats the ever-increasing case load I used to work and near-daily 'fires' that had to be put out.
Living in a rental place denies me many of the projects I used to enjoy, so I'll be ready for a house.
But, can't complain - still shoot, accumulate, fish alot, eat too much, bike ride and beach-walk some.
It sure beats the ever-increasing case load I used to work and near-daily 'fires' that had to be put out.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I had a stroke in October, 2011. Got back to work 3 months later, got let go 5 months later. I ended up not getting unemployment. So I do odd jobs and right now read monitoring wells for a couple hours a day. So I have money to pay bills, buy food and more importantly play! I Bike ride, shoot, chase the wife, bike ride, shoot and chase the wife some more. The world keeps throwing me lemons, God keeps making lemon-aide! (that keeps me from getting dehydrated!) I have needed to sell 26 guns, I used that money to go back to college and get my B.A. I am thinning the gun herd some more (need the space) so I'm slowly selling about 40 more long guns and at the same time, looking for more revolvers. I started shooting 1000 yard stuff again along with Black Powder single shot rifles (45-70 and 38-55 so far).
More important than all the fun, I have time to visit and pray for the sick, help the needy (and those that just can't help themselves) and pray for our country and The People!
Someone said that I should go on disability and I should sue my former employer. I have all the ability that God needs me to have (and that my wife can stand!) and the problem with the employer is, Why would I want anything to do with people like that?!!! I don't walk as fast as I did before but I get there and everyone knows when I arrive!
Ivan
More important than all the fun, I have time to visit and pray for the sick, help the needy (and those that just can't help themselves) and pray for our country and The People!
Someone said that I should go on disability and I should sue my former employer. I have all the ability that God needs me to have (and that my wife can stand!) and the problem with the employer is, Why would I want anything to do with people like that?!!! I don't walk as fast as I did before but I get there and everyone knows when I arrive!
Ivan
HoleCarder
Member
I feel that too many people delay retirement due to financial concerns...well, the wife and I took our first cruise to Alaska a couple years back...saw many older folks using walkers and canes to get about the ship, spoke to many, who said this was their first cruise...I decided that I would spend my mobile years enjoying life, for any physical ailment in the future might deny me of that. Everything is working at this moment...but ya never know about tomorrow.
Badger Matt
Member
I'm with ya. I retired from the AF after 28 years and someone else said it better than I; "I got tired of the circus, but I kinda miss the clowns."
I don't miss the clowns.
When I was preparing to drive out the gate for that last time lots of the young folks asked, "You can stay for two more years, why are you getting out now?"
Me: "It's changed too much, and I won't adapt."
In this context that sounds "bitter." I wasn't; I loved the 'Force, and I had a great, rewarding career. If I were handed the script of my career and told I could change anything I wanted, I wouldn't change a word.
OLDSTER
Member
Great thread
I'm reading it with a cup of coffee while waiting for my 69 year old ( same as me ) hunting buddy to show up so we can head to SW North Dakota for a day of Prairie Dog shooting !!
I'm reading it with a cup of coffee while waiting for my 69 year old ( same as me ) hunting buddy to show up so we can head to SW North Dakota for a day of Prairie Dog shooting !! 
