Retirement is good!

[Golddollar]

I worried about money, turns out I need a lot less without "work related expenses." Enjoy each and every day. Joe

If you have a long commute the "work related expenses" can be considerable. On my final job I got what I called an "unfavorable reassignment." That gave me the mental kick in the pants to sit down with pencil and paper (hey, I'm a Luddite) to figure out whether I'd do better working or retiring. When the smoke cleared, I figured I would put in my pocket a whole additional $20 a month working over retiring. Did I feel like running the Baltimore Beltway for $20 a month? Not just NO, but HECK NO!

I've fortunately not had this problem, but I recall what a friend told me years ago about retirement: it should never be spent laying on the couch eating Cheetos and watching daytime TV! A formula for a short lifespan for sure.

When I was thinking of retiring my old cardiologist gave me similar advice, not so much for life span but to keep my mind sharp. So now I have 3 gun clubs I can and do go to in the middle of the week in the middle of the day. I've gone back to my old bar association for its activities and volunteer as Secretary of the town Planning Commission. You can be as busy as you want to be.

I retired on December 31, 2015 at 3:30 PM and at 3:30:01 PM I was fully acclimated to retirement. I have medical opinion that retirement may have saved my life.

 

[smoothshooter]

Congratulations on retirement. I am 67 and may never get to retire. Inflation and low yield on investments make me hesitant to pull the plug. Am drawing two retirements already and still working.
But those are my problems. You are lucky.
Be careful on that bike. Old bones don’t heal like they did when you were younger.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I'll bet the air smells a little sweeter, the sky is a bit brighter (even on cloudy days), the flowers are more colorful, the trees are greener, coffee tastes better when you now take the time to savor it and your step has a bit more spring in it.

Seems to have happened to a lot of us.


Congrats on your new life of leisure.

 

[Retired W4]

Rain on the Huachucas this morning...

I know that is a welcomed sight.

 

[JohnRippert]

Best thing I ever did was retire. I get to spend whatever time Mom has left with her.

 

[rolomac]

I retired the first of the year after I sold the hardware store I had owned/managed for 47 years. Thought it would be hard but was surprisingly easy to step away. I'm 82 (should have done this about 15 years ago) and am in good health as is my wife of 62 years. We honestly don't have the urge to travel yet - maybe that will come later. Our home is paid for, we're financially secure, have a loving son and granddaughter, a nice place to live, a great garden, and our precious canine friend Cody to keep us home. I had thought for the past few years about things I wanted to do - shooting those guns I haven't had time to, metal detecting that I really enjoy, some fishing, some writing (that I've done, including a couple of books and magazine articles), and honestly - relaxing (that I haven't had time to do for a long time). My work in my hardware store was wonderful. Enjoyed it so much - but I do miss the people. The interaction with friends and customers that I enjoyed. So I'm doing some volunteer work with a local historical group that interests me. I think the day will come when I'll feel the urge to visit folks I love - my brother half a continent away, my wife's brothers about the same distance away, and perhaps some old friends that I'd love to see again. I guess this is the retirement that I worried about but I'm savoring it.

 

[Kevin J.]

Rolomac,

Sounds a lot like mine. Just a word of advice. Don’t put off visiting the folks you love.

 

[Bald1]

I’m a big fan of dual sport bikes. Back when I had 5 bikes in my garage I rode a Honda XR650L to work everyday. I’d leave home at 1:20am and it was a bit chilly and I dodged deer the whole way there. One small fawn actually hit me but I kept it upright. My other bikes were to expensive to park in dirty dusty lot. On the way home I’d hit a trail sometimes the last mile and come in thru back of my property. Good times !

 

[Patrick L]

Congratulations!!! I myself just retired this past June after 35 years as a public school teacher. Right now it doesn't really feel like much since I would be on summer vacation anyway, but I suspect September is going to feel pretty sweet !

 

[Dave.357]

Retirement is good, I retired 7 years ago and now get a half a day off every other Sunday.
Good luck.

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[Targets Guy]

Congrats. After working for the Air Force for 42 years I retired in 2006. Never looked back.


Regarding the motorcycle. In 1970 I bought my first and only trail bike; a Kawasaki Trail Boss 100. Great bike. I rode it in the desert around Mt Home AFB and in the mountains north of the air base. Much fun. Nearly killed myself twice. That and getting orders to Vietnam caused me to sell the bike. Still miss it but it was due more to having it in southwest Idaho. The desert was great fun to ride in. I don't know how many rattlesnakes I rode over and all that space allowed me to learn how to take jumps and avoid sage brush, etc.



Best of luck to you and yours in retirement.