Retirement is good!
- Thread starter madmikeb
- Start date
Congratulations on retiring. I did it 10 years ago. I also moved. 34 years of stuff to go through. Gave away a lot, threw out a lot, and I still wonder why I moved some of the stuff I did. Haven't used a lot since I settled in. You'll get through it. Nice bike. Once You get there, You'll want a bigger one.
Yes it is. I've been working through it nine (9) years now, and I love it. Enjoy the start of your new life
Good on ya for taking the motorcycle training class. I've heard it helps a lot.
I got my first mini bike around 10 years old, and a CT90 Honda at 12. I've been riding pretty much my whole life.
One of the main things to remember riding any kind of bike. You will go where you look. I've never done much trail riding, but if your going down a road and there is a sharp curve with a tree of guardrail...if you fixate on it, you will hit it.
Counter steering is your friend.
I got my first mini bike around 10 years old, and a CT90 Honda at 12. I've been riding pretty much my whole life.
One of the main things to remember riding any kind of bike. You will go where you look. I've never done much trail riding, but if your going down a road and there is a sharp curve with a tree of guardrail...if you fixate on it, you will hit it.
Counter steering is your friend.
OP
I have figured out that you have to look where you want to go and it makes all the difference in the world. Sometimes I am struggling to follow through on that though, but if I do I can do 360's and u-turns in about an 8-10' circle. I do know about the counter steering but I haven't been able to get a grasp on it at this point, I'm only getting up to about 15mph in my driveway, does this come into play at higher speeds? I figure the class should help me with that!
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You will not be countersteering at parking lot speeds... it comes into play at street speeds and up. Just remember to push on the inside bar. 
I was 12 when my folks and I moved from southern NJ to Tucson. My dad had a Pontiac Catalina convertible and that first Thanksgiving we went to the store to pick up a few things my mom needed last minute. I fondly remember my dad laughing as he talked about not being able to drive with the top down in Margate in November lol.
I learned to ride a motorcycle as well as shoot that year, 1968. I ended up getting into motocross and flat track racing then moved to the street after graduating high school.
I moved away in 1984 but have been back a few times. The snowbirds, young drivers and really old drivers are crappy about seeing motorcycles-like everywhere-so be careful (I'll be 67 in October fyi so everyone cool your jets about "really old" people). ABATE classes typically include a riding test that meets state requirements for the mc endorsement so it shouldn't matter where you take the class.
Congrats on retiring, I'm jealous as I still need to work, enjoy all the beauty the desert southwest has to offer. Oh yeah and turn your shoes upside down every night and shake them out before putting them-scorpions and spiders ya know.
I learned to ride a motorcycle as well as shoot that year, 1968. I ended up getting into motocross and flat track racing then moved to the street after graduating high school.
I moved away in 1984 but have been back a few times. The snowbirds, young drivers and really old drivers are crappy about seeing motorcycles-like everywhere-so be careful (I'll be 67 in October fyi so everyone cool your jets about "really old" people
). ABATE classes typically include a riding test that meets state requirements for the mc endorsement so it shouldn't matter where you take the class.Congrats on retiring, I'm jealous as I still need to work, enjoy all the beauty the desert southwest has to offer. Oh yeah and turn your shoes upside down every night and shake them out before putting them-scorpions and spiders ya know.
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Congrats, ten years for me this past April. In the new off road world two place off road 4 wheelers are the current rage. In Idaho you can license one for the road and since most of the new stuff is fully capable of 55mph sustained they get around great, not to mention the selling point to the wife that you can use it plow the snow. One of my buddies never gets a chance because his wife is out there first thing in the morning with the quad moving snow around in heated cab comfort. Enjoy...
I retired at 68+ and now at 77, I have enjoyed my unemployment.
I ride my Can-am Spyder RTL about 10k miles a year. While it not a two wheeler, it is still wind in my face. Just can't do the shifting with the left these days.
Enjoy your unemployment!
I ride my Can-am Spyder RTL about 10k miles a year. While it not a two wheeler, it is still wind in my face. Just can't do the shifting with the left these days.
Enjoy your unemployment!
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!
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
Member
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.
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.
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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.
Seems to have happened to a lot of us.
Congrats on your new life of leisure.
I know that is a welcomed sight.
Best thing I ever did was retire. I get to spend whatever time Mom has left with her.
rolomac
Member
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.
Rolomac,
Sounds a lot like mine. Just a word of advice. Don't put off visiting the folks you love.
Sounds a lot like mine. Just a word of advice. Don't put off visiting the folks you love.
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
Member
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 
!
!Retirement is good, I retired 7 years ago and now get a half a day off every other Sunday.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Targets Guy
US Veteran
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.
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.
