This is what retirement feels like....

[honga]

I miss the job but enjoy getting paid regardless of when I get up in the morning. I miss the job but then remember what made me retire ..and then I miss it again. I guess I don't do well with change.

 

[letmwurk]

There's quite a bit of data and peer-reviewed studies showing that those who aren't involved in something after retirement die prematurely.

It doesn't mean you have to work until death, but rather be involved meaningfully in something. That can range from volunteering at church/non-profit, to consulting for-profits, to working part-time, to working on your own house/property, to things like woodworking, really about anything that keeps you busy and accomplishing things amongst others.

Sitting around all day by yourself doing nothing is an invitation for misery and death.

 

[OneShotBandit]

9.5 years until I can start drawing a pension from a previous employer, 14.5 years until I can draw from another, and accruing a cash balance pension and retirement medical from another employer as we speak. Boredom in retirement is for people who don't hunt or fish! Counting down the days until I turn 55!!!!

No that's not true at all. The other guys I've hunted with are gone, this other guy is having a bit of complications in life as we used to hunt quite a bit, the new guy is only 30 has job & family commitments. I do shoot Sporting Clays, but now IMO it's the weather that dictates it to me.

 

[Lip Shooter]

I’ve been retired for 2+ years and have been busier than I ever would have imagined. I thought I would do a little consulting work on the side but I haven’t had the time or the desire.

This is my third try at it and can’t see how it doesn’t stick, no consulting for at least one year is my rule. One buddy retired from Koch refinery as the highest paid union guy. He’s back three days a week netting 10 bucks an hour.

And the knuckle head still says hey retired.

Nope he’s not retired at all he’s working part time.

Why do guys who still work have this burning desire to claim they are retired?

 

[Small Bore Hunter]

I still work 3 days a week. Being off 4 days is enough for me. I would be bored if off 7 days. I can’t just set around. Usually there is something to do at house where I have a shop to make or repair things. At the cabin there is not much to do, if not fishing or hunting. I can’t watch the grass grow and will not take up drinking before 5 o’clock. I have found that most people who have worked for themselves all their life has a harder time retiring.

 

[Mean Gene]

There's quite a bit of data and peer-reviewed studies showing that those who aren't involved in something after retirement die prematurely.

It doesn't mean you have to work until death, but rather be involved meaningfully in something. That can range from volunteering at church/non-profit, to consulting for-profits, to working part-time, to working on your own house/property, to things like woodworking, really about anything that keeps you busy and accomplishing things amongst others.

Sitting around all day by yourself doing nothing is an invitation for misery and death.

Here in my retirement world, I'm trying to figure out how to NOT be involved in so much "meaningful" crap.

My middle daughter flew out yesterday, and today we head across the state to the east side to hunt geese for 6 days. I've done very well there the last 2 years, and she's never killed a honker, so I'm hoping to get her into at least a couple good hunts. She used to hunt ducks with me all the time, and I loved being out there with her, but for some reason she stopped about 10 years ago. This year, out of the blue, she called and said she'd like to come out and hunt with me again. No phone call could ever have made me happier. Am I excited about this trip? Well, I started packing the truck last Monday, so I guess so.

Other than that this fall, I've been struggling to try and keep myself occupied. I have, however, managed to fill the gaps somewhat by killing an antelope, 6 deer, and a bull elk. Yeah, the struggles of retirement are real.

 

[ReaPeR105]

You should see my "sit at the red light/turned green light and look at my phone" move.

I get in the left lane, put the turn signal on during rush hour and drive 20 under the posted limit for miles.

 

[Woodduck31]

I think the key to retirement is being purpose driven, not particularly self driven. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being able to do what I want, but also realize that there is much more to life than collecting a retirement income and watching football games 4 days a week of which I do both. I enjoy wood working, wood carving, making decoys and painting wildlife. It gives me a productive way to continue doing things that used to pay the bills. I've never had a real job, never owned a suit since I got married, never put on a uniform since high school football. My retirement income at least for now pays our bills and allows us to give away the rest to families we know that are suffering. I can't even imagine living in luxury when I know so many people that are having trouble even putting food on their tables. I could have a lot of things, but get greater fulfillment from doing the things I enjoy to generate income that helps others. I don't get to hunt and fish as much as I'd like, but that's largely due to my wife not liking me going alone. I always try to comfort her in knowing they can find my dead body with my cell phone and it will likely be near my favorite trout fishing spot.

 

[USMC-Ret]

Retirement - Six Saturdays and one Sunday.

 

[ReaPeR105]

Retirement - Six Saturdays and one Sunday.

Thank goodness for Sunday or I would never know what day it is!