Retirement

[Conndog]

Scheduled to retire at end of April this year- in good health, finances generally okay but we can't go wild either. I'm curious, what have other people who have retired done with all that extra time on their hands? Did anyone pick up interesting new hobbies? How many went back to work, and if they did, was it due to boredom? My wife is younger and is still working but she works flexible hours part-time as a consultant.

I'm hoping to do some traveling, our house is getting remodeled and I'll work on landscaping for it, but I don't want to go back to work at all. I'll definitely be playing more golf!

 

[giddyup]

Learn something new just because - keep your mind active.

 

[jbdphi]

Congrats to you on a big milestone.

I’ve been retired for two years now at a relatively young age and agree with a lot of the wisdom shared above. One thing I’d add is that you’ll need to figure out the balance between “enjoying” retirement (ie travel, adventure, mid life crisis toys, etc) and eating into whatever nest egg you’ve created over the years. Needs to be a balance and too many folks tends to go a bit wild early and spend more than they should. Others go the completely opposite direction and don’t spend anything for fear of too much and then don’t enjoy all the free time.

As for me, I play golf 2x/week, pickleball 1x/week and baseball 1-2x/week. Keeping some sort of regular schedule has been good (ie golf on Wednesdays and Fridays, etc) so I can plan ahead. I also try to do exercise outside of sports like walking 3-4 miles a few times a week.

I didn’t see it mentioned anywhere but since I have kids still in high school, I spend a lot more time with them to get as much in as I can. I also picked up League of Legends to play with my son so we have something to have in common and bond over.

It’s been a great ride so far and I have no regrets. The absence of work stress has made life so much more pleasant.

 

[Conndog]

Never too late to learn or take a crack at a musical instrument. Started piano (keyboards are inexpensive to start) at 50 and I like it because thinking about music gives your brain a workout. Find a really good teacher, do some research, at least to start.

I played piano as a kid (well, took lessons- all my brothers and sisters took lessons for about two years and then stopped for other interests), and I always have liked piano music. Getting a keyboard is a great idea. One problem with a regular piano is that I'm self-conscious and get nervous in front of others. With a keyboard, I think you can play and hear what it sounds like through headphones & thus spare others. Would love to be able to play kind of spontaneously rather than just off sheet music- probably a good teacher could help make that happen.

 

[Conndog]

Don’t think of yourself as tetired, just doing other things. I did some part time consulting but basically did a lot of travel, wrote some - had a novel published, improved my cooking and after my better half passed away I started volunteer mentoring young kids at a local school and that has been very rewarding. My golf has even improved a little but it had a way to go and moving up to the senior tees helps. Have fun with it.

That's true, I should go up to the senior tees!

 

[Conndog]

One thing I used to do was jog, did a couple of marathons but basically just ran a 3-4 times a week and just 3 miles. When I lived in South Glastonbury in late 90s, my route was from home on Hopewell Road to ferry and back again. I stopped after knee operation 3 years ago, but my wife wants to pick up jogging, so I might begin again. When I was jogging regularly, I started keeping track of the states I lived in or visited where I jogged, had to be 3 miles, eventually I totaled 38 states. So, if I can visit and jog in the remaining 12, then I'll have visited and jogged in all 50 states.

Definitely will do a lot of reading. Yardwork is big with lots of projects which i love doing anyway. Would love to meet up with some Boneyarders too!

 

[Improviser]

Never too late to learn or take a crack at a musical instrument. Started piano (keyboards are inexpensive to start) at 50 and I like it because thinking about music gives your brain a workout. Find a really good teacher, do some research, at least to start.

Playing an instrument builds up both sides of the brain.

Playing an Instrument: Better for Your Brain than Just Listening - Penn Medicine

While research has long suggested listening to an orchestra’s performance of such well-known pieces as Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro may boost the audience’s brain power – a hypothesis aptly named The Mozart Effect—Penn Medicine experts suggest those playing in the...

www.pennmedicine.org

 

[Palatine]

Playing an instrument builds up both sides of the brain.

Playing an Instrument: Better for Your Brain than Just Listening - Penn Medicine

While research has long suggested listening to an orchestra’s performance of such well-known pieces as Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro may boost the audience’s brain power – a hypothesis aptly named The Mozart Effect—Penn Medicine experts suggest those playing in the...

www.pennmedicine.org

But it punishes everyone around you. I once lived with a woman who decided she wanted to learn to play the banjo. Think about that for a minute. I'll wait.

I must have heard the song "Amy" a thousand times, on a banjo, at varying speeds, and varying levels of competence. Think about that for a minute. My brain hasn't been right since.

 

[CL82]

My brother and sister in law just retired. Younger than me. They had a custom Mercedes van built, it functions like a camper but is much better to actually drive. They plan to just go wherever they want to go. They have airBnBs in a few spots where their kids live. So he can deduct some of the cost of checking on the properties. Has it all figured out. Not what I would do but sharing because it’s an idea that may appeal to some.

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My wife, for whatever reason, somehow thinks that RVing would be "fun." Me? Not so much. Don't get me wrong, I love camping. I also like traveling and staying in a hotel. RVing seems like the worst of both to me in many ways.

My wife was low-key researching RVs. First, she was looking at class A's. I really don't want to have to deal with either driving, or storm one of those things. Second, I think her mini obsession with them will evaporate after the first trip, in which case end up eating the new vehicle depreciation on it.

I told her pick anyone you want to lease and let's go on a trip with it. Who knows? Maybe we both end up loving it, but I don't see it happening.

 

[Conndog]

But it punishes everyone around you. I once lived with a woman who decided she wanted to learn to play the banjo. Think about that for a minute. I'll wait.

I must have heard the song "Amy" a thousand times, on a banjo, at varying speeds, and varying levels of competence. Think about that for a minute. My brain hasn't been right since.

Where I work, it's even worse than the banjo woman you mention. We have someone who at company functions will often take out her accordion and play some crap song she made for the occasion. My God, she is awful!

 

[GlastonTim]

My wife, for whatever reason, somehow thinks that RVing would be "fun." Me? Not so much. Don't get me wrong, I love camping. I also like traveling and staying in a hotel. RVing seems like the worst of both to me in many ways.

My wife was low-key researching RVs. First, she was looking at class A's. I really don't want to have to deal with either driving, or storm one of those things. Second, I think her mini obsession with them will evaporate after the first trip, in which case end up eating the new vehicle depreciation on it.
We want to try that also. Thinking of renting one to see how we like it. Really want to rent one of those smaller ones. Have a brother in SLC, would be our starting point for a Rocky Mountain High.

I told her pick anyone you want to lease and let's go on a trip with it. Who knows? Maybe we both end up loving it, but I don't see it happening.

 

[HuskyHawk]

My wife, for whatever reason, somehow thinks that RVing would be "fun." Me? Not so much. Don't get me wrong, I love camping. I also like traveling and staying in a hotel. RVing seems like the worst of both to me in many ways.

My wife was low-key researching RVs. First, she was looking at class A's. I really don't want to have to deal with either driving, or storm one of those things. Second, I think her mini obsession with them will evaporate after the first trip, in which case end up eating the new vehicle depreciation on it.

I told her pick anyone you want to lease and let's go on a trip with it. Who knows? Maybe we both end up loving it, but I don't see it happening.

You can rent them. I have friends with RVs (tow behind pickup) that go camping in them. The Mercedes Sprinter van seems designed to let you just kind of go anywhere, places that aren't campgrounds for example, and still spend the night. I'd say they are pretty good for exploring scenery in out of the way places.

I don't even like most hotel beds, I end up with bad back. So I can't even fathom sleeping in an RV.

 

[CL82]

I have friends with RVs (tow behind pickup) that go camping in them.

For the record, if you're in a trailer, you're not camping.

At a soccer tournament one weekend, I heard a group of moms discussing a Girl Scout "hotel camping trip." as I walked by I shook my head and laughed and said "with those three words you just summed up everything that's wrong with Girl Scouting."

 

[Improviser]

But it punishes everyone around you. I once lived with a woman who decided she wanted to learn to play the banjo. Think about that for a minute. I'll wait.

I must have heard the song "Amy" a thousand times, on a banjo, at varying speeds, and varying levels of competence. Think about that for a minute. My brain hasn't been right since.

I hope the woman's name wasn't Amy, too.

How did it sound compared with this guy's version?

Google Search

www.google.com

 

[Peacefrog]

Ah, I guess I never looked closely enough. They look about the same from a casual observance. I was a member at Highfield in Middlebury.

It's not quite the same thing as pickleball. Platform tennis has its own special court. Were you at Wamp by any chance? They still have a couple of platform tennis courts.

 

[GoUconn7961]

I have 2 years to go and honestly I'm scared. I've always worked. I live alone and don't have a husband or companion to do stuff with. I feel like I'd still be too young for the senior center. I want to get a part time job and hope to meet some people that way. I used to work out a lot, but I was compulsive and did some permanent damage to my feet that limit me now. A 2 or 2-1/2 mile walk is about all I can handle though I can still lift weights, etc. I don't think I'll have too much to worry about financially (I hope) but you all are doing so much stuff I'm not sure I can afford. I have a financial planner, who like me, plays it close to the vest. I'm scared I'll sink further into a depression and that'll be it for me.

 

[Waquoit]

I have 2 years to go and honestly I'm scared. I've always worked. I live alone and don't have a husband or companion to do stuff with. I feel like I'd still be too young for the senior center. I want to get a part time job and hope to meet some people that way. I used to work out a lot, but I was compulsive and did some permanent damage to my feet that limit me now. A 2 or 2-1/2 mile walk is about all I can handle though I can still lift weights, etc. I don't think I'll have too much to worry about financially (I hope) but you all are doing so much stuff I'm not sure I can afford. I have a financial planner, who like me, plays it close to the vest. I'm scared I'll sink further into a depression and that'll be it for me.

Have you tried cannabis?

 

[Kathy]

I have 2 years to go and honestly I'm scared. I've always worked. I live alone and don't have a husband or companion to do stuff with. I feel like I'd still be too young for the senior center. I want to get a part time job and hope to meet some people that way. I used to work out a lot, but I was compulsive and did some permanent damage to my feet that limit me now. A 2 or 2-1/2 mile walk is about all I can handle though I can still lift weights, etc. I don't think I'll have too much to worry about financially (I hope) but you all are doing so much stuff I'm not sure I can afford. I have a financial planner, who like me, plays it close to the vest. I'm scared I'll sink further into a depression and that'll be it for me.

I was widowed before I retired. When I retired I relocated to Delaware and landed in a small community where no one knew anyone. We have book club, Bunco nights, mahjong, golf, group that walks every morning, kayak, bike riding. Sure I travel but alot of how I fill my time is free. Volunteered for awhile, did some fundraising for Alzheimer's, diabetes, autism. I'm actually in my 2nd term on the hoa board of directors -kind of like unpaid work. If you meet the right people there are a lot of things you can do without spending a ton of money.
Good luck.

 

[Madmannsucks]

I was widowed before I retired. When I retired I relocated to Delaware and landed in a small community where no one knew anyone. We have book club, Bunco nights, mahjong, golf, group that walks every morning, kayak, bike riding. Sure I travel but alot of how I fill my time is free. Volunteered for awhile, did some fundraising for Alzheimer's, diabetes, autism. I'm actually in my 2nd term on the hoa board of directors -kind of like unpaid work. If you meet the right people there are a lot of things you can do without spending a ton of money.
Good luck.

I think I saw your profile on Ourtime...LOL.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I have 2 years to go and honestly I'm scared. I've always worked. I live alone and don't have a husband or companion to do stuff with. I feel like I'd still be too young for the senior center. I want to get a part time job and hope to meet some people that way. I used to work out a lot, but I was compulsive and did some permanent damage to my feet that limit me now. A 2 or 2-1/2 mile walk is about all I can handle though I can still lift weights, etc. I don't think I'll have too much to worry about financially (I hope) but you all are doing so much stuff I'm not sure I can afford. I have a financial planner, who like me, plays it close to the vest. I'm scared I'll sink further into a depression and that'll be it for me.

My mom has had some health issues this year and lives alone, so she’s beginning to be more open-minded about selling her home and looking at other options.

We have friends who recently moved to a 60+ community in Stratford and they both love it. Always something to do but plenty of alone time if needed.

It’s almost like there are so many possibilities out there, but I can totally see the upside of a retirement community, especially for single people like my mom, and yourself. Honestly, I didn’t know much about them myself, but know long what’s out there is reassuring.

 

[Madmannsucks]

My situation is a little different. First I seriously depleted my retirement savings when my wife was ill. I retired and while I had enough there a very small margin for error. A couple months later I went back to work. Work from home call center. Front line no responsibility. My retirement plans changed dramatically after my wife died.

 

[OviedoFLHusky]

I've been "officially" retired for almost 2 years now -- but I was discharged from a job that I loved 5 years ago (which is a loooong, nasty story; suffice to say that as a result, I learned what the work term "mobbing" means). I looked for another job, and I was about to be hired -- but then I had to go to the hospital for cancer treatment (I'm much better now). And then came Covid, and it was too dangerous for my immune system to be out in public... so I never made it back to work, not even from-home work.

And I couldn't be happier!

I find that I always have something to do! If it's not laundry, it's cooking up a new recipe, or mopping the floor, or vacuuming, etc. around my house. Plus there's always yard work that can be done. I've always loved to read, so I try to have a book available at all times (I go for used, unless it's one of my favorite authors). And I've taken up "upcycling" as a sort of hobby. I've painted all of my old, sun-faded outside furniture (chairs, tables, plant stands, etc.) so they look like new. I also have a lot of worn, decrepit-looking old plant pots that look great once they have a new coat of paint. And paint is fairly cheap; you can get outdoors paint in the crafts section of Walmart for just a few dollars a bottle. Thinking about getting a sander and doing some more serious refurbishing on some of my indoor furniture. Maybe best of all -- all this activity, instead of sitting in a cubicle at work, has helped me lose 15 pounds! I LOVE being retired!!!

 

[GoUconn7961]

I've been "officially" retired for almost 2 years now -- but I was discharged from a job that I loved 5 years ago (which is a loooong, nasty story; suffice to say that as a result, I learned what the work term "mobbing" means). I looked for another job, and I was about to be hired -- but then I had to go to the hospital for cancer treatment (I'm much better now). And then came Covid, and it was too dangerous for my immune system to be out in public... so I never made it back to work, not even from-home work.

And I couldn't be happier!

I find that I always have something to do! If it's not laundry, it's cooking up a new recipe, or mopping the floor, or vacuuming, etc. around my house. Plus there's always yard work that can be done. I've always loved to read, so I try to have a book available at all times (I go for used, unless it's one of my favorite authors). And I've taken up "upcycling" as a sort of hobby. I've painted all of my old, sun-faded outside furniture (chairs, tables, plant stands, etc.) so they look like new. I also have a lot of worn, decrepit-looking old plant pots that look great once they have a new coat of paint. And paint is fairly cheap; you can get outdoors paint in the crafts section of Walmart for just a few dollars a bottle. Thinking about getting a sander and doing some more serious refurbishing on some of my indoor furniture. Maybe best of all -- all this activity, instead of sitting in a cubicle at work, has helped me lose 15 pounds! I LOVE being retired!!!

Now this made me happy. So many people were posting about things I probably won't be able to afford. And this happiness in doing the simple stuff around the house is great. I'm like you. When my depression isn't too bad I get joy in cleaning and fixing things. I love to read also. Who knows, maybe I'll take a class on tiling and finally do my bathroom. I'm so glad you're happy.

 

[OviedoFLHusky]

Now this made me happy. So many people were posting about things I probably won't be able to afford. And this happiness in doing the simple stuff around the house is great. I'm like you. When my depression isn't too bad I get joy in cleaning and fixing things. I love to read also. Who knows, maybe I'll take a class on tiling and finally do my bathroom. I'm so glad you're happy.

Sincerely very happy to help! Feel free to DM me if you feel down about this in the future. I am no stranger to depression myself, believe me.

PS -- Tiling the bathroom is a great idea! There's some really cool-looking tile being made these days (this I learned from watching HGTV -- which I now have time to do!).

 

[billythekid]

I retired at the end of March. My first week of retirement included a trip to Phoenix for the Final Four. Needless to say, that set a high bar for what retirement was going to bring. In the couple of months since then, I've taken a few trips, including to visit friends that I hadn't visited in over a decade. The type of stuff that you always tell yourself you'd get to if you had more free time. At home, I try to arrange my week so that I have a reason to leave the house every day. A couple of days to the personal trainer, a couple of days to the gym for some cardio. I've always done volunteer work visiting isolated seniors, so I picked up an additional client to visit. I live in the Bay Area of Northern California, so the weather is always nice enough to sit outside on the patio for a few hours with a book and some music. So far, I haven't missed working at all.

 

[billybud]

My wife and I are retired...and have been for a while.

We led an active life while working...and retirement has been joyous.

....we retired to a beautiful locale....It is simple things that make for a paradise.
We have made friends and spend four or five evenings a week with one or more couples doing the simple things...chatting, grilling on the porch, listening to live music at local venues (a big thing here in small town Appalachia).

....After being close to death a year ago (the docs told us it could be a matter of weeks)...the radiation and chemo has killed my tumor and my lymph nodes are no longer malignant...I have lost 61 pounds, and for a while looked like death was indeed on my doorstep. I insisted on going to our haunts in town to listen to music and be with folks...As I was wheeled from the car in to a table, I knew I was never alone...The whole dang town was behind me.

Our formula for a joyous retirement:

----be in love. When your heart still goes pitter-patter when you see your wife's smile it makes the days together like a date.

----have good friends to share life with...and don't just sit around at home..that trite stuff is still true. live, laugh, explore. Every day is a holiday and every meal a banquet. Happiness is an attitude and self generated.

----exercise. We go to the gym three days a week (I lift...usually leg presses, bench presses, curls...and machine work for hips and back). Building back a robustness that I have always had...cancer causes you to lose muscle weight as well. On alternate days we walk...sometimes on creekside and mountain paths, sometimes on a 1/4 mile track. After exercise, we often drop by our local coffee shop and have a cuppa and chat.

----we take rides through the mountains visiting the small towns, wineries, etc...there is always a festival going on somewhere..blues and brews, arts, music, bbq, Scottish games, etc.

Yeah..it does sound fake, like a Facebook life...but it works for us...

 

[Sonofabeach]

Take up Kayak Fishing it's a great way to fish and get exercise. I do it now, but in 4 yrs when I retire... I will be out there every day if my wife lets me

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'm not retired yet, but I'm thinking about it. We are planning to buy a place in Bluffton, SC pre-retirement but with retirement in mind. When I do retire, we'll sell out house in Mass and get a another one on Cape Cod hopefully. Affordability is a challenge on the Cape, but we haven't found a good alternative.

Many of my local friends have moved away. We walk the trail, but my golf partners are gone, as is my local 9 hole course. Hoping that by moving to an active community with pickleball, kayaking, walking trails and maybe golf, we can build some healthy, active hobbies. Avoiding New England winter will help as well. I'm not worried about the Cape, have friends there and know how to find things to do in the summer. But for those of you who moved somewhere new, how did you meet people? Is it a formal community with events and leagues that you can join or just a house where you need to make your own way? What's the experience been with those communities? My parents have been in one since the 90s, so I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully if @Chin Diesel is still traveling that area he can stop by for a beer.

Anybody have experience kayaking in fresh water in places with alligators? I'm told not to worry, but I'd be new at it so, yeah, I'm worried. Going to try to get some experience this summer on the Bass River at the Cape.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I'm not retired yet, but I'm thinking about it. We are planning to buy a place in Bluffton, SC pre-retirement but with retirement in mind. When I do retire, we'll sell out house in Mass and get a another one on Cape Cod hopefully. Affordability is a challenge on the Cape, but we haven't found a good alternative.

Many of my local friends have moved away. We walk the trail, but my golf partners are gone, as is my local 9 hole course. Hoping that by moving to an active community with pickleball, kayaking, walking trails and maybe golf, we can build some healthy, active hobbies. Avoiding New England winter will help as well. I'm not worried about the Cape, have friends there and know how to find things to do in the summer. But for those of you who moved somewhere new, how did you meet people? Is it a formal community with events and leagues that you can join or just a house where you need to make your own way? What's the experience been with those communities? My parents have been in one since the 90s, so I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully if @Chin Diesel is still traveling that area he can stop by for a beer.

Anybody have experience kayaking in fresh water in places with alligators? I'm told not to worry, but I'd be new at it so, yeah, I'm worried. Going to try to get some experience this summer on the Bass River at the Cape.

My work around Hilton Head, Beaufort and Bluffton has dried up as of late but there's always a chance of getting back to the area. And I'd gladly hoist a beer with you if I was there.

I think I've mentioned it before, one of the top 5 beers I've ever had was at Bay St. in Beaufort. Steel Hands Coffee Lager on tap. Perfect balance and flavors. I'm looking at Google Maps and it might have been at Panini's On The Waterfront.

Beers - Steel Hands Brewing

steelhandsbrewing.com

 

[HuskyHawk]

My work around Hilton Head, Beaufort and Bluffton has dried up as of late but there's always a chance of getting back to the area. And I'd gladly hoist a beer with you if I was there.

I think I've mentioned it before, one of the top 5 beers I've ever had was at Bay St. in Beaufort. Steel Hands Coffee Lager on tap. Perfect balance and flavors. I'm looking at Google Maps and it might have been at Panini's On The Waterfront.

Beers - Steel Hands Brewing

steelhandsbrewing.com

Wow. Never heard of those guys. From near Columbia I guess. I'll ask my sister. The best brewery in that HH-Bluffton corridor is probably Shellring in Port Royal. Side Hustle in HH is good too. If you didn't know, they are building a massive community along the water in Port Royal, going to be boating focused. Q on Bay has good taps, could have been there.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Wow. Never heard of those guys. From near Columbia I guess. I'll ask my sister. The best brewery in that HH-Bluffton corridor is probably Shellring in Port Royal. Side Hustle in HH is good too. If you didn't know, they are building a massive community along the water in Port Royal, going to be boating focused. Q on Bay has good taps, could have been there.

Curious as to where on Port Royal they are adding homes.

Olde School Pizza had decent pizza in Port Royal but I haven't been back to that area since 2021.