Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Boomers who are miserable in their retirement all made these 10 same mistakes in their 50s
Vegoutmag ^ | 17th August 2025 | Jordan Cooper

Posted on 08/21/2025 8:36:31 PM PDT by Cronos

The fifties are when retirement gets determined. Not financially—most boomers figured that out—but existentially. It's when patterns solidify, relationships either deepen or atrophy, identity either expands or calcifies around a job title.

1. They let their entire identity collapse into their job title

2. They believed retirement was a reward rather than a transition. You can't flip a switch from workaholic to fulfilled retiree.

3. They stopped making new friends Somewhere in their fifties, they closed the friend roster. The social circle became fixed—college buddies, work colleagues, couple friends from the kids' childhood. No new applications accepted.

4. They ignored their health until it was crisis management The fifties send bodily invoices for decades of neglect. But instead of paying attention, many worked harder, ignoring the check engine light. The cruel irony: the fifties are the last decade when you can build reserves rather than just slow depletion.

5. They avoided difficult conversations with their spouse Parallel lives seemed sustainable in their fifties. She had book club; he had golf. They'd "reconnect in retirement."The gray divorce rate has doubled since 1990, largely driven by couples discovering their marriage was held together by busy schedules, not connection.

6. They dismissed therapy as weakness

7. They abandoned learning "I'm too old for new things," became their fifties refrain, usually about technology but eventually everything. They stopped reading challenging books. They stopped being curious.

8. They never developed interests that weren't productive Every hobby had purpose. Golf for networking. Reading for professional development. Nothing for joy.

9. They ignored their changing relationship with their children

10. They thought money would solve everything

(Excerpt) Read more at vegoutmag.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-111 next last
To: wjcsux

GTO pics, please!


61 posted on 08/22/2025 4:25:27 AM PDT by BHI2025
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Mogger

I’m 62.

I really enjoy my job, travel a lot at it but the moment I quit is the moment I quit. I get along with most of my colleagues but I don’t really consider them friends because I know that when I do retire, that will be the last time I see any of them.

We have a rather tight group of friends.

While we have some separate interests, we also have shared interests.

While it’s not quite a Unimog, we just bought a rooftop tent overlanding rig and have been quite busy with that. As of last week, we’ve been in 28 states since we got it in late October. That’s lots of road time together and enjoying it.


62 posted on 08/22/2025 4:52:09 AM PDT by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

#2 is real


63 posted on 08/22/2025 4:53:41 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If Hitler were alive today and criticized Trump, would he still be Hitler?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

I’m 70 and work full time as a physician. My wife is 67 and works full time as physician with me in same practice. We go to church weekly and she goes more sometimes. 3 of 5 kids with grandchildren live in town. College football starts tomorrow and is my favorite thing outside movies. Piddle in yard, too. Life is good. Can’t say much about retirement because I haven’t but to each their own.


64 posted on 08/22/2025 4:54:51 AM PDT by arkfreepdom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

I don’t do therapy because of the Statute of limitations.

I struggle with retirement so much I went back to work. I punched out again at the end of July. I go the gym every day. I read every day. I have to give myself permission to do things, to go places.


65 posted on 08/22/2025 5:11:29 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If Hitler were alive today and criticized Trump, would he still be Hitler?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

Great job summarizing the article!

You can read the title and see in your summary what the mistakes are.

If only more FReepers knew how to post well!

🏆


66 posted on 08/22/2025 5:14:35 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (🦅 MAGADONIAN ⚔️ LIFE )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 11th_VA

Agreed, especially 6. They dismissed therapy as weakness.


67 posted on 08/22/2025 5:20:28 AM PDT by No Party Affiliation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

Flushing life down the drain
😁


68 posted on 08/22/2025 5:56:03 AM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

The author could have shortened the article considerably by simply saying “They did every thing possible wrong”. Geez.


69 posted on 08/22/2025 6:02:00 AM PDT by TalBlack (Their god is government. Prepare for a religious war.https://freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=4322961%2)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plain talk

I don’t resonate with any of those items. Guy just made up a bunch of stuff to get an article published.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Agree


70 posted on 08/22/2025 6:03:18 AM PDT by thinden (Buckle Up!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: af_vet_1981

What is missing ?
The Holy Scriptures
—————-
Good post. I often ask fellow believers where in the Bible does it say man can/ should “retire”?


71 posted on 08/22/2025 6:04:06 AM PDT by delta7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

I retired in April. Now I’m wondering how the heck did I ever get anything done when I was working?! Worked in the field of lasers, DOD contractors since 1978 when Iwas 21. Almost exclusively laser rangefinder target designators on Apache helicopters, F-18 Hornets and hand held systems. It was a fulfilling and nice career. My financial advisor saved the day in 2011 when I was laid off after 33 years. So financially we’re set. But after only 4 months of retirement I still feel like there is something I should be doing that I’m not. And losing track of what day it is is really a thing. I don’t think I’ll ever get another job but I do intend to volunteer to help people at church.


72 posted on 08/22/2025 6:07:08 AM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

I retired at age 31. Burned out.

Returned to the university for more education, changed careers and retired again at 48.. (divorce motivated it)..

At 68, I’m busier than ever. Still at the University, doing research, and doing lectures and workshops. But on my schedule.

Thus the screen name Tired & Retired. I’ve had it here since 2001. (Had another name earlier from the Clinton years, but didn’t post)


73 posted on 08/22/2025 6:08:45 AM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plain talk
I don’t resonate with any of those items. Guy just made up a bunch of stuff to get an article published.

Yep, what is this a Good Housekeeping or Vanity Fair mag?

74 posted on 08/22/2025 6:09:37 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right
Folks just entering retirement should consider part-time work.

I tried that. Intermittent work. It morphed into a full time job; a couple of promotions.

75 posted on 08/22/2025 6:18:04 AM PDT by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Noumenon
I'll have a much better idea of what I'm going to do for an antenna once I pass the General.

Are you studying from books or an online class? I used HamTestOnline.com to study for all three tests and passed with flying colors. Took a two year break between General and Extra because I was having too much fun making contacts world wide (with just 100W and a wire). Good luck and 73.

76 posted on 08/22/2025 6:26:20 AM PDT by laker_dad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

“7. They abandoned learning
“I’m too old for new things,” became their fifties refrain, usually about technology but eventually everything. They stopped reading challenging books. They stopped being curious.”

I started reviewing the list and do not have many acquaintances that this one applies to. I tend to expand my horizons in so many directions that I often neglect already established rewarding past times, hobbies, and learning opportunities. My curiosity level has definitely increased since retirement.

But the article is about Boomers who are miserable in retirement which is definitely not me or very many others that I know.


77 posted on 08/22/2025 6:53:07 AM PDT by fireman15
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: delta7
I often ask fellow believers where in the Bible does it say man can/ should “retire”?

You are correct in that there is no retirement in serving the Messiah: faith and works in union until He comes again.

Proverbs 10:14
Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.


Matthew 6:19-21
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.



2 Corinthians 12:14-15
Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

78 posted on 08/22/2025 6:55:24 AM PDT by af_vet_1981 ( The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

In corporate America today, nobody is allowed to succeed without ceding power to a power base, a posse which controls a segment of the supply chain. They think they are important, but at some point, usually 50+ years old, they find out their slot is the only entity with importance, and that someone else’s picture looks better there.


79 posted on 08/22/2025 7:00:10 AM PDT by nagant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: af_vet_1981

Thanks for the reply. I could have easily retired years ago, but choosed to keep working. Why? I enjoy spreading His word at work, there is something satisfying about discussing God with unbelieving co workers….and yes that has led to a few HR visits.


80 posted on 08/22/2025 7:07:37 AM PDT by delta7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-111 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson