Posted on 10/14/2020 8:11:14 PM PDT by hiho hiho
I have operated a small business for many decades. I'm tired -- and tired of all the paperwork, insurance, and taxes. I wouldn't mind cutting back to part time, but it doesn't seem like a financially viable option as my insurance costs and paperwork would likely not decrease. So, now the quandary -- what do I do with my time if I retire? I want do remain active and keep the mind busy. I don't want to sit and watch TV or spend all day on the internet. What do all you retirees do with your time?
There is life after retirement, but you have to decide how best to spend your time. I’ve been retired since 2003. I had to work outside the home from the time I was 16, so when I retired, I enjoyed being able to stay home, and not run all the time. I keep myself plenty busy, by reading, working on my family tree, and watching TV shows, movies, and the British programming I download from the internet. I’m a late nighter, which means I don’t go to bed until 4 a.m. or later. Neither of my sons lives near me, and I have no grandchildren to worry about. If I don’t have to go out, I don’t. Up until the virus, I used to meet friends at the local casino once a month, but even though the casino has reopened, they require masks, and I will not wear one to go lose money. I’m a homebody, and enjoy my privacy, and solitude. I did enough all my working years for other people. My retirement is my own, to spend the way I want to. Just make sure you realize that if you think time flies now, wait until you retire, because it goes by even faster. I’m 73. I retired when I was 56, so I don’t have the get-up-and-go that I once had, but that’s okay. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.
We bought a summer vacation house that needed quite a bit of work, so I undertook that project. Now it is so nice it is becoming our primary residence. Still lots of projects to go. I do as much as I can, but contract out the things that are too big (like a custom staircase, refinishing floors, new roof, new electrical panel, new foam insulation in the attic). All of that requires finding contractors, interviewing them, getting bids, etc. They are all so busy it is hard to get callbacks and sometimes they are no-shows. But we’ve been here long enough that we can find good contractors by friend referrals.
But I’ve got tons of improvement work I’m doing myself as well.
We’ve made lots of new friends here in North Idaho — it’s a very friendly place. I like reading, hiking, walking, spending time with family (one of our kids moved nearby so it’s nice getting together with her once a week). We like to entertain and have friends and neighbors over about once a week for dinner, too.
I look forward to COVID ending so I can get involved with local civic groups, many of which are on temporary shutdown / hiatus.
My wife was able to convince her employer to let her work remotely from our new place for her last year, so she’s working from home. It’s nice having more time with her.
I got involved with family genealogy a few years back, but seriously tackled it last winter and have made amazing progress tracing my paternal side back to late 1700s in Germany. Genealogical research is a great winter activity. I figure it’s a great gift to leave to my kids.
I lasted about 6 months before I started looking for a job.
But volunteer work or a hobby could be a substitute. Look for something that isn’t full time so that you can have some time during the week.
I discovered one of the problems with retirement was spending money - with work and commute not eating up 50+ hours a week, I had time to go to the hardware store to buy things for projects (and time to find more projects to do) or trips to the grocery store to buy ingredients for some culinary effort.
If the Democrats take the White House, watch the markets crash. Then watch the Democrats react with even more monstrous taxes and other inflationary measures. Inflation will skyrocket.
Unfortunately, my “Pop” can’t open the doors for me that Hunter’s “Pop” can. I’m good at what I do (or did before retiring), but so far no takers at $83,333 per month. ;>(
I could work supplemental but even the thought of it makes me tired...I'm 67 next week...
They work until they can’t
To stay ‘alive’ in retirement, you need to actually CARE about something.
Most of us have a list of stuff we haven’t been able to do while working full time. Do you have a list like that?
Nobody can figure this out for you - you have to try and remember where your real passions lie.
I’m still working; but my retirement list grows longer almost every day :-)
The hardest part of full retirement is the loss of social activity.
Pursue hobbies that you really like.
Meetup.com and other social sites are helpful.
I bought a dog (labradoodle) to force me to get up and walk around. It’s also allowed me to meet some of my closest friends.
Hope you like retirement. It’s not for everyone.
That’s what I’m planning to do in January. My daughter makes $20 an hour and says it’s not stressful work at all.
I figure you’re supposed to play for the first 20 years, work for the next 40, then play until done.
Play guitar, gardening, cooking, and ballroom dancing with Mrs OrioleFan.
I have heard so many people say they are busier in retirement than they ever were working. I do not understand that. I have routinely put in 15 hour days working. I will never do this in retirement. I just turned 65 and plan to work another five years with good health. I know many people who retired at 62. They do nothing except watch TV.
A lot of people are doing very well in that way.
But the most successful are the ones who have real passion for what they are presenting, and they put enormous effort and thought into it.
A really successful YouTube channel is not really a ‘part-time’ job.
Garden. Grow figs. (Where do you live?)
Go exercise.
Interfere in your childrens lives. (If you have any.)
I retired at 58. Three days after I retired, we loosed the lines and are now cruising the ICW, gaining experience, and, waiting for the Bahamas to open back up.
Right now, we are spending two months in Jekyll Island Georgia walking riding, or driving the loaner golfcart around the island. Next month its Fernandina, Fl, then St. Augustine (with as side trip to Disney World) and then on to the Keys for the season. We hope to be up in Maine for the Summer.
My wife has had cancer twice. We’re doing all we can to have fun, because you don’t know how much time you have.
If you like shooting try benchrest. Pm me if you are interested. Over the last 20 years I’ve built a lifestyle around it. I have made close friends from all over the country and Canada and get to see them several times each year.
I started a small business.
Not making money yet but it keeps my busy and engaged
Are you a Bible student?
How old are you, if you don’t mind?
Retirement at 50-60 is probably different compared to at 70 or older.
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