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Sounds about like me, except I don’t go to the casino. It took me about three years to recover from the stress of my job as an RN. (I can’t blame it all on the job; I am an easily stressed person with an anxiety disorder). Now I do what I want, and DON’T do what I don’t want, unless it’s necessary for the well-being of myself or my family. I’m sure I’ll have some regrets, as I admit to my LORD, at judgment, my sin of wasting time, the one thing we can never get back. But He knows my problems and my needs. He knows my feet are clay. I’m trying to be more active, working on projects on the house. I retired at 62, and I’m almost 69.

I worked in uniform in NY State's prison system. When I started, I was one of a handful of females at the facility I was sent to. I was already divorced by that time, and I thank God I had my two sons to keep me sane. As time went on, and they got older, I decided to go back to school, and eventually got my Masters degree. I never used my degree to get a different job. I'd already gotten seniority as a Sergeant, and was happy where I was. Taking a promotion, would have meant going down toward NY City for possibly years before I could transfer back home. I wasn't about to be inconvenienced by anything or anybody at that point in my life. Taking college courses helped keep me focused, and gave me some personal satisfaction, because the job wasn't one that you could go home from everyday, and feel you'd actually accomplished anything.

I'm glad you have been able to adjust to retirement, and have settled into a routine you are comfortable with. I have retired friends (I worked with the wife), and they feel they have to be doing something constantly, or they feel lost. For me, happiness is not having to be somewhere at a certain time...unless it's doctor appointments, and I try not to have many of them if I can help it. I hope you have a long, happy, and healthy retirement.