I really don't want to come out of retirement
 

Been retired about 14 months, driven one old, and one now new RV, for one to three months each at a time with the wife and dog across the country, north and east. Loved doing that, so do did the wife and dog.

I sort of feel like I should be trying to do some consulting, but I haven't felt like hustling for it, my former employer (Disney) and our competitors (Universal, Fox, Paramount, Sony, etc.) haven't been knocking on my door, one reason is my age, (65) but the work has also changed, now they want to hire locals in distant locations (London, Prague, Budapest, and Canada and the other states in the USA).

I really don't need the money, but earning a thousand or so a day, does have some appeal.

My wife of 36 years says do "whatever", but I know she'd appreciate a cruise around the world, or something like that, which currently isn't in the budget.

I hustled/worked for about 50 years and quite frankly, I just don't want to do it anymore.

Not necessarily looking for advise, just musing and trying to sort it out.

In three years when I plan to retire, I might be available for a little consulting. Maybe. Then again, I will be busy. In retirement. Busy with stuff. Some of that 'stuff' will be just plain meditation. Calming myself. Listening to the birds. Do you hear the birds, Hugh? Do you sit and stare at the sky?

And letting us know about your salary.

I have made that into an art..that and picking lint out of my navel..

Hey Hugh.....great post!

Retirement means different things to everyone, of course.

I think it's more like a journey than a destination, pardon the cliche'.

For those of us who are worker bees........it's a tough transition to make. To stop working - just like that.

I can't give you any advice other than to say give yourself some time and if something comes your way, you'll know what to do.

I've always said at our age - it's time that is most precious - not the money. That's how I see it anyway....

BAZ, that is exactly what I think that I keep coming back to...At 65, I figure I'm good for another ten years of RVing, at best, if I live another 20 years, I'd be surprised.

Like I said, I worked/hustled since I was 15 (50 years).

Hugh - You haven't been retired long enough to get into groove yet........If you don't need the money and don't really want to, don't do it yet.........You seem to enjoy travel and keep pretty busy.

I was retired for 10 years before I took a part time gig over 4 years ago........When I'm on call for the County, it's a 24 hour day......I try to do only 3 days a month, but it often turns into 8 or 9 days a month.....Sometimes it cuts into my motorcycle/snowmobile trips........Might do it another year and give it up..........It's not about the money, just staying busy and connected...........

If you want to do something different you can sell the toys, give your money to a worthy cause, volunteer to help others, and live a humble life with the satisfaction that you'll leave a legacy that will benefit many more people.

Sorry, but I meant that as an aside, I've been retired for a while, and that is what I'm hearing, doesn't mean I'll get it, and it certainly more than I made at Disney. Not that I need to explain...Besides, I used it as an example to be relative, do you consider about $125/hour to be exorbitant in SoCal? If I did I didn't mean it that way. I was trying to put it in perspective. At say $15/hour its an easy decision. NO. I ain't going to be a greater at Walmart.

I had been telling my wife that when I drop my tool belt it will be for good. She still is hustling up jobs and hints that if I did them we could make twice the money. Nope....I’m done working for customers.

You are 65 years old, comfortably situated financially and you have your health, what do you want with a job?
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Sounded more like you wanted everyone to admire your success not that there's anything wrong with showing off a little.

You were fine. I had multiple calls to help on out of town issues after I retired. All expenses plus a similar rate of pay.

I laughed.

I didnt get that at all, who knows.

Thanks for the thread. I'm a bit behind you and am thinking about when I call it quits. I feel like I work all the time and dont enjoy life enough. Weekends mean house or yard work or side jobs on cars. I see my dad retired and just sort of hanging out, not my bag, I need to be involved in a few things. Cant help, just realize this is your time. Figure the things you want to do and try to do them as much as possible.

Hugh......you've EARNED this.....enjoy, my man......

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There is a lot of validity to not wanting to vegetate at home. How about using the resources to help others? Mentoring will give meaning to your life and help someone else to become a better person.

True dat, I was an environmental, health and safety consultant for 30+ years until I joined the motion picture industry, every Friday it was time cards on billability, utilization, marketing, how much work did you bring in this week/month? It didn't seem to matter if you brought in a $100,000 contract last month, it was about what you did THIS month..

Every professional person you met seemed to be seen as new "Raw Meat", that was all you did at professional conferences.

I had an endless stream of consulting offers in the first year after I retired. I turned every one of them down. It's calmed down now, maybe because the word got out in the small circle that would be looking for a guy like me. I'm glad I stuck it out. It took longer than I thought it would to really settle into retirement. If I had accepted any of those offers, I would still not be settled into it. Give it some more time - you're still just a little bit "itchy", maybe feeling a bit guilty, maybe a bit of doubt. Hang tough. You'll get past all of that. When you do, you will be glad you did.

Jeff, thanks, a close friend who also retired from Disney [similare number of years and similar pension] pointed out "if you just look at the salary you're giving up, versus retirement, you'll die on the job if you choose the former".

Great post - one of the hardest things to do is turn down work for someone who has worked their entire adult life, like many of us has.

It's very surreal but like Jeff said...gotta hang tough and get through it!