Retired guys, how has your life changed?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tabs

How bout 20M...would you do it for that?

I'd have to think about it .

Maybe not...changing the number on the front, or adding a 0 on the end of my net worth wouldn't change me at this point....not a bit. I'm relatively poor by PPOT standards....and stoooopid too . Stoopid happy though....

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by tabs

Next off ramp after Retirement is the Cemetery off ramp.

Originally Posted by tabs

So all you have left is the fantasy?

Originally Posted by tabs

In time you will grow weary of retirement to.

Gee, thanks for all the positive vibes there tabs...

[2porscheguy]

Timely thread as I'm about two years away from retirement myself.

I find myself building a list of projects that I want to tackle....restoring the '80 SC Targa, major landscaping, basement redo, hardwood floor redo, etc. My problem is that my wife is on my case about doin' that there schit right now and not two years from now....did you guys do the same thing?...procrastinate on the projects?

[Borders Reivers]

Faster horses
Older whiskey
Younger women
More money



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by tabs

In time you will grow weary of retirement to.

NO, I can gaurentee that will not happen. I don't really like the job I have now, but keep going for the benefits, and family security (been there 18 years). I have a 10 acre farm that is need of many small projects being done, and we really enjoy just being home, and communing with nature. My wife and I have been working 12 hours daze for several years now, and are just getting weary, without any gratification from our jobs.

NO, there won't be any missing the grind, I can always find something interesting to do.

[dan88911]

Retired 5 yrs
"Life is Good," Lets just say I played my cards right.
I don't miss working for man.


I thought I would be sitting in the local coffee shop most days. Life is busy as ever.

[fingpilot]

Have retired three times now. May not be done depending on tax implications.

Am busier now than when working. Hard to believe.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

'Retired' at 59 a few weeks ago. Too early for a full assessment but a first pass answer is .... this is freekin awesome. But as someone who has been self-employed for 30+ years, it is far from the stereotypical gold-watch, pension, and puttering in the garage wood shop scenario We sold the house, the business, the car collection, the toys, and pretty much everything else we own. To keep busy and maintain the diesel & bourbon fund, we've got a fun business we're doing from the road from here on out. We'll be spending a lot of time with the daughters who both live out-of-state.

We're roughing it in a 'camper'

You sold your car collection? You had some great cars, Curt!

I love your approach to retirement. I've added in retirement, a sailboat. Probably 5-10 years from now, I'll move on from the toys and look into the RV approach to North American travel. We're front-loading our international travel since retiring last year. Get it done while we're in our best health!

[Crowbob]

It took 5 full years for the elation of waking up and not having to go to work to wear off. I actually started going to bed earlier and getting up earlier (dawn in summer). Typically when doing stuff around the house the first time I look at the clock it's usually around 11:00 AM already!

[pavegeno]

After seven years of not flying, I retired from the Air Force after 27 years and got my dream job: back flying for the Air Force as a contractor teaching young Second Lieutenants (22 year olds) how to fly helicopters and earn their pilot wings. It's great teaching them how to fly and being back around the flying squadron life. Hope to do this for at least 10 years. We have some pilot still flying into their 70s with more than 20,000 helicopter hours.

[Brian 162]

^^^^ That looks like fun. I'd love to go on one of those. I've always loved the sound of the Huey's.

I retired 2.5 years ago. I was in hvac for 35 years. The physical work started to get to me. I couldn't wait to retire.
I never married or had children so for me retiring was easier financially than if I had a family. I now sleep in putter around the house and meet friends for lunch. My g/f is still working so I've also taken a few solo road trips. I've also instructed a little more in PCA DE's.

[95avblm3]

Originally Posted by pavegeno

After seven years of not flying, I retired from the Air Force after 27 years and got my dream job: back flying for the Air Force as a contractor teaching young Second Lieutenants (22 year olds) how to fly helicopters and earn their pilot wings. It's great teaching them how to fly and being back around the flying squadron life. Hope to do this for at least 10 years. We have some pilot still flying into their 70s with more than 20,000 helicopter hours.

Hi there pavegeno! I didn't know you were on Pelican. This is Jimmy's friend Jeremy with the Boxster. Congratulations on your retirement. I have a question for you... I will send a PM.

[dmcummins]

I’ve been retired now for 10 years. When I was working I never had time to do much but work. It enabled me to be able to retire at 50 though. Now I have time to do pretty much whatever I want. I took up flying and bought a plane, i really enjoy it. I’m also a avid golfer so I have plenty of time for that. My wife and I have also started traveling more.

It’s just nice that my time is my own. No way I would go back to work. And now that I’m 60 I’m seeing that I probably only have so many good, healthy years left. Why rent them out?

[ted]

Originally Posted by dmcummins

I’m 60 I’m seeing that I probably only have so many good, healthy years left. Why rent them out?

About the same experience and time line here too.
I have met very few retired 50 years olds in the last decade.
In retirement you go from 40 hours a week working with high performance people to hanging out with new friends, many in there 40s and 50s that are unable to work with health issues.

Also at about the time you can retire you may be on hook for long term health care for your parents or your in laws.
My MIL was diagnosed with Alzheimers a few months after I retired.
She is getting the best care possible going on her 10th year in a memory care unit.
Plans and Priorities change...

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

You sold your car collection? You had some great cars, Curt!

I love your approach to retirement. I've added in retirement, a sailboat. Probably 5-10 years from now, I'll move on from the toys and look into the RV approach to North American travel. We're front-loading our international travel since retiring last year. Get it done while we're in our best health!

Thanks Jim. I've had more cars than I ever dreamed I'd own. And as I tell everyone, I still love cars, I just don't love owning them anymore. I don't miss them at all.

That health thing suddenly becomes real around 60, if not for yourself, then for those around you. 2 funerals in the last week alone and more heart surgeries, etc. among relatives and friends then I can count. Luckily my wife and I are still very healthy ... knock on wood Safe travels!

[Seahawk]

Very interesting thread with some great insights. I'll add mine.

I retired from the Navy in 2009. My wife works and we had planned well financially so working only with people I wanted to associate with on efforts I wanted to be a part of became my focus.

I still work full time but I am very selfish about my schedule and my priorities, which of course in the military you cannot always be in control of.

For instance, weather permitting I walk my dogs every morning for 45 minutes then get on the elliptical. Depending on sunrise, that gets me to my home office by 0830. Everybody knows that and we schedule accordingly. Sounds like a little thing but I feel that control over schedule is a huge luxury.

That is it from me: What changed after my first retirement was much more control over what I work on, with whom I work with and my schedule.

I love it.

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by ted

Also at about the time you can retire you may be on hook for long term health care for your parents or your in laws.
My MIL was diagnosed with Alzheimers a few months after I retired.
She is getting the best care possible going on her 10th year in a memory care unit.
Plans and Priorities change...

No doubt Mike. 81YO MIL had dementia-related issues for the past 5+years and unfortunately just passed away. My 86YO mother is recovering from open-heart surgery and needs daily assistance from us. 87YO FIL is still going pretty good but operating on artificial hips and knees. More than happy to provide whatever they all need, but it does change one's lifestyle a bit.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

My experience is as life altering goes & as I've related in a similar topic & a couple of you gents have alluded to here, I seem to be much busier now than during my day to day working life. The cool thing is the usual attendant stress levels of regular employment have all but disappeared.

Advice I would give or say to anyone contemplating retirement is make sure you have something to retire to, be it a hobby or some sort of avocation & to take care of your health. Take an hour or two per day (weekends off) & make going to the gym or some other physical activity as part of your "new job" & cut down on the sugar - especially the white death

It's all good
Cheers
JB

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by KC911

I'd have to think about it .

Maybe not...changing the number on the front, or adding a 0 on the end of my net worth wouldn't change me at this point....not a bit. I'm relatively poor by PPOT standards....and stoooopid too . Stoopid happy though....

Kudos to you! I feel the same. Actually, I feel sorry for those who think life is about money and accumulating "stuff".

[tabs]

Originally Posted by rcooled

Gee, thanks for all the positive vibes there tabs...

Glad to be of help.