okay. its unexpectedly WEIRD feeling now.

[vash]

monday morning and I am not even wearing pants.

this morning, I kissed my wife goodbye as she left for work.

I'm working on my new rhythm of life retired. it was uncomfortable for me to let all my duties and responsibilities go at work. a few of my very uptight even coworkers hugged me on Friday, and I seriously got dust in my eyes. I said bye and snuck out the side door.

tonight I will meet my fellow supervisors for a martini and a steak. I would be fishing right now, if a wildfire didnt close my route to my favorite spot. I have a mild cold anyways. I cant even jog. the lung snot is too much. the wildfire smoke would be no good for me.

I did get a very very good job offer on the consulting side. I didnt say no

[flatbutt]

Good luck Vash. Part time consulting is a good way to ease into retirement.

[Flat Six]

Congrats Vash, and good luck. Felt odd and unsettling to me for about 90 days before I settled in nicely into retirement.

[look 171]

Congrats. Now go git that big fish and ride that bike.

Tell us more about this consultant job, must be a great offer. Like all jobs, come with responsibilities. Are you ready for more? If I retired, I would like a part time job that requires me to not take any of it home. Be off and not ever think about it. Just like your fishing trips, cast your bait while your wait , I bet a million things are running through your mind associated with work. No fun.

[Skip Newsom]

Vash- Congratulations!!

The transition does take some time to adjust to, a new set of disciplines will take the place of the working "grind"

I worked from the time I was 13 part time into full time at 18 and then 36 years at the same rather large aerospace company then retired at 55 thanks to long term consistent investing and the now rare pension that was offered.
I realize I'm amazingly lucky to be in this situation, many can't even think about retirement and will need to work and work to make ends meet.
I am living the American dream.

It was an odd feeling and almost overwhelming to realize I didn't have to get up at 4 am any more, unless I wanted to.
I always had a pretty long "to do" list and that has not changed except that the things I cross off get replaced by other tasks.

My meager advice is to take some time to assess what you really want to do with this phase, but not too long!
Stay active by all means and do things that make you happy, spoil your still working wife until she can join you and do more spur of the moment things.

We have always planned out vacations and still do to a certain extent but some of the best trips we have had since retirement include unplanned "hey lets go check this out" days.

Best of luck and good health to you and the Mrs!!

[porsche tech]

Well done, Vash! I agree that it is a weird feeling at first…not to HAVE to be somewhere and not getting a paycheck any more. But I am naturally lazy so I fell right into retirement. Wait a couple of months and you’ll have so much going on you’ll wonder how you ever had time to work. Enjoy!

[pwd72s]

It is quite a transition...from using your job as a way to identify yourself to "I'm retired". May it go smoothly for you.

[oldE]

You will get over it.
When the dairy decided they didn't need a regional manager and sales representative, I was ready to go. However the next spring I was asked to work part time at the visitor center at the tidal power plant. That was fun, but when I was asked to apply for the manager's position the following year, I said "no thanks ". Being able to walk away at day's end with no obligations suited me down to the ground.

[IROC]

Congratulations, Vash!! One question I have for you (or anyone else who has retired). Did you have a plan for what you were going to do when you retire? On paper I can retire in about two weeks. In reality, I will probably retire in less than a year. One thing I worry about is whether or not I need to have a plan. I have some projects to do and plan to spend more time with my kids, but I don't have grandiose adventures planned like hiking the Appalachian Trail or anything.

I am financially prepared, but maybe not emotionally prepared, if that makes sense.

[vash]

Originally Posted by IROC

I am financially prepared, but maybe not emotionally prepared, if that makes sense.

yup. makes total sense. for me: social circles. I could use more retired friends, but it is what it is.

I think I have enough to do. but to have a crew to do it would be the best thing EVER.

[stevej37]

If you were an early riser for work....it's a challenge changing that.
Some never change it.

[masraum]

I've gotta tell ya. If I suddenly didnt' have to work tomorrow, or worry about money, I'd turn off my alarm tonight, and would sleep like a baby until my body said "it's time to get up."

I have no doubt that it would eventually get weird, but the first week or so, I don't think so.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

If you were an early riser for work....it's a challenge changing that.
Some never change it.

These days, I'm getting up at 345 and at work by ~515. But I'm not naturally an early riser. I think that within 3-4 days, I'd be staying up until somewhere between midnight and 2am and sleeping in.

But then that's always been my natural tendency, at least since I was a teen. If you'd asked me 5 years ago if I'd be getting up at 345 or 4am more than about once per year or for anything other than to take a leak, I'd have laughed hysterically.

I'm doing it voluntarily now, just to miss traffic on my commute.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by masraum

...I'd turn off my alarm tonight, and would sleep like a baby until my body said "it's time to get up."

Congrats, Vash

One of the best things about retirement is no longer waking up to an alarm clock...

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by vash

yup. makes total sense. for me: social circles. I could use more retired friends, but it is what it is.

I think I have enough to do. but to have a crew to do it would be the best thing EVER.

Grow the consulting gig. They offered you but you could be the one offering. No employees but share holders are your crew. Maybe for you, maybe not. Just 2 cents.

[Dixie]

Congratulations, you'll get the hang of it. Just remember to keep communications open with your spouse. It's a big adjustment for both of y'all.

[gregpark]

Take the consulting gig. We all need to stay busy, face challenges and have human interaction. Retiring from the 9-5 drag is great but never stop totally. I've known a number of guys who retired full stop to golf and fish and died within a few years. My theory is because in the back of their minds they had no purpose in life anymore. It's human nature, we need to continually accomplish small goals and that's what keeps us thriving

[porsche tech]

I’ve always gotten up early. Retired 14 years and still get up at 5:30 with no alarm. I love early mornings. As far as a plan…yes you need something to keep you busy. Golf, tennis and pickleball are big here but there are clubs for everything. Around here 90% of everybody is retired and everyone is here from some place else, so no cliques.

[Bill Douglas]

I've found I'm quite good at doing almost nothing and achieving very little.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I've found I'm quite good at doing almost nothing and achieving very little.

It's satisfying and after 13 years of retirement....I wouldn't want it any other way.

.