Freedom 55

[Trog]

In three weeks, I'll be retiring. After 22 years, my employer is shutting down operations. They were pretty generous with the severance package, so I figure I'll give retirement a try.

So for you guys (and gals) who were lucky enough to exit the work force early, how the heck do you keep busy?

[recycled sixtie]

Find some hobbies:

I joined Toastmasters
Understand what budgeting is. Know where the $$ goes. Make a list of where the $$$$ go. If your incoming $$$ is more than what you spend then you are ahead.
Don't expect your g/f likes you coz you are around more!
Stay healthy or get healthy. See your doc to see if you are healthy. Use that as a base.
Do some travelling. Have some fun. Watch big purchases like cars etc.
Work at staying married. Take a course....
Congrats, Guy.

[strupgolf]

Well it depends on how young you are. I retired on march 1 this year, age 63. My job was not a 9to5 type job, I could work 70 hrs a week, or 20 hrs week. So for me it was different. Its sad to see someone forced out of a job, but there are lots of things out there. I hope you have the skills to say " I can do that". There is not anything you cant do, put your mind to it, think about the long term, and hit the bricks. Good luck. Remember, if he's doing it, I can do it better.

[Trog]

My fear is that I have too many hobbies..... expensive hobbies!

Currently no wife, no g/f. So now I can focus on my needs exclusively.

Biggest concern is outliving my money. This retirement may be short lived.... we'll see.

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Find some hobbies:

I joined Toastmasters
Understand what budgeting is. Know where the $$ goes. Make a list of where the $$$$ go. If your incoming $$$ is more than what you spend then you are ahead.
Don't expect your g/f likes you coz you are around more!
Stay healthy or get healthy. See your doc to see if you are healthy. Use that as a base.
Do some travelling. Have some fun. Watch big purchases like cars etc.
Work at staying married. Take a course....
Congrats, Guy.

[Trog]

I'm 55 and have always been self sufficient. Boredom is my only fear. Although I have a million things on my To-Do list, what happens after that? I would hate to be one of those 'old' guys who hang out at the coffee shop all day.

Originally Posted by strupgolf

Well it depends on how young you are. I retired on march 1 this year, age 63. My job was not a 9to5 type job, I could work 70 hrs a week, or 20 hrs week. So for me it was different. Its sad to see someone forced out of a job, but there are lots of things out there. I hope you have the skills to say " I can do that". There is not anything you cant do, put your mind to it, think about the long term, and hit the bricks. Good luck. Remember, if he's doing it, I can do it better.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Trog

I'm 55 and have always been self sufficient. Boredom is my only fear. Although I have a million things on my To-Do list, what happens after that? I would hate to be one of those 'old' guys who hang out at the coffee shop all day.

When I retired from the Navy 5 years ago, I could have retired/retired but chose not to. I was 53.

One of the things the Navy does well is provide upcoming retirees with a one week class on transitioning. They go through the standard benefits, medical, education, job assistance, government opportunities, etc. fare. The information flow and the literature they provide was excellent.

At the end of the week they brought in a woman who gave a really compelling brief on how to plan a retirement to suit the individual. Like a lot of folks, I already had a follow-on job I wanted and was ready to tackle the next set of adventures, etc.

But one of her recommendations really resonated with me: Take two months off if you can afford it and don't do a thing except travel and work off the to do list around the house. Decompress, get off the achievement wheel and relax a bit, recharge. "Somewhere in that two months, you'll figure out what you really want to do in retirement."

I lasted about a month. I like to work, not hobby, around the farm work, but interesting, pop out of the rack in the morning work. The month did help me frame what I eventually came to do after I took my first post retirement job.

She also drew a diagram concerning work I wish I could repeat here: Two axis, the left axis money the bottom time. Finding the happy medium between time and money, with happiness/family/satisfaction thrown in there in between, was a good way at looking at what to do with the next, hopefully, decades of your life.

Only you can figure it out...don't hurry a thing. You may find you like hanging at the coffee shop all day

[zelrik911]

Originally Posted by Trog

so I figure I'll give retirement a try.

So for you guys (and gals) who were lucky enough to exit the work force early, how the heck do you keep busy?

I find that I like to walk a bit - not too long, (by myself) maybe just to the coffee shop, and then home. My garage is full of cars & bikes, but my body & mind seems to like this unbusy routine. I am 67.

I am surprised that I dont have more contact with ex-work friends, perhaps I was expecting too much. So I have made a new set of acquaintances mainly car & bike related.

I figure that if an opportunity throws itself in my path - I might take it up, but I have seen friends rush out and 'buy' themselves a job ( franchises) none of which have worked out.

Peter in Melbourne
PS Love Vancouver, spent lots of time in village of Steveston

[Trog]

I live in Steveston, just up the road from the marina......

Originally Posted by zelrik911

I find that I like to walk a bit - not too long, (by myself) maybe just to the coffee shop, and then home. My garage is full of cars & bikes, but my body & mind seems to like this unbusy routine. I am 67.

I am surprised that I dont have more contact with ex-work friends, perhaps I was expecting too much. So I have made a new set of acquaintances mainly car & bike related.

I figure that if an opportunity throws itself in my path - I might take it up, but I have seen friends rush out and 'buy' themselves a job ( franchises) none of which have worked out.

Peter in Melbourne
PS Love Vancouver, spent lots of time in village of Steveston

[Sunroof]

I am going on my 67th year and now in my 38th year as an Environmental Scientist (managing Environmental Programs at an Army Base). Soooooo, everyone asks "when are you going to retire, like their is supposed to be some magic age? I am not a Federal Employee only a Contractor, so this sequestration and budget reduction in the DoD next year could end most contracting and end this wonderful career. But that's okay. What to do? Hang around McDonalds with a bunch of old guys over breakfast followed by naps and TV or maybe go fishing or take on the infamous "honey - do" list? Just how does one re-invent oneself after a long career? I am too active to rest. I have my sailboat and my 73.5T to mess around in..............but

When asked by my friends just what have I wanted to do all these years...................I simply say.

I WANT TO BE A CAKE DECORATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going for it. See you at the Kroger Pastry Department

[strupgolf]

Trog, the post above says to travel. Since you have no wife or g/f, I'd say do that for a few months. Get out and explore the country. You might find a nice area and fall into a job you never imagined. Go for it, be all you can be, not what you are.

[mreid]

I took early retirement at 53 following the death of my wife. After a year, I got bored working on the house, working on the car, and working on the dating regime. So, I went back to work, got remarried, and moved! Your solution doesn't have to be so drastic...

[zelrik911]

Originally Posted by Trog

I live in Steveston, just up the road from the marina......

Fantastic pic - brings back a lot of memories. P car looks great too.

I would love to stroll that boardwalk along the river down to the village shops.

My wife's cousin & husband lived in Britannia Drive (off Moncton?) until 2 years ago. He retired & they have downsized to near White Rock. He had an oversize garage and he used to assemble & rebuild old aeroplanes in there . He restored a few old british sportscars - Healeys TRs and MGs as well.

You are in the right place as the classic car / bike (& aeroplane ) scene seemed very healthy to me.

Peter 78 SC

[Trog]

Well, I've travelled all my life for work. Been on every continent (ok, not Antarctic), and dozens and dozens of cities. Frankly, I hope never to see an airport again. So, travel is out.

I've got 2-years worth of projects on the go. After that, I'll probably look to work again. However this time, I'll try to find something that includes human contact. Perhaps McD's?

[Evans, Marv]

You said you have too many hobbies, so you apparently have lots of interests and a decent amount of related skills. One possibility would be exploring making one of those (or a combination of) hobbies into a business. Not everybody is interested in doing that, but lots of people have (a la Sunroof at least in the future). Maybe there's something you've always thought about doing you can develop into a productive & lucrative activity that also involves contact with people. The good thing is you could invest as much time & effort into it as you want, and make it an income maker or just a supplement.

[vash]

If I get out at 55, I'd like to teach high school calculus or something. Summers off, smarter kids, vacations......


Typos and bad grammar sponsored by iPhone!

[VincentVega]

I've thought about teaching too, maybe at a community college.

Way too many interests to not be busy though. Rather than be ok at many things I'd very much like to be good at at least a few of them.