Retired? How do you fill your day?

[Rams]

I have had a job since I was 12 years old, Spent much of my adult life in the military and then joined the civilian workforce and worked my way up the management chain until the Peter Principle caught up with me. Director of OHSA in KY, Production Manager in a couple of different facilities and then General Manager of an Auto Parts store. Owned and maintained a small Hot Shot Transport entity. Have been retired for almost two years now, moved to Mississippi for a number of reasons, the economic and tax reasons being high on the priority list. Bought and completely remodeled/added on to the house we bought, finished that a few months back, trimmed back the forest that surrounded three sides of my property, cleared the fence lines and now, I'm looking for anything to do to keep me busy.

Here's my problem, I'm bored as hell. Retirement is great if, all you want to do is sit on yer ass and watch tv or play on this damn computer but, it gets old. Looking at buying the property behind my own but, the owner doesn't want to sell it quite yet, sentimental reasons. He's elderly and is holding on to it for his daughter. She tells me she doesn't want it but won't tell him that so, now I feel like a vulture waiting for him to die so I can buy it and clean it up. I hate Pine Trees. He's in a full time rest care home due to a stroke. It's a sad situation for him.

I still have all the trucks/trailers/equipment to transport all kinds of things but, really feel the need to be around to help the wife out, she's kind of clumsy and her dog has tripped her twice this year resulting in her getting hurt. I'd shoot the dog but, that would lead to other issues.

Due to the Pandemic, we don't go out much and other than delivery drivers, don't see many folks. I'm bored as hell. Being retired means, you've got a lot of time to do things but, don't have the income to really do all the things you would like to. Have addressed most of the things in my bucket list but, I'm not quite ready to die.

I joined the local EAA flying club but, they are all fixed winged guys and I get bored there, not a single one can hover.   Thought about getting back into the farming/ranching mode but, really don't have enough property (at this time) to do anything.   Not that I expect anything to come from this but, ya never know.   I'm tired of playing on this stupid computer and watching HGTV when I can't think of something else to do.   Can ya tell, I'm bored right now...   Being a slow thinker doesn't help either.....

So, what do you retired guys do?

[Bighead]

Well I also have had a job since 12. But I am not retired yet,but when I do I will be a Bruce (DDT) version 2.0

[Oss]

volunteer executive

Here are two

https://www.score.org/volunteer

https://www.escus.org/

[hubcapsc]

So, what do you retired guys do?

The part about having land to keep you busy is part of it for me.
I never get bored.

-Mike "so far..."

[da prez]

  I am working more than when I worked at a regular job. Do not know how I kept up them.
  A slow day is 

      I also enjoy that I have time to cook and try new recipes and create my own.
 We also have apartments and two offices and I also do real estate repairs and light remodeling.
 I also work on motorcycles , snow blowers and fabricate parts for many people.
  In my spare time  I try to ride a Valkyrie.

                da prez

[carolinarider09]

Hubcap is right, at least for me.  I don't get bored as much as I get stuck not doing stuff.  

Several reasons but.....   The winter time has more in door time (harder to work outside when you are over 70 and wearing all those things to sort of keep you warm.

But.....

I have several out buildings, they require attention, not a lot but some.  I have an observatory and several telescopes but have not used them much in the last 12 months.  Last "star party" was in January of last year.  That was an interesting party  

We have a dog Zoe, she requires some attention because she is our dog, so we walk her twice a day (well I take her out whenever I go out).  She likes the outside.  Oh... Zoe likes to chase Buzzards.  

The bikes require some maintenance but not a lot.  

I am considering betting back into amateur radio (I have a license just not the needed equipment, and then I would have to put up some antennas).  

Yesterday I played with reloading some .38 special ammo but I was playing and did not want to use my jacketed hollow point rounds so I looked at buying some "standard" Hornady slugs but there were none available on the three website I looked at.  

I did purchase some single caliber reloading books from "Loadbooks.com" (I think that was the address).

So, I don't do much it seems.  Sort of lazy I guess.  

Oh, I forgot I did use my new blower attachment several days last week to blow the pine straw off the roadways.  We have several that require regular maintenance.  Oh, and I forgot laying the large rocks along the driveway.  Just to mark one of the boundaries. 

Here is the video, if you read this far.  

https://youtu.be/nJ__XqfFMPo

[TTG53#1717]

Spend a good part of it in here...



 Doing stuff like adapting Razor quad brakes to old HD chopper front ends... .
Today I silver soldered some shop made mounting bungs on a tank and sealed up the fuel fittings too.
.
Then I finished removing 40 year old wrinkle paint from my motor cases and cleaned them up.
.
Tomorrow I hope to start painting the innards with Glyptal.

I also Help the wife take care of our 22 month old grandson too. It’s all good.

[Oldfishguy]

Well, not retired yet so time is limited.  

Still serve on several nonprofit BOD’s and recently have been involved with “Folds of Honor”

With my military time it spoke to me, as I’m sure it will you.

https://www.foldsofhonor.org/



Consider joining a local Legion or VFW, they need leadership.

[Jess from VA]

General maintenance keeps me medium busy.  I try to accomplish at least one thing every day (small medium or large).

Make and keep lists, that will piss you off.  

A little exercise.

Lately, I'm back to reading books.

Otherwise, as little as possible.  (mainly in the winter, which can get a bit boring.  All I have to do is reflect back on 35 years of extremely high stress school and work to remember boring can be a blessing.)

See if any local strip clubs need a bouncer.  That will make your life interesting.    

[sandy]

Never go to the bank, post office or grocery store on the SAME day. As for me, my yard, truck, and motorcycles have never looked so good. Tip; The Price is Right comes on at 9 AM PHX time.

[scooperhsd]

Not quite officially "retired", but having to look after 83 Yr old MIL with early to middling dementia keeps me busy, as well as working on the house here and there (somethings to make it more suitable for me and spouse when MIL passes on and house transfers to wife). When we got to KC, I picked up playing string bass again (after a 35-40 year absence) with a local community orchestra, and last spring I got me a digital piano (that I don't spend enough time on). I've thought about joining a 2nd orchestra as well (for more challenging music - things that are a challenge for me would kill most of my current group on their parts - I can get by with sightreading most of it). That and my seemingly endless medical and dental appointments keep me pretty busy. I like to take walks down to and around the closest park, when I think about it. I do most of our grocery shopping, and some of the cooking (I wouldn't starve, but my wife could probably do well on the bomecook competition shows on Food Network). Every so often I use my professional experiance in IT to work on computers and networks that need it.

I worked from age 14 (paper route) to age 58 and I'm tired of some of the BS. If I really got bored, I might go back for the right job, but I'm kind of enjoying this gig (MIL can sometimes be a bear to deal with).

[The emperor has no clothes]

Spend a good part of it in here...



 Doing stuff like adapting Razor quad brakes to old HD chopper front ends... .
Today I silver soldered some shop made mounting bungs on a tank and sealed up the fuel fittings too.
.
Then I finished removing 40 year old wrinkle paint from my motor cases and cleaned them up.
.
Tomorrow I hope to start painting the innards with Glyptal.

I also Help the wife take care of our 22 month old grandson too. It’s all good.

Dang, I feel downright lazy now ! Your work is impressive ! (I really like your shop) 

[carolinarider09]

Oh, I forgot riding.  Well not really since I thought it might be obvious but, I use the colder months to plan the next year's trips.  

This Year

South Florida - about 1,500 miles
Arkansas - about 2,100 miles
New England - about 2,800 miles
Blues Cruz - 1,700 miles
Missouri - 2,100 miles
Southern Valkyrie Madness Ride - 1,300 miles (more but that's the round trip)
InZane 2021 - 1,200 miles (more but that's the round trip)
Unknown Rides (yet to be planned) -  Probably two, depending on weather, ect...

I plan the trips in the cooler months.  I like to sort of know where I am going and where we are going to stop for the night.  There are no decisions to make, I just ride where the GPS tells me to go.  Sometimes some really strange places.  Sometimes some really cool ones.

[John Schmidt]

Hmm...first I get up when the spirit moves me. The spirit gets a bit lazy at times! I try to hit the gym by 2:00-2:30pm at least three days a week. That usually fills my afternoons & early evenings since I often will go out to an early dinner afterward. On days I don't hit the gym(which is also somewhat of a social event), I usually will work on the transforming the trike, run errands if needed, stop by my daughter's place to play with my new great granddaughter if it's a day she watches her. I often run by my son-in-law's shop, always a good place to kill time and lend a hand. Oftne his cousin's husband is there so it turns into a BS session. The pastor's father and I are good friends and often meet for lunch, that will kill at least 2 hrs. or more. Come bedtime I really feel tired most nights and can't really think of anything I did that would have been that exhausting. Maybe playing with the g-grdaughter....now 5 mo. old and starting to recognize different people.

One thing is for sure, I don't stay at home all the time in fear of catching something. People are often surprised at how often I go out and where I go, I don't get it....just use your head. Be careful where you go and how you mingle in stores, church, gym, etc.  Some mornings I'll stop at my favorite local greasy spoon for b'fast. Food is good and gives me a chance to interact with Tina and Carla. Two waitresses that can give it back as good as you can give it out, good clean fun. If they see me pull up, by the time I'm inside they'll have coffee, water, OJ and a menu waiting in my favorite spot. B'fast there will kill over an hour.  

[Rams]

Some interesting stuff here.  I appreciate the input.  Probably won’t follow any of them but, I’m enjoying reading what everyone else is doing.
Actually, my plan was to spend some of my Lottery winnings making the world a better place and enjoying myself.   I’m needing a Plan.B. 

Rams

[Serk]

Walmart door greeter?

[Jess from VA]

Another thing is having a spouse.

Without one, all jobs are yours. (thus busier days)

Most married folks settle into a division of labor which is fine and fair.  Maybe with some helping each other out, though there were jobs my wife didn't want my help with (in fact she insisted I not help).

Look, if you're that bored, why don't you go out and play in traffic or something?

Always a dangerous proposition, a man with extra time might ask his wife is there anything he might do to make her happy (except.... not that).  
OK, I guess I'll just go play in traffic then.  OK, have fun.

[Rams]

Walmart door greeter?

Unfortunately, I’m over qualified. 

Rams

[Ramie]

My last 30 years working I worked on older legacy computer systems and software that the young ones couldn't figure out.  When I retired I worked around the house getting everything up to date.  I ran out of things to do 6 months later and was going nuts.  Got a pt job working at a state rest area.  Mop floors, clean toilets, mow the grass, blow the snow and I love it.  Didn't really need the little money it pays, I just needed something to do.  No pressure, could care less if they every fire me but I work with a bunch of other retired guys who have always taken pride it what ever they do.

Like most others, in the spring fall and summer I find plenty to do in the yard and the garage.  I've found for me it helps to make a list when I think of something to do no matter how small it is, that way I never run out of things to do around the house.

[old2soon]

       Not near enough. But some days are Not near long enough. Others at times are tedious. My shop is NOT heated so it limits my time to work on Phatt Ghurl. I attempt to go to my favorite resturant at least once a week for break fast and my Favorite waitress. West Plains bout 25 miles from my casa and I've already been down there twice this week and Have to go again tomorrow. Oh well. I have noticed my cold tolerance temps have risen a bit as I've aged!  And takes me longer to warm up once I duz git cold!  Also KNOW gittin old(er) ain't fer wimps!  Just remembered. I have two Harbor Freight stores within approx 90 miles of me one due North and one due West. But they are building a Harbor Freight in West Plains which is 25 miles from me. A new hang out fer this old guy!  RIDE SAFE.

[ridingron]

I work around the house mowing the grass and doing a little yard work. I worked on my wood privacy fence that the mower men insist on tearing up. The grass is now dead out to about 3'. That has really helped. I don't know what happened or why it died.    My life is better now.

There are a lot of lawn mowing companies around here. Is that something you'd be interested in?

If you're really ambitious, you could do something like my ex's uncle did. He retired from military and settled into retirement and got bored. He always wanted a basement. He set out to get one. Yep, he dug a basement under his house! By hand. He did come up with a conveyor to remove the dirt from under the house. Took 3 years. I don't know what he would have done if he found a big rock!

My FIL and his neighbor dug a swimming pool. By hand. They were in their 30s. It was still in use 25 years later. The deep end was about 8' deep he said. Don't know about you, but I'm too old for that kind of foolishness stuff.

[hal47]

May the first will be 22 years retired, loving every minute of it.   

[Jess from VA]

Yep, he dug a basement under his house! By hand.

There's a real good chance I'm NEVER gonna be that bored.   


I did dig a trench at the bottom of my side yard to help with rain drainage last Summer.  I need to make it bigger, but I'm in no hurry.  Temporary ponds aren't that bad.  It also added to security.  Anyone hops my 4' fence down there might break an ankle.       

[Jess from VA]

I really like this shop too.  



Some of my house looks similar (without equipment); things to keep me interested.  

[DirtyDan]

Trying hard to enjoy my time on planet earth

Until..........

Still here

Dan

[Patrick]

A friend went to work as a Walmart door greeter. They fired him for talking too much !



I've been officially retired for 17 yrs.  But I still have to keep busy so I'm always building, fixing, maintaining something for some body in between fishing and golfing. I keep getting busier fixing golf carts, there always seems to be one sitting here with a note on it. My main problem is I hate the cold now and don't function in it.

[Rams]

When I retired I worked around the house getting everything up to date.  I ran out of things to do 6 months later and was going nuts.  Got a pt job working at a state rest area.  Mop floors, clean toilets, mow the grass, blow the snow and I love it.  Didn't really need the little money it pays, I just needed something to do.  No pressure, could care less if they every fire me but I work with a bunch of other retired guys who have always taken pride it what ever they do.

Like most others, in the spring fall and summer I find plenty to do in the yard and the garage.  I've found for me it helps to make a list when I think of something to do no matter how small it is, that way I never run out of things to do around the house.

Pretty much describes my own situation.   I do have a few "medical" restrictions that may keep me from accepting some opportunities.

Since I started considering going back to work, I went to one site to look.   Since that one time, I have been constantly harassed by texts, calls and emails trying to get me to interview.   Obviously, my contact information got sold and now it's out there.  

But, I have spoken to a few of the interesting opportunities.   What I'm being told is, most applicants either aren't willing to drug test or can't pass or, the employers can't find people willing to work.   Several times I've been told that my generation has proven to be better hires because, we will actually come to work reliably and do what the job is regardless of what it is.  

Have we as a generation not instilled a good work ethic in our kids?   Or, has it become too easy to sit on our asses at home and draw some kind of unemployment pay or "social entitlement"?

Rams

[POPS 57]

I get up in the mor. with nothing to do. And by the end of the day i'm only half done. I have a wife. Eight snowmobiles and a r.v. ice fishing house for the hard water to keep me busy. It's going to get real cold in the next couple of days. That means the sleds will be parked and the ice house will be on the water. The only problem there is when it gets real cold the ice will split apart and heave. That means no driving after dark. Told the wife staying overnight tonight. Tight lines 

[Bret SD]

Hubcap is right, at least for me.  I don't get bored as much as I get stuck not doing stuff. 

Several reasons but.....   The winter time has more in door time (harder to work outside when you are over 70 and wearing all those things to sort of keep you warm.

But.....

I have several out buildings, they require attention, not a lot but some.  I have an observatory and several telescopes but have not used them much in the last 12 months.  Last "star party" was in January of last year.  That was an interesting party 

We have a dog Zoe, she requires some attention because she is our dog, so we walk her twice a day (well I take her out whenever I go out).  She likes the outside.  Oh... Zoe likes to chase Buzzards. 

The bikes require some maintenance but not a lot. 

I am considering betting back into amateur radio (I have a license just not the needed equipment, and then I would have to put up some antennas). 

Yesterday I played with reloading some .38 special ammo but I was playing and did not want to use my jacketed hollow point rounds so I looked at buying some "standard" Hornady slugs but there were none available on the three website I looked at. 

I did purchase some single caliber reloading books from "Loadbooks.com" (I think that was the address).

So, I don't do much it seems.  Sort of lazy I guess. 

Oh, I forgot I did use my new blower attachment several days last week to blow the pine straw off the roadways.  We have several that require regular maintenance.  Oh, and I forgot laying the large rocks along the driveway.  Just to mark one of the boundaries. 

Here is the video, if you read this far. 

https://youtu.be/nJ__XqfFMPo

Nice video and looks like a nice place to live, SC is high on my list of places to live once we bug out of commie-fornia.

[carolinarider09]

Feel free to visit sometime.  

I have lived in the state most of my life, except for the six years in the US Navy and 3 years in Florida (Crystal River) and 3 years in Michigan (Midland, well really lived in Hope). 

[RDAbull]

At 70 I still work because I want to.  I retired from the classroom a couple of years ago and do kind of miss that.  At this point I am trying to figure out how I had time to teach those 20 years.  I spend 50/70 hours a week in the office during tax season and a straight 40 during the most of rest of the year if I'm not out riding somewhere.  Still like taking long weekend rides with the Cool Kids when the weather allows.  Already have half a dozen set up for this summer and fall.
My wife told me I can retire any time I want, but I still have to leave the house by 7:30.  Maybe that has something to do with it.

[TTG53#1717]

Thanks for liking my shop. I started at 14 in Metal Shop and knew my purpose in life. Junior and Senior years I had unlimited passes from study halls to report to the shop. I had about 3 hours a school day of shop time. Once I bought my 1st HD at 16 it was a whole new world.

I had a fantastic shop teacher. Robert Kuipers. I’m here today because he didn’t let me build bad motorcycle / chopper parts.

I spent 30+ years in 19 different machine shops. So many had 401k plans but they were all based on 3 years vesting and I never realized a penny.

I had my own incorporated shop for a year in ‘94 but NJ taxed, feed and environmentally put me into oblivion real quick. Dis-incorporated the business, lost thousands but kept my machines and then a company moved me to TX in ‘99. All expenses paid. That job was amazing but only lasted 20 months due to big money man corruption.

2004 I lost my 5th shop job in 4 years to foreign competition and the unemployment folks suggested I apply at a refinery that was hiring. I was #20 picked out of 1900 applicants. Vested in 401k after 1 year. I  put in 15.5 solid years, invested the max and am now retired with my little 440 sq.foot shop. Building again, the bike I bought at 16.

Definitely blessed.

[Charlie McCready]

2012 I bought the vacant lot next door. 2013 built a 40 X 60 metal building on the lot.  (in a subdivision) I have a 1978 El Camino SS I tinker with(since '87), two motorcycles, a car and truck, a 1953 Studebaker Starliner HT,  and in 2020 I bought a 1968 Massey Ferguson tractor to play with. Been retired since 2007 and don't know how I ever had time to work !!

[scooperhsd]

I occaisionally get out for a ride - like I just got home from one. Nothing too long,  just to work the cobwebs out of me and the Valk....

[semo97]

If they can not hover they are not worth sh$t, just something about those machines that gets into the blood. Take your past expert skills in those hover machines and find something in that area.

[f6john]

Today was what I hope will be my next to last day laying hardwood. I have one more box that has 22 sq ft in it and I shouldn’t have to use it all to wrap up all the floors on the main level of the house. That calls for a mini celebration on my part.

I’m waiting on a lift adapter to arrive from MarkT so I can see if my new motorcycle jack is going to be staying or going back to Harbor Freight for the more traditional floor jack model. One way or another I’m going to get the Valkyrie in the air for the first time in years so disassembly can begin in earnest.


I still have a lot of loose ends to tie up with trim work and more tile and grout to finish but I hope before summer gets here I will be struggling to figure out who to do with my “free time”!

[Warlock]

Basely retired in 2015 and had both knees replaced. Kinda limits me some. No running or mountain climbing, of course I don't like that stuff anyway. I piddle in my shop just about every day when not working on honey dues. I spend a lot of time with my church and do a lot of free mechanic work for folks who can't afford to pay to have it done. Keeps me busy and I enjoy helping people while I can. Got several home projects I'm working on. Hoping to get those finished before she finds more. Her projects seems to involve work from me. Seems I stay working more retired than when I was getting paid for it. But love every minute of it.
David

[motomama]

Walmart door greeter?

I keep suggesting that for Carl, but he just rolls his eyes and walks away!  Go figure!

[Rams]

If they can not hover they are not worth sh$t, just something about those machines that gets into the blood. Take your past expert skills in those hover machines and find something in that area.

Well now, I didn't say that, said I got bored.   They are some really nice folks, we just don't look at flying in the same way.   They don't seem to like trees, I can't tell ya how many hours of NOE I've flown.   

Rams

[JimmyG]

Hey Ron, I know you were a helicopter pilot and all. I am or was a fixed wing pilot myself, although I have time in helicopters, just not flying them, if ya know what I mean.  Anyhow, I had a thought. I don't know how you might look at this, but, go try out a auto gyrocopter if ya want to have some fun. I have flown, twins, singles, tail draggers, glider, and gyrocopter one time. It was a hoot and a half. I absolutely loved it.  I know it's not anything like being able to hover, but heck all hovering ever got us was shot at, LOL.  Anyhow, thinking of flying all the time still, just haven't had the opportunity much anymore, but if I could, I'd own a gyro and have a ball. Just a thought.