So Now What

[mrtlc]

35 years is enough in one place, so I pulled the plug and Retired yesterday!! Now What 
 I'm going to take two years and just do the things I want. Time for some me time.
No more it sure would be nice to be on a bike ride today, just get on and Go. 
No more it sure would be nice to be on the ice catching some crappie's, just go get'um   
 Life as I have known it is about to change. 
It will take a couple years of so-so days to catch up on the things I've let slip. 
So any advise from the experts may be taken, but maybe not. Remember this is me time. 
 MRTLC looking for the new me.

[Rams]

Been there.

Never did get the "Honey Do" list completed.
Hell, I haven't even gotten my own list done but, it's my time to do what I want to do, I went back to work part time.   I get bored easily.

Limited advice here, do what makes you happy, what ever that that you can afford to do.

Rams 

[Patrick]

Been pretty much doing just that for the past 15 yrs.  Life is good, errr, nope, life is great !

[bscrive]

Move south where it is warm and you can ride every day.  I hear that South Carolina is nice.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Congratulations 

[Jess from VA]

The first thing to do, if you spent a lifetime as a type A hard worker, is just to learn to relax.  And to be able to take pleasure from the simple things.

For type A types (like me), relaxing brought on guilt and restlessness. (see the Protestant Ethic)

It took me about 6 months to get used to relaxing (and not living by the clock, and 35 years of hard motivation).

I'm not talking about full time couch potato, but make the days yours, and not someone else's.

Congratulations BTW.   

[Pete]

Even with list of any kind, do what you want when you want.

Consider the weather and make the best use of each day.

Do not hurry, take your time, most things will wait til you get to it and usually no one else will do it.

If you get up and you do not want to do something, Don't.

Do not be hesitate to reschedule things on a moments notice so you can enjoy something else.

Since many of your friends may still be working, you may be on your own more, that is ok.

Feel no guilt, as you have earned your retirement, so enjoy it.

As others have said it takes time to adjust.

[sandy]

Never go to the bank, post office or grocery store on the same day.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Never go to the bank, post office or grocery store on the same day.

[cookiedough]

go ice fishing nearby Lake Redstone or WI or Mississippi river or even Castle Rock lake.

go buy a nice stable fishing kayak and take trips down the WI river, etc.  Farm and Fleet just had a great sale on nice fishing kayak that I think would support my heavier weight 1/2 off at 150 bucks normally over 300.

go take a nature hike or cycle ride thru nearby Wildcat Mountain state park

so many fun roads up there to ride for sure!  

Enjoy sleeping in and staying up late if so desired...  

Living the dream for sure!  Can I retire also some 20 years early?    

[mrtlc]

Well I'm not real good at taking advise, but this all sounds like real good advise. I think I'll take all of it. Thanks Terry

[sheets]

For type A types (like me), relaxing brought on guilt and restlessness. (see the Protestant Ethic)

It took me about 6 months to get used to relaxing (and not living by the clock, and 35 years of hard motivation).

As of now, 6 1/2 years for me. After 38 years, including being called back to work at "any" time of day or night - 24/7 (and it happened routinely) it did take time to adjust. Do what ya want when ya want. I recall the first week I was retired I sat down in my easy chair and fell asleep. Four hours later I woke up. It felt good. Been putz'n around the digg'ns nonstop ever since. I start late and quit early. I don't putz in the rain.  Enjoy. You earned it.

[JimC]

Terry,
With your crew I am guessing that the Mrs is still working?
If she is, I will share the secret to retirement.

Sometime before she gets home from work, make the bed.

It took me a couple of years to figure it out, now when the Mrs comes home and asks me what I did all day,
I tell her I made the bed!!

She can not bitch about me doing nothing that way (lol)

You will figure it out, good luck in retirement, and I hope to see you in Taos this June, if not before.

Jim

[Jess from VA]

Speaking of wives, if you have one it's good advice to factor her and your relationship into your retirement.

It's hard to understand how when some men with good marriages retire and are home all the time, their relationship changes for the worse.  Do what it takes if this does become an issue.  It really sucks to have a pretty good marriage blow up after so many years.  But it happens. 

I took a 2/3 pay cut to retire.  I always saved hard and lived frugally, so it was not a big deal for me.  But that's another angle of retirement to pay attention to.  I continue to save in retirement; not that much, but it was great to buy my last truck all out of money I saved since retirement (with a small value trade in).

Today, I'd be afraid of being largely in the market (mutual funds and such) after retirement.  You take a big hit, it's hard to make any back on retirement money.  It's more important to protect what you have, than to try and make more. 

[DirtyDan]

Ride............

As much as you can......

One day you may be happy that you did

Dan

[John Schmidt]

In April it will be 15 yrs. since I retired, stayed until age 66 and finally tossed in the towel. Never regretted it for one minute but did take a few weeks to adjust to the new daily routine. I found out it didn't make much difference when I started my day so I often chose to start out slow and slack off.    In the end, you'll find it difficult to understand how you ever had enough time to go to work.

[cookiedough]

In the end, you'll find it difficult to understand how you ever had enough time to go to work.

Keep it that way since I know 2 in good shape retirees from previous employer that both died shockingly only a few months after retiring was in shock to find that out.  Stay active as long as you can and enjoy the freedom of not being in the daily grind anymore as in the past 30+ years. 

some days I wish I was retired while other days I wish I was 20 years younger, sort of sucks being caught in the middle but better than 6 feet under.....

[ridingron]

While enjoying his morning coffee, the wife ask him what he was doing today. Nothing was the reply. You did that yesterday she counters. I know, I didn't get finished.     

[Rams]

Speaking of wives, if you have one it's good advice to factor her and your relationship into your retirement.

I don't know your situation but, this is probably the best advice given.  Family, spouse, kids, grandkids....
It's all about priorities.   Decide what's important and follow your heart.

Rams 

[0leman]

Its been 10 years since I walked out after 40 years of working. 

Took about 6 months before I could sleep in till 7:00 (when working got up at 5:00).  Money was a question at the time I left, but found that We are doing OK, even saving some of it.

It is great that I can go for a ride when the weather and my mood says go, not having to rely on weekends only.  The stress of the job is gone, do enjoy life more, family/friends..

You have gotten some great advice above, take what suits you and enjoy your retirement.

[MarkT]

This is all great advice.  I should make a sign out of much of it and hang it on the wall as a reminder.  After all, I can't remember shite - nice to have it on the wall.  The wife is 10 years younger and she still thinks I'm going to have days filled like hers and so gives me Hell for doing less.  I AM slowing down but not stopping or completely doing just the fun stuff.  I have to remind her that agewise, I could be officially retired and I have the money.  But I like to keep my hand in on my business, and still make great products for those who want them.  I'm not pushing anymore, just taking it as it comes.  Have ideas for new products but not sure I want to kick off anything new. That takes push and drive which I'd rather kick back and take it easy.  However I know of lots of people who retired then lost their raison d'etre and kicked the bucket not much later.  I'm not going to waste the knowledge I've built and continue to benefit our community.

[Pappy!]

Also went back to a job I enjoy (Part time) just to keep in shape mentally and physically.
As long as I mark it on the schedule I can come and go as I want at "work".

[hueco]

In April it will be 15 yrs. since I retired, stayed until age 66 and finally tossed in the towel. Never regretted it for one minute but did take a few weeks to adjust to the new daily routine. I found out it didn't make much difference when I started my day so I often chose to start out slow and slack off.    In the end, you'll find it difficult to understand how you ever had enough time to go to work.

Damn. Mr. John Schmidt, you are 80-81 years old? I just retired at 64 years old. I hope I am still riding when I am 80. Way to go. Keep your knees in the breeze.

[JimBob]

I retired 6 years ago after working for 33.
(I was going to work longer, but the management changed, and the job went from one that was great, to one that just wasn't fun anymore.)

Anyway...... one hears all these stories about "So-and-so is all depressed, doesn't know what to do with himself now he's not the such-and-such anymore."

My experience was this:
About two weeks after I retired, my GORGEOUS Ex-Fiancee and I were leaving a local restaurant when two (still-employed) guys I used to work with came in.
They got all excited and came over and asked me:
"Jim, what's it like, being retired?"

I stood there for a second, then grasped my shirt front and raised by head and turned it to the side a bit, like an old-time politician grasping his lapel and beginning a speech. "Well......" I turned my head back to face them and said "Every Day is SATURDAY!"
One of them said "I don't want to hear about it!" and we all laughed!

Keep active, and do all those things that you never had time for before.
and remember:

You don't quit Riding because you get Old.
You get Old because you Quit Riding!

Congratulations and All the Best!

Jim

[shortleg]

35 years is enough in one place, so I pulled the plug and Retired yesterday!! Now What
 I'm going to take two years and just do the things I want. Time for some me time.
No more it sure would be nice to be on a bike ride today, just get on and Go.  
No more it sure would be nice to be on the ice catching some crappie's, just go get'um  
 Life as I have known it is about to change.  
It will take a couple years of so-so days to catch up on the things I've let slip.  
So any advise from the experts may be taken, but maybe not. Remember this is me time.  
 MRTLC looking for the new me.

   The first thing I leaned was that a man is not defined by his job.
  Also I know it took me a few years now to not feel guilty if I slept pass 4am.
     I found it necessary to find things to do and have list of things to do and do them!

[Randy52]

Congrads  , You won't run out of things to do with hobbies , kids, get that deuce & 1/2 running. Stop over any time, were only 3 miles apart. I'm usually in garage mucking about with the Valk.  We could do some rides this summer.  I joined fitness place in Mauston. Working out helps me physically & mentally since retired 2 years ago, plus meet lots of nice people.      Randy                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

[Wizzard]

I tried it for 3 years and got bored. Went back to work after a head hunter called me.
Wife came home from work one day and I was sitting in the sun room staring out the window. She said "What are you doing"?. I said "Nothing".
"Weren't you doing that yesterday" she said.
I replied "yes but I wasn't done yet"

[indybobm]

Enjoy! Get some lip balm to keep four lips from cracking from smiling too much.

[Pete]

I tried it for 3 years and got bored. Went back to work after a head hunter called me.
Wife came home from work one day and I was sitting in the sun room staring out the window. She said "What are you doing"?. I said "Nothing".
"Weren't you doing that yesterday" she said.
I replied "yes but I wasn't done yet"

Good thought and good joke.
You are right if you do not have a hobby, a pastime, something to do, it can get boring.
But then I can always go for a ride, so how could I get bored?

[HayHauler]

"Wife asks, What you going to do today?  Me, NOTHING, and I ain't gonna start that 'till noon!"

Hay
Jimmyt

[Wizzard]

I tried it for 3 years and got bored. Went back to work after a head hunter called me.
Wife came home from work one day and I was sitting in the sun room staring out the window. She said "What are you doing"?. I said "Nothing".
"Weren't you doing that yesterday" she said.
I replied "yes but I wasn't done yet"

Good thought and good joke.
You are right if you do not have a hobby, a pastime, something to do, it can get boring.
But then I can always go for a ride, so how could I get bored?

Glad you recognized my joke Pete,, you are right, I have many hobbies and I am never idle, but as an EE I missed my day to day and they tempted me and I went back to work. I figure in maybe another 5 years I will try the "retire" thing again.