Advice in Retirement

[Claude L.-Auger]

Am now 68 and have been retired for 7+ years. I too was worried about being bored...and being hard pressed for money. I'm lucky to be in very good health and I found out that it's costing much less than I thought, e.i. my 04 Volvo still runs fine and satisfies me plenty, jeans last a lot longer than dress pants and I have not needed to buy a new suit or ties since retiring, etc... A little busy with "honey-do" projects and extremely busy sailing and messing around boats all year round. With 52 outings I sailed close to 800 nm last summer in Canada and with a little golf and more sailing with friends here in Florida during the winter I am so busy that I don't see time go by. In fact, I have been heard to say that I am going to look for a job so I can at least rest from 8 to 5 LOL. Don't worry, if you were active with non-work related things before retirement, you're not going to be idle now. You'll only have more time to do the things you really enjoy. Good luck with you plans.

 

[kito]

I think the thing I will enjoy most when I retire is sitting on my deck in the morning sipping on a hot coffee and waving bye to my neighbors as they leave for work.

 

[Tsam]

Have been retired for 10 months - purchasing and refurbishing a 30 year sailboat was a great transition project. Wouldn't want to make sailing a "job" although like to sail or golf or work on boat and other property as often as possible. As a retired finance person my biggest challange is protecting what I have worked so hard to build over the last thirty year - my retirement savings. It is not easy with most advisors being motivated by the continuation of their fee income.

As far as coordinating with wife's activities/schedule, we have a saying "For better and for worse, but not for lunch!" We give each other space so she can continue on with her relationships/acitivites and I can pursue my own.

Regardless, "retirement is way better than it is advertised".

 

[sandpiper10471]

Best job a person could have. I only do that which I love to do now. I teach skiing all winter and work on boats in the summer. I do a small amount of chartering with my boat but have a lot of work repairing other people's fiberglass and wet cores. Also got some heavy duty sewing machines and there is quite the cry for those projects. Since my retirement funds went south I have lived cheaply and earn just enough to avoid dipping into my pension. Life is good.

 

[seadaddler]

Love Retired

Before retiring and stating I don't need to work do to good icome with me and my wife's pensions and everyone saying I would be bored and hate Florida,not for a second have we been bored with all that is going on we do need to rest and just stay in our house and do nothing and maybe watch TV every now and than.
We do do alot of sailing and cruising with our H-36 in a club and travel in the USA and around the world too,have fun and stay active in what ever you both enjoy doing,I only wish I would have retired at a younger age like maybe 55.
Nick

 

[Old Sailor 2]

This forum and you folks are great. I put in my paperwork to retire Jan 31. Just in time to have a month of Christmas recovery and then gear up for the summer sailing. I just hope the yayhoos on Capital Hill do what is right so none of us lose our savings. But if so, I can always go back to work. Thanks for the encouragement and the insight. See you on the water! Sandy

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Just stumbled across this thread as I haven't had a chance to log on in a while. I planned on retiring sometime in the spring at 63 1/2 but with winter coming I just don't feel like another 2 to 3 months fighting snow, traffic, deadlines, corporate BS etc. After reading this thread I think I'll pack it in come February. Time to turn it over the younger engineers. Just have to convince the admiral that I won't be driving her crazy and that there will still be checks coming in every month.

 

[Old Sailor 2]

Just stumbled across this thread as I haven't had a chance to log on in a while. I planned on retiring sometime in the spring at 63 1/2 but with winter coming I just don't feel like another 2 to 3 months fighting snow, traffic, deadlines, corporate BS etc. After reading this thread I think I'll pack it in come February. Time to turn it over the younger engineers. Just have to convince the admiral that I won't be driving her crazy and that there will still be checks coming in every month.

Funny how we (grammar?) engineers are feeling lile we should leave it "to the young engineers". My feelings too! I spent the weekend on the boat in San Diego. Took Friday off to travel. By about 10 AM on Saturdy my heart rate was normal, my intensity was reduced, my headache from Wednesday had vanished, my "travel" consisted of going to the marina club house for a shower and cup of coffee which entailed walking the dock and hailing "good morning" to my fellow sailors who were sitting on their decks having coffee. Gee, let's think. 30 mile/one hour drive in traffic to deal with the business world as it has eveolved vs. "good morning, come over for coffee" chit chat with fellow boaters. I think I choose the business world......NOT! It is time to leave my slide rule world and inked drawings and let the computer geeks with their CADD and word processing move the country "forward". The good Lord created this eath covered by 70% water which is a message that we should spend at least 70% of our time ON the water.