Most retirees find retirement doesn't live up to their expectations

CDGator

Not Seedy
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Jul 24, 2020
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Just wrong :) must have been written by someone who didn't have to manage a bunch of children:headslap:
My blood pressure dropped 10pts and I fish way more. Try it. I recommend moving far from Florida though, the boat ramps are crowded.

reminds me of this song

 

stephenPE

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Jul 20, 2014
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Retirement. I did 40 yrs in a classroom but most of the time was the big outdoors. It did a number on my skin. But I had more fun than should be allowed. I chckd my FRS and SS and it appeared I would not starve so at 63 I cut the cord. I miss the kids and good folks I worked with but DO NOT miss walkiing out there on real cold wet mornings, wondering if the rain will make me song and dance all day in their classrooms and dont miss those miserable 90° days with humidity to make you drip by 9am. What did I do? Well I tutored kids, I mentored kids. I worked for the supervisor of elections (nole fan but wonderful fella). I got on the city council (Vice Mayor) and I fish. I do have two teens so that in itself is almost a full time job. I like retirement. The wife person moved out last year so that changed up some things but for the better. Its actually like having 3 teens at times. My advice is do not sit a lot. Have an excercise routine. Have a few friends to touch base with and spend time with them a few times a week. Give thanks for what you have and quit worrying so much. Visit GC for some lunacy or comedy. Dont tie your ego and well being too closely to gator fortunes. Meet up with me for breakfast once in awhile. I will usually pay. Take time to observe people and the physical world. Its much better than what you think or allow the media to make you believe........oh yeah, listen to the music you love, again.
 

Marine1

Semper Fidelis
Dec 20, 2015
2,923
8,113
I retired at 59. Bought some toys...:Jeep, Boat, jet skis, etc. Had some fun but my wife is nearly a decade younger and working and virtually all my friends were younger and working. I hate traveling any farther than the Keys because I hate sightseeing and the like. As I started to get bored....I joined a couple of boards of directors (no pay) to stay engaged. Then the organization I had retired from as a Director asked me to come back. Been back now 2 1/2 years and have enjoyed it. Just now starting to think about how much longer I will work. Going on 63 soon....
 

g8tr76

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Mar 28, 2016
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I will be 74 and I will never retire. I am a scientist and love my profession. But I can be more selective of projects I take on and work fewer hours.

Back in my youth (60s and 70s), I played in everything from bluegrass to rock n roll bands, but I gave up music while working until last year. Now I play guitar two or three hours every day and learn the songs I liked over the last 40 years. I am not interested in gigs anymore but living rooms and campfires are the best.

I am also a member of a service organization and that was probably the best thing I ever did. Providing educational and humanitarian aid to those less fortunate is completely fulfilling. I have helped bring water and sanitary services to desolate places, installed air condition units into disabled military housing, packed food for hungry citizens, helped provide funds to defeat polio and other diseases and supported local charities.

I have other hobbies and activities, so I cannot imagine doing nothing or sitting in front of the tv all day. I should probably become more involved in church; but that will probably happen WHEN i GET OLD!.
 
Jun 2, 2015
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Retirement from a female's point of view: I worked full-time till age 65, then part time thru age 70 & initially cleaned out drawers, cabinets, nooks, attic, etc. in my home, getting rid of a lot of "stuff". I love reading & routinely read 2-3 novels a week, but worried I would become a recluse. So, then began volunteering, plus became involved politically & worked a presidential campaign and voting precinct I love foreign travel and began with a group of close friends traveling 2 Europe/Asia mainly 2-3 times a year till age 78 when I began having some health problems. As I am nearing 83, I have become more sedentary but I still enjoy reading, surfing the net including, of course, posting on GC, reading the newspaper, (I watch very little TV, except during football season), plus have plenty of time to voice my opinion to the elected officials by phone & email. I still do limited volunteering, have lunch/breakfast with a group of friends a couple of times a week & am now assisting one of my grandsons in his business by being his telephone answering service on my cell phone. Main advise I would give to someone who is retiring is to not put off things you enjoy such as travel, keep physically active and to do things that give you satisfaction of still being helpful and needed in society.
 

BMF

Bad Mother....
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Sep 8, 2014
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@Marine1 @daytonacane @g8tr76 @stephenPE - good stuff from all of you.

Stephen - you were an elected official? I bet that was interesting! I hope you are a "pension killer" (that's what we call guys who live a long life post-retirement vs. a 'pension builder').

DaytonaCane - 83! Wow!! Good for you! I hope you live many, many more years!

g8tr76 - I've always wanted to learn to play the guitar. I have an acoustic guitar and have taken lessons....but I still suck (I don't practice enough). Maybe one of these days!!

Marine1 - you seem to be doing it right. 63 is still "young" (per se), and you're doing it because you want to...not because you 'have to'. I have just under 62 months and I can get my third pension - I'm not sure if I'll make the 62 months, but if I can it would be ideal (setting me up for a very fruitful retirement - financially) and I'll be a few months shy of 56.
 

Back Alley Gator

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Jul 16, 2018
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I’ll be .... I did not know about this.

Always wondered about the Ark. What did they feed the predators? Think about what a job cleaning out the stalls was. How did one clean out the stalls of the Lions, Tigers, and Bears (oh my)?

I always wondered where they put the dinosaurs on the ark....
 

stephenPE

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Jul 20, 2014
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I always wondered where they put the dinosaurs on the ark....
They towed them but those prehistoric killer whales ate them all............
112614_Mosasaur_FEAT.jpg
 
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Back Alley Gator

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Im 51 in a young man's field. (Software development). I plan on working in my current job until they shuttle me out and replace me with a kid making 1/4 what I do, and who asks fewer questions. After that, I will probably volunteer to work in various research labs (microbiology, genetics etc) until I shake too much to hold the pipette. The alternative would be to take whatever money I have earned...buy as much property as far from people as possible and live out my days as a hermit. Don't much like people anyway...
 

stephenPE

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Stephen - you were an elected official? I bet that was interesting! I hope you are a "pension killer" (that's what we call guys who live a long life post-retirement vs. a 'pension builder').
Still serving and trying to remain fit and healthy so those chcks keep coming.......actually I took it reduced so my ex gets it when Im gone.......for the kids
 

NOLAGATOR

God uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible
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Aug 20, 2018
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Retirement from a female's point of view: I worked full-time till age 65, then part time thru age 70 & initially cleaned out drawers, cabinets, nooks, attic, etc. in my home, getting rid of a lot of "stuff". I love reading & routinely read 2-3 novels a week, but worried I would become a recluse. So, then began volunteering, plus became involved politically & worked a presidential campaign and voting precinct I love foreign travel and began with a group of close friends traveling 2 Europe/Asia mainly 2-3 times a year till age 78 when I began having some health problems. As I am nearing 83, I have become more sedentary but I still enjoy reading, surfing the net including, of course, posting on GC, reading the newspaper, (I watch very little TV, except during football season), plus have plenty of time to voice my opinion to the elected officials by phone & email. I still do limited volunteering, have lunch/breakfast with a group of friends a couple of times a week & am now assisting one of my grandsons in his business by being his telephone answering service on my cell phone. Main advise I would give to someone who is retiring is to not put off things you enjoy such as travel, keep physically active and to do things that give you satisfaction of still being helpful and needed in society.

God Bless you... that active in your 80s...I pray I'm as sharp as you at that age...I struggle and I have 20 plus years to go.
 
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Zambo

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I haven't flown a plane since august. I've been playing golf and tinkering in the garage and although its only been 7 months I don't miss work one tiny little bit. And that's even considering that a lot of stuff I want to do, like travel, is still mostly or at least somewhat shut down. I was worried that when retirement came I wouldn't know what to do with myself. But the truth is that basically doing nothing of importance and just taking it easy fits the bill quite nicely. I'm almost ready to convince the wife to sell everything and move to Belize or something.
 

Bushmaster

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Jul 27, 2018
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Retirement from a female's point of view: I worked full-time till age 65, then part time thru age 70 & initially cleaned out drawers, cabinets, nooks, attic, etc. in my home, getting rid of a lot of "stuff". I love reading & routinely read 2-3 novels a week, but worried I would become a recluse. So, then began volunteering, plus became involved politically & worked a presidential campaign and voting precinct I love foreign travel and began with a group of close friends traveling 2 Europe/Asia mainly 2-3 times a year till age 78 when I began having some health problems. As I am nearing 83, I have become more sedentary but I still enjoy reading, surfing the net including, of course, posting on GC, reading the newspaper, (I watch very little TV, except during football season), plus have plenty of time to voice my opinion to the elected officials by phone & email. I still do limited volunteering, have lunch/breakfast with a group of friends a couple of times a week & am now assisting one of my grandsons in his business by being his telephone answering service on my cell phone. Main advise I would give to someone who is retiring is to not put off things you enjoy such as travel, keep physically active and to do things that give you satisfaction of still being helpful and needed in society.


I have about 12 years left to retire from my day job. One plan I have is to help my son start his business and I will be his unpaid side kick tagging along with him on service calls.

Or I can keep working part time in my profession.
 

NOLAGATOR

God uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible
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I haven't flown a plane since august. I've been playing golf and tinkering in the garage and although its only been 7 months I don't miss work one tiny little bit. And that's even considering that a lot of stuff I want to do, like travel, is still mostly or at least somewhat shut down. I was worried that when retirement came I wouldn't know what to do with myself. But the truth is that basically doing nothing of importance and just taking it easy fits the bill quite nicely. I'm almost ready to convince the wife to sell everything and move to Belize or something.

I'm trying to do the same but...GRANDKIDS...this is South Louisiana which for some reason makes it worse:snob:
 

Durty South Swamp

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I haven't flown a plane since august. I've been playing golf and tinkering in the garage and although its only been 7 months I don't miss work one tiny little bit. And that's even considering that a lot of stuff I want to do, like travel, is still mostly or at least somewhat shut down. I was worried that when retirement came I wouldn't know what to do with myself. But the truth is that basically doing nothing of importance and just taking it easy fits the bill quite nicely. I'm almost ready to convince the wife to sell everything and move to Belize or something.
Belize is an absolute dump, an armpit. If you're going south it's costa rica or bust.
 

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