Ahhh, retirement

FrankS

FrankS

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So I'm about 6 months into retirement after almost 30 years as an elementary school teacher. A very satisfying carreer but one that was very controlled: jumping to the bell, always being careful what and how you say things, and under constant scrutiny. It was an energy and patience draining experience.

To mark my retirement, I immediately went on a fantastic 30 day solo motorcycle trip of 9,000 miles through 25 US states on a vintage Honda cb750.

Job related concerns have been replaced by family worries. (a still unsettled teenager and elderly parents' health issues) The freedom to travel with my wife and to spend endless hours engaged with photography have not yet been realized, but I am loving my new relaxed lifestyle and am still decompressing. I am not the least bit bored with my relatively unstructured time.

I'd love to hear from experienced retirees about your experience (photography or life related) and any advice you may have for me. One lesson for sure, is to enjoy your health while you still have it.
 
Although it's Saturday, Frank, I guess everyone is down at the mill working OT to pay for their gear. ;-)

As for me, I work halftime now and do not plan or wish to return to FTE. But then I'm social-security eligible, just putting it off a bit longer, and will have another institutional pension when I do retire. Happily my grown children earn all they need, and pursue work they enjoy.

So I foresee more leisure for modest photography trips, spending actual time darkroom ing again, practicing jazz, and preparing to play grandpa (or not).
 
Hi,

I think you did the right thing going away on holiday - sort of - and then coming home and staying rather than go back to work as you would have done a while ago. It eases the change over in your lifestyle, which can be a shock.

I can't offer much advice, you'll find it's not quite as you expected with one or two surprises no one tells you about. All your clothes will be wrong for a start (I had too many suits and black shoes & socks for example), and we found expenditure on food dropped a lot as we could plan shopping and not rush into it. Same applies elsewhere, you have time to think about things and can be more sensible.

Life will, of course, continue as it did before with the best laid plans etc, etc but they (problems) don't hit as hard due to the more laid back state you get into once free from work pressures. Of course, the family will find things for you to do and you'll wonder at times how you found time to work...

Hope this helps.

Regards, David

PS The weirdest thing I found was that when I have wear a tie I can't remember how to do the knot and so on. You'd think after decades of wearing a suit, collar and tie it would stay in your mind but like people's names and words for things you don't use any more it fades away.
 
On Feb 1st my wife and I celebrated my 17th year of retirement. It 's been the best part of my entire life and just about everything has gone perfectly for us.I've enjoyed every day of it and I feel very blessed for everything. Retirement is just about as perfect as can be.
 
If you are like me, heaven forbid, you will find that what worried you while you were at work doesn't worry you any more. Worries wont go away they are just replaced by others hopefully not as critical!
Life does slow down too - the pressures aren't as great so you tend to take that little bit more time over things, and as a result you don't get as much done as you think you should. And physically things are that little bit more difficult to do - you don't grip as hard as you used to, you can't lift quite as much. It's something I've realised after nearly 20 years of retirement.
Fitness does come into it - I walk several miles a day (not sure if the old dog takes me or its vice versa), I try to cycle at least a mile everyday, I'm up and down stairs many times a day because I have a first floor study. So I think I am reasonably fit for my age - and I try to eat sensibly and very regularly. My wife and I have formal sit down meals virtually twice a day so I do have a routine.
Life is very good in comparison with many others.
There is time for you to do want you want, but not quite as much as you might have imagined.
So keep that old bike going as long as you can.
Have regular exercise and sustenance.
Incidentally I was in a related occupation to yours but at a different level
 
That bit about eating is important as you are no longer fuelling a working day and might just put on a bit of f*t. Especially if you have a young lady around to remind you that she still weighs the same as she did 50 years ago. It's a hard life at times...

Regards, David
 
I'm into my 8th year being retired (I was 62 then), and am ever so thankful and enjoying life enormously.
Health is a big factor as you get older - I have been extremely lucky (some of my friends have not). I've observed that sudden, catastrophic, life changing / life ending illness can strike anyone - ANYONE - whatever your general health may be. So . . . have as much of a life as you can, and don't put off those dreams until "next year", because "next year" may not be yours to have. Seriously.

Retired life can be wonderful (mine is), but it's not a certainty, so don't take it for granted.
 
Here's wishing all you retirees many happy and healthy years. My husband retired in October and I must admit I was kind of dreading it. However, I can honestly say that it's brilliant having him home and after 32 years marriage we've never been happier.
All the best to you all.
 
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