What Will You Do When You Are Retired?

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[Merna]

I plan to retire in just over two-and-a-half years at age 55. I'm by no means rich. Actually, I am a secretary and work for local government in California and have for my entire adult life (with the exception of 8 years when I was fortunate enough to take off and be a stay-at-home mom with three kids who were tired of after-school daycare and needed me to be there for them).

My husband is 17 years my senior, so he's already retired (although as an artist he says he'll never retire and cringes every time I call him that). We plan to do some travelling, but mostly I plan to get the proper amount of exercise each day, keep my house "clean" on a regular basis, see my grandkids more that I do now, and continue some of the part-time, extra-income jobs I currently do even with my full-time job (notary service, minutes secretary for City Council meetings, etc.). But even without that income, things will be just fine.

I have always been grateful for the variety of jobs I have had in government that have allowed me to remain in the same retirement system for over 30 years. I will by no means be rich when I retire, but if I stay out of debt now, and avoid the many unnecessary luxuries that we all fall for then (eating out too often, for example), we'll do just fine (my husband's social security check pays the mortgage!).

I so look forward to that time. And would have done it at age 44 if it were possible.

[Retired Syd]

@Merna--thanks for sharing your comments. I think you've got it right--just all the things you enjoy doing now, only more of them. I've found that's pretty much what it's all about.

Congratulations on setting yourself up for retirement at 55!

[French Gold Coins]

i'm in mini retirement since November.

I traveled for 3 months to India & Thailand.

I've been reading a lot of books.

I've been setting up a lot of websites.

I got admitted in the Anderson school of Management and I've been studying Calculus!

[Sylvia - Women Retiring with Gusto!]

I have just about 4 months until I retire and I'm madly trying to figure out what I'm going to do, what life will be like, how I'll manage on every level - from personal to financial. There are so many things to think about that I've also started a blog to keep track of thoughts. Please feel free to join me at http://forthefirstime.wordpress.com and share you thoughts too. Together - the way women do it all best - we'll figure this out.

[Marc Goodin]

Last April I gave my 1 year notice. I will retire April 3, 2009, 6 days before i turn fifty. i have been deciding what to do with my time - other than the general reitrement goals - get caught up - travel - etc.

I have decided two main ideas to keep me very busy. One is buy a farm, where I can plant various crops and raise two beef cows at a time. I man not a farmer - but like the outdoors.

Second is tow look into building on line businesses. Sound easy but I know it not. I just launched the first phase of an on line web commuinity, on going desing T shirt. The internet has so many sites you really have to develope a niche.

I thought about an on line blog- but holding off on that one - You all are doing such a great job.

If I don't find the farm property or get started with the cows right away I plan on going out west for the fall of 09 and to florida for jan-march for the winter of 2010.

of course since we are not rich we will have to keep an eye on expenses. It the challages of life that keep it exciting.

[Retired Syd]

Wow, well, you certainly won't be bored! Sounds exhausting to me!

[Laurie Brown]

We are already retired. What did we do? Bought a used motorhome and used Jeep, sold our home, our cars and all our belongings that wouldn't fit into the motorhome, introduced our two cats to their new life, and took off on April Fool's Day, 2003. Now we can't imagine living any other way.

My husband retired at age 60 from California state government. I was 53 so, technically, I guess I just QUIT (not old enough for any retirement benefits). Our decision to try the vagabond life was impulsive, with all research, buying and selling accomplished in the 3 months before his retirement. It was the right decision for us and we have spent the past 5+ years exploring the western US, Canada and Mexico.

We didn't jump into a "life-long" dream, or even a 5 year plan - just used retirement as a springboard to a BIG change of lifestyle with the freedom to pursue adventure, physical activity and interesting new challenges. As all the retirees I know say, "how did we ever find the time to work??"

[Retired Syd]

@Laurie: Well that's a dramatic retirement! I already agree with the number of retirees you've bee talking too-I don't know how I ever had the time to work, and my adventures are much more mundane than yours!

Thanks for your contribution and I look forward to browsing around your blog to follow your adventures.

[Karen]

Last year, I retired at the age of 42 from the Air Force. At first it was euphoric having so much free time that I've never had before. Then I went through a stage of "what do I do now? What's my purpose?", and a bit angry at myself for feeling that way. Now I am enjoying my life, which consists of:
1)being a relaxed (not rushed) stay-at-home mom to my girls, ages, 8 & 9
2) traveling worldwide with the family whenever we get the chance. (Spring Break 2009 is London, 2010 is China)
3) spending the Summers in Upstate NY at our Lake House, which I found on the internet for an absolute steal.
4) Doing volunteer work for a very worthy cause (Ronald McDonald House)
5) Helping my friends out (especially single moms) by occasionally giving them a me'time break and watching their kids.
7) Practicing frugality
8) Enjoying our hobbies, whether it be learning something new, reading, hiking, etc.
9) Occasionally working a temp-gig, only if I want to for the experience of looking around.
My husband will retire next year taking an early vested retirement at the age of 45.

[Retired Syd]

@Karen: Well, that seems to be the same type of transition experience I hear from most retirees. It is a jolt to the system at first. But it sure seems like you're in your groove now!

Congratulations for both of you being able to achieve retirement at such young age, AND with kids! That's quite an accomplishment!

[SYLVIA]

I'm three months into retirement and some days are wonderful and some days I walk around in a brain cloud trying to figure things out. This is not a complaint! I've been blogging about this ( hope some of you will pop in and share you experiences at www.forthefirstime.ca ) and am really grateful for the support I get from folks like Syd who are willing to talk about their own transition into this very new part of life. Not so easy at all ... although that's not something I can really talk much about with my friends who are mostly still working full time.

[fred doe]

i've been retired for a 1 1/2 years i traveled during my life so now i don't. but i'll go locally (within 50-100 miles) to camp. on week days in the fall you have the place to yourself. when i first retired i thought it a treat to watch the Today show in the morning. that lasted about 8 to 10 weeks. now i don't turn the tv on till after dinner. i live in jersey, 5 miles from the shore so i walk or ride my bike on the boardwalk or cast the beach for fish (i don't like to sit and fish and i like the action when a fish rises to a plug). for the last 4 months i've been working on my house carpentry,painting,cleaning,gardening basically the whole catastrophe. the only thing i've learned about retirement is that it's a work in progress.

[Cathy Gillespie]

Im 62, have travelled most of the world already, have just finished my second Open University degree, speak three languages and am working on more but I'm still looking for something fulfilling. I don't want another job as my last one was well paid for the hours I worked, but I do miss the people and the social interaction. My husband says I'm slowing down and I really don't want to deteriorate mentally, hence the languages and I do wonder if I'm having some kind of mental wobble at the moment, as I'm going slowly bonkers after only a month of retirement isolation.

Regards

Cathy Gillespie