What Will You Do When You Are Retired?

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[Barb]

To my dismay I will can not retire or in the best case I will have to find a little job because pensions in Spain when I retire i will not exist or will be very small. Still I have to give thanks that I have a job.

[Don in Michigan]

I'm 51 years old, with a great job as a senior executive with a public company. I *could* retire at 55 (my financial advisor says) and be perfectly comfortable. However, my children will be only 14 and 16 years old then, denying me of the complete flexibility in schedule that I envision retirement offering. Therefore, I feel compelled to keep working until age 60, when they're both off at college. The additional five years of savings will also provide additional cushion -- hopefully not needed for me and the wife, but providing more for the kids to inherit or to give to charities. When I retire, what will I do? Read the books that I don't have time to read now. Watch movies that I don't have time to watch now. Take cooking classes with my wife and, as a result, make more home cooked meals together. Be somewhere warm in the fall/winter/spring (we live in Michigan). Travel (cruises, Australian Open in January, etc.). Improve the golf game. Volunteer. Be more organized at home. Attend more live events, whether sports, theater or other. I don't think I'll be bored for lack of things to do. One never knows though.

[Elvia Bernal]

I just retired from the government about 4 months ago. I worked as a judicial assistant for 34 years for 2 different judges. I landed a job at a hospital that I loved, loved, loved.... sadly after 4 months hospital had to let go of personal and I was one of them. :( I have been retired for about 3 weeks and wake up thinking that I need to go somewhere like (work) ... I'm 53 years of age and have a husband at home that is disabled. My monthly pension will help me pay for immediate bills which means that travel for me is out of the question. In my life I consider that Health comes first; then it's my Family and money is the last option. I get up in the morning praying and asking God to help us thru the day... I then start singing; dancing and getting my house clean.
Enjoy life; get your hands dirty and feel the air in your face! :)

[Toni]

I would like to hear more about people that have retired early if possible! I work now in a very toxic environment and I am striving to retire in a couple of months. I am 55! My investments are of about $400,000.00 no mortgage no bills I will have a small small pension. I live with my mom and we take care of each other! Any thoughts?

[deegee]

Toni, there is a forum called www.early-retirement.org which has lots of early retirees (and wannabees) including myself posting about all kinds of of issues. Check it out!

[kultūros renginiai]

For me it seems that there is plenty things what to do when you are retired, but it may not happen to early in case to enjoy it :) Because it is much better to enjoy it when you are older. For example I retired at 60, and I think that this time is perfect for it. With my husband we have a lot of things doing, such as for example- concert or theatre performance :)

[sanji]

i'll probably play all the videogames I didn't play, watch all movies/animes/shows that i didin't watch

[Rita M.]

I recently retired from teaching at age 47. No more lesson plans, student assessments, portfolios, curriculum development, staff meetings, paperwork, deadlines, etc... I worked hard to become financially secure to be able to retire early. With recent personal medical issues (reoccurring back pain and ultimately back surgery) and family medical conditions and obligations, it is satisfying to be able to finally spend quality time with my family, my mom and focus on my health. I now workout daily, do yoga, go to the gym, visit my favorite cafe for quiet time and coffee, plan lunch dates with my girlfriends (on their days off), eat dinner out at 4:00 pm (because I can), spend quality time with my mom, and enjoy my outtings with the hubby eveyday. We plan our mini get-aways on the weekends. I plan daily activities with my mom, too. My husband has his own business and it is nice to be able to help him out more these days. Sometimes, we get swamped with paperwork but it feels different now. My days are busy and are spent enjoying more family time, friends and getting healthier. I lose track of the days, weeks, months and I don't care! I love it!! I do have some future projects in the mix, and have begun to manage my mother's property. I have been trying to learn more about propery management. I love my lazy days at home. I keep busy everyday. I don't follow a set schedule or routine and I love it! I don't set an alarm any longer and wake up when I'm ready to start my day. I have money in the bank. a nice retirement fund tucked away for later and time to enjoy. So to my fellow retirees.... Enjoy it!!!!

[Rita]

I recently retired from teaching at age 47. No more lesson plans, student assessments, portfolios, staff meetings, curriculum development, paperwork, deadlines, stress, work pressures, etc... I worked hard to become financially secure to be able to retire this year. With recent personal medical issues (reoccurring back pain and ultimately back surgery) and family medical conditions and obligations, it is wonderful to be able to finally spend quality time with my family, my mom and focus on my health. I now workout daily, do yoga, go to the gym, visit my favorite cafe for quiet time and coffee, plan lunch dates with my girlfriends (on their days off), catch a movie midday, eat dinner out at 4:00 pm (because I can), and enjoy my outtings with the hubby eveyday. We take mini vacations trips whenever we can or go on long drives because we can. We catch up on our favorite TV shows or sports games every night. We love it! My husband is self employed and runs his own business from home. It is nice to be able to help him out more these days. We get swamped with paperwork but it feels different now. My days are spent enjoying more family time, my husband and getting healthier (after my recent back surgery). I plan daily activities with my mom. She loves it! I lose track of the days, weeks, months and I don't care! I love it!! I do have some future projects in the mix and I have begun to manage my mother's property as she is now unable to do many things on her own. I have been trying to learn more about propery management. I love my lazy days at home. I keep busy everyday. I don't follow a set schedule or routine. I don't set an alarm any longer and wake up when I'm ready to start my day. I love it! My family is important. My health is important. I think I have settled into my new routine quite well. Love it! I have money in the bank, a nice retirement fund tucked away for later and time to enjoy. So to my fellow retirees.... Enjoy it!!!!

[dave]

I retired in 2008 I worked for 51yrs , when I walked out of my employers door I sad to myself , now im starting my 50yrs vacation , am I bored NO! never have been through my life , I have too many things on the go to get bored , im also fighting my last employer of not going back to work for them again , ive done my time with them , now its my time, as for money , you don't really need that much money when you retire, I enjoy my life , in the summer I spend 6 months at the lake in my travel trailer, im in the process of redoing my house ready to sell and live my life on my terms,, enjoy your retirement , because you,ve earnt it

[Terry]

I retired from Engineering at 62, 6 months after a cancer Dx. That seriously screws up retirement. That was 3-1/2 yrs ago. Still no focus or plan. Got to stay near MDs - ugh. Tried a PT job. Volunteer at church. Travel. Offer to help 'working poor'. Home projects. Most organizations seem to just want money. Still can't help thinking my life is over, pointless. Cancer seems to rule my longer term plans. I was hoping something would develop; getting depressed more often. Trying to make new short term plans now. I've noticed that most men who enjoy retirement have reasonably good health. Those with major health probs do not. I've been determined and successful most of my life & I plan to rise above all this as long as I live. Guess that's the best I can do! Good luck to you all!!

[Retired Syd]

Terry: Sorry to read about your cancer diagnosis. Of course that casts a huge shadow over your retirement. That's the hard part, trying to figure out how to live in the moment, not so much worrying about the future. But easier said than done, I know.

My uncle was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, given a prognosis of about a year. He is finding that sharing with friends (both live and through blogging and Facebook) and meeting regularly with a therapist and hospice chaplain are working to keep his spirits up. He feels like he had a wonderful life and is trying to enjoy every last drop of it. But he gets depressed every so often, as you might expect. I guess you just have to accept that's part of it too, a perfectly normal reaction.

I hope the best for you.

[Dave Thompson]

When I retire me and my wife are looking to move to Florida. We want to buy a house on the beach. We have always wanted to live on the beach so we can just relax and enjoy the view. We might decide to live in one of those retirement communities with other retired couples.

[matt sullivan]

I retired after 34 years of Teaching at a High School on Long Island. I left in January because I have a Health issue that was making it very difficult to continue running around with teenagers.After Teaching students who Dads' I taught some 30 years ago I felt it was time the old shop Teacher move on and give a young man my job so he could have a career similar to me. I did not want to retire it was not on my terms, but my Last day the whole school and past students came to my Room to visit me, there were hundreds of people, I felt sad as my student were begging me not to leave. In some strange way I felt happy and sad at the same time.People were crying, I wish I didint leave but know I had too. I am trying to find something I can do with the rest of my Life to get the same recognition. Any suggestions?

[Rajeev Gupta]

There are many important aspects of retirement planning which sadly all companies are missing

1) three step accurate retirement calculator for finding out exact amount of corpus, inflation adjusted tax efficient withdrawal amount pm, & investment needed pm or per year or lump sum to achieve that withdrawals is first & foremost requirement.90% of calculator fails in giving right figures

2)proper asset allocation model is needed with proper research of schemes ideal for retirement savings parking has to be identified,no purchasing of ulips or otc kind high sounding mf schemes from desk of mutual fund advisor or bank HNI service desk is right way of investing for retirement .

3) portfolio rebalancing is most critical in pre retirement phase which mitigates risk as the retirement age approaches.d) last but not least all withdrawals has to be inflation adjusted along with tax efficient,if retirement planning is missing these vital points, avoid them.visit www.retirementontrack.com

[Rajeev Gupta]

There are many important aspects of retirement planning which sadly all companies are missing

1) three step accurate retirement calculator for finding out exact amount of corpus, inflation adjusted tax efficient withdrawal amount pm, & investment needed pm or per year or lump sum to achieve that withdrawals is first & foremost requirement.90% of calculator fails in giving right figures

2)proper asset allocation model is needed with proper research of schemes ideal for retirement savings parking has to be identified,no purchasing of ulips or otc kind high sounding mf schemes from desk of mutual fund advisor or bank HNI service desk is right way of investing for retirement .

3) portfolio rebalancing is most critical in pre retirement phase which mitigates risk as the retirement age approaches.d) last but not least all withdrawals has to be inflation adjusted along with tax efficient,if retirement planning is missing these vital points, avoid them.visit www.retirementontrack.com

[Victoria Dawn Shelar]

Wow, you'll have really given me hope -- I have an awful case of FearFreeze when it comes to walking away from my teaching job. I enjoy the students still after 35 years and since my husband died I am afraid the loneliness will creep in on me. I have my animals which are so much fun. And, I have grandkids but don't want to rely on them for my social life. Dawn

[Jeff D'Arcy]

I felt so "guilty" retiring in 2008 at age 62 after leaving (involuntarily) from corporate America that I re-upped for a few more years as an independent contractor (i.e. they wouldn't hire me as a full time employee with benefits.) At 65 I got Medicare, and at 66 I got Social Security. I'm 68 now and gradually accepting the fact that I won't ever have a real job again. I always planned to retire someday--thinking now that someday has finally come!

[Diane Cacciato]

I am looking forward to retiring in 8 months at 55. My husband, who is 56 now, will probably retire in 2 years. We are both educators and have spent our lives from the time we were teenagers working with youth. That is hard to give up so for the two years that he is still working and I am retired we are going to take in international students. Three years ago we bought a house in Sicily and once he is retired we will spend 6 months in Canada (where we live now) and 6 months in Sicily. Sicily is hot and bone dry in the summers which is great for me because I suffer from arthritis and the humidity of living in a rainforest leaves me sore pretty much all the time. It will be wonderful to be pain-free for half the year. Besides travelling back and forth between Canada and Europe, I will be spending a good deal of my time writing. I have one novel and several poems published now, I'm looking for a publisher for another novel and I have a third novel and short story collection in progress. I'm also thinking of training as a lay-pastor, although that is just a thought at the moment. So, I imagine I will be just as busy after retirement as I am now... I just won't be commuting 3 hours a day any more!

[jason]

you are rich end of story goodluck retiring on 1income that is half yours maybe even a quarter. i live in country will have mortgage paid by 55 but i wont be able to retire as need an income. so maybe 80 to 90 ill retire but by then ill be to old to do anything good.

[Pamela]

Thanks alot for your posts.at least I have learned that retirement is not the end of the world and I can still offered service as a volunteer or do business.

[Mike Boye]

At 58 years old I still have four years until retirement, but I’ve been reading related articles and starting to do some thinking about what I want to do when I get there. From what I can tell, busier retirees are happier retirees. It seems that keeping busy in three or four major areas will make retirement enjoyable and worthwhile. These are 1) Volunteering for an organization with a worthy purpose, 2) Spending more time with family and friends (I’m SO looking forward to seeing more of my “growing-up family;” the job has kept me far away from them except for infrequent visits. Developing new friends of different ages seems enjoyable and worthwhile too.), 3) Enjoying favorite old pastimes (e.g., hiking, traveling, reading, chess, playing the guitar, and playing tennis as long as I can) and developing some new ones (e.g., cooking, woodworking), and 4) working a part-time job (only if I feel like it, and only cool and fun jobs qualify – driving the train at the zoo?). I really miss kids at this stage of life, and it would be really nice to have an avenue to spend time with them. These are just a few of my thoughts in this regard, and I’m really enjoying reading your comments – your thoughts are helping me to refine some of mine.

[Retired Syd]

Mike: Thanks for your contribution to the discussion! I think you will hit the ground running when you get to retirement. Good job!

[Mike Boye]

Thanks, Syd. I'm really looking forward to it.

[Disneydoc]

Syd, you are an inspiration (to me at least), with all your spirit & gusto in retirement, hope you keep that up for a long time.

I & my wife retired about 5 months back, I was a physician & she used to manage my office, I was 2 months shy of 59 & she was almost 54 when we said ENOUGH.

I had some complicated injuries from a motor cycle road accident about 10 yrs back, but continued to practice while on partial disability. I no longer need a cane now to walk, the wonderful doctor at Hospital of Special Surgery in Manhattan did a great job repairing by bones & joints.

Fortunately I had saved enough to finally retire, while most of my colleagues are still working. We are busy nowadays visiting our daughter & our son, but do plan to travel this wonderful country of ours and the world.

I often read your blog for which I am thankful & have it book marked. Wishing you the very best in your retirement.