Now That You Happily Retired Do You Have Any Regrets Looking Back?

Floridatennisplayer said:
I retired in January, age 63. My only regret in my life is I should have retired much sooner. So, I am fortunate for that. I guess it was the protective nature thinking I needed to build the nest egg a little more. I am so thankful for everything and every single day. I just love my family, kids, and I am obsessed with my grandkids. I am not deserving of what I have.
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You sound very grateful for all you have. If you did not deserve it, do you think you would have it?
 

No regrets! I do miss parts of the working career but my time became more valuable then a pay check. I retired at 58 and it was just about right.
 

street said:
No regrets! I do miss parts of the working career but my time became more valuable then a pay check. I retired at 58 and it was just about right.
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Hi Street..welcome. What did you do in the work place and did you enjoy it as you said you miss aspects of it?
 
CrackerJack >>>
I miss working with some every good people and the great times we had together accomplishing a common goal to complete a job. It was very rewarding to build and construct a project and look back at what you did. I also miss the hard part of my job which was "calling the shots and making tough decisions". It made me work very hard at what I did to be able the make those calls, and was rewarding for my efforts.
I don't miss the politics, time lines, schedules, meeting and continuous educating/schooling.
 
Retired at age 50 and never looked back Husband semi-retired age 48 .... my only regret that I didn't manage to retire 5 years before that. By age 45 we had had enough, had severe mental burnout, and just wanted out!!! But inflation, skyrocketing real estate prices, stock market crashes and pension plan rules forced me to endure till we felt financially comfortable enough to exit!
 
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I am officially unemployed from the same employer of 27 years. Ideally, I would have worked until 63 1/2 to COBRA out to 65 Medicare but it was JUST....MY....TIME.
 
I retired from full time work in 1995 and we moved to another County. Ive not worked since and done and still do voluntary work locally. My work place span was from 1961 to 1995 and never out of work. Was trained in my chosen career and it stood me in good stead throughout. Glad Im away from the work place nowadays
 
I retired at age 70. Had a small car and truck paint and body shop. Around age 60 I realized my age was causing me to be far less productive than my employees. I hung on trying to address more of the duties that didn’t require youth, vision, dexterity, strength, endurance etc. At 70 I realized if I wasn’t the boss, I would have been fired long ago.

I retired and promptly had a mental breakdown that required hospitalization. Thanks to Zoloft, I no longer obsess over my diminished abilities.

The main side effects I can deal with - attention deficit and I tend to write long posts😂😂😂
 
I retired, as I had hoped at 56 and it was the best career move that I made. Regrets, looking back? Well, I can't have them looking forward :D. But seriously folks...
I think I should have spent more time looking round for somewhere to relocate to, and I should have had more savings.
 
I have a younger wife and a boy in HS. While I don't go to work for money, I work every day at home. All I ever seem to do is put out fires and fix things. I regret not being free to be truly retired. I'd like more 'me' time. I really don't feel retired.
 
Hiraeth2018: How did you get widow's benefits? My husband was a Federal Marshal and I got NOTHING! When I checked on it I was told, "Well, Sorry but keep your chin up!"
My regrets? Cheated out of 2 pensions, oh! I don't even want to THINK about all the regrets! and I didn't retire, didn't even know if I could survive. I just quit! Whenever I jump off a cliff I seem to land softly.
 
hiraeth2018 said:
I retired at 62 1/2 years (I will turn 66 in Jan) on widow's benefits. Becoming caught in the Obama Healthcare system was a nightmare. I was very relieved when Medicare kicked in. I should have waited until 65-66 because of this but just couldn't take my job any longer. Lesson learned but happier now.
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Yes, I regret not being 30 years younger!
 
at 63, but stayed on part time for 5 more years. I loved it, but realized that I had done "enough damage".

As a math geek, when calculators "took over", I realized that technology had changed everything. So teaching is not the same.
 
I retired in 2007 at age 65 1/2. I miss the people I worked with and when doing projects around the home, I sure miss all the equipment such as lathes and milling machines that I got to use.

I could have retired earlier but I would have a lot less to live on. I think I did it just right.
 
Once again, this is another effect of the unnatural lives we live. It's only fairly recently that people stopped working at a specific age. When we lived in small communities, everyone kept on working as long as they were able to. While people were useful, they were expected to contribute to the welfare of the family.
 
I have been a medical professional (EMT, LPN, RN) for over 40 years. I chose nursing because I wanted to be a contributing member of society. I've never had any children, getting a vasectomy before I got married the first time at the age of 29. I've never regretted my decision.

I'm starting to wonder if my role as a nurse doesn't define me. I have lots of other interests: art, bicycling, a '51 Chevy pickup, a couple of acres... But, I really like my chosen vocation, and love some of my coworkers and patients. I'm making the best money of my life and have no bills.

I will retire within the next two years and feel like I will miss my work, and I am by no means a workaholic.

I guess I just need to read and understand others' perspectives and get use to, and be okay with, the idea of retirement.
 
Welcome to the forum Davey Do... you could retire and then volunteer your services. That way you could keep enjoying the emotional and mental rewards of your chosen profession.
 
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