Is Retirement All It's Cracked Up To Be?

I've only just retired - so I'm still in the adjustment stage. Checking my financial plan (is it going to work?), spending time finding activities (hello forum, hello park district activities), etc. After 9 weeks of retirement, my stress level has gone from 'over the moon' to zero. So far, yes, it's definitely all it's cracked up to be.
 

I retired at 57. Sat on my ass for two years. I am now working again, don't really need the money, but it sure comes in handy to buy the little extra things.
New retirement is wonderful, I stopped having nightmares about work,I stopped having leg cramps at night,my health improved overnight.
It is amazing how quickly any thing you did at work becomes totally irrelevant in your life. You also find out that no matter how indispensable you thought you were,was nothing but an ego trip.
I now work part time making no decisions what so ever. Armed with the knowledge that I can walk anytime I want,makes the job totally stress free. HAving an employer that likes and respects me and is appreciative of my contribution to his well being makes life wonderful.
 
We have been retired for about fifteen years now (lost count) husband found it difficult at first to resist answering the phone (used to emergency calls - paramedic) but we haven't looked back - for a good retirement you need things to do of interest and to get on well in each others company - to have some things of interest to you both and some things that each can go off and do with other people or groups and also each of you need some 'me' time whether that is gardening by yourself or reading or him working up in the shed, just something.
 

Been retired for over a year now, still working part time for my old employer. I love retirement, my work at home job, not answering to anyone. And grocery shopping in the middle of a work day when it's not crowded. I can think of a thousand reasons why I'm glad I don't have to work for a living anymore.
 
I live alone, and prefer it. However, the older I get the more I see the usefulness of living with someone. It's just I have a difficult problem living with other humans. Dogs and cats are fine, but humans tend to get on my nerves with their incessant neediness. But, that's part of sharing, and of aging. Right now I'm just going with the flow and letting things happen.
 
SeaBreeze said:
Personally, I think it is. I looked forward to it all my working life, and wanted to retire early enough to get some relaxation in before my days were up on this earth. Too many people I know delayed their retirement, and found themselves too old and sickly to enjoy themselves. One person who I worked with passed on shortly after retirement. I hear many stories of people actually dying in the workplace of age-related illness or accident.

I live a simple life, always have. To me, just being able to live my days without having to set alarms, drive to work in snow blizzards at 5am, and deal with working for 'the man', punching the time-clock, 10 minute breaks, and deal with all the aggravations of the workplace is a blessing. For years before I retired, I thought about the day that I could say goodbye to the daily grind.

Retirement is what it's cracked up to be, and I deserve every minute of it! How about you??
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I hope I get to say goodbye but right now it's not looking too good.
 
25 years into retirement & never looked back. Plan well & experience all you hoped to as the years pass. We missed one experience but still have it in mind to do. A Harley Davidson motor cycle trip around Australia.
 
I am in my 11th year of retirement and love it. The main thing is to keep mentally active. We used to travel quite a bit, but have slowed down. as we have gotten older. We have given up on Transatlantic flights, as the 10 hour flights were just too much.
I do some volunteer work, and putter around in our small planting areas. I am still working on getting that switch engine running, but Covid has slowed down that effort.
 
YES! Retirement is All That and MORE! I love, love, love it and honestly feel it was tailor made for me :love: ! My only regret is not being able to retire sooner than when I did but thoroughly enjoying every minute of it now. So, SeaBreeze, to answer your question, Yes, Retirement IS all it's cracked up to be, in my opinion of course :). Don...
 
I had to retire at age 60 when I became legally blind and I couldn't drive or see what I was doing at work. I loved my job, I didn't want to stop working at all, but no choice.

My husband never retired. He worked until 3 weeks before his death. He was close to 75 years old. He took great pride in the fact that his boss and co-workers panicked if he ever even joked about retirement.

I have friends who love their retirement. I've gotten used to it, but I'd still rather be working.

I think it depends in how much you liked the work you did.
 
One thing that it is prudent to remember is that never again will you be as young as you are right now.
We greatly enjoyed traveling for a lot of years, but as one ages it is too strenuous. In a retirement community there are activities for us to participate in. I retired 24 years ago and never once have missed working.
 
I think one of the key things to a good retirement is to find something you enjoy doing and do it. I'm still writing my novels, painting, interacting with the wildlife, etc. Even if there are mobility issues sometimes a person can discover interests and pursue them at home.
 
Absolutely,I've been retired for 9 yrs now,have no idea where the time has gone
A year before I retired in 2011,bought a 'retirement clock',the 2nd hand shows the days of the week,some times I have to look at it to know what day it is
What is really important to me is staying busy doing things I enjoy at my own leisure
When I was working part time,Tues&Thurs were my days off,those 2 mornings I would volunteer at different orgs.One I have continued with,in business office at my church until it closed in March because of Covid-19
 
SeaBreeze said:
Personally, I think it is. I looked forward to it all my working life, and wanted to retire early enough to get some relaxation in before my days were up on this earth. Too many people I know delayed their retirement, and found themselves too old and sickly to enjoy themselves. One person who I worked with passed on shortly after retirement. I hear many stories of people actually dying in the workplace of age-related illness or accident.

I live a simple life, always have. To me, just being able to live my days without having to set alarms, drive to work in snow blizzards at 5am, and deal with working for 'the man', punching the time-clock, 10 minute breaks, and deal with all the aggravations of the workplace is a blessing. For years before I retired, I thought about the day that I could say goodbye to the daily grind.

Retirement is what it's cracked up to be, and I deserve every minute of it! How about you??
Click to expand...
I am like you. I looked forward to it all my working life. However, I found getting up every morning at 6 am not so great. I still get up at 6 and start my day with coffee, watching the news, get my walks in and taking the dogs out. I go to the senior center twice a week. I line dance, play dominoes and cards, made friends there. I think retirement is what you make it. Rich or poor, it is what you make it. I have made friendships, gained a lot. During the COVID virus, I went on Weight Watchers, exercise (walking) and am very happy.
 
fancicoffee13 said:
I am like you. I looked forward to it all my working life. However, I found getting up every morning at 6 am not so great. I still get up at 6 and start my day with coffee, watching the news, get my walks in and taking the dogs out. I go to the senior center twice a week. I line dance, play dominoes and cards, made friends there. I think retirement is what you make it. Rich or poor, it is what you make it. I have made friendships, gained a lot. During the COVID virus, I went on Weight Watchers, exercise (walking) and am very happy.
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Yes, retirement IS what you make of it but I'd much rather be RICH; less problems go with that even if there still are problems. :giggle: 🐶 (y)
 
You make a good point Ruthanne. Ideally we have a good family around us, a comfortable amount of money, and good health.

Unfortunately, many folks don't fall into this category. Sometimes it can be partially their fault but many times it's due to things beyond their control, especially health problems. If the wrong thing catches up with you, no amount of time of spent at the gym can overcome it and those "golden years" can become pretty bleak.
 

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