What was your biggest retirement promise to yourself? Did you keep it?

Youngster

Youngster

Member
Before I retired I promised myself, "When I retire I'm moving to Costa Rica".
I was serious and my wife was all for it as well. When I finally retired it was a different story. My wife didn't want to leave the country. We settled on moving to a southern state. We're still in the planning stage. We'll see if that even happens.
So no, I didn't keep my promise to myself. Not too happy about that. :-(
 

I guess I didn't make any promises to myself, usually promises end in disappointment and I hate to let myself down.šŸ˜†

There are some things I thought I would spend more time at but haven't, like long distance bicycling and travel. Both are things I was active at for years and thought once I retired I would dedicate more time toward but just haven't done it, for some reason kind of lost interest in both.
 
Youngster said:
What was your biggest retirement promise to yourself?
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That I'd stop working and live off of savings and pensions. Not much else.
Youngster said:
Did you keep it?
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Mostly, but stopping has been harder than I expected. I was an independent consulting engineer, so I could not just quit a job, lots of clients to slowly ramp down. 99% done now
 

No promises at all, as I didn't want to retire. I loved every career move I made, and miss my coworkers and bosses. Lucky for me I have maintained contact with each one of them, male and female.
It was pushed that I travel, so I did for the first three years. I found out I do better when I'm spontaneous with my travel plans.
Retirement is relaxing, refreshing and filled with unexpected adventures. Who knew?
 
That I would hike. I really just walk around the block though.
The towns around us have lots of walking paths.
I keep seeing in the paper a hiking club associated with the senior center. I'm going to check that out. They all meet at different locations once a month. You have to register but I thought I'd just show up one day and check them out to see if they looked like people I'd want to hike with.
 

What was your biggest retirement promise to yourself?​


Buy property in the mountains
Build a cabin
Move to it

Did you keep it?​

Yes
Complete fulfillment
Moved there the day after I retired

dQhDar1.jpg


Then the real work began

post holes.jpg 15.jpg

swing low.jpg

Dropped 65 lbs of office fat that first summer

Then winter hit

WINTERTABLE 2.jpg

Never been happier

mr happy 2.jpg
 
hearlady said:
That I would hike. I really just walk around the block though.
The towns around us have lots of walking paths.
I keep seeing in the paper a hiking club associated with the senior center. I'm going to check that out. They all meet at different locations once a month. You have to register but I thought I'd just show up one day and check them out to see if they looked like people I'd want to hike with.
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You should do it.
 
I enjoyed the work I did; however there were certain aspects of the job I disliked. When I retired I planned to:

1. Never again set an alarm to wake me in the morning.
2. Never get on another airplane unless there was a truly compelling reason.
3. Never again carry an "electronic leash" (cell phone, pager).
4. Never again drive in a snow storm.

Other than carrying a cell phone when traveling (a very small number of people have the number), I've pretty much stuck with the plan.

Happy with that. :)
 
-To take more outdoor walks (I've been so so about that)
-To try to make friends in my new hometown (that has not happened-- very difficult, mostly my fault-- I'm an introvert and a little on the odd side LOL)
-To try to make frequent short roadtrips to the nearby little towns (I did a couple, but would like to do more-- I have a bit of a fear of highway driving that makes it difficult).
-To discover fun new restaurants now that my digestion is back on track (found a couple of nice places, but as much as I adore Wisconsin, it is not vegetarian friendly! The restaurant hunting is more difficult than I thought).
- To finally get good therapy for PTSD (have not been able to find a suitable therapist who takes my insurance and is not young enough to be my kid LOL).
-To just read, watch TV, cook, visit with my daughter and enjoy the quiet of my new condo and the safety of my new neighborhood (Yes!! Accomplished!! yay!!!)
-To see a cardinal for the first time in my life (yes!!!!! They are so beautiful!!!)
All in all, I am not disappointed that I have failed on some of my goals. I am enjoying my retirement life and know I will grow into it more as time goes on.
 
To buy an RV and travel for at least 5 years -- and I did!!! Used my home (in Florida at the time) as homebase and traveled 6-8 weeks at a time sometimes with other women campers and sometimes out on my own. Created memories I'll forever cherish -- did a Florida to Alaska trip, several trips to Canada, many to the Western States loving every minute of it. Great question!!!!
 
I didnā€™t make any promises but I just wanted to make a friend after retiring.

I moved to the friendliest island on the planet and often make a point to smile at locals and introduce myself as their new neighbor.

I already have 5 gals in my neighborhood, my age, who have welcomed me by having me over for a delicious dinner, invited me out to lunch, an afternoon of shopping for beach art, and are planning to play cards on my veranda soon. We laugh a lot and they share their favorite local places and events with me.
 
Wayne said:
To stay active which I have done sometimes too much, multiple shooting trips every week also fishing trips weekly. All are getting ready to slow down with major surgery in 2 weeks, leg.
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hope all goes well with the surgery wayne .......
you will still be able to fish after .....unless your fly fishing ?
 
Amelia B said:
-To take more outdoor walks (I've been so so about that)
-To try to make friends in my new hometown (that has not happened-- very difficult, mostly my fault-- I'm an introvert and a little on the odd side LOL)
-To try to make frequent short roadtrips to the nearby little towns (I did a couple, but would like to do more-- I have a bit of a fear of highway driving that makes it difficult).
-To discover fun new restaurants now that my digestion is back on track (found a couple of nice places, but as much as I adore Wisconsin, it is not vegetarian friendly! The restaurant hunting is more difficult than I thought).
- To finally get good therapy for PTSD (have not been able to find a suitable therapist who takes my insurance and is not young enough to be my kid LOL).
-To just read, watch TV, cook, visit with my daughter and enjoy the quiet of my new condo and the safety of my new neighborhood (Yes!! Accomplished!! yay!!!)
-To see a cardinal for the first time in my life (yes!!!!! They are so beautiful!!!)
All in all, I am not disappointed that I have failed on some of my goals. I am enjoying my retirement life and know I will grow into it more as time goes on.
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Amelia B: You should enjoy the company of this forum...there are a lot of "odd balls" here and I'm one of them. Glad you joined!
 

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