Do you think retirement was what you pictured to be?

Pretty much what I planned for. I'm an indoors relaxed type and started a large collection of books and entertainment before I retired. I'm not interested in traveling anymore. I did all that with the Army for free. I'm fine just sitting around.
 

Oldeagle66 said:
Pretty much what I planned for. I'm an indoors relaxed type and started a large collection of books and entertainment before I retired. I'm not interested in traveling anymore. I did all that with the Army for free. I'm fine just sitting around.
Click to expand...
I do not travel either but will be hitting the Senior Citizen Key West ' let's party ' festival this Fri to Sun .
 
I cannot believe that this past February I've been (officially) retired for 26 years. My last working day was the third week in January. At first retirement was not what I expected, but I guess I should have. I was care taker for my mother, chauffeur for family members, babysitter, etc. My mom and husband used to say I was busier in retirement than when I was working.

What I could never have dreamed is that after I retired, a friend and a cousin helped me find my (half) siblings, a sister and two brothers. Our older sister, who they say could have been my twin, had already passed away. Blessedly, my "new" family welcomed me and I became quite close with my sister and older brother. I met new cousins, nieces, nephews and even grand nieces and nephews. We socialized frequently, especially at my sister's house for Sunday dinners and holiday cookouts. My sister and her children are fantastic cooks, so my husband used to prefer going there to attending his own family gatherings.

I also never dreamed I'd record and release an album, but I released the first in 2001 and the second in November of last year. Shortly after I retired, I bought a digital piano that had hundreds of instrument "voices" and rhythms. It was my muse along with my other musical influences that inspired me to compose music in my favorite genres.

My husband always had something going...running for office, planning community activities, etc. I was always involved in that process. We did travel more than I expected though, especially after we bought our timeshare and I enjoyed that. In addition to spending several weeks a year (not concurrent) at our timeshare in Atlantic City, we took road trips to see family and/or attend events in Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina. Timeshare ownership also afforded us trips to resorts in The Poconos, Virginia Beach and Ocean City, MD. We also went to Mexico early in my retirement years. I've slowed down my travel a bit, because another surprise was I became a kitten (now cat) owner again much sooner than I expected.
 

Last edited:
OneEyedDiva said:
I cannot believe that this past February I've been (officially) retired for 26 years. My last working day was the third week in January. At first retirement was not what I expected, but I guess I should have. I was care taker for my mother, chauffeur for family members, babysitter, etc. My mom and husband used to say I was busier in retirement than when I was working.

What I could never have dreamed is that after I retired, a friend and a cousin helped me find my (half) siblings, a sister and two brothers. Our older sister, who they say could have been my twin, had already passed away. Blessedly, my "new" family welcomed me and I became quite close with my sister and older brother. I met new cousins, nieces, nephews and even grand nieces and nephews. We socialized frequently, especially at my sister's house for Sunday dinners and holiday cookouts. My sister and her children are fantastic cooks, so my husband used to prefer going there to attending his own family gatherings.

I also never dreamed I'd record and release an album, but I released the first in 2001 and the second in November of last year. Shortly after I retired, I bought a digital piano that had hundreds of instrument "voices" and rhythms. It was my muse along with my other musical influences that inspired me to compose music in my favorite genres.

t my husband always had something going...running for office, planning community activties, etc. I was always involved in that process. We did travel more than I expected though, especially after we bought our timeshare and I enjoyed that. In addition to spending several weeks a year (not concurrent) at our timeshare in Atlantic City, we took road trips to see family and/or attend events in Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina. Timeshare ownership also afforded us trips to resorts in Virginia Beach and Ocean City, MD. We also went to Mexico early in my retirement years.
Click to expand...
As you know running for office even if one particular party is brutal you need real connections and backers but being in music at least you have name recognition .
 
NotCompSavy said:
As you know running for office even if one particular party is brutal you need real connections and backers but being in music at least you have name recognition .
Click to expand...
My husband was very well known and well liked (by most people), but he did not win and truthfully, I was glad he didn't. Although it's been exciting getting accolades about my music from other musicians, including artists I've admired for decades, I'm not well known in the industry, believe me. I'm like the million plus other independent artists just trying to get our music out there. Ever heard the term "starving artist"? Well it's a darned good thing I don't have to depend on my music income to sustain me. I'd be on the street. Even well known artists, get the shaft.
 
Last edited:
We planned for early retirement with no real thought about what to expect. Both thought we would approach retirement like job trainees. No experience just hope we liked what we were about to do. After 30 years in retirement I have to say we've learned what makes us happy & what to avoid. I think it's safe to say we are on the 99% happy side.
 
My adult life has continuously turned out much better than I've dared imagine. Every time I turn a corner, the "what's next" has been happier, more fun and more fulfilling than I'd even hoped.

Semi retirement for 9 years now. Wow - nine years. Still loving this phase. Can't imagine full retirement will be better, will let you know when and if I get there.

I've been blessed with a great life partner, terrific kids, swell grandkids, and enough money that we don't worry about finances.
 
It was busy, which people said it would be. Walking, painting, travelling around and making videos ... then I de-retired myself and went back to work. It's likely I've got all that restlessness out of me so when I finally retire again life could be more settled. At the moment I'm negotiating going part-time.
 
Retirement isn’t what I expected it to be. I didn’t expect my husband to be ok with not working. He was a complete workaholic so I didn’t expect him to settle into retirement the way he did. He surprised me by taking up gardening , maple syrup collecting, cutting down trees and making firewood, cleaning and trimmng the dogs. He’s constantly busy. Another thing he does that he’s really good at is cooking. He can really cook . He didn’t get a second job like I thought he would so yayy. I’m really glad he likes retirement . When he’s happy, I’m happy.
 
Last edited:
I don't want anyone to feel pity for me, but I was ill-treated by my parents and then by my husband. Now I'm alone and it's wonderful not to have someone on my back all the time. I didn't dare hope for freedom because I didn't want disappointment. If anyone out there is longing to break free....go ahead and do it.
The only thing I miss is the car.
 
I retired on January 3rd, 2020, and within just 30 days, the world found itself engulfed by the chaos of COVID-19. From my perspective, the upheaval hasn’t truly subsided. Housing, food, and automobiles have become astonishingly expensive, and dining out feels like a roll of the dice. Retirement, as it turns out, isn’t exactly what I envisioned. Yet, I’m not discontent. Each day is mine to shape as I please, deciding what I will or won’t do.
Having traveled extensively for work, I feel no urge to pack my bags for leisure trips or embark on a cruise. As an introvert, I don’t find myself yearning for social interaction. I’m quite content with my hobbies, which keep me happily occupied, and my love of reading ensures I’m never without entertainment. While it may not align perfectly with my initial expectations, retirement is undeniably preferable to the daily grind of working for 'the man,' even though I genuinely enjoyed my career.
 
What I expected, more or less. I hoped to travel a bit more during winter, With our new dogs and other matters we are not traveling much. So a little bit of a let down.

On the “better than expected side”, I have managed to rehab my shoulders with resistance bands to a level much better than when I was working. I can now do overhead work and sleep on my side. Also, better than expected are finances partially due to all loans being paid off and Medicare taking up insurance costs.

My prostate cancer seems to be in remission but now I am getting treatment for beginning stage glaucoma in one eye. But I am thankful for the quality care I am receiving. It’s hard to foresee something like this but you just have to deal with it.

Ice fishing has been better than expected!
 
Last edited:
Michael Z said:
What I expected, more or less. I hoped to travel a bit more during winter, With our new dogs and other matters we are not traveling much. So a little bit of a let down.

On the “better than expected side”, I have managed to rehab my shoulders with resistance bands to a level much better than I was working. I can now do everhead work and sleep on my side. Also, better than expected are finances partially due to all loans being paid off and Medicare taking up insurance costs.

My prostate cancer seems to be in remission but now I am getting treatment for beginning stage glaucoma in one eye. But I am thankful for the quality care I am receiving. It’s hard to foresee something like this but you just have to deal with it.

Ice fishing has been better than expected!
Click to expand...
I loved fishing but this last year have not gone as lost interest , when first moved here I did a lot as enjoyed catching exotics . I fish canals as do not have a boat .

I catch them take pics let them go as do not kill them do not care one iota what government says , did not when in Army even less now and exotics are here to stay .

I think you eat what you catch ?

I would if saltwater but these canal fish you do not eat.

snakehead.jpg
 
No, not what I expected. I lived most of life thinking I would never be able to afford to retire, but lo and behold, here I am and I don't have any intention of going back to work.
I officially retired in September of 2020 to help my wife deal with cancer for which she started Chemo in March of 2020.
By September she was not well enough to leave alone so I retired and looked after her until her death in April of 2023. In early May of 2023 I lost my oldest daughter from my first marriage to cancer as well. She was having treatments quite often the same time as my wife, but due to covid I wasn't able to see her much. I did get to stat seeing her when she went to hospice care for the last month or so of her life and I did get to be with her when she passed. I know some will think that is morbid, but I would go through it again if I had to.

Went through the grieving, and with some counselling for a few months started to feel like a person again. Things were going pretty good for my little Jack Russell and I on our own until I got involved in trying to help my younger brother with his failing health about a year ago.
Just over a month ago my cousin, who he was staying with, had a leak in her roof right above his bed so I had no choice but to go pick him up and bring him here to stay with me until we can get him in long term care. I remain optimistic that he will be accepted in LTC soon.

He is my brother and I do love him but I certainly did not want to be a care giver again. My second wife died with MS and I was her care giver for a number of years before she went to long term care when I was much younger and was working full time.
Please don't take this as a pity party. Just the way my retirement has played out. I consider myself to be a strong person and do my best to deal with whatever life puts in front of me.

They say God doesn't give us any more than we can handle in our lives. I do hope that saying is correct.
 
Last edited:
squatting dog said:
Oh... not even close to what I dreamed. If you've got some time, let me fill you in.

I took an early retirement when I was 55. Since that time, we've owned 6 home's, some hot rods, motorcycles and RV's... there has been no rest. So, Let's quick cover just a few things done to those houses since then.

House #1... bought a house in Arkansas. Had to fence the yard. Closed in the carport to make a garage. Put an above ground pool in the back. Painted exterior. Added a full width front porch. Poured a big slab alongside the house to make a small computer store plus an additional 2 car garage. Planted peach and cherry tree's out front. repaired old shed and closed it in for more garage space. Fenced around the shed for my wrecker business and impound yard. Fenced a small grave-site for 2 fur babies.
Kitchen fire started with gas leak and pretty much destroyed house. what wasn't burnt was smoke or water damaged. Plus roof was ruined along with attic by holes punched in it for firefighters. That started re-build. First, a new roof and a/c unit. total rewire of house, complete kitchen re-build, new insulation and drywall throughout the house. complete rebuild of bathroom. new carpet as hardwood floors were ruined as well. new windows and doors. Turn attached garage into large, insulated room.

Ask me how I feel about State Farm insurance.

Home #2... Moved to Florida and bought a 32x80 manufactured home on an acre. Fenced the front yard. Added 3 car ports, 1 on each end of home and 1 out back. Enclosed and installed door on 1 carport to turn into garage and enclosed the sides of another to protect car. Added covered/screened walk out deck and partial above ground pool to back of home. Built front porch for front of home. Landscaped front yard and added small fish pond. No home grave sites,but did bury 1 in a pet cemetery.
Got bored so converted a greyhound bus and sold the home and hit the road.

House #3.... Got tired of driving the country and bought land in Arkansas. Decided to sell bus and build a house. Wife and I built the entire house ourself, that included clearing the spot, installing a septic system, framing and finishing the entire
house. (plumbing, wiring, roofing, etc). Built a frog pond water feature. Planted peach, cherry, apple and plum tree's. Kept adding land until we had 38 acres. Fenced a little over an acre for fur babies to roam free. Also built 3 raised gardens and of course, a small grave site for out fur babies.
After some years, Rented out our Arkansas house and bought a house in Florida on 1/2 acre corner lot.

House #4.... Florida. Tore out and rebuilt the kitchen entirely. New appliances. Closed in the lanai. Re-roofed house. New a/c unit. Installed in ground sprinkler system. Removed carpet and tiled entire house. Replaced aging board privacy fence. Painted house, exterior and interior. Replaced all windows with energy efficient ones. Bought a new huge refrigerator and had to knock out a wall and expand the room so fridge would fit in kitchen. Planted multiple tree's and plants. Built a raised garden. Put up a carport in backyard for boat. Another small grave site for fur babies.
Sold house for a profit and headed back to Arkansas to bounce non paying renter.

Arkansas... Upon returning and getting the law to remove the deadbeats, we started repairs. They had stolen all appliances, half the cabinets, all the light fixtures, including the ceiling fans, We had to completely rebuild the kitchen.
Somehow they had leaked water in bathroom and rotted floor.Had to repair the floor, and install a new shower and toilet. Not to mention the mountain of trash, (and I mean mountain), they left behind.
22,000 dollars later, and a whole lot of sweat, we had it back to livable. Now, the everyday chores included bush hogging about 20 acres of the 38 acres of land, cutting up any dead fall in the woods, and then splitting and stacking the winter firewood supply. Mowing and weed wacking and spraying for bugs,the 1+ acre fenced piece of yard for the fur babies. Then, I re-did our private 1/2 mile road (hauled the gravel in our dump trailer, spread the gravel with the box blade on the tractor).

House #5... Florida. The next acquisition on 1 acre This time, I just closed up the Arkansas house. (never will rent out again).
Again, a house that needed a lot of love. Had to clear and cut away over grown jungle growth. Clean and restore in ground pool. (new pump,filter and solar heater). New front and back doors. All new appliances, Paint the house exterior and interior. Install ceiling fans in all rooms.Fence the yard for fur babies. (300ft chain link + 2 gates). Work on grading and stopping water intrusion. (house sat downhill).
Grade and build a decent driveway. Close in the lanai. Fence entire perimeter of property. (760 ft field fence plus Tee posts) Build a raised garden, add plants. Install gutters, replace garage door opener. Another small grave site for fur babies.
Then discover it has a sink hole problem. As if that's not enough... While working on this Florida house, get word that Arkansas house has burned to the ground.

House #6.... Today, Florida. Scramble to find another house. Much searching and disappointment until, finally land a house with large shop that upfront needs nothing done, but to move in. (hooray) Doesn't last long before we paint the exterior, add a front fence for the fur babies, paint the interior, put up new doors with doggie doors.
Raised garden, peach, apple, cherry, fig trees. Also banana trees and sugar cane and multiple other plants. Replace kitchen sink, Replace electric stove with double oven one, Replace fridge with larger one, Install gutters, Insulate shop building ceiling, Insulate garage attic R-30, Install larger well tank and whole house filter, Install outdoor wash sink, Add extra garden spot and fence, Replace 5 ceiling fans with larger ones, Install ceiling fan in garage.
Click to expand...
I'm dizzy!
 
Not even close. My ex-wife killed my business and I've been struggling against age discrimination ever since. Plus I still am providing a second bedroom and more for a daughter that is both autistic and unwilling to face working for a living.
 
BeefStu said:
No, not what I expected. I lived most of life thinking I would never be able to afford to retire, but lo and behold, here I am and I don't have any intention of going back to work.
I officially retired in September of 2020 to help my wife deal with cancer for which she started Chemo in March of 2020.
By September she was not well enough to leave alone so I retired and looked after her until her death in April of 2023. In early May of 2023 I lost my oldest daughter from my first marriage to cancer as well. She was having treatments quite often the same time as my wife, but due to covid I wasn't able to see her much. I did get to stat seeing her when she went to hospice care for the last month or so of her life and I did get to be with her when she passed. I know some will think that is morbid, but I would go through it again if I had to.

Went through the grieving, and with some counselling for a few months started to feel like a person again. Things were going pretty good for my little Jack Russell and I on our own until I got involved in trying to help my younger brother with his failing health about a year ago.
Just over a month ago my cousin, who he was staying with, had a leak in her roof right above his bed so I had no choice but to go pick him up and bring him here to stay with me until we can get him in long term care. I remain optimistic that he will be accepted in LTC soon.

He is my brother and I do love him but I certainly did not want to be a care giver again. My second wife died with MS and I was her care giver for a number of years before she went to long term care when I was much younger and was working full time.
Please don't take this as a pity party. Just the way my retirement has played out. I consider myself to be a strong person and do my best to deal with whatever life puts in front of me.

They say God doesn't give us any more than we can handle in our lives. I do hope that saying is correct.
Click to expand...
Beefstu, you have suffered incredible losses. My heart goes out to you. I admire the steps you took to help with your grieving process and for what you're doing to help your brother. May you continue to heal, be comforted and may your loved ones Rest in Peace.

heartfelt-sympathy-condolences.gif
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top