Rate your retirement

Youngster

Youngster

Member
On a scale from one (low) to ten (high) how would you rate your retirement so far?
What makes it so good (or bad)?
 

I'll have to say it's only a 5 or less as I'm a stroke survivor and total shut-in. Can't drive and don't get around too easily. I need a cane due to balance issues. But, I'm grateful for what I DO have. No children, no grandchildren, but don't mind living alone. A cleaning service every month and Door Dash daily. A really good friend in his 30s. He helps me with the trash weekly. I have a brother and SIL who take me to doctor/dentist appts. I've managed to stay in my home that's paid for versus assisted living. I checked them out after my husband died 2 years ago and it's like living in a walk in closet! Not for me as long as I can afford the maintenance, etc. in my home. Could be worse!
 
NorthernLight said:
4.

I'm grateful for health, a decent town, decent neighbors, etc.

But poverty holds me back from doing many things, so I'm bored. Being single is pointless. Life's daily round of exercise, housework, etc. -- all for no one.
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I understand poverty. I also understand depression and the lack of will to do nice things for yourself. Who the heck are you cleaning house to please EVERY day, and who is making such a mess it needs it? There are LOTS of interesting hobbies that don't cost much. Learn to do some of them. And live for YOU. No one else can do that for you.
 
oldaunt said:
I understand poverty. I also understand depression and the lack of will to do nice things for yourself. Who the heck are you cleaning house to please EVERY day, and who is making such a mess it needs it? There are LOTS of interesting hobbies that don't cost much. Learn to do some of them. And live for YOU. No one else can do that for you.
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Thank you, @oldaunt . I am doing things I enjoy, and it helps, but I still feel I'm on the deficit side (hence my score of 4 instead of 6). I'll keep trying, and maybe I'll make it to 6 someday.

I don't really do that much housework, but it kind of weighs heavy on my mind. I do let things go sometimes, but of course that's the day the maintenance guy (or someone) shows up, to my embarrassment. So it's better to stay on top of it. And it's very dusty here. And I need clean clothes, clean dishes, and cooked food....
 
I always worked to live, never lived to work so I rate my retirement a 10, what makes it so good is the freedom to do whatever I like, whenever I like, answering to nobody

I do a little voluntary work, hours to suit myself, I enjoy walking by the beach, reading, meeting up with friends and love spending time at home as well
 
Wren said:
I always worked to live, never lived to work so I rate my retirement a 10, what makes it so good is the freedom to do whatever I like, whenever I like, answering to nobody

I do a little voluntary work, hours to suit myself, I enjoy walking by the beach, reading, meeting up with friends and love spending time at home as well
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Sounds wonderful; I'd love to be near a beach. In most of this state, though, you need to be a multi-millionaire to live closer than a 2- or 3-hour drive away from any beach.
 
officerripley said:
Sounds wonderful; I'd love to be near a beach. In most of this state, though, you need to be a multi-millionaire to live closer than a 2- or 3-hour drive away from any beach.
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in this country homes on the coast are not generally expensive, but of course just like inland one can buy an expensive home anywhere. The coastal areas around the UK house a high proportion of the immigrant population legal and illegal.. especially the south coasts..
 
Rate: currently 9, but who knows about the future!! Age: 78

Retired @ 62/63 years - did all my travelling at that time as I didn't know if my health will hold out. (diabetic since I was 18)

Currently, live in the family home without help, walk 2 to 3 miles/day, (reason for having a dog), able to touch my toes without bending my knees LOLOL!!

My daughter organized weekly grocery delivery as I plan to stop driving in the near future (ie before an accident happens) I have a female International student renting the self contained basement suite and she comes up for a coffee and a giggle almost daily.
 
the costal areas are very expensive here in the uk and more expensive on the small islands situated around the uk island , if your lucky enough to be able to live near the beach your classed as wealthy
I am 5 mins from the beach and 10 mins from the countryside
My retirement has been busy with husband the past 10 years but luckily for him he retired in 1994 so we saw the world then !!!
 
Wren said:
I always worked to live, never lived to work so I rate my retirement a 10, what makes it so good is the freedom to do whatever I like, whenever I like, answering to nobody

I do a little voluntary work, hours to suit myself, I enjoy walking by the beach, reading, meeting up with friends and love spending time at home as well
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That seems a perfect situation to me wren xx
 
I've always lived near to the sea and this area is relatively cheap. I live in a small village surrounded by fields and only a short drive from a nice beach. It's perhaps not the best area as we get older as we have to travel to one of the towns for nearly everything - doctor, dentist, hairdresser, shopping etc.. It's fine at present, but I realise that we may have to move sometime.
 
oldaunt said:
I understand poverty. I also understand depression and the lack of will to do nice things for yourself. Who the heck are you cleaning house to please EVERY day, and who is making such a mess it needs it? There are LOTS of interesting hobbies that don't cost much. Learn to do some of them. And live for YOU. No one else can do that for you.
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Excellent advice!
 
I would say an 8 or 9. I do enjoy answering to myself, but I do have a husband and as much as I love him our ideas on retirement, or anything, are not always in sync.
I think I'm wise enough to know however, that If something should happen to him that I would tell myself I should have enjoyed these years anyway because they don't last forever.
 
I'd say a 9 currently. I've been retired for 13 years and it's been pretty good. Getting paid to not go to work can't be beat.

We did a lot of traveling in our RV and I've done some trips out of the U.S. Covid slowed that down, but staying home has been good, too.

I have four little girls, ages 3 to 10, who keep me young and wear me out. Being a grandma and great-grandma isn't for the faint of heart.

I have some health problems but so far, they haven't slowed me down too much.....fingers crossed....
 

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