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Post by jhawkr on Feb 28, 2021 10:44:48 GMT -5
With all the geezers around here I wondered what big adjustments you have made that you really didn’t expect. For me it is sleep. I used to sleep about 7 hours and was up without the aid of an alarm clock at 4:30 every morning. Now, since I don’t have anywhere I need to be, I sleep 8-9 hours and usually get up about 6-6:30, a much more humane hour! It took over a year to make this adjustment and it wasn’t a conscious decision. The additional sleep has been cardiologist approved!
What is a change you didn’t expect?
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Post by Rick Knight on Feb 28, 2021 11:04:25 GMT -5
It took a while to accept that it really is ok to be wherever and do whatever I want most of the time.
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Post by budg on Feb 28, 2021 11:27:00 GMT -5
Not panicking when the clock reads 5:30! I’m learning to budget a little better since SS only comes once a month and my pensions come 2 weeks later. I used to get paid weekly. I’m loving it so far.
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 28, 2021 11:31:53 GMT -5
For me it was coming to know that I didn't have to do SOMETHING productive every day. Most days I do- but I've come to realize that it's no big deal if I don't.
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Post by LTB on Feb 28, 2021 11:43:23 GMT -5
Took me about a month but now I do what I want whether it is to sleep in, stay up very late watching a movie or playing my guitar and bass in the middle of the night in other end of the house from where my wife is sleeping
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Post by oldnjplayer on Feb 28, 2021 12:38:47 GMT -5
I have to agree with all the above. I did miss some of the social interactions with the people I worked with, but found I was able to keep in touch with those that I really liked. (at least until COVID) I have to make sure that I keep physically active. One thing that I found was an increase in Physical ailments. Probably due more to age than retirement, but I try not to be too sedentary. Because I retired a number of years before my wife, I got used to having time to myself and the ability to do things alone. When she retired we both had to get used to being around each other all day. One good thing was that the wife and I spend less since we retired. JHAWKR, hope you are enjoying your retirement !!!
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Ayns
Wholenote
Posts: 767
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Post by Ayns on Feb 28, 2021 12:42:06 GMT -5
I've only been retired for a couple of months, (In fact it feels slightly weird even typing that) so I guess I'm still "adjusting". ;-)
I've never been an early riser, but I am sleeping later than I did when I worked (this started during Working From Home), and I'm trying not to feel guilty, if I'm not doing anything "productive", although I'm trying to complete at least one worthwhile task per day.
I'm also trying to *not* become totally nocturnal, like I did in the late '70's
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Post by jhawkr on Feb 28, 2021 13:09:54 GMT -5
I am appreciating my retirement if not fully enjoying it because I’ve had to be in lockdown mode pretty much the last year due to COVID. But there is hope on the horizon starting next week but against the rules to specifically mention it. I’m looking forward to it though! I might actually get my deck rebuilt this summer. Also, my newest meds are working out pretty well so far and that is encouraging. Only minor side effects that I can deal with. The wife and my spending is also way down and we have been able to live solely on SS to date. Medicare and supplements have been very good. Might take a little road trip to Mt Rushmore in the early fall.
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Post by walshb 🦒 on Feb 28, 2021 13:29:12 GMT -5
I've found that I have to pace myself, and try to limit it to one 'project' per day. Otherwise I'm afraid I'll run out of projects. On many days, I don't know what that project might be. Last week, I decided to refret my Strat. (That was more like a two day project, actually.) Some days, I don't do any projects, and I still feel kind of guilty on those days. Often, it's the wife that finds something for me to do.
Every project costs money also, so that needs to be considered. Lots of these are just things to keep me busy, and others just pop up out of nowhere, like something breaking down, etc. It's odd to almost be looking forward to something not working, because I enjoy tearing into things that I don't really know how to fix. Youtube comes in pretty handy!
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Post by LTB on Feb 28, 2021 14:00:02 GMT -5
Jhawkr, I am glad to hear you are doing better. I know your medical history has not been fun. Like you I have been locked down with COVID and severe back issues almost simultaneously all but first 2 months of retirement followed by surgery and now recoup. I want to be more active but have to really watch it. Found out Friday my back will not be fully fused until around October. That was a real downer as I need to be able to travel and see my dad who is battling terminal cancer. Being in a car for more than an hour is painful. Anyway enough about that. I have some needed home projects to do and will likely take longer than usual as a result. I get depressed at times but playing my guitar and bass is very therapeutic. I wish I could go to the gun range again. Maybe soon. Really enjoyed that the first two months of retirement.
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Post by gato on Feb 28, 2021 14:12:27 GMT -5
"What is a change you didn’t expect?"
Absolute calm in bumper to bumper gridlock, that used to drive me up the wall. Like every few years when I have to drive to downtown LA to renew my CCW / LEO credentials. I glance around at the horn honking, steering wheel pounding commuters, and think .... "sure it's a one time annoyance for me, but these people endure this crap EVERY day!"
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Post by Ricketi on Feb 28, 2021 14:32:06 GMT -5
I've been retired for 1yr 9mo now and still some days I feel pressure to get something done and then I remind myself hey if I don't get it done there is always tomorrow. I use to be in bed by 10:30 or 11:00 and up at 4:45 am. Now it's 12:30 or 1 am and up at 8:30 am. I'm going to have to change that when summer comes to enjoy more daylight. My knee and elbow joints have been a lot better. Stomach issues gotten way better. I didn't realize the stress work was causing until after retirement. I had a garage built 2 yrs ago and that has become my workshop for doing woodworking and knife making projects. Life is good!
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Post by LVF on Feb 28, 2021 14:59:24 GMT -5
Hmmm, it took me several years to accomplish the proper 'retirement sleep session' but, after being retired for 10 years in April, I have found the sweet spot, so to speak and it is go to bed at midnight and get up at 6am. I get one more hour of sleep from my toiling days doing this...or is it 2 hours? While working, up at 0430, bed at 2330 like some, never needed an alarm clock to be up at the designated hour.
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Post by themaestro on Feb 28, 2021 15:58:04 GMT -5
I pretty much have the same experiences as already mentioned:
A little more sleep. Things have slowed down to a nice pace. If something doesn't get done or get finished today, there is tomorrow. Traffic slow-ups don't upset me. I don't dawdle in traffic, but I don't have to be first or gaining on everyone else. I am perfectly happy to drive along "in the pocket".
Even after 9 years of retirement, my favorite time of the week is Sunday evening. I look around, get a grin on my face and say to myself, "I don't have to go to work in the morning!" What an absolutely enjoyable thought.
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michael
Wholenote
Recent Retiree
Posts: 622
Age: old enough to know better and not care
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Post by michael on Feb 28, 2021 16:03:47 GMT -5
i was asked if i missed work... i said yes, for about 5 minutes then i rolled over and went back to sleep! haven't even thought about it since...
in my life, everyday is a saturday.
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Post by HenryJ on Feb 28, 2021 17:02:11 GMT -5
I retired in October 2017. I was getting out of bed at 4:30 AM.
Only recently have I been able to sleep past that hour. Sometimes I'll wake up at that time, but now I have the ability to actually go back to sleep and even dream before crawling out of bed at 6. And at 7, yesterday morning.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Feb 28, 2021 17:59:47 GMT -5
Like you, HenryJ, I retired in October 2017. I still maintain a daily schedule of waking up early, at the same time every day. I always know what day of the week it is, because instead of my first waking thought being a four-letter word (as was the case during my working days), it is now, "today is Sunday," or "Monday," or whatever the day is. That helps keep me sync'd up with the rest of the world. I also maintain a workout schedule, and there is never any shortage of projects to accomplish and adventures to enjoy. I spend a lot of time in the shop doing...stuff, which could be a project with a goal, or simple tasks like sharpening chisels, tweaking power tools, rearranging things... And there's always music playing. My typical day usually includes me wishing I had more hours in the day, but always ends with me thankful there's only 24 hours because I am out of gas in the evening
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Post by HenryJ on Feb 28, 2021 18:17:39 GMT -5
Oh, I also know what day it is when I wake up.
Sundays, we livestream the worship service and Zoom the connect group afterwards. We usually have our son's family over for lunch.
Mondays, wife's 84-year-old sister stops by to visit for an hour or two in the morning. That's also the day we order our supper to go from a mom-and-pop restaurant. Before March 2020 we ate it there.
Tuesdays, not much happening there.
Wednesdays, my wife likes to livestream the preacher's wife's Bible study. I have JUST begun to start back to choir rehearsal Wednesday night.
Thursday, same supper as Mondays.
Friday morning, sister-in-law again.
Saturday night, livestream the Saturday night worship service, which has different music from the 9:30 Sunday morning service.
To livestream, I hook the laptop to the TV and send the sound to the stereo system.
So we have a certain level of daily structure in our retirement.
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Post by Seldom Seen on Feb 28, 2021 19:43:35 GMT -5
I officially retired right when the Covid hit so the first few months were kind of stressful and dicey. Once the Idaho cabin was snow free, retirement became a cake walk. I take the occasional professional call and consult without having to do any real work.
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Bbendfender
Wholenote
Mostly play Fender guitars and amps. I'm 71 and have had a guitar since 1964. Got serious in 1975.
Posts: 216
Age: 71
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Post by Bbendfender on Feb 28, 2021 19:46:29 GMT -5
I really enjoyed not having to be around some of the people I worked with. I didn't dislike all of them but some just rubbed me the wrong way. I also got a little more sleep. These days, my dog wakes me around 7:00 am but she doesn't bother my wife. The dog comes to my side of the bed and just grunts, wanting me to get up an let her outside and feed her. I can also be fairly lazy but I know I should bet getting up and doing something. This depression/anxiety I have really give me a work over. Lots of times I wish I could wake up and be depression/anxiety free but that hasn't happened for 14 years now.
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Post by LTB on Mar 1, 2021 0:46:50 GMT -5
i was asked if i missed work... i said yes, for about 5 minutes then i rolled over and went back to sleep! haven't even thought about it since...
in my life, everyday is a saturday.
Yep! Every day is like Saturday 😉
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Post by Mikeyguitar on Mar 1, 2021 9:09:00 GMT -5
Interesting reading this thread. As mentioned in another thread, I'm looking forward to retiring in about 4 years. I have an odd work schedule where I'm off for 4 or 5 days in a row after every 4 or 5 days of work. So it's almost like I'm retired already on my off days. I figure this will allow me to slide right into retirement without much trouble.
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Post by Rick Knight on Mar 1, 2021 10:04:58 GMT -5
I have to pace myself, and try to limit it to one 'project' per day. Otherwise I'm afraid I'll run out of projects. One of my younger friends said he was visiting his Dad, who had retired. They were leisurely doing some project when my friend suggested that if they got serious, they could finish in a short amount of time. His Dad said yeah, and then what would we do.
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BillytheKidder
Wholenote
You can’t do this with a guitar.
Posts: 105
Formerly Known As: Billy the Kidder
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Post by BillytheKidder on Mar 1, 2021 10:35:31 GMT -5
We eat when we’re hungry. We sleep when we’re tired. We have been fortunate with pensions and investments, our income has not changed, so we can still indulge ourselves a little. As others have indicated, if it doesn’t get done today, it may get done tomorrow.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 1, 2021 10:45:37 GMT -5
I cannot take credit for this philosophy--it's a good one--and I apply it every day:
It's better to retire to something than from something.
This mindset helps keep things in perspective and provides focus and purpose.
Many people define themselves by their career and when it ends, there's a huge void in a person's existence. Having a plan for daily activities (semi-fixed schedule including hobbies, exercise, volunteering, community involvement, cultural enlightenment, social activities, etc.) immeasurably enriches one's life. Notice the "semi-fixed" label; this is important because you can be flexible...but if you loosen up your schedule too much too frequently, it's far too easy to drift into becoming a couch pertater.
I am having more fun now than I ever have. I count my blessings on a frequent basis.
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Post by Leftee on Mar 1, 2021 10:49:40 GMT -5
I cannot take credit for this philosophy--it's a good one--and I apply it every day: It's better to retire to something than from something... That’s been swirling around my mind. I have that laid out in my mind already. Mrs. Leftee is looking at retirement in June. I think this is missing from her plans. And it is bothering her.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 1, 2021 10:59:56 GMT -5
Leftee, now is the time to start thinking about it.
Does she like crafting? Sewing? Cooking? Wrenching on lawn mowers?
[trying to be non-sexist here and failing miserably]
It's a good approach to start putting into place the infrastructure, e.g., a sewing room, etc., well before day number 1 of retirement. This allows a person to begin to think about how they'll fill their day as a retiree and provides something to look forward to.
Yeah, I know it's improper to end a sentence with a preposition, but I'm retired: I can do what the hell I want to.
I did it AGAIN!
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Post by Leftee on Mar 1, 2021 11:08:08 GMT -5
Therein lay her struggles. No time-consuming hobbies. We've talked about a lot of activities.
She gets a lot of personal satisfaction from her work. I wonder if she wants to retire early simply because it's been a goal... if that makes sense.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 1, 2021 11:39:02 GMT -5
One thing that may work for her is to do several days per week of part-time/consulting/volunteer work in an area related to her career. I have several friends that have retired that do just that and they feel useful and fulfilled as a result. Other than lavishing a fine standard of living for her dogs, my hunnie defines her existence by her work. When she finally retires from federal service (she's already retired from the military) I hope she can find something to focus on other than me. For MY sake
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Post by Ricketi on Mar 1, 2021 11:46:54 GMT -5
Therein lay her struggles. No time-consuming hobbies. We've talked about a lot of activities. She gets a lot of personal satisfaction from her work. I wonder if she wants to retire early simply because it's been a goal... if that makes sense. We are in the same boat. My wife will be retiring in a few months and she really does not have any hobbies. I mentioned to her that she should have a plan or at least an idea what will keep her busy. I know I have plenty to do if I so choose.
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