Life after reiterment

[Anonymous]

DH and I are retiring at the end of the month. I can't wait! So much has been put on the backburner with kids and work. No more being at the beck and call of our bosses. The best part is most of our friends are doing the same in the next year or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been sorta retired most of the year (took DRP 1) and will officially retire 12/31. Honestly, I'm bored. I did find a volunteer position but it's gotten caught up in licensing red tape, I've done some traveling and want to do more, I've taken care of some health issues and recommitted to the gym and of course have more than enough times to chat with friends/family. My biggest issue is my spouse - who doesn't want to travel or do anything social and expects me to stay home and entertain them (they are already retired.) It's a HUGE issue so if you're married my advice is to figure this out sooner rather than later.

I retired early and my spouse is also retired and we have completely different interests so we each just do our own thing—including traveling—and let the other do theirs. In some ways we are leading parallel lives. But without resentment.

You cannot allow a spouse to dictate how you should spend the last few decades of your life. It’s YOUR life. Not theirs.

Good point. People that have been married awhile should be able to trust each other enough to let them do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been sorta retired most of the year (took DRP 1) and will officially retire 12/31. Honestly, I'm bored. I did find a volunteer position but it's gotten caught up in licensing red tape, I've done some traveling and want to do more, I've taken care of some health issues and recommitted to the gym and of course have more than enough times to chat with friends/family. My biggest issue is my spouse - who doesn't want to travel or do anything social and expects me to stay home and entertain them (they are already retired.) It's a HUGE issue so if you're married my advice is to figure this out sooner rather than later.

+1

You need to be on the same page, you don't have to do all the same things 100% of the time, but you both need to find what makes you happy (and if one doesn't want to travel, they should let the other one do it alone or with other friends )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, just some advice for you actual last day of work. Have something planned for when you walk out-of the office for the last time. You will want plans for that evening, something. An office party goodbye doesn't count.

NP. This is such good advice!

PP who has 4-6 months off each year: what do you do? That sounds perfect!

I am a new poster- I plan to retire in 2027- I am a CPA and I am looking to start doing tax returns for others from January to April.

Sounds wonderful! You have the perfect career to cut back to part time as you want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been sorta retired most of the year (took DRP 1) and will officially retire 12/31. Honestly, I'm bored. I did find a volunteer position but it's gotten caught up in licensing red tape, I've done some traveling and want to do more, I've taken care of some health issues and recommitted to the gym and of course have more than enough times to chat with friends/family. My biggest issue is my spouse - who doesn't want to travel or do anything social and expects me to stay home and entertain them (they are already retired.) It's a HUGE issue so if you're married my advice is to figure this out sooner rather than later.

You should travel by yourself or with friends. Even when we were younger, my spouse didn't not like to travel to "dangerous" places like the whole continent of Africa(??? LOL) so I went by myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s boring tbh. Especially if u are retiring young. I’m in my 50s and everyone my age is still working. I could hang out with a bunch of 68 year olds at the senior center where I volunteer but my brain needs the stimulation. Went back to work pt. It’s perfect for me. Good luck and congratulations give yourself a year to figure out the new routine. The first 5 months feels luxurious though.

Why did you retire in your 50s?

NP
I’m retiring my 50s because the difference between my pension and my salary is about $30,000 after taxes. I am essentially working a really stressful job for $50,000 a year.

How are you covering health insurance?

It’s part of my pension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m retiring too. I do have some money to travel so I’m gonna spend the year traveling and then I’m going to work part-time.

I’m the youngest of a large family so I have a few family members who are also retired.

They’ve said volunteering is very hard because they over schedule or you can’t get shifts. Then you feel like you’re just standing around doing nothing.

I’m going to play pickle ball, golf, work part-time.

I can’t imagine not having a lot of things to do.

I agree!

But for some people, their entire entity is tied up in work that they don't know how to proceed without it. It can be difficult as well if you were an executive, and now don't have anything "to be in charge of". You go from being one of the most valued, listened to, important people in your day to just being a "normal person" (and trust me, your spouse doesn't want you being the boss at home)

I am a semi retired executive. It’s not just identity and being in charge; it’s that I have so much more drive and energy than my spouse and friends which work absorbs. I work about 30 hours a week which is part time in my world. I also have much more flexibility to travel, volunteer, take a day off on the spur of the moment etc than many other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been sorta retired most of the year (took DRP 1) and will officially retire 12/31. Honestly, I'm bored. I did find a volunteer position but it's gotten caught up in licensing red tape, I've done some traveling and want to do more, I've taken care of some health issues and recommitted to the gym and of course have more than enough times to chat with friends/family. My biggest issue is my spouse - who doesn't want to travel or do anything social and expects me to stay home and entertain them (they are already retired.) It's a HUGE issue so if you're married my advice is to figure this out sooner rather than later.

+1

You need to be on the same page, you don't have to do all the same things 100% of the time, but you both need to find what makes you happy (and if one doesn't want to travel, they should let the other one do it alone or with other friends )

“Let” the other one?

Hopefully by the time you are old enough to retire, you can also decide things for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one thing the shutdown taught me is I am ready to retire. Take the morning at a leisurely pace, enjoy some good reading, exercise a lot, be outside a lot. I didn't travel because I didn't know when it would end but I could definitely see myself doing that. I also find doing house stuff fulfilling so that is enough "work" for me.

lol...the pandemic shutdown had an opposite impact on my mindset. Prior, I wanted to get out at 55 but after wfh for two years or so, I never want to stay home again. Became ill sort of and was glad offices opened back up. Be careful what you wish for...

[Anonymous]

I retired at 47 yo with a $18M NW. It has been fantastic. Love the freedom to do whatever the heck I want. Been traveling the world staying in places for a month or so at a time. If you get bored that’s on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 47 yo with a $18M NW. It has been fantastic. Love the freedom to do whatever the heck I want. Been traveling the world staying in places for a month or so at a time. If you get bored that’s on you.

Sounds amazing, so jealous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 47 yo with a $18M NW. It has been fantastic. Love the freedom to do whatever the heck I want. Been traveling the world staying in places for a month or so at a time. If you get bored that’s on you.

My last job was in my 20s working while my ex finished grad school. Then I became a SAHM for the next 25 yrs or so.

I considered myself retired from that "job" when my youngest got into college and could drive.

I do frequently get bored but it's far less of a problem for me than constantly being stressed out by kids, the perpetual hustle to get them off to school and stuff every day, be available to drive until 8pm, teacher meetings, reading logs, science projects, sports and practices, road trips to camps and tournaments, all the random things kids throw at you, and then the whole college circus.

I pretty much have the freedom to do whatever I want, I just prefer doing so much less. The last thing I want to do is travel anymore.

My ex would probably give me a job if I wanted one since we're fairly amicable, I just don't want one.

I could probably buy anything I wanted to as well, but I can't think of anything I want besides taking care of my pets.

There is something very calming about having an exact routine every single morning in my robe and slippers slightly before dawn, just like I remember my grandma from the old days, sitting in the kitchen with her coffee. No longer are there the morning "papers" the way they used to be, but I enjoy listening to podcasts from the phone in my robe pocket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 47 yo with a $18M NW. It has been fantastic. Love the freedom to do whatever the heck I want. Been traveling the world staying in places for a month or so at a time. If you get bored that’s on you.

My last job was in my 20s working while my ex finished grad school. Then I became a SAHM for the next 25 yrs or so.

I considered myself retired from that "job" when my youngest got into college and could drive.

I do frequently get bored but it's far less of a problem for me than constantly being stressed out by kids, the perpetual hustle to get them off to school and stuff every day, be available to drive until 8pm, teacher meetings, reading logs, science projects, sports and practices, road trips to camps and tournaments, all the random things kids throw at you, and then the whole college circus.

I pretty much have the freedom to do whatever I want, I just prefer doing so much less. The last thing I want to do is travel anymore.

My ex would probably give me a job if I wanted one since we're fairly amicable, I just don't want one.

I could probably buy anything I wanted to as well, but I can't think of anything I want besides taking care of my pets.

There is something very calming about having an exact routine every single morning in my robe and slippers slightly before dawn, just like I remember my grandma from the old days, sitting in the kitchen with her coffee. No longer are there the morning "papers" the way they used to be, but I enjoy listening to podcasts from the phone in my robe pocket.

It depends HOW you travel. The way I do it, it never gets old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 47 yo with a $18M NW. It has been fantastic. Love the freedom to do whatever the heck I want. Been traveling the world staying in places for a month or so at a time. If you get bored that’s on you.

My last job was in my 20s working while my ex finished grad school. Then I became a SAHM for the next 25 yrs or so.

I considered myself retired from that "job" when my youngest got into college and could drive.

I do frequently get bored but it's far less of a problem for me than constantly being stressed out by kids, the perpetual hustle to get them off to school and stuff every day, be available to drive until 8pm, teacher meetings, reading logs, science projects, sports and practices, road trips to camps and tournaments, all the random things kids throw at you, and then the whole college circus.

I pretty much have the freedom to do whatever I want, I just prefer doing so much less. The last thing I want to do is travel anymore.

My ex would probably give me a job if I wanted one since we're fairly amicable, I just don't want one.

I could probably buy anything I wanted to as well, but I can't think of anything I want besides taking care of my pets.

There is something very calming about having an exact routine every single morning in my robe and slippers slightly before dawn, just like I remember my grandma from the old days, sitting in the kitchen with her coffee. No longer are there the morning "papers" the way they used to be, but I enjoy listening to podcasts from the phone in my robe pocket.

It depends HOW you travel. The way I do it, it never gets old.

Or you’re easily awed and don’t like time with yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 47 yo with a $18M NW. It has been fantastic. Love the freedom to do whatever the heck I want. Been traveling the world staying in places for a month or so at a time. If you get bored that’s on you.

Similar, but left a bit earlier than you did. Spend a month or two at a time in more than 60 countries now over the last decade. By now we have lots of favourite spots that we return to often. We do this on at least four continents per year and agree it’s great.