So, I’ve been thinking about what it might be like to no longer work.
If I stopped now it would be an early retirement since I’ve got some typical working years left. So part of me says that would be quitting and I should keep at it. But I’ve noticed I’m much less into work stuff and really enjoying the time I take away from work when I’m doing my hobbies. Which are basically working out (especially cycling), and driving (tracking my car).
If I retired later, I may not have the same physical abilities to really enjoy those activities. Train, ride mountain stages in Europe? Run another marathon? Just travel with the wife? …
But other than these fun experiences, what’s the daily routine of a retired life like? Is everyday kinda the same? If you’re retired, what do you do on a typical day? Would I be bored? …
If you’re retired (I know some are), please chime in.
If you’re not retired, what do you imagine you would if you were?
For me, I’ve told the owner of MyRacehorse that I’ll come work for them when I’m finished with the law firm. That will be fun work. Aside from that, it will be - drink coffee and write, gym, s/b/r, read lots, travel some.
It occurred to me the other day that you can walk into any MacDonalds in the country in the morning and there will be 4 old guys at a table chatting over coffee. Time to start looking for your crew.
Retired five years ago at age 62 (but that’s another story).
My day is whatever I want it to be that day. Flexibility is one of the best things about my retirement. If it’s a nice day, I can go for a bike ride of any length I want. Nicer in the afternoon? Go ride in the afternoon. Weather looks good next Tuesday? Plan a century ride.
I do the cooking for us, so I need to work in the meal planning and shopping, which seems to be a nearly daily thing (wife needs fresh fruits and veggies, so I can’t shop for a week). Try to keep up with a spouse’s need for a fresh avocado and just-ripe banana every morning! I get my wife’s breakfast/lunch all set up in the morning so she doesn’t have to.
If I want to take a nap, I take a nap. I go to PT twice a week, and from there I go to the pool. Laundry needs to be done? Two loads this morning. House humidifier doesn’t work? Fixed it this morning. Rainy out? Two Zwift rides this morning, then set up bike for wife this afternoon. Don’t feel like leftovers for lunch? Go get some pizza slices.
Feel like doing nothing? Do nothing and be okay with it.
I picked up the violin after 49 years away, so I have an hour a day that I practice, plus a weekly hour-long lesson. Practice whenever I want during the day (kinda hard right after PT and swimming!), or don’t.
After dinner and the wife has accomplished her tasks (teacher retiring after this year, and getting an online Masters in Cybersecurity…because), we grab something for dessert and watch TV until she can’t keep her eyes open any more.
If you are the type who needs to feel like they are accomplishing something all the time, then you have to be sure you have enough to fill that time. I’m not.
I am staring down the barrel of 55 and almost ready to retire. I’ve got about 2.5 years left on the mortgage. Aside from that I don’t have anything keeping me working, at least full time. I could drop to part time now but would get bored as Mrs. mck414 still has to work full time for another 4-5 years.
I can no longer s/b/r but I can walk like the devil, so walking and hiking will be my go to physical activities. I am also really enjoying gardening and look to increase our home garden, maybe try my hand at some canning. I also intend on working or volunteering for the county clerk’s office during election season.
I retired 5 years ago and love it. Took up bluegrass banjo and that now occupied a couple hours a day of my time. I have time to do more recreational reading. I do all the grocery shopping and around 2/3 of the cooking. My wife is also retired so I get to spend more time with her which is a treat. Mostly I enjoy the flexibility in my schedule. I still get around 15-hours/week of exercising, but I don’t have to get up at 3:30 a.m. to ride a couple of hours and still be at work by 7:00.
This has been on my mind, especially this fall. I have extra time off to use up so I haven’t worked a Monday since mid-September. Almost at 59, retirement accounts are already better than my stretch goals. But we make enough that it is hard to walk away from. And I don’t see that changing when I hit 62 either.
And, I’ve never not worked since I was 16. It isn’t that I am a workaholic. In truth as an employee I can tend towards avoiding work, as evidenced by 25 years on here. I don’t like working for the man. But it is what I have always done. I’m having a hard time envisioning what not working would look like.
We have examples of what not to do from both my dad and my wife’s. Just sit in a chair inside staring at the floor or watching the weather channel. I’ll be mad at myself if that is what I end up doing.
I have 20ish years left before I get to this point, but my goal is going to be to have the have the nicest yard on the block or neighborhood (I do now but not to the standard I want lol) and to finally have a clean garage. That is unless we find a 15+ acre property to move to, then the yard part goes away and I work on food plots for deer, lol.
Whenever I took vacation (e.g. typical 2 week travel trip), it’s usually the 2nd week I lose track of what day it is. Which is a good thing for vacation. You wake up and it doesn’t make a difference whether it’s Tuesday or Weds. Whereas my workweek has a fairly structured set of Tuesday meetings vs. Weds meetings etc.
For retired folks, is waking up on a particular day no different than any other day? For all subsequent days?
Right now, I know Saturday has a long group ride day. Monday is a back to work day. If everyday became no different – I’m sure I could adjust, but not sure how that would feel like. Is that boring?
Last Monday I helped my daughter take stuff to someone who needed furniture after getting out of rehab. 3 hours there and 3 back.
Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday was helping with painting and new doors at the house.
Friday and Saturday was running a chain saw at a 12 step building I attend.
Sunday was odds and ends around the house, babysitting grandbaby, checking a beaver trap and piddling around at the hunting club.
Today I was up at 430am to deer hunt. Shot a 5 point and cleaned it. Nap then ran some errands. Lunch with my wife and going hunting again this afternoon.
Thank goodness for the time change so I’m usually home by 7. Baseball or crime shows with the wife every night.
Go to planet fitness 4-5 times a week. In the woods 4-5 times a week. Grandkids a couple times a week. Volunteer work several times a week.
Just gave my notice at my part time job because I just don’t have the time to do it and fit in all the things that are important to me.
I forgot to mention all the new stuff I am trying to learn. I’m about halfway through my first semester of a Fall Flora and fauna class at the local technical school. As much time as I spend in the woods there is just so much I don’t know. Classes are free if you are over 65.
I also just signed up for a 2 day workshop on predator management put on by scdnr in December.
I recently made my first 2 batches of venison jerky. One turned out great. The other was too spicy for my taste but my future SIL loved it.
There have been several things I tried that just didn’t keep my attention.banjo lessons a local writer’s group come to mind. I thought I would be on fire about both but after a few months it started feeling like something I was obligated to do instead of something I wanted to do.
This is a really thoughtful exercise. I’m a guy who likes frameworks. In my broader wellbeing consulting, the data shows that Humans have a handful of needs (which will continue into retirement):
Social Health - Those with RELATIONSHIPS live longer, richer lives. The data is pretty clear… It takes time and effort to build and maintain relationships (and this becomes more difficult as one gets older and friends die). So, build social connections across age groups is an important goal (eg: Coffee groups, mentoring younger people, etc.).
Physical Health - The things we could do before will become more challenging. The details we ignore will become bigger problems in the future. So, it’s critical to build greater discipline into Prehab, PT, and the items we could ignore when we were younger.
Because I’ve reached the “work optional” phase of life (approaching age 55), I’m reflecting upon how to bring joy, personal growth, and Human connection to my waking hours with greater intention. Right now, it looks something like:
Morning coffee and movement (eg: Gym, bike ride, or run) - Likely starting around 9:00 am (up at 7:00 taking care of dogs and just letting the day come to me).
Mid-Day: Personal growth activity (academic classes and guitar lessons)
Afternoon Volunteer/Coaching Work: I coach High School XC/Track as well as Alpine Ski Racers.
Folks like Klehner and GMAN got it right above but your question above assumes I know what day of the week it is. I’ve begun mountain biking and jazz guitar (both huge mistakes )
What I really like is when wifey and I take a vacation - like a recent 6 week trip to Europe biking and walking a Camino . . . I get to go back to retirement instead of work.
Part of my plan is to do the paid race marshal gig at Circuit of the Americas. The paid events are usually car clubs, manufacturers like Bugatti, Nascar teams wanting road course time, or the occasional movie star wanting time in an F1 car (allegedly).
This will fund my habit of traveling for the volunteer marshal gigs and get me out of the house on a regular basis. Otherwise, my time will be spent working on the yard, riding my bike, reading books.
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