Get a Life

Hi All, just thought I would let you know that there are many things to do in retirement. I try and get in a round of golf every day (weather permitting ) and I spend quite a bit of time playing on the computers ( I've built 5 ) and since I bought a Bread Maker at Xmas, I've been experimenting with loaves of bread and making Easter buns. I can't keep up with the demand for the Easter buns as my wife keeps giving them to friends and neighbors to try. But I was feeling contented at lunch today eating a couple of slices of fresh ( warm ) whole meal bread. Plain white and now whole meal gives me a couple of choices to cook up.I watched my Dad sit around at home when he retired and he just vegetated. The sky is the limit. You can do lots of new things in retirement. Cheers from the Kiwi. Neil.

 

I'm truly glad for you, Neil. As for me... I couldn't take it. In fact, I tried three times to retire but eventually found a great part-time job in a bookstore and I love it. I'm now working 30 hours a week and as far as I'm concerned, I've no intentions of giving this up in the near future. Love going in to work... meeting new customers... helping folks find the books they want... really, other than some working with freight (which is not a good thing for the acid reflux), I love my new job. (formerly a teacher for 32 years)

 

Hi James, Thanks for your comments. When I retired in 2002 from the Motor Industry, I was headhunted to do some part time tutoring in a local apprenticeship training school. I did that for 3 years until I had a quintuple bypass in September 2005. I feel fitter than ever and as I stated previously there are heaps of things to do. I have done some order processing and packing in NZ Council for Educational Research (who supply tests and maths/reading training material for all Education units in NZ and Overseas). I have no trouble in keeping myself occupied. I just wanted to express to others that retirement is another phase in life and while you can do it, do it or lose it. Cheers Neil.

 

I'm really happy for you, Neil. Keep smiling, Mate! And many years to you! (my wife and I are Orthodox... it's an Orthodox "best wishes" saying)

 

I'm 57 I've retired 2 x I sat here for 4 yr's the last time. I could not think of anything I wanted to do that was new. I gave up and started my biz again. feel much better now. I guess im going to ret again in 3 yr's my wife will have 30 yr's in. she is looking forward to it LOL. we'll see!

 

Hi Dytrog

I'm 60! Gotcha by a few years. I've also retired twice and both times I simply did not care for it. I'm not a wood-worker. Hobbies bore me. I can only read so much before I get stir crazy. I'm not a gardener and besides, the weather in the Pacific NW is not always conducive to great gardening. I spent 32 years as an educator but I no longer want to be with children. So... six years ago I found a job (30 hours a week) in a bookstore and I absolutely love it. I'm able to interact with folks, help them choose books AND get paid for it! I love receiving my bi-weekly check.

However, I recognize that we're not all the same and evidently Neil has found contentment in retirement. Bless his heart! Good for you, Neil. I'm just not there yet, Brother. Maybe in five years... maybe seven.... ???

 

I think when my wife retires I will have a better retirement. I won't feel like a house hubby for 1. We may even learn to talk about something other than work Atleast we'll have time to travel. without having to have a set return home date. My mother will be 97 this year and I have not seen her for a few yr's now. I guess I'd better go see her and not wait till wife ret. Someone else can do the work how ever long I decide to take. I'm happy for anyone who enjoys being ret. I think I will next time. I hope!

 

That's a very relevant observation regarding your wife. My wife is five years my junior and she is still actively employed as an office manager. She is not ready for retirement and that may have played a large part in my distaste for it. Good point. I hadn't really given it much thought. I'm also certain that when she is ready, I will undoubtedly be ready as well.

 

Thanks for the kind thoughts from you all. My wife is 8 years my junior and is really looking forward to retiring herself. We currently share the cooking of the main meal of the day and I make the evening dinner Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I carry out house chores like making the bed and vacuuming etc. What I'm trying to point out to those facing retirement, is that there are many things to keep you occupied. Don't vegetate. Get out and enjoy life as much as possible. Neil.

 

I may be joining you sooner than I had intended. We are currently going through a dispute with our employer and I'm not appreciating the manner in which we are being treated. I do understand (and I'm sure we all appreciate) what you saying, Neil. I suppose we're all at different stages in our life's journey. I'm very reluctant to leave the work force. I'm 60 and it just feels too young to me to do this just yet. But who can say?? I definitely would look into volunteering so I could get out of the house and interact with folks. I spent the greater part of my life communicating with people... first my students for 32 years and now for the past six years, my customers. I'm a people person.

All the best to you, Neil.

 

Thinking about ret. since I started reading this post. As I said my mother is 96- 97 this year my wifes mother is 87. we may have quite a long ret. as we are both 57. a long time to try to stay active ? I'm now trying to figure out how we will spend that much time "if we live as long as parents" Guess we will have to find something we both like Been married over 33 yr's kinda makes it hard to think of anything to say that both don't know. Now we won't even have our work to talk about. BUT when she tells me about work I don't know who she is talking about so it means nothing to me. I talk about my work and she has little idea of what I'm talking about. "Locksmithing ". I get along with people well but have no need for for friends, She likes people and has friends? Maybe a "at home" job would be the answer? Will have to think of what. A does librarian and an idiot do? I only have 3 yr's to figure it out Wish me luck

 

Well... you might want to consider part-time work at 60. I've watched a few television programs about how seniors are going "back" to the workplace... out of choice in most cases and in a few, out of necessity. I find that the setting of an arbitrary age (i.e. 60... 65) to retire is odd. Why that particular age? I can understand that some jobs and/or careers would want a younger workforce but many jobs today are far less physically demanding and they provide a sense of accomplishment as well as purpose to one's day. I'm getting ready to go into work in half an hour. I'm looking forward to this. I enjoy meeting the customers and even much of the paperwork involved in balancing the tills and closing the store, when in fact I "have" to close. I don't think that we can set any hard and fast rules here and I suppose it's why I react negatively to "retirement" ages. Even your thinking that you have three years to straighten this out, Dytrog is really an arbitrary number. Why put yourself under the gun? You'll figure out what you want to do when you're good and ready!

Neil is happy in his retirement and I'm glad for him. I'm convinced that when my wife is "ready" to retire, it will make a world of difference in my own attitude about it. But that's just me. We're all different.

 

keep going sir! i have a suggestion, try building models

 

Wouldn't mind having a life sized model of Linda Evans as she appeared in playboy in late 60's But only GOD could put that together