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old greybeard
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2017 08:09am
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I've just turned in notice at my job of 37 years. 57yo, still in good shape, but am burnt out. No pension, no debt, good savings. Wanted to go 2 more years until my wife gets her small gov't pension. But if I had to spend one more nice day staring at a PC screens trying to figure out what service was failing I may have gone mad.
Kinda nervous about it, wondering what others experiences have been.
I'm looking at it as a experiment, plan on enjoying myself thru the end of this years hunting season, then maybe get a P/T job if bored with spending my time at camp and in the garden. Not to mention I promised my wife that she no longer has to do laundry, grocery shop, cook or clean.
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Littlecooner
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2017 08:29am
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It will take a few months, possible 6 to get accustom to not looking at the PC screen 8 to 5 for 40 hours. One day you will get up, realize that those past few weeks at the cabin have been great and opening day for hunting season starts tomorrow and you will fell fantastic. Life long hunting buddy, same age and we both retired about the same time, for months and months, we would call each other about 8:30 to 9:00 each Monday morning and wonder "What do you think the rest of the world is doing this morning?" and have a huge laugh. Does not matter what you hunt, spend time at the cabin, scouting, game camera placement, etc. along with enjoying fresh vegies from the garden and remember to drink a cold one late in the afternoon from the cabin porch and make sure you laugh out loud, even if no one is around but you, that all the rest of the world is caught up in the rat race. Welcome to the rest of your life, you are going to enjoy this and wish you had "jumped ship" years earlier. Hunter? shooter? ok, range time, prowling the pawn shops and local gun stores, just looking for a super bargan, the gun shows, who knows, you may find a super bargain, one to put in the collection or could be one to just "flip" and make a few coins in cash for supplement to the retirement funds.
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Littlecooner
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2017 08:34am
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PS to old greybeard - its that 8:00 Monday morning window when the rest of the world is in a mad rush in traffic, trying to get to a PC screen this morning, and here I sit, watching the sun come up, drinking coffee and checking the weekend post on the cabin forum before easing into the shower and departing in a few hours to take care of business for the day. Traffic is a huge amount less at 9-10 on Monday morning that at 7-8. I will laugh about old greybeard today as I ease around, not in any hurry to make my appointed places.
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Gary O
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2017 08:53am - Edited by: Gary O
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Retired two years ago
I still laugh myself back to sleep of an early morn...'specially Monday morn.
Headin' back to bed right now (at 6AM)
I feel a giggle coming on
Welcome to the other side, old greybeard.
I won't spoil things by telling you what all goes on over here
but
it's
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(from an older, greyer beard)
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bldginsp
Member
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2017 09:09am
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All my working life I've been 'planning for retirement'. Save money, accumulate a pension, etc. to be sure I am secure in old age. How much is enough? What if I drop dead of a stroke 2 weeks after I retire? Life is in the moment, not our future plans. And, life is what happens while you are making other plans.
Other side of the coin, my father retired a bit early at 62 with a fixed pension. Now he's 93- so he's had over 30 years of mostly good health. But he's getting close to running out of funds. He won't last much longer, so you could say he planned it just right, or you could say he doesn't have enough to be secure at an age when he can't do anything about it.
I think you have to be productive all your life, so long as you can. But that doesn't mean sitting in front of a pc forever. Even if you just sharpen knives for the neighbors or grow fruit trees you are producing something. The ability to produce is the best security.
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old greybeard
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2017 09:55am
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I agree with being productive. We just spent a week in Florida at a rented condo. Fun to visit, but could not imagine spending every day there getting old. Then again i work with people who are dumfounded that I would walk away from a good job. These same people tend to never vacation, and live for their jobs.
I am envious of those who love their work, I love my hobbies and the tangible work I can do. Changing oil, cutting firewood, cutting grass. between that, volunteering, and maybe a P/T job i hope to still feel to be a productive part of society, without the lack of joy I feel going into work now.
My family is long lived as well, I don't have a lot of optimism that this society will last as long as I may. So my thoughts are to enjoy life now. And if the world keeps going when I turn 87 I plan on giving up moderation and party hard.
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Salty Craig
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2017 10:36am
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Old guys rule.
I gotta bunch more time to put in.
I'll be thinkin about y'all.
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buckybuck
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2017 11:23am
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We were nervous also. Financial concerns mainly, but you'll be surprised how much money you no longer spend when you're no longer working (clothing, commute costs, lunches, etc.).
I'm don't know where you live, but at first we did find winters challenging here in Ohio. One morning, the first winter we were retired, my wife came out of the bedroom, complaining loudly that I was making way too much noise flipping the light switches in the bathroom. We stared at each other a minute for a moment, then we both started laughing. The next thing we did was go online and rent a house in Florida for the next month.
We didn't do that this year--I'm with you, a little Florida goes a long way with me--but we both do work and volunteer part-time during the winter just to get out of the house.
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leonk
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# Posted: 18 Apr 2017 06:23pm
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good for you, OG!!!
if you need any financial advice go to bogglehead forum, assuming you're in the US, there's sister forum in Canada.
At 49, I am at my wits end with my current work and the corporate bs. I've decided to retire at 55. The goal will help keeping me sane in the next 6 years. If I change my mind at 55, so be it, but at least the option will be there.
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old243
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# Posted: 18 Apr 2017 09:56pm
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I retired at age 58, have a good pension. Went through a few health issues. but the last several years have been great, looking forward to more. 76 this year. Enjoy hunting, cutting my firewood. But now look for smaller trees to cut. Those big blocks are getting heavier. may eventually get down to limb wood. Have taken up bee keeping as a hobby. Making all hive parts , requires some shop time, and keeps , the brain active. Volunteer , with the local Lions club. Enjoy your retirement. Do any long trips to places you have always wanted to go, while you are young enough and fit enough to enjoy them. You will find that a job is no longer in your radar. old243
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neb
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# Posted: 18 Apr 2017 10:49pm
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Good for you in taking the jump! Some just can't do it even if they have all the money in the world because they would be lost. Institutionalized will do that to you and that is all they know how to do and afraid to retire and live life. I know many of them! Lol
It will be one year for me at the end of April. It was a hard thing to do after being at the same place for 35 years. For me I got rid of the stress, meetings, schedules, deadlines and responsibility of employees and all the political BS etc..
You can't buy back time and I have never heard someone say that they wished they would of worked one more year and would of stayed longer at the office when they were on the death bed. If you can you should retire and live life like there won't be a tomorrow.
I had to give one year notice before I retired so I had one year to plan and get ready mentally. I have a lot of hobbies plus fishing, hunting, hiking and trapping so for me there hasn't been a boring moment. The cabin keeps me busy also.
I wish you well and make sure you have a plan and you don't have to get it all done in one week. You can do it the next day if you feel like it now. Lol Everyday is a Saturday.
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Jim in NB
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# Posted: 19 Apr 2017 06:40am
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Congrats! You can always make more money but you can never make more time. I've been finished with paid employment for two years. The toughest thing I have found is to find a routine that fits. Have always been a morning person and that will stay forever although now I can sleep in to 6 and at the cabin 7! For night owls that sounds odd but for me that is great! It is easy to get yourself into routines that although enjoyable and doing what you want may not always be the best. I think the biggest goal should be to find something that keeps you fit both physically and mentally. Enjoy your time now that it is all yours!
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old greybeard
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# Posted: 19 Apr 2017 08:20am
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Thanks for all the replies. Not surprised that so many on this site share my same values of what is important. Really looking forward to not being on the interstate every morning and afternoon. My new commute will be in a kayak or on a enduro!
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Borrego
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# Posted: 19 Apr 2017 09:43pm
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You go brother! I am still a few years away from this alleged paradise called retirement (even though I am 63). It's all about the almighty dollar, so just make sure you're covered there and you should be fine...I think guys like us (on this forum) will easily adjust to the new 'grind', just relax, take things easy and keep a bunch of cold beers within easy reach.....
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KabinKat
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# Posted: 21 Apr 2017 08:40pm
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Hello,
It is great to read these posts! I'm about 10 yrs or so(maybe sooner with a bit of luck and sticking to my plan) from my official retirement. I have a lot of hobbies to keep me busy, not to mention my dream cabin. =)
I think about my retirement most days, and that includes a remote place to spend time. Planning and being active and productive is the key!
Best wishes to all! 
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