Retiring

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! I, too, am retired, though my husband has not yet taken the plunge. He is contemplating it harder every day. Though I do agree that I love being retired now, there is a bit of an adjustment period involved. You don’t realize how much you affiliate who you are with what you do for a living until you stop doing it. Give yourself that time to adjust and figure out your new reality. It will get better as you set a new daily routine. I’ve met a few people who really struggled with retirement and found another job to keep from going stir crazy. I personally contemplated doing that myself...now I’m glad I refrained from following that urge. Remember this: It’s ok to say no to people who think you should use all your new “free” time to help them out. You earned that time to choose what you want to do with it! I don’t mean to be the voice of gloom and doom, just want you to give yourself that transition time. Enjoy your retirement!

Retirement is the best EVER!!!!!

I've been semi-retired for a little over 5 years. I still do consulting on a one-day-a-week basis with the company we sold our business to. However, I think I will be hanging up my spurs in the next year or two.

Appreciate all the advice!  I do have other hobbies, interests and projects besides Podding:  church, Boy Scout leader (specifically Order of the Arrow stuff), off-roading the old K5 (always been in the blood since younger but just now able to pursue it more in the last 5 years), and many house/vehicle/yard projects to keep me busy for a long, long while.  I don't plan to get bored but if I do, you will never hear me complain about it.  And I probably will be busier than I can imagine as y'all suggested but again, you will never hear me complain.  Haven't the flexibility every day to do what I want, when I want will be quite nice.

Congratulations! If you think you will kick back and have nothing to do, think again. Retired life can be even more busy than working life! You just get a bit more choice in the things that keep you busy.