walkinwood said:
Congratulations!
Any wisdom to share? Lessons learned, adjustments made, unexpected joys, concerns...
We're getting close to completing our 4th year.
Let's see..... If I had it to do all over again.....I'd definitely do it over again! Exactly the same way!!!
In the past five years, I've forgotten the purpose behind the alarm clock. I mean, who in their right mind would want to have some contraption sitting right next to their bed that's going to make all sorts of racket while they're trying to sleep?! That's just crazy!!!
I eat breakfast EVERY morning! Back during my employed years, I almost NEVER ate breakfast. Heck, I would have had to gotten up even earlier than O-Dark-30 to pull that off!!!
I'm totally unaware of what time sunrise is. However, I assume that it still happens sometime in the early morning, since it's ALWAYS light out when I crawl outta bed!
I've learned to NEVER, EVER go shopping anywhere, for anything on weekends!!! If ya forgot to get something at the store before about 3:00 p.m. on Friday, FORGET IT!!!! Live without it! Improvise if you have to! But do NOT go to a store to get whatever it was you forgot! You'll get stampeded by those still in the w*rkforce.....AND their heathen children!!!
Same deal with most restaurants. Stay home and eat on weekends!!! Even if you have to eat breakfast cereal for dinner. And even if you have to eat it dry 'cause ya forgot to buy milk before 3:00 p.m. Friday!
If you want to travel.....then travel!!! Go wherever your little heart desires!!! Don't just plan out your destination, but plan out your journey as well!!! Get off the beaten path! Take the scenic route! If you see something along the way that looks or sounds intriguing, STOP & CHECK IT OUT!!! Why pass-up an opportunity
You are NOT on a week long vacation from w*rk, you're retired!!! Your travel schedule can be adjusted. Your hotel reservations can be adjusted. Just relax and have fun!!!
They say (whoever "they" are) that it's good to have a daily routine. I use to disagree with that crazy talk, until I realized one day that I had actually developed a daily routine. YIKES!!! No, really I'm OK with it now! Really, I am!!! My daily routine? EVERY day, I get out of bed! EVERY night (well actually about 2:00 a.m.) I go to bed! That's my daily 'grind'. In between those routine things, EVERY day is different!!! I just go with the flow!!!
Seriously though, I'm EXTREMELY content with my life in retirement!!! No complaints, no concerns, no scary monsters under the ol' retirement bed that I had to (or have to) worry about. Finances are all in good shape, though I wish interest rates on CDs would go back up some! My health has improved since retiring....less stress, better eating habits, better sleep habits, and those sorts of things have helped tremendously!!! My b/p is always right around 110/70. My blood work results always come back with everything looking good and being where it's supposed to be.
So all in all.....Life is GREAT!!!!
