Do you have to be busy in FIRE?

[RobbieB]

You can do whatever you want.

[JoeWras]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo One of my greatest accomplishments in retirement - maybe my only accomplishment - is learning to simply "be". I discovered I didn't have to set goals, measure accomplishments, or schedule my time at volunteer activities to be happy and enjoy life.

Based on this phrase I saw here, probably from REWahoo ("simply be"), I took an entire weekend off a short time ago. I don't know if I ever did that, even on vacation.

It was awesome! I let the flow grab me instead of trying to reign in the flow. The flow led me to meeting with a friend, unexpectedly. The flow lead to sitting on the porch and listening to nature.

Now, this was new for me, so it will take some work. That may sound funny! I consider it part of exploring whether I'm ready to quit OMY. Based on a successful weekend of "be," I think I am.

[RunningBum]

I'm kind of enjoying a rainy day here because I have an excuse for being super lazy. But I'm posting on too many threads. Also I lost my facebook access somehow. Long story but it looks like I'm locked out, not hacked, because I killed my browser process a couple of times due to high CPU (most likely caused by FB).

[Dawg52]

I played golf this morning, ate lunch then took a nap. Had planned to clean up my house today but the nap made me tired. Think I will put it off until tomorrow.

[razztazz]

Being busy and having things to do was what I hated about working.

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingaway Thanks for all the comments. Looks like that I do have things to do every day, such as pulling weeds from my lawn, fighting pests (bugs, rabbits, and squirrels) in my vegetable and fruit garden, but I just do not feel that I am busy with "important" things. I am in an unpaid summer break period, which I use to experience or experiment my retirement life.

OK then, what do you consider to be "important" things?

[Walt34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo One of my greatest accomplishments in retirement - maybe my only accomplishment - is learning to simply "be". I discovered I didn't have to set goals, measure accomplishments, or schedule my time at volunteer activities to be happy and enjoy life.

Another one here.

For a while there after retirement I was actually feeling a little guilty because I wasn't "doing anything" and then had an awakening - I worked so hard, and for so long, that I'd reached the goal of not having to do anything if I didn't want to.

I've pointed to this post several times but Nords articulated it very well several years ago: http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...ork-42328.html

Most days I sleep as late as I want to and don't feel the slightest bit of guilt about it. We do try to get to the gym every other day so we don't turn completely into slugs, and we both do some things to maintain a bit of mental stimulation. For me it is radio control model airplanes that I can fly in the back yard, some photography, and I enjoy documentary movies on youtube and Amazon Prime.

[Bir48die]

Ditto on being busy in spurts. In the winter I've done volunteer taxes and been crazy busy. In the summer I putt around the house, golf and camp. Today my day before lunch was:

Coffee & Paper
Gym
Repair bird holes in my siding
Clean both bbq's (last nigh a fire erupted)

I'm done. Will go drink beer with buddies later

[flyingaway]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawg52 I played golf this morning, ate lunch then took a nap. Had planned to clean up my house today but the nap made me tired. Think I will put it off until tomorrow.

I did not play golf but did take a two hour nap and felt too tired to do anything in the afternoon. I did make dinner for my family though.

[flyingaway]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh OK then, what do you consider to be "important" things?

I really don't know. My wife comes back from work every day and asks me if I feel bored and I may need find something to do.

[Senator]

You larger problem will be keeping yourself physically challenged. If you do not get exercise, you will die much faster...

Your gardening will help.

[Ronstar]

I'm busier now than when I worked. It seem that my penchant for taking on additional duties during my working days has extended into retirement.

[flyingaway]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senator You larger problem will be keeping yourself physically challenged. If you do not get exercise, you will die much faster... Your gardening will help.

I walk with my wife almost every evening. I need to exercise more and make use of the equipment that I bought several years ago but were only occasionally used.

[flyingaway]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronstar I'm busier now than when I worked. It seem that my penchant for taking on additional duties during my working days has extended into retirement.

If I have to be busy in retirement, I would rather to be busy in work to get some money to upgrade my economy class to business class for international travels.

That is my point, I just want to be justified to do nothing in retirement.

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingaway If I have to be busy in retirement, I would rather to be busy in work to get some money to upgrade my economy class to business class for international travels. That is my point, I just want to be justified to do nothing in retirement.

Then you are clearly not ready to retire. Work on!

[foxfirev5]

I'm as busy as I was when I was working. However it's much more productive from a personal standpoint. Exercise every morning and usually some sort of chore or small project at one of the house. Anything that could even remotely construed as work is usually done well before noon.
I honestly feel ER has improved my overall situation. Health has at least been maintained with lower BP, weight loss and keeping higher glucose levels at bay. Money has taken a backseat to other priorities.

[Midpack]

I made breakfast, scheduled an oil change Fri, scheduled a lunch with friends Thur, went for a long bike ride, thoroughly cleaned the range, made lunch, played nine holes of golf (practicing, hitting 3-4 balls on every shot), updated my USGA handicap, made dinner, went for a walk with DW, and I'll just relax this evening. Playing golf was the only semi planned activity, the rest just happened. I'll probably do less tomorrow...

[Jerry1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senator You larger problem will be keeping yourself physically challenged. If you do not get exercise, you will die much faster... Your gardening will help.

Both mind and body. My dad is 86 (I'm 56). He is still getting around very well. I'd rather be him than stuck in a chair watching TV because I could not move.

I'm with you. I don't have a lot planned for my retirement and look forward to doing what I want, when I want. But a good walk once a day or some consistent physical movement is necessary. The mind is a greater challenge in my opinion. Not sure if reading and mind puzzles will do enough, but I'm sure it's better than nothing. Stay active.

One addition to Senator's comment: You might not die any faster. The medical community has become very good at keeping people alive. You might find something worse than dying. Read Younger Next Year, by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge.

[daylatedollarshort]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh Every day I see your posts describing shows and concerts you have been to. I love the arts too, but I simply couldn't handle the pace you set!

We usually get out of the house every day, but some days we just do something low key like take the dog to the park and go out for lunch. Even at 4 bigger events a week X 3 hours each that only averages 12 hours a week. Compared to working full-time, commuting and raising kids that still leaves a lot of loafing around time!

[GalaxyBoy]

I'm relatively new to this as well and I was also giving a lot of thought to those posts, articles, etc. that said I had to retire "to" something rather than "from" work. Well, so far, something has always been finding me to keep me occupied, and a day doesn't go by that I don't think how glad I am to be "from" work.