Early Retirement Forums

Go Back   Early Retirement Forums > General > Life after FIRE





Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 03-13-2006, 04:44 PM   #1
setab
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 388
ER'd a week and a problem.

When I left, I thought for certain I would want to do something else at least part time, After only a week, I am discovering that I would rather sell my house off board by board than do something else. If I can do what I want and get paid for it, okay. Otherwise, shrinking my lifestyle is a more appealing option. I suppose this will level off, but I can't believe how little I miss work.

setab
__________________
I told you I'd taunt you a second time.
setab is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2006, 05:06 PM   #2
REWahoo
Administrator
 
REWahoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 11,606
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

Quote:
Originally Posted by setab
After only a week, I am discovering that I would rather sell my house off board by board than do something else.
That's apparently a very common experience.

In the nine months since I left the w*rking world, I've occasionally seen or heard about some part time opportunity and thought, "Maybe I should...nahhhh! If I did that it would require me to be at a certain place at a certain time and follow silly w*rk rules. I might actually have to be nice to people! :P No way!"

__________________
[Closed for renovation]



REWahoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2006, 05:07 PM   #3
Bimmerbill
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Bimmerbill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 569
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

I got laid off in late 2002, and ended up taking 1.5 years off. *I think you will stay busy in the beginning, like I did, but get bored as your list of things to do is worked thru. *

Funny thing is, I never really got that bored since I have a TON of hobbies. *I had the time, and no $. *Now that I am back to work, I have the $ but not the time!

I bet you will go thru a similar process. *After a few months of not working you will achieve a balance I bet.
Bimmerbill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2006, 06:22 PM   #4
SC
Recycles dryer sheets
 
SC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 191
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

It's been six months since I quit, although I'm not fully FIRE'd and working part-time on a project to generate some self-employment income...

At first it was exhilarating to be free of the workplace stress and being able to choose what I want to work on, instead of being told.

Now I miss the camaraderie and teamwork, working with others to solve challenging technical problems... not enough to go back, but it's definitely a void.
I might try a one-day-a-week volunteer gig to fill that.

SC
SC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2006, 09:18 PM   #5
lazygood4nothinbum
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
lazygood4nothinbum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,783
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

i've been a lazygood4nothinbum for 8 months now. i thought when i quit work i'd do some volunteer stuff but i can't seem to get myself motivated. i must be lazy or something.
__________________
"off with their heads"~~dr. joseph-ignace guillotin

"life should begin with age and its privileges and accumulations, and end with youth and its capacity to splendidly enjoy such advantages."~~mark twain - letter to edward kimmitt 1901
lazygood4nothinbum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2006, 10:08 PM   #6
Nords
Moderator Emeritus
 
Nords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Oahu
Posts: 15,734
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

Quote:
Originally Posted by setab
After only a week, I am discovering that I would rather sell my house off board by board than do something else.
Ding ding ding! We have another winning graduate from the School of Experiential Learning!

For those of you wondering what you'll do all day, start with a month's vacation and see how long it takes to join setab's way of thinking...

Quote:
Originally Posted by setab
I suppose this will level off, but I can't believe how little I miss work.
That's like saying "Eh, I'll grow out of it." I don't think that happens. It sure hasn't happened to me after four years. Cut-Throat? Jarhead?!?
__________________
*
*
For more info see "About Me" in my profile.
Nords is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2006, 06:38 AM   #7
cj
Recycles dryer sheets
 
cj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 308
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

Setab - now that's the kind of thing I want to hear about!!* Real life experience, real life feelings about the days right after ER.* When you say, "I can't believe how little I miss work", I can totally see that.* On the weekends (I have 3-day weekends, I only work 4 days per week now) I can completely forget about work. I get back on Monday morning and wonder, now what was I doing?

Then SC says,
Quote:
Originally Posted by sc
Now I miss the camaraderie and teamwork, working with others to solve challenging technical problems... not enough to go back, but it's definitely a void.
I can totally see myself feeling this way.* But I am already doing the volunteer thing, so maybe it won't be so bad..

Thanks all for sharing this stuff.

CJ
cj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2006, 07:21 AM   #8
HFWR
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
HFWR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 5,435
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

Don't really have that much camaraderie at work, and most of it is induced by being forced to come to the same place everyday...

I probably won't have a 40-50yr retirement like some; that might make a difference. But as per my sitch, I don't anticipate missing, or even thinking about, work ever again...

Not gonna do it... 8)
__________________
Have Funds, Will Retire


Two turntables and a microphone...
HFWR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2006, 07:26 AM   #9
Outtahere
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Outtahere's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,677
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

My job is so far from home (45miles) that I do very little socializing with coworkers, usually only when forced to. It's almost like I'm living two separate lives, one at work one at home, I can see myself living the at home life with no problems.
__________________

Dogs aren't our whole lives, but they make our lives whole. - Roger Caras
Outtahere is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2006, 11:34 AM   #10
Mountain_Mike
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 237
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

I never get bored on weekends, and that is really all I want; for every day to be like a Saturday...
__________________
All the best....Mike
I'd rather live in a rustic cabin and be free than in a McMansion as a slave!
Mountain_Mike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2006, 12:25 PM   #11
Nords
Moderator Emeritus
 
Nords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Oahu
Posts: 15,734
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain_Mike
... for every day to be like a Saturday...
In our house the quote is "Thank God it's Monday!"
__________________
*
*
For more info see "About Me" in my profile.
Nords is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2006, 12:29 PM   #12
cj
Recycles dryer sheets
 
cj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 308
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

When my parents retired, my brother would say that for them, every day was like Saturday, except for Sunday when they went to church. So Sunday was the only "different" day. That made their week look line this:

Mondurday
Tuesdurday
Wednesdurday
Thursdurday
Fridurday
Saturday
Sunday

That's what I want!

CJ
cj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2006, 02:20 PM   #13
setab
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 388
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

All I know is that the big paper comes on Sunday. The other days are pretty much the same. Is that good enough? It is for me!

setab
__________________
I told you I'd taunt you a second time.
setab is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2006, 09:42 PM   #14
cute fuzzy bunny
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
cute fuzzy bunny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Losing my whump
Posts: 22,527
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

Fat paper on sunday, skinny paper on monday. When monday night football goes off the air for the season, i no longer know which night I'm supposed to put the trash out, so I had to put a reminder in outlook, that I managed to miss last week

I feel sorry for the ER stopped on the street by the cops when they're a little intoxicated and the cops test him by asking "What day of the week is it?"

I might fail "Who's the president?"
__________________

Many an optimist has become rich by buying out a pessimist
cute fuzzy bunny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2006, 10:54 AM   #15
Andre1969
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 841
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

About 8 years ago, while delivering pizzas, I got t-boned when a teen girl ran a stop sign and prematurely put the final nail in the coffin of my 192,000 mile 1986 Monte Carlo. I didn't really get hurt, but got really shook up. The paramedics asked me who the president was, and I couldn't get his name out! All I could come up with was "Intern-Dude"
Andre1969 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2006, 02:44 PM   #16
OldAgePensioner
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,352
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

The only, "only", part-time job that would be of interest is outfit distributor at a "teenage" modeling show.
OldAgePensioner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2006, 03:01 PM   #17
HFWR
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
HFWR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 5,435
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

Bikini waxologist... 8)
__________________
Have Funds, Will Retire


Two turntables and a microphone...
HFWR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2006, 03:06 PM   #18
OldAgePensioner
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,352
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

HFWR,
Only if an age limit is specified!

My eyes are still pretty darn good and spending life as a pillar is not on my list.
OldAgePensioner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2006, 03:25 PM   #19
HFWR
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
HFWR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 5,435
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

"Well the danger on the rocks is surely past,
still I remain tied to the mast..."

Steely Dan
__________________
Have Funds, Will Retire


Two turntables and a microphone...
HFWR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2006, 03:43 PM   #20
starry night
Dryer sheet aficionado
 
starry night's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 49
Re: ER'd a week and a problem.

Thank you, thank you for this stream of consciousness -- just what I needed to read TODAY.

This is my FIRE day -- March 15, mid-month payday and my emancipation. They had a lovely flowing fountain of chocolate fondue to feed my well-known addiction, photos and greeting cards and stuff....and I am OUTTA HERE!

Loved hearing about SET TAB and others' evolutions into well-deserved and awaited sloth. As for me, I don't anticipate any retiree remorse. I expect some weaning, like lunch out with some of those left behind, just to hear the latest office scuttlebutt, but then that will taper off. Then community events, lectures, libraries and book stores, picnics and parks, hikes, kayaks, farmer's markets, beaches, volunteering.

I have had a trial at pre-retirement, if you can call it that, when I left work to care for my mother through Alzheimer's (for 6 years) - the most grueling, yet rewarding job I've ever had. Returning to work following that, my heart just never was in it again, and I have a much deeper grasp of how tenuous and fragile life is. Every day at the office is a chink in the hairline fracture of that fragility.

My time has come -- Life is too beautiful to spend it in the office.

Love you all.....................I love EVERYTHING today!
__________________
The best things in life aren't THINGS!
starry night is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply