'Honeymoon' Phase of Early Retirement

[Kickernick]

I early retired (@49 yrs old) two weeks ago and have been enjoying the first few weeks of not going to work. I saw this chart 'Phases of Retirement' on Forbes.com and am definitely moving between the 'Celebration' and 'Honeymoon' phases right now. For those of you who have been retired for a little while and felt their way through these phases - how long did the 'Honeymoon' last?

 

[REWahoo]

HONEYMOON

Enjoy the temporary euphoria...Realize you will soon tire of your new-found freedom.

Bullpuckey.

After eleven years of retirement I may no longer be euphoric, but I will never, ever tire of my freedom. No boredom, no depression, nothing but net...

 

[MichaelB]

Bullpuckey.

I second that!

I skipped phases 1 and 2, went directly into 3, and am staying there. The profound change in my life is that I'm enjoying it.

 

[W2R]

Bullpuckey.

After eleven years of retirement I may no longer be euphoric, but I will never, ever tire of my freedom. No boredom, no depression, nothing but net...

+1000

I am "only" in my 7th year of retirement, and I still feel pretty euphoric about it at times, several times a day. I have never felt bored or depressed. Don't get me wrong; I was a fundamentally happy person even when working, but it has just intensified rather nicely.

P.S.: I have never "tired of my new-found freedom" as suggested on the graphic. That's so insane I can't even address it. You know, it really ticks me off that the person who made that graphic (who probably isn't even retired!!!) is trying to spoil the happy anticipation of potential retirees like that.

 

[RunningBum]

5 years, still in the honeymoon phase for the most part.

 

[Walt34]

No real "honeymoon phase" since we were too busy preparing for moving for that. But since then just a sense of relaxation that was pretty scarce before.

 

[braumeister]

I second that!

I skipped phases 1 and 2, went directly into 3, and am staying there. The profound change in my life is that I'm enjoying it.

Another one here.I would call the Forbes list ridiculous -- obviously not created by someone who has been there

It has only been honeymoon stage so far. Of course, it has only been 15 years. Maybe tomorrow will be different. Odds?

 

[travelover]

I'm only in my 10th year, but still euphoric, particularly when I get up in the morning and realize I have nothing scheduled and the day is mine to do as I please.

 

[unclemick]

At 22 years under my belt it keeps getting better and better. Health is still okie dokie at 72 going on 73.

I do have a problem keeping a straight face when I am getting down with my Curmudgeon mode and really expounding on whinning.

heh heh heh -

Now I did have to undergo a mental shift from unemployed slacker(Layed off) to ER. Once done - party time!

 

[shortstop14]

I was way more bored towards the end of my working career - it wasn't a bad job, just tedious difficult details and constant deadline pressure.

After 3.5 retirement years, boredom hasn't even been a slight concern. Setting my own 'schedule', doing whatever I want - how can I be bored? The problem is more in figuring out what I really want to do from the universe of possibilities, which is a problem I enjoy.

 

[David1961]

When somebody tells me they don't want to retire because they are afraid they will be bored, I just scratch my head.

 

[ERD50]

HONEYMOON

Enjoy the temporary euphoria...Realize you will soon tire of your new-found freedom.

To the OP, you might want to post this stuff here:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/its-funny-joke-thursday-20756.html

Seriously, how could anyone tire of freedom? Sounds like something someone on Death Row would tell themselves as a coping mechanism!

Or what were the slogans from 1984? Oh yeah:

War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength.

-ERD50

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Another one here.I would call the Forbes list ridiculous -- obviously not created by someone who has been there

It has only been honeymoon stage so far. Of course, it has only been 15 years. Maybe tomorrow will be different. Odds?

This. I think whoever was responsible for this is a jealous fool.

Sent via mobile device. Please excuse any grammatical errors.

 

[Rustic23]

Just a guess, but the guy that did that chart is not retired!

 

[scrabbler1]

+1000

I am "only" in my 7th year of retirement, and I still feel pretty euphoric about it at times, several times a day. I have never felt bored or depressed. Don't get me wrong; I was a fundamentally happy person even when working, but it has just intensified rather nicely.

P.S.: I have never "tired of my new-found freedom" as suggested on the graphic. That's so insane I can't even address it. You know, it really ticks me off that the person who made that graphic (who probably isn't even retired!!!) is trying to spoil the happy anticipation of potential retirees like that.

I call bullpuckey on it, too, as did you.

I am in my 8th year of retirement and I never get tired or bored of it; the euphoria has never ended. And whenever I need a small reminder of what I am missing, I just have to put on a local traffic and transit report here (NYC metro area, a commuting hell if there ever was one).

Because I worked part-time in various forms for 7 years before I fully ERed back in 2008, I actually discovered a lot of my newly found freedom when the PT era first began in 2001. That era began with a reduction in my despised commute and being able to do my local errands on weekdays at 11 AM when the stores and other businesses were empty. I also began my volunteer work and resurrected some long-dormant evening hobbies.

I also realized another big advantage of being ERed last year when I had some health issues which included a 12-day hospital stay. Being ERed meant that I could devote 100% of my time and effort toward getting better and back to normal, something which would have much, much tougher had I still been working, even part-time.

 

[6miths]

Maybe the person who did the Phases isn't retired. 2 years and not feeling a hint of freedom fatigue yet. Still rockin' it!

 

[MRG]

To the OP, you might want to post this stuff here:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/its-funny-joke-thursday-20756.html

Seriously, how could anyone tire of freedom? Sounds like something someone on Death Row would tell themselves as a coping mechanism!

Or what were the slogans from 1984? Oh yeah:

War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength.

-ERD50

You're spot on. Some weird doublethink going with the article.

OP,

Don't worry, I'm coming up on 3 years(5/1☺) and whatever crapola that's supposed to happen hasn't. It just keeps getting better. Why not? We've been programmed to having others tell us what to do, when to eat, sleep, drive, where to be. It's pretty cool to do what I'd like for a change. Really when ya really think about it the notion of working is pretty disgusting! Other than it's necessary why would anyone submit themselves to the kind of corporate illnesses many had to?

 

[robnplunder]

I have been retired for 4 months. I think I went from a long period of 1 to 5 straight. My daily routine is not set in stone. I have a loose guideline that I follow. For example, today, I skipped going to a golf course and did house work. That's the beauty of retirement. I am free to do whatever, and whenever.

 

[RobbieB]

Going on 2 years now, still on honeymoon.

Can't do whatever I want, my dog insists that I take her for walks and play tug after supper and take her to the dog park to sniff butts and socialize.

If there is reincarnation, I want to be a pampered house puppy.

 

[chris2008]

Still honeymooner after 2.5 years.
We tell each other every morning and several times during the day how lucky we are.

 

[jim584672]

How come every article in the media always stresses how bad retirement is and that everyone needs to work until they drop?

 

[garyt]

Of course nobody on this board will be bored with retirement.You wouldn't be here if you didn't have a zest for life outside your job. But there's definitely people out there who ARE their job. They really have nothing else. If you have no outside interests, hobbies, etc, you could definitely be bored in retirement.
I could never be bored in retirement. Especially as I get older I take pleasure in many simple things, walking the dog, reading the paper on the deck with a cup of coffee, etc. Stuff I would've found boring years ago. Plus all the activities I still enjoy like golf, hiking, travel, etc.

 

[Totoro]

Lemme try ..

Stage 0, realization: in your early twenties, realize the structure of normal working life doesn't suit you, and being forced to do something you don't want for >60% of your waking hours isn't how you want to live life.

Stage 1, preparation: Get a well paying job, save 50%+ of your income. Reach FI within 20 years.

Stage 2, celebration: Decide to celebrate by spending three weeks with your closest family and friends. Don't throw a hollow party or spend foolishly. Life isn't about what you buy.

Stage 3, honeymoon: Enjoy the temporary euphoric feeling. As in, for-the-rest-of-your-life-temporary. Realize you will soon be unable to return to a job, so last chance to ensure your financial affairs are in order.

Stage 4, reality: As stage 3. You are not only unemployed now, but also unemployable. Every day you thank your past self for sacrificing so much energy to get where you are today.

Maybe?

 

[ERD50]

Of course nobody on this board will be bored with retirement.You wouldn't be here if you didn't have a zest for life outside your job. But there's definitely people out there who ARE their job. They really have nothing else. If you have no outside interests, hobbies, etc, you could definitely be bored in retirement.

I could never be bored in retirement. Especially as I get older I take pleasure in many simple things, walking the dog, reading the paper on the deck with a cup of coffee, etc. Stuff I would've found boring years ago. Plus all the activities I still enjoy like golf, hiking, travel, etc.

We do occasionally hear from people who just could not deal with retirement. They get bored, lack structure, whatever. Of course, they don't hang around here long, as our discussions aren't much of a fit for them.

I can understand someone who is energized by the work they do, plus it might bring them prestige or other perks, and maybe even a high degree of freedom. If that brings them more joy than being totally free, then why not? Though I think those are the rare exception.

But some people seem to dislike their job, yet still can't deal with the freedom. I dunno, but that strikes me as rather sad. I can't imagine how being told what to do and when to do it could be better than choosing what to do when you want to do it (or not do it!).

-ERD50

 

[Dash man]

Bullpuckey.

After eleven years of retirement I may no longer be euphoric, but I will never, ever tire of my freedom. No boredom, no depression, nothing but net...

+1000

After three years I'm loving it and see no reason I'll ever move past the honeymoon phase.


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