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'Honeymoon' Phase of Early Retirement
Old 04-18-2016, 04:06 PM   #1
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'Honeymoon' Phase of Early Retirement

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?
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Old 04-18-2016, 04:13 PM   #2
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Quote:
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...
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Old 04-18-2016, 04:20 PM   #3
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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.
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Old 04-18-2016, 04:23 PM   #4
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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.
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Old 04-18-2016, 04:25 PM   #5
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5 years, still in the honeymoon phase for the most part.
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Old 04-18-2016, 04:28 PM   #6
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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.
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Old 04-18-2016, 04:53 PM   #7
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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?
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Old 04-18-2016, 05:03 PM   #8
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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.
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Old 04-18-2016, 05:04 PM   #9
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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!
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Old 04-18-2016, 06:47 PM   #10
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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.
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Old 04-18-2016, 07:01 PM   #11
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When somebody tells me they don't want to retire because they are afraid they will be bored, I just scratch my head.
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Old 04-18-2016, 07:19 PM   #12
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Quote:
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/foru...day-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
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Old 04-18-2016, 08:18 PM   #13
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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.

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Old 04-18-2016, 08:20 PM   #14
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Just a guess, but the guy that did that chart is not retired!
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Old 04-18-2016, 08:34 PM   #15
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+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.
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Old 04-18-2016, 08:45 PM   #16
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Maybe the person who did the Phases isn't retired. 2 years and not feeling a hint of freedom fatigue yet. Still rockin' it!
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Old 04-18-2016, 09:18 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by ERD50 View Post


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

http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...day-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?
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Old 04-18-2016, 09:23 PM   #18
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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.
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Old 04-18-2016, 09:34 PM   #19
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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.
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Old 04-19-2016, 03:02 AM   #20
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Still honeymooner after 2.5 years.
We tell each other every morning and several times during the day how lucky we are.
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