rainy days - Im bored already! what will happen once I retire?

[retiringat50]

Been raining all week. Due to surgery recovery this summer has not been what I anticipated. Been out of work since May 21st - 6wks sick leave, 4wks vacation then "early retirement" kicks in August 1st.
Been raining all week so Ive been in the house doing some cleaning, watching Lifetime, etc. Im bored now- how will I ever survive retirement?

Seems I need a push, something to strive for, a goal

[REWahoo]

Suggest you keep working to avoid dying early of boredom. Plus, we need the SS tax base.

[retiringat50]

I already left - the boss is a bitch

[HFWR]

Though I have occasionally been bored, I don't ever recall thinking "I wish I was at work"...

[toofrugalformycat]

Were you involved with anything outside of work?
After I ERed, I chose to set up and maintain a web site and news alert system for a local organization I care about. It's amusing, sometimes angering but always stimulating, and since I'm a volunteer I can blow it off when I want to travel or do something else.
If you didn't have any interests outside of your job, maybe you should think about looking at course catalogs of a nearby community college, and if there isn't one, some correspondence school maybe. Take a class in something you've never had time for - cooking, gardening, writing, whatever. You'll meet new people and get outside yourself. It worked for me.
Or volunteer at a soup kitchen. Just seeing unlucky people down and out makes me feel grateful to have a roof over my head and a sofa I can stretch out on whenever I want to.
Volunteer to teach English as a 2nd language? That's on my list.
And then there's the gym. Endorphins, and also people that are fun to observe.
We are so fortunate to be able to choose howwe spend our time.

[73ss454]

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiringat50 I already left - the boss is a bitch

Don't worry you can always find something else.

As REW said this retirement thing is not for everybody, it's a lot of stress doing nothing all day. SS and medicare can use the money.

[Moemg]

Take a class , find a project , go to the gym daily , make new friends , try out new recipes , take a trip , remodel a room , clean out your closet , read ,shop , go to the movies , take a walk , visit a friend , have a nooner , organize your files , go to the beach , find a hobby , plan a trip , help someone , sell on ebay , organize your pictures ,clean out your spices , go for a bike ride , plant a garden , learn to cook Mexican food , make home made pizza , join an investment club , volunteer

[CuppaJoe]

This is awful, retiring@50. BTW, how did your surgery go?

About three months before my R-date, i started photographing my workday, emphasizing the most boring parts so that I can remember why I wanted to leave. I went over a year confirming to myself each day that the j*b held no redeeming virtues. Maybe you could concentrate on the worst parts; you may be in a normal "buyer's remorse" phase, mourning process? Thinking of the boss as a bitch is a start. In the past, when I left j*bs, it usually took about 3 weeks to get it out of my system and start concentrating on the good future. All the best to you.

[73ss454]

Moemg, what are you trying to do, kill the guy?

[Darryl]

Moemg, I'm calling to cancel the cable & phone landline, eliminating garbage pickup in favor of composting, selling my wife's car she can walk she's tough. Heck I may sell one of the kid's I need to move the date closer so I can spend my days as you just described.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Easy. Move somewhere where it doesnt rain.

So far its only rained here once since about January. And that was for about 20 minutes and just enough to ruin the clean car.

Of course, its also about 100 with zero humidity and a nice 15-20 mph wind right now, so theres tradeoffs.

[UncleHoney]

I used to love rainy days when I was w*rking. I was just glad no one else was outside enjoying a nice day while I had to suffer inside.

Now, I enjoy a rainy day or two so I can rest up from all the outside fun.

[Goonie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleHoney Now, I enjoy a rainy day or two so I can rest up from all the outside fun.

Me too, 'cause if it's nice out....I'm outside doing something or just sitting in a comfy chair under a shade tree sipping something cold. Rainy days are for resting up and watching old westerns!

[BunsGettingFirm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiringat50 Been raining all week. Due to surgery recovery this summer has not been what I anticipated. Been out of work since May 21st - 6wks sick leave, 4wks vacation then "early retirement" kicks in August 1st. Been raining all week so Ive been in the house doing some cleaning, watching Lifetime, etc. Im bored now- how will I ever survive retirement? Seems I need a push, something to strive for, a goal

Isn't the daily sponge bath enough motivation?

[Ronstar]

You need a hobby you can do indoors. I read, nap, go to movies, play on the computer, and do woodworking when the weather's bad. When the weather's ok, I go outside to play.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goonie Rainy days are for resting up and watching old westerns!

I love rainy days, when it isn't flooding! The rain is so peaceful and soothing, rinses all the dust and dirt off, cuts the heat, makes the plants grow, and encourages the birds to chirp happily.

It rained today, and since I took this week off from work, I was home. I cancelled my plans and decided instead to organize my files and listen to the rain. It was a really pleasant afternoon and now my files are nicely organized.

It rains twice as much here in New Orleans as it does in Missouri, and that is something that I think I will miss after I move north.

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73ss454 Moemg, what are you trying to do, kill the guy?

That's a gal. I looked up her previous posts. She has been fretting over ER, about not having anything to do, ever since joining this forum. I have seen other posters with the same problem.

Retiringat50, do you live alone? What activities have you had outside of work? Nearby family members?

My wife has been taking her ER very well, due to having her parents and siblings living in town, whom she gets along with very well. I have been easing myself into ER, working part-time for the last 5 years. It's difficult to let go, I know. I have many friends in the same profession who are still working, and once I leave, I will not have much in common with them anymore. I have been trying to make friends in this forum. How's that working for you?

PS. I am not a type-A personality, I don't think. Probably type AB.

[bbbamI]

I agree with NW-Bound. Perhaps you need to ease yourself into retirement by working part-time in an area that sounds interesting to you.

Retirement is about being happy...there are no set rules.

[Rambler]

R @ 50 - you need to find something to do pronto or you're gonna go nuts. Not to be demeaning, but almost all your posts have to do with "what to do" after retirement. You must be type A, and must have allowed your work to define you. You probably need to go back to work of some kind...PT, FT, volunteer, etc, otherwise I think you will think yourself into a depressive state. You don't want that...it is not healthy, retired or otherwise.

Here's a thought: How about becoming a financial advisor, or perhaps doing retirement clinics as a volunteer? You obviously know something about getting the FI part right (but need work on the "what do you do all day" issue).

Bottom line is that you need to do something fulfilling, and you need to find it fast. You will find some suggestions on this board, but you won't find what suits you without some exploring. Maybe you should polish the resume, the retirement clinic PPT presentation, and soul search your heart/mind for some of those "always wanted to do___________" items.

Good luck, keep posting, let us know how it goes and if we can offer any more help.

R

[Singleee]

My Father retired at 52. Not long after, he was walking out of the bank when he saw a traffic warden writing out a parking ticket. So he went over and said "Aw come, I've only been inside for two minutes, give me a break!". But the Traffic Warden said he didn't care and continued to write up the ticket. So my Father said, "You are all the same, you should be out catching the real bad guys, doing something really useful". The Traffic Warden, starting to get annoyed suggested that he hold his tongue."Aw screw you, give you a uniform you think you are the Gestapo!". Really annoyed, the Traffic Warden, wrote another ticket for harrassing a public official. Undeterred, my Father replied, "Shove where the sun don't shine Nazi". So the Traffic Warden said, "Right, that's it. I'm gonna write up tickets for the partially worn tire and a loose rear light. The fines are gonna p**s you off and because you got 4 tickets on one occassion you'll have to go to Court! Ha. How clever are you now wise guy! See you in Court" and gave my Father a smug 'I have the Power" grin.

So my Father answered.......................................... ..





.................................................. .............







"I don't care buddy, I'm retired, have nothing better to do and by the way, this ain't my car" turned around and walked off!


So you see, if you use your imagination, there are a multitude of ways to entertain yourself during the day.