Regrets or disappointments

[imoldernu]

Now, well into the 25th year of retirement, nothing that was significantly disappointing or regretful... Healthwise better than could be expected. Happiness-wise?... It just doesn't get any better than this.

Some little things...
Never got back to hike and canoe the Adirondaks or the Boundary Waters.
Wish I had kept up masters swimming... no convenient centers nearby until now.
Miss the Atlantic Ocean... sailing, fishing clamming. Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, where we used to live.
Have some troubles reading books... a disappointment for sure, compared to the first 60 years, when I averaged 3 to four books a week, even when employed. Books on tape a poor substitute.

Moneywise?... More than enough for the way we live.

On a scale of 1 to 10?... probably a 9.8.

[NW-Bound]

I feel like posting a French song sung by Edith Piaf, "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" ("No, I Regret Nothing"), but know that I have done so twice.

So, I will spare y'all this time.

[ls99]

I'll go by the Sinatra song, .... to few to mention.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB Fourteen years later things have gone differently than planned. Mann tracht und Gott lacht. A little resiliency and a bit of flexibility go a long way. No regrets at all.

Heck, looking back, my whole life has gone differently than originally planned.

[johnnyfuego]

Even though I'm not retired yet, I do not anticipate much in the regrets or disappointments department, maybe just a little nostalgia from time to time. I have heard that people who had great careers that they loved have a hard time with retirement. I suppose it depends on personality types as to what extent that could happen. Not to gloat, but having had the fortune of a great career myself, I look forward to and being thankful for savoring all the memories, 80% good, 10% not so much, and 10% downright tragic, (the nature of the fire service), but without living in the past. I do not think I will ever think of myself as a 'has been'. I know it's cliche, but I feel there is a season for everything.

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 Heck, looking back, my whole life has gone differently than originally planned.

What is this plan thing of which you speak?

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFWR What is this plan thing of which you speak?

It started when I was abut 8 years old and wanted to be a Fireman. Then later on, my father talked me into becoming an engineer.....so right out of the gate, the plan of working in the Fire Department 3 days a week and retiring at 40 with full pay went out the door.

[Rustward]

No regrets. The last 7 years was spent working for a real bonehead of a manager who had a strong back and a weak mind and liked to see the dust fly whether you were accomplishing anything or not. The business was owned by a megalomaniac. Don't have to deal with them any more.

One of my previous assignments for about 1.5 years was like mini project manager at the place with the red bullseye logo. It was kindof like having to report to five different managers all at the same time with responsibility for other people. A doctor or dentist appointment involved air travel. Came home every weekend anyway. When things got rough and I needed a break I would schedule myself into a meeting in room 3232 of the multifoods tower. I was on 28. 3232 was too small to have a meeting of more than about 2 people, so it was usually available. It had a great big window facing North with a beautiful view of the Mississippi River. I must have shown some stress one day when I put a meeting (with myself) on my calendar, grabbed my notebook and told my cubemate I was off to a meeting. She said "3232?". I said yes. She smiled and said that was her hideout, too.

No regrets.

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFWR What is this plan thing of which you speak?

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 It started when I was abut 8 years old and wanted to be a Fireman. Then later on, my father talked me into becoming an engineer.....so right out of the gate, the plan of working in the Fire Department 3 days a week and retiring at 40 with full pay went out the door.

I was sort of implying that I didn't have a plan. At least not a good one!

[MBAustin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB Fourteen years later things have gone differently than planned. Mann tracht und Gott lacht. A little resiliency and a bit of flexibility go a long way. No regrets at all.

That quote reminded me of a picture our pastor posted on his Facebook page yesterday:


My only major regret is that I didn't trust we were FI soon enough - as DH's disability has progressed more rapidly as he ages, we aren't able to do many of the things I had looked forward to in ER. But all in all it's a wonderful life.

[robnplunder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBAustin That quote reminded me of a picture our pastor posted on his Facebook page yesterday:

2nd pic - That's what the stock market chart looks like in the last 20 years. I knew it. The stock market is controlled by God.

[Aus_E_Expat]

I am feeling relaxed now - very few regrets expressed and even those were minor.

Now just to get my head around this "retirement" thing and do it.

[NYEXPAT]

27 years into EER, never had a script but I don't think I could have written one as interesting as it has been so far!

[urn2bfree]

Only 5 months in and except for a cold that has me currently sidelined, I have been thoroughly enjoying the freedom.

Interesting what some one else said about suddenly not reading as much--I have noticed the same thing. I think when I was working, reading was an escape. I read much more regularly. Now I don't feel any need to escape. Also, as Mulligan said, I am not as efficient, but I feel no need to push or cram things into any set time frame. It is really nice. Except when someone else wants something RIGHT NOW! i do not respond well to time pressures and seem to have very quickly lost the callouses I must have had over that part of my brain. I like to go slowly, and no one would ever have said that of me when I was working. Back then, I had two speeds- stop and GO!

I have posted about the other surprises- a series of one time expenses that have all happened in a short time frame rather unexpectedly. (Root canals (x 2), broken pipes, cars, lacerations, appliance deaths, etc...). Just when I thought maybe we would get a break, another came last week that is bigger than all the others combined. (Roof repairs?!?!). Not a disaster- we budgeted for emergencies-I just did not expect so many right off the bat. In the past these would have been annoying, but with no paycheck, they are extra annoying.

[fritz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aus_E_Expat I am feeling relaxed now - very few regrets expressed and even those were minor. Now just to get my head around this "retirement" thing and do it.

I went through a "period of adjustment" (about 6 months) where letting go of the work lifestyle and taking on the retirement lifestyle was a bit troublesome. I decided to retire at 58 when the company I worked for went bankrupt - been retired for 5 years now. I do a little (very little) part-time consulting for a start up design engineering company. They are a couple states away and I work out of my home office (enjoy this very much). A lot of people helped me in my career and proud to pay it forward so to say. I could go to work for them full-time, but I do enjoy retirement and have no regrets for leaving the work-a-day-world behind. I will not pursue another consulting scenario when the time comes for me to step away as they grow and need full-time assistance in my area of expertise.

[Dcharles]

I am four months into ER and love it. I wasn't planning to ER but a Narcististic boss created a caustic work environment that necessitated my early out. I should be bitter, but in reality, I should be thanking my clueless Narcististic asshole boss! ha!

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dcharles ...my clueless Narcististic asshole boss! ha!

Isn't that redundant?

[robnplunder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFWR Isn't that redundant?

1) Clueless and boss are redundant.
2) Narcissistic and a-hole are redundant. <-- e.g, my boss.

1) & 2) are not redundant, and can be mutually exclusive.

[Dcharles]

yep! Guess it is redundant! now to move on without looking back and feeling guilty for escaping the SOB and Dancing

[seraphim]

No regrets after one year. So much other stuff to do: work on classic cars, travel, work on house, travel, photography, travel and reading. Oh yea - eating out. Have gained about 18 pounds. Time to lose it. I can do that NEXT year.

Leaving tomorrow to travel.