What to do when you finally decide...

[mickeyd]

Imagine not having to get up or go to bed at any set time. You can eat, watch TV, take a walk, sleep, or just do nothing any time you want. Sounds like fun doesn’t it? Some people can enjoy this lifestyle indefinitely but most will be bored within a few weeks. If you’re retired, this could be your lifestyle for the rest of your life unless you make other plans.

Some suggestions for things you might want to do once you retire:

Ride a train across the United States
Ride an air boat in the Everglades
Fly across the United States
Rollerblade on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City
Visit Ellis Island
Visit Alcatraz
Spend a night in a haunted house—alone
Write a novel
Go to Alaska
Skinny dip in the ocean
Ride a river boat down the Mississippi
Shuck an oyster

Shuck an oyster? Now that's a doable goal isn't it?

http://retireplan.about.com/od/lifestyles/a/ready_or_not.htm

 

[Mach1]

How about we start our own collective list here?

Restore a Classic Car.
Learn to fly Ultralight.
Travel around the world.

Mach1

 

[HFWR]

Travel by train
Visit/explore Yellowstone
Visit/explore Grand Canyon
Visit/explore Europe
Grind my own coffee
Take long, leisurely bike rides
Play guitar/music often
Stay up late
Read the Sunday paper
Visit long, lost friends
Putz in my woodshop
Get more massages with a happy ending

 

[Outtahere]

The list as of today, it could change once I'm really RE

Sleep to a decent hour (past 5am)
Stay up late (past 9pm)

The hobbies and interests are already in place, I'd just expand the time I spend doing them.

 

[Meadbh]

Start painting (pictures) again
Join a book club
Conquer fear of heights by learning to skydive
Volunteer to teach literacy
Write a novel
Start a charitable foundation
Become a space tourist

 

[Mr._johngalt]

I have a long list. First thing, I am buying a rag top and cruising to Key West (never been there) this winter. No particular schedule; no particular
return date.

JG

 

[Martha]

regrout the bathroom floor
refinish the livingroom couches with a darker stain
make new curtains for bedroom
design and make stained glass windows for back porch
learn spanish
spend at least three months a year traveling around in the RV

 

[Zoocat]

Not in any particular order
write a novel and get it published (long time goal)
hike a 14er
learn Spanish
travel to Peru, Costa Rica, New Zealand, among other places,
fall in love again

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Get to know my grandkids
RV til it get's tiresome
Buy a couple more dogs
Maybe buy my last motorcycle and tour, tour, tour
Write a nonacademic book and not care if it gets published
Keep exercising, but finally at a time of my choosing
Read everything I can get my hands on, but only if I like it
Learn Spanish in Central or South America
Volunteer in a free clinic or charitable medical missions

 

[Martha]

Hey, time for a group trip to South America to learn spanish!

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Hey, time for a group trip to South America to learn spanish!

I've "almost" done this several times. Should do it while I can still take it as a business expense .

There are several excellent schools in Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica and elsewhere. My learning style would work best with a fairly intense exposure lasting at least 2 weeks to get it jump-started. I already know a little bit of Spanish and Lynn would love to do this, too.

It's gonna happen.

 

[Dawg52]

Travel
Play more golf
Daily long walks with my dog
Read more
Stay up late watching Conan O'Brien
Sleep late

 

[Goonie]

While I was sitting on the beach in FL back in Feb......practicing for RE ......I grabbed my pen and legal pad, and wrote out 3 1/2 pages of things I would like to do/accomplish after I get paroled from the rock-pile RE. That's 3 1/2 pages, 1 item per line!!!

I'm continually adding to that list! There are big things, little things, fun things, challenging things, just all sorts of things!!! Mental, Physical, Spiritual, Financial, Etc. A little bit of everything!!!

There's a whole boat load of R&R!!!

I plan to (as the old 1960's commercial said) "See The USA In My Chevrolet" (which I just bought about 2 weeks ago).

 

[shorttimer]

watching lots of daytime TV.

Only kidding. Doing more cooking, exercise and other hobbies I presently have. Helping elderly in-laws more so they can stay in their house. Working on my volunteer projects and a little more traveling.

also sleeping as late as I want... heavenly.

 

[retire@40]

watching lots of daytime TV...Only kidding....

Watching daytime TV is worse than working.

 

[Mr._johngalt]

fall in love again

Nice list. That last one gives me the shiverin' shakes.

JG

 

[heyyou]

From the OP, "You can eat, take a walk, sleep, or just do nothing anytime you want....Some people can do this indefinately"

I'm in that group, so far. I'm at 53 weeks of retirement. The day after I found three un-read John McPhee books at the library, I finished two in 16 hours. After that, I rested.

 

[Mr._johngalt]

From the OP, "You can eat, take a walk, sleep, or just do nothing anytime you want....Some people can do this indefinately"

I'm in that group, so far. I'm at 53 weeks of retirement. The day after I found three un-read John McPhee books at the library, I finished two in 16 hours. After that, I rested.

About 3 weeks ago I stumbled onto a book (Civil War stuff) that I had heard of but never read. Huge book. The librarian gave me an extension
on the spot. I returned it yesterday. Never even got started. Got 3 or 4
others laying around here half read. So many books, so little time.

JG

 

[azanon]

Ack! Life after fire discussion in the "other" forum.

 

[Martha]

Ack! Life after fire discussion in the "other" forum.

Moved.

 

[audreyh1]

I'm in that group, so far. I'm at 53 weeks of retirement. The day after I found three un-read John McPhee books at the library, I finished two in 16 hours. After that, I rested.

Love the John McPhee books! (I'm a geology nut)

Audrey

 

[rs0460a]

Hey, time for a group trip to South America to learn spanish!

Hey! U don't have to go that far. Didn't you know that Spanish will be the new "official language" of the U.S. ...

- Ron

 

[paradiseken]

This is for mr_johngalt:

I have a long list. First thing, I am buying a rag top and cruising to Key West (never been there) this winter. No particular schedule; no particular
return date.

JG

John, you will love Key West. We have been there probably 15 times. Might I suggest the Frances Street Bottle Inn? Great place to stay. Marybeth and Jim McCulloch are the owners. Great people. Here's the website.

http://www.bottleinn.com/

 

[audreyh1]

Here is what I have ALREADY DONE since retiring in 1999:

• Develop proficiency in nature and wildlife photography (film and later digital)
• Develop proficiency in wildlife video
• Learn how to edit video and produce DVDs
• Develop proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, GoLive, and InDesign
• Learn how to produce exceptional photo prints
• Travel all over North America (including Alaska, Canada & Mexico) on birdwatching and photography trips
• Go on a whale watching trip (and see a bunch of whales!)
• Significantly improve my birding skills including birding by ear
• Complete the Cornell Home Study Course on Ornithology
• Study and complete texts on Earth Science, Geology, General, Organic and Biochemistry
• Read a dadgum large number of natural history books.
• Learn butterfly identification
• Re-establish and increase my fluency in Spanish
• Publish a wildlife calendar
• Produce several nature videos/DVDs - including some for use by nature education programs
• Start and maintain a travelogue blog
• Get rid of most of my stuff and sell my house and switch to the RV fulltimer lifestyle
• Get my Class B driver's license (for heavy vehicles)
• Become an experienced RVer
• Make friends with several Texas naturalists whom I admire
• Learn basic graphic design skills and produce some posters/banners
• Learn basic web design skills
• Learn how to manage our investments - develop an investment strategy and implement/maintain it
• Learn Hatha Yoga
• Learn Pilates
• Hire a personal trainer and get in great (muscular) shape
• Take several courses in drawing

Gosh - I think I'm running out of goals?!?! (Not!!!)

The thing is, I still spend an extraordinary amount of time just goofing off! I've very "proficient" at that too - LOL!

What's really interesting to me is that NONE of the above was related to my career. And there is pretty much no way I could have done much of the above at all without being retired.

Audrey

 

[donheff]

Here is what I have ALREADY DONE since retiring in 1999:

• Develop proficiency in nature and wildlife photography (film and later digital)
• Develop proficiency in wildlife video
• Learn how to edit video and produce DVDs
• Develop proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, GoLive, and InDesign
• Learn how to produce exceptional photo prints
• Travel all over North America (including Alaska, Canada & Mexico) on birdwatching and photography trips

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[/list]

Darn Audrey. Now I am feeling inadequate. I thought I got over that years ago