DW & I retired just over a year ago. The adjustment period has had it's ups and downs for us. It hasn't been all a bed of roses.
One year ago, we were "down" in the Southern Hemisphere traveling about the North and South Islands of New Zealand for 3 months. We were "up" in Cape Reinga and all the way "down" south to Invercargill.
Then we were "up" in the hills of Tuscany for 3 months over last summer.
While writing this reply, we are "up" on a hill top in the Costa Rican rainforest looking out at the Pacific Ocean. This is our home for the next 8 months.
Friday, we'll be going "down" to the beach.
DW & I have managed to adjust to the ups and downs of this retirement gig!
so you’re DOWN in Guanacaste area? then you’ll have to get “UP” early to see the howler and spider monkeys (and look UP to see them to) and also get DOWN to the beach early enough to claim your good spot for relaxing there.
DENVERITE
since you mentioned that you’ll not be seeing your peers (age group) in retirement, for a couple of weeks after you check out go down to the 16th St mall/LoDo from say 11-1 on a weekday. observe how everyone is rushing around, trying to get whatever done before returning to the rat race— just go slow, enjoy the pace of a more deliberate, contemplative life. No more race... you’ve crossed the line
For me,
it’s going on three years
when I pushed off, spouse was already out and in the new house (thousands of miles away) , we’d changed licenses/voting registration/car registration/ etc and we’d sold the old place (purchased the new place months before) and I was staying in temp housing
the day I left: gave up badges, computers, keys, etc ... headed for my vehicle already loaded with whatever I needed during my temp housing and made sure I was out of state (a few hundred miles) before midnight ... i could legitimately say I wasn’t in the state the next day/month/year for their taxing authority
next day was in Boulder, visiting family for a few days, then off to finish the transit to the house
It takes a few months to decompress and still have rare flashbacks to the insanity... but don’t miss the commute (was typically 2+ hours a day)
Right after retirement, DON’T start volunteering... get used to the new normal; establish a general pattern , nothing rigid, for the days... now there’s nothing wrong if you want to sleep in a bit longer (the dog might even enjoy the longer cuddle time until 9-9:30)
let the transition occur more organically...you’ll recognize when you’re going too fast when you start noticing your blood pressure rise, start getting tense... then back off
good luck with your journey