Do you lack intellectual stimulation after retirement?

[kcowan]

Been ERd for 4.5 years. No problem with Intellectual Stimulation. What I have to work on is physical comaraderie. It does not happen naturally except with spouse and a few buddies.

OTOH I get to choose who I spend my time with and there were many at work I would prefer not to spend time with. Good people in that environment but not when the whole world is available to me.

I am reminded of the saying:
"I woke up with nothing to do and by bedtime I only had half of it done!"

It is amazing what pursuits open up without the drudgery every day.

(PS Just returned from 2 months in Mexico.)

 

[JustCurious]

Eh, just ERs trying to kick a work addiction.

Again, I don't agree. There are some people (like me) who participate on this forum because we are interested in becoming "FI", and not necessarily "RE".

 

[Zoocat]

While I'm not completely ER because I have an occasional part time gig, I do enjoy mostly free time to do whatever I want and that's what I enjoy most. I'm not a person who ever enjoyed the tightly scheduled type A existence. I used to be extremely busy raising three children, working, and taking care of the home. Now I can focus on whatever I please from day to day.

Usually I spend some time working on my art, but I really enjoy letting a whole day go by without accomplishing anything at all except maybe finishing a novel or researching a topic on the Internet, or going on a very long hike in the mountains or just exploring some new event in town.
That kind of luxurious free time used to be so precious and relagated to a few hours on the weekend. Now I have days and days to spend in relaxing, enjoyable activities. What could be better?

The issue of social companionship seems to be working itself out as time goes on. I've been meeting other people who are involved in the same things and so I have friends in various parts of my life. Some days go by without social interaction but that's fine with me. I chose where I live so that I can have as much social life or as little as I like.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Business and stimulation are not the same thing.

My job is both busy and stimulating, sometimes to the point of excess. When I vacate, there is usually a couple of days of wind-down and sleep recuperation, then I automatically start getting to those (nonwork-related) books, play my piano daily, kick up my exercise routine, try that new ethnic restaurant, see movies.

Given the time benefit of retiring, I doubt it'll stop there: courses, new friends, leisurely visits to the distant kids... I can hardly wait for all the stimulation - the kind of my own choosing.

Oh, yeah, and I'll probably keep working a few months a year. Due to the usual delayed-gratification thing (read loan-bound til age 40), I am not yet ready financially but that is the only thing holding me back right now.

 

[ijuba]

The intellectual stimulation from work for me, was different than that from ER.

At work - I was stimulated as per headquarters' agenda - it sure kept me going 10-12 hours per day BUT the intellectual stimulation from ER is what I want to be stimulated by.....and only me. Believe me, that's plenty.

I guess it gets down to - what do you want to do? If you are self-initiated - no problem. If not - well, that could be an issue.

Take inventory of your interests and decide if it's enough to keep you busy. If not....well you know the answer there.

 

[dumpster56]

intellectual stimulation, i substitute teach middle school and high school students a few days a week & . Coach a high school spring track team.

Does that count?

I drink good premium booze, and read real good books.

And I am running almost 10 miles a day.

 

[polloloco]

*Have started to convert my LP collection to CD's.

What equipment is needed to put the LP's on CD's?

 

[deserat]

I'm not ER, but the plan is going and has been for a few year - my husband and I have options for early early, early mid and just early retirement (the spreadsheet-itis stuff). What's interesting is that as we contemplate this, we do realize that our jobs do define a part of us - for me, I have two jobs, civilian and military - so the idenitity and intellectual stimulation factors are well taken care of now. However, I have been supplementing that with other stuff like: crafts, gardening (learning about perennials/etc), cooking (those cooking shows and cookbooks are the end of me sometimes - I'm buried in them for hours!), decorating (oh my gosh, Design on a Dime, Divine Design and Designing Cents - yet more hours full of amazing creative ideas), history (reading about WWII, the presidents, the middle ages, etc), and now junior college philosophy (yes, once a week and *very challenging* reading - Try Anselm and his argument for the existence of God). My husband and I joke about our favorite 'berry' - the "liberry." Then there's travel and the research to make sure you take advantage of all the opportunities - history, tours, food, people. Not to mention sports: skiing, badminton, hiking, etc. So, yes, I am intellectually stimulated by my jobs, however, I'm hoping that the other stuff I've been pursuing will become a priority when we retire.

I always thought that if one could read, one would never have an excuse to be bored.....

Deserat

 

[audreyh1]

If you look at my post from a while back, you'll see how intellectually stimulating my retirement has been!
http://early-retirement.org/forums/index.php?topic=10364.msg189560#msg189560

I had a very intellectually demanding career, and I loved that aspect of it, especially the constant learning and mastering of new skills. I was a design engineer and headed a product development team. I had titles like "system architect" etc., and I was one of the big picture "visionaries" for product design. A lot of my work was self-directed too.

I can truly say in retirement, the intellectual stimulation is just as high. That is perhaps something that hasn't really changed in my life, it's just that I redirected it. Now I am absorbed in my own hobbies and interests. For me retirement was the chance to finally delve into learning about things that I had no time to pursue while I was working, to "catch up" in areas where I had no formal education. I am still constantly learning and mastering new skills - they just are with tools that facilitate the things I like to do/create now.

I think some of us pursue intellectual challenges for their own sake. If that's true, retiring is not likely to change that part of your life.

Audrey

 

[youbet]

I have had one intellectual setback since RE nine months ago: I haven't put together a single PowerPoint presentation in all that time and I'm sure my knowledge of PowerPoint is fading fast! Oh my.....! Maybe I'll fire PowerPoint up tomorrow and put together a little presentation for DW outlining our vacation plans for the next six months........

 

[donheff]

Oh my.....! Maybe I'll fire PowerPoint up tomorrow and put together a little presentation for DW outlining our vacation plans for the next six months........

Just beware that ERers have a tendency to regress into using animated doohickeys and sound effects in their presentations. That is something you want to avoid if you want to preserve your management cred. Maybe you should take some Edward Tufte books out from the library. Reapeat after me: "Powerpoint is evil. Powerpoint corrupts absolutely..."

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I consider powerpoint to be one of the worst productivity drains on the planet.

 

[kcowan]

Reminds me of a cartoon caption contest:

It showed one technical person showing a prospect the Powerpoint while talking.
My entry: If you will buy right now, I promise NOT to show you the Powerpoint pitch.

It won!

 

[Nords]

I consider powerpoint to be one of the worst productivity drains on the planet.

It's getting quite a military backlash too...

http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,NI_1204_PowerPoint,00..html

 

[bow-tie]

...I always thought that if one could read, one would never have an excuse to be bored.....

Deserat

That's an excellent point!

 

[youbet]

intellectual stimulation, i substitute teach middle school

Wait a minute......... wouldn't subsitute teaching in a middle school and intellectual stimulation be an oxymoron? :

 

[WanderALot]

This is a concern of mine as well. I'm not ER, but I've my job isn't too stressful and I do have a little bit of free time. I have a wide variety of interests and enjoy traveling, reading, the outdoors. However, I find that even though I seek intellectual/social stimulation, my ADD and laziness result in me being bored occasionally.

For example, I have a very strong desire to learn Spanish. I've have an excellent Spanish immersion software package at my fingertips, but I just haven't gotten around to finishing the course yet past the first few sessions (it's been 3 months!) I've noticed that this tendency to start things but not follow through to completion happens with activities that are solitary. With events/activities that involve social contact, I don't seem to have as much of a problem. Maybe because I crave social contact and like competition? Don't know, it's definitely something I have to work on before I RE. I like the sense of achievement, so I guess I'm just a lazy type-A!

Anyone else like this?

 

[spideyrdpd]

Why would one presume that there was intellectual stimulation before retirement ?


*************************************************
Have started to convert my LP collection to CD's.

What equipment is needed to put the LP's on CD's?

They have these turntables that have usb ports to connect it to the computer and I believe the software to get the music onto the computer.
If you ask me what a turntable is I might have to scream .... 8)

 

[Nords]

If you ask me what a turntable is I might have to scream .... 8)

Nah, most of the posters are still Googling the "LP" acronym.

Turntables used to be expensive enough without USB ports. We've been saving one for years to be able to play our albums, which I believe last occurred... yep, in the '80s. (Wonder how that motor coil's held up over the last 20 years?) I suspect the turntable will plug into our PC just fine with an RCA converter cable. Hey, I could dedicate the laptop to the project!

Whenever I talk about converting our albums & cassette tapes to MP3s or CDs, my spouse affixes her steeliest glare upon my visage and gently inquires "You saved enough money taping them in the first place. You're always griping that you don't have enough time to do the things you want to do. Instead of tweaking & babysitting more electronics, why don't you just download or (*gasp*) buy the CDs? After all, what are you saving it for?!?"

 

[BUM]

spidey,

The manual says my new laptop is Java equipped. Where does the coffee come out?

 

[txdakini]

I worked in IT and used a lot of linear thinking, problem-solving in that job for 25 years. When I semi-retired and changed careers, I moved to a people oriented job, no spreadsheets, no diagrams, no logic. I noticed after time a sort of unease in myself and finally figured out that I needed more intellectual stimulation than the job was giving me. I just do my own website, blogging, added lay physics books and Carl Jung to my reading list and satisfied that need. I feel better which is the whole goal, anyway.

I think it would be easy to let go of both intellectual and social interaction for some retirees. I know a couple who mostly watch TV alone most days. Good way to turn into a vegetable. Reading books is intellectually stimulating, but only if you read the right kind. Reading romance novels (e.g.) are entertaining, but not intellectually stimulating.

When we suddenly have all this free time, it would be easy to get off-track, become bored or whatever if you do not have outside interests that pull you out of bed. I never get bored because I have tons of interests and a long to do list for my own pleasure. But I know one guy who has millions, is much younger than me and says he'll never retire because he doesn't know what he would do with all that time. The only outside interest he has is traveling but he doesn't want to travel more than a few weeks a year. so he stays at work, probably best.

 

[Rustic23]

I am retired! Have been for about 6 months. I am not concerned about intellectual stimulation. I am not concerned about getting in touch with the real me. I could care less if I become a mental vegetable. (by the way, did you see the last idol, apprentice, survivor, desperate housewives episode?) I meet new folks regularly and still meet with those I knew before retirement. Family still talks to us and grand kids still come to visit.

I do have more time to read the papers, (brother-in-law reads three every morning) I only read one. I maintain four websites for the fun of it, take an hour walk every day, talk with the neighbors, they are all retired also, and before you know it, it is 5:00, well 5:00 somewhere, and time for margaritas on the deck and more socializing with the neighbors. Intellectual stimulation is not what it is cracked up to be. Enjoying your life and having the funds and physical capability to do what ever you want to do whenever you want to IS!

By the way, in my former life I was a military officer, fighter pilot, certified real estate appraiser, managed real estate department for the third largest bank in California, MIS director for elected official in the third largest county in the nation. I have been intellectually stimulated, and the only one I miss is fighter pilot, and that is because of the guys you fly with more than the intellectual stimulation.

 

[kcowan]

The main thing I miss is making high impact decisions every day. OTOH there is much less stress.

 

[sweetana3]

I was "retired" for about 5 years. Did find it hard to get my head around not going into work and doing a job for 8 hours a day.

Finally found that a daily schedule did work for me. Now I have returned to work and will retire permanently in 2 years. I am already planning on volunteering five days a week for the morning hours at a local spay/neuter clinic. Then home for lunch and crafts, reading or a nap. Will give me the social and mental stimulation I want and the vacation atmosphere I deserve.

I think it will give me the best of both worlds and give support to an organization that I enjoy.

 

[babyape]

One thing that I noticed is that I really explore the internet. When I was an exec I never had time to surf and just see what was going on on the net. Now I real think it is cool and I can use it to make my life easier. I used see email as a complete pain in the ass. Now I love it. So in that sense I think I am more stimulated by and focused after ER.

I also got rid of the cell phone and it doesn't seem to be causing any problems.