Considering re-retiring

[hobbyist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWras Volunteering is in my plans. It will be multiple things, not just one. I have retiree friends who warn that you can get sucked into volunteer gigs that are more work and more politics than work was. I will watch for that.

That resonates with my experience as well. I think many of us are looking for "challenge" without "stress" and perhaps those are two sides of the same coin

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobbyist is "freedom" enough?

Is the Pope Catholic?
Does a bear sh!t in the woods?
Does a one legged duck swim in circles?
Does Grizzly Adams have a beard?

Janis said it best: "freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose"


Of course, all the above assumes the financial aspects are well covered ...

[hobbyist]

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Originally Posted by DrRoy I would say that you seem to have plenty of $ and to retire again would remove significant negatives. Don't overthink the happiness reversion issue.

Well said! makes a lot of sense.

[Nature Lover]

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Originally Posted by Aerides For me I don't think ER was about being happy so much as being free.

+1 for me. I never had the impression that ER would make me happy by itself. It does allow me to be healthier, spend more time in nature , and be more attentive to household and family needs...all of which are wonderful.

As OP suggests, there is certainly an "adaptation" experience; and it's amazing what we get used to. After retiring, I've become accustomed to enjoying my freedom, laughing and smiling more, having more energy,....

I was happy before, and I'm happy now. Now is just better.

[Out of Steam]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncbill Maybe the OP's experiencing "the U-curve?" https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine...crisis/382235/

I've read this before and agree that it's for real. Though I'm close to 60 and don't think I started up from the bottom until I was 55 or so.

[Lagniappe]

Hobbyist,

I just started my second retirement a few months ago. Very similar story to yours (and I was living in Austin while retired). What finally got me, at age 53, was the deaths of three close friends, all younger than me. I was happy, but not euphoric, when retired the first time. I was happy, but not free (and not exactly healthy) when working. I chose to retire again not to do exactly what I did last time, but to do exactly what I want when I want. Like many others, my focus for the first few years will be on my health and on travel, but I expect that to change over time. We only get so many circles around the sun, and I was reminded repeatedly that sitting in boring meetings stressed about things that don't really matter and becoming ill as a result wasn't how I wanted to spend my time. Be euphoric about the fact that you get to make a choice, and that either choice is not irreversible. Best of luck to you.

[hobbyist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe Hobbyist, I just started my second retirement a few months ago. Very similar story to yours (and I was living in Austin while retired). What finally got me, at age 53, was the deaths of three close friends, all younger than me.

Sorry to hear that, Lagniappe. That's a shocker.

[hobbyist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe Hobbyist, Be euphoric about the fact that you get to make a choice, and that either choice is not irreversible. Best of luck to you.

That's so true. Thanks!

[JoeWras]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobbyist I was doing extremely well in my career and in most aspects of life, but the question "Is this all there is?" was often on my mind.

Mom and Dad might have liked this more, but it is kind of cool, if not a bit melancholy.

[WyomingLife]

Hobbyist --

I'm new here, and also not retired, so take what follows with a grain of salt. I haven't walked the walk, so to speak.

Like you, I do find the psychological aspects of retirement to be fascinating, maybe even compelling. You might want to read V. Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning." I'm not a psychologist and am paraphrasing here, but Frankl basically explains that the pursuit of happiness shouldn't be life's goal. So if you did not experience "happiness" your first time around, that is totally normal.

That book opened my eyes to what the last decades of my life might be like. I'm not expecting bliss or nirvana. Freedom and hopefully purpose, yes. But everyday won't be a party, nor should it be, if I am reading Frankl right.