|
|
07-15-2014, 10:15 AM
|
#21
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,969
|
Quote:
. My idea of heaven is no commitments or social engagements AT ALL. The thought of time stretching in front of me completely open is such a wonderful feeling.
|
HA ha. Are you sure you're not me? How am I going to enjoy the day if I am constantly distracted by going places and doing things!?
One of my favorite quotes is from Blaise Pascal. All man's miseries derive from his inability to sit quietly in a room, alone.
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
07-15-2014, 10:18 AM
|
#22
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Tom
It's not as if I don't like to go places and do things - just that I am not the type who needs a lot of stimulation to keep me content. My idea of heaven is no commitments or social engagements AT ALL. The thought of time stretching in front of me completely open is such a wonderful feeling.
|
+1
Introverts Unite!
.....one at a time
I do make the effort. This spring I went on two trips accompanied by friends. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, but it's great to have some me time.
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 10:26 AM
|
#23
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SF East Bay
Posts: 4,342
|
Thanks razztazz and Meadbh. I knew I wasn't the only one who feels this way, but I don't run across too many other souls like myself in my regular life. It's probably because they are enjoying themselves at home alone, the same way that I am
__________________
Contentedly ER, with 3 furry friends (now, sadly, 1).
Planning my escape to the wide open spaces in my campervan (with my remaining kitty, of course!)
On a mission to become the world's second most boring man.
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 10:58 AM
|
#24
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,901
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Tom
It's not as if I don't like to go places and do things - just that I am not the type who needs a lot of stimulation to keep me content. My idea of heaven is no commitments or social engagements AT ALL. The thought of time stretching in front of me completely open is such a wonderful feeling.
|
+1! I enjoy waking up in the morning and having a completely open day in front of me.
It's 10:00am, and I still have no idea what I am going to do today. But I am pretty sure that I won't get bored.
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 11:12 AM
|
#25
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 2,745
|
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 11:23 AM
|
#26
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 437
|
I'm 42. I've been semi retired for about 10 years now and have gotten a lot of that pent up demand out of my system. I've been trying to find a new real passion, but that's been difficult... Today, I'm bored. I went to the farmers market this morning, and it's raining this afternoon, so, I really don't know what to do. On some day's I'd surf the internet all day. I really want to get away from that.
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 11:39 AM
|
#27
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 928
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by nuke_diver
The one thing I am most looking forward to is being able to spend more time reading books. At work reading/writing emails/presentation/reviews means I don't want to read when I get home so I rarely read for my own enjoyment now unless I am on vacation. I can't wait to be able to spend 3-4hrs on a rainy day with a good book
|
Same here. For me, it's having young kids at home that make it difficult to read. I prefer to read novels in longer sittings of at least a few hours at a time. I rarely get that much uninterrupted time anymore. I imagine that will change when they become teenagers and don't want to have anything to do with me.
Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum
__________________
I can't complain, but sometimes I still do.
- Joe Walsh
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 11:50 AM
|
#28
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,901
|
Quote:
Having a completely open day does not mean that you have to spend it sitting around doing nothing. It is possible to keep busy without living on a schedule.
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 12:13 PM
|
#29
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Portland
Posts: 4,946
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckanut
I have nothing to do. Ever. I just sit around and stare out the window.
Sometimes I lie just to add variety to my day.
|
Sounds like a couple members of our household...
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 12:32 PM
|
#30
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,019
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by razztazz
This is more or less my lifestyle. I could never understand why people seem to have a need to always be doing something.
|
It seems that the majority of us on this forum are like this, since a person who feels the need to be busy and engaged all the time with a very structured life would be less likely to want to ER. But remember we are not the norm.
I've been ERd for almost a year now, and have felt bored from time to time, but boredom is now the exception, whereas it was the rule when I was sitting at a desk all day while I was w*rking.
I've completed a lot of projects since I ERd, but my "to do" list is longer than ever, since I keep thinking of new things to add to the list.
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 12:47 PM
|
#31
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,085
|
One observation I have made. I have always enjoyed having "down time" in my days. Some folks are at their best having to do 20 hours of work in 12 hours. I'm better at taking a slower pace. Just my preference. If I felt like I had to fill up the hours in every day, retirement would have been much more difficult. In fact, I'd probably still be working.
Some people may think I have too much time on my hands, but I think I'm the better judge of that.
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 12:59 PM
|
#32
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 431
|
No, you're far from alone (at least metaphorically).
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 01:01 PM
|
#33
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,440
|
I have a fishbone diagram with everything I want to do in retirement sorted into categories. Can you tell I'm a project manager by trade?
The plan is to cram as much fun in as I can while I'm able. My in-laws retired from the military at 53/51 and stayed retired. They traveled, worked their gardens, volunteered w/the Red Cross... basically enjoyed life.
For some reason around the age 65 they stopped doing much of anything but watch tv and their health steadily declined.
Two weeks ago my MIL died of cancer; she was 76. In helping FIL get the house ready to sell we found hundreds of projects she'd started but never finished. Knitting, needlepoint, stained glass, trips planned but never taken, etc.
I can look back on knowing them and see the progression from being able to do anything they wanted to doing almost nothing every day (and the doing nothing resulted in each of them gaining a LOT of weight).
So one of the things on my list to do everyday in retirement is get some form of physical exercise even if it's just taking the dog for a walk!
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 01:04 PM
|
#34
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 431
|
Quote:
I was like this too when working--always had to be busy doing SOMETHING vaguely productive--couldn't waste time just being. Though I am still very driven after 2 years of RE I don't like being over scheduled, or scheduled at all, and like to pursue things at my own pace.
This attitude has done wonders for my relationships with DW and children. And I can enjoy just lying back and reading fir pleasure or thinking in peace.
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 01:15 PM
|
#35
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,065
|
Enjoying reading the posts of those who have been ER for several years and the variety of perspectives. You folks are all amazing. For me, it's too soon (6 months) to know what's what. i'm finding that if I accomplish one thing every day, that's enough...even if it takes 5 minutes or 5 hours, as long as it needed doing. Today I went to the boat slip and snapped the cover on the boat. Took 10 minutes and I was quite proud of myself!
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 01:31 PM
|
#36
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Toronto
Posts: 3,321
|
Always doing something...
'All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.'
Blaise Pascal, Pensees 1670
I've only been retired for 2 months and I am still in the 'not enough hours in the day' stage. Check back with me in 5 years.
|
|
|
Having too much time after RE? Is that even possible?
07-15-2014, 02:59 PM
|
#37
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,500
|
Having too much time after RE? Is that even possible?
Not for me. Like you,
Quote:
Originally Posted by robnplunder
I think I will have too many pent up things to do that 24 hours a day of RE won't be enough. To name a few ... more traveling, sleeping, golfing (lessons, at last), regular daily workouts, walks, reading (about time), stock trading (in the mornings), watching TV (whenever), gardening (3 times a week), join bowling league, spend more time with relatives in different parts of US, volunteering, fishing (always wanted to get int), daydreaming, and back to more traveling, sleeping, golfing ....
|
In my fifth year of retirement, I have more than enough interests to fill my time and then some. I just wish I had ten lifetimes to explore them all, since it would take at least that long.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 03:09 PM
|
#38
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 69
|
Quote:
It took me at least a year to wind-down from MegaCorp life, but I expected it would take at least that long. In some ways the 2nd ER year was the toughest after the "vacation" feeling was over. You learn a lot about what you enjoy and I remember someone once saying to me "you just get to live your life".
Now (after 6 years) I love the open days, especially when something interesting comes up and you can just go for it without hesitation. Makes all forms of travel less stressful too when you've no place that you have to be.
On the other side of the coin, when social engagements come up that I do enjoy, I always feel just a little stressed and over-scheduled. A funny perspective in reality.
__________________
~Michele
|
|
|
07-15-2014, 03:33 PM
|
#39
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 606
|
As long as I can get outside, I am rarely bored. However, on a miserable rainy day, or a bitter cold winter day when I'm stuck in the house I do sometimes feel a little bored. I have never once thought that I'd rather be at work, though. When I was working I was bored a LOT. Now I may occasionally be a little bored here and there, but at least I have control of the situation and just need to figure out what I want to do.
|
|
|
Having too much time after RE? Is that even possible?
07-15-2014, 03:59 PM
|
#40
|
Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 281
|
Having too much time after RE? Is that even possible?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Tom
My idea of heaven is no commitments or social engagements AT ALL. The thought of time stretching in front of me completely open is such a wonderful feeling.
|
I can relate...and when I do socialize and someone asks me what have I been doing or what do I do....if I say "I've been doing nothing" or " I have nothing planned" I get a look of bewilderment.
I too agree with razztazz...find it interesting that some people seem to always need to be doing something. Whatever floats your boat.
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|