What Do You Do All Day?

[SteveR]

Ok, I know I stole this from somebody here but inquiring minds want to know what ERs do now that you don't punch the clock any more.

Fess up.....what do you lucky folks do all day?

 

[LovesLife]

SteveR,

I mostly focus on my own needs and wants since my kids are older and my husband is busy with his own things. I go to the gym daily for a workout and follow with a 45 minute walk with a friend. Then its lunch time . After that it's usually time to read or visit with another friend if she is free. Believe it or not, the day passes pretty quickly.

When I first retired I felt that I needed to have my day planned, just like I did my workday. After a period of time I dropped that mindset and other than my workout I just let the day develop as it comes up.

LL

 

[brewer12345]

I mostly focus on my own needs and wants since my kids are older and my husband is busy with his own things. 

So, you spend your days masturbating?









Sorry, couldn't resist...

 

[LovesLife]

OMG, you dirty dog

 

[MJ]

So, you spend your days masturbating?

Darn, how did you guess?
Just one correction, I only do it 2 or 3 times a day.
Got to go, I have something very important to handle.
Bye.



Couldn't resist either.

 

[preben]

Like LL I came into FIRE with my working schedule attitude but am SLOWLY adjusting to FIREd life (not even been half a year yet).
I have initially used a surprising large amount of time on administrative things related to housing/health insurances/internet sign up Etc.
I have also bothered to follow up on various "mystery" charges or fees on bank accounts Etc. - you know the ones we normally do not have time in our working day to bother about.
I have learned the ACTUAL costs of using all my debit/credit cards abroad for both cash and purchase purposes - as well as found cheapest way for me to do international wires.
I have learned the precise rules for use of my international health insurance, and know who to call when Etc.

You get the idea.... Most of it should improve but I have realized how much important stuff I just left in the wind when working, simply because I did not have the time. Lots of it cost me money when left.

I also am hitting the gym every day which includes swimming and sauna - a non-stressed gym visit with all that (and lunch at the pool with working friend) can easily take 3 hours and as I like to do the news paper and internet when I wake up (around 1000) the day is quickly gone.

I am planning to include a bunch of new stuff from my list but first things first. Cheers!

 

[SteveR]

LL and Ben,

Thanks for the honest replies. I appreciate your input. While I am still a couple of years away from ER I believe it is never too early to see what life will be like for the next 30 plus years in retirement. Having worked my butt off for more than 32 years so far in high stress jobs, I need to think about what life will be like without all that structure, stress and corporate BS that fills my days and nights now.

 

[Nords]

Ok, I know I stole this from somebody here...

"What do you do?"
"What do you do all day?"

 

[grumpy]

A typical day for me would go something like this:

Wake up around 7:30 am
Shower, dress and morning stretching 8:15am
Breakfast and read Washington Post cover to cover 9:30am
Web browsing, bill paying, phone calls, etc. 10:30am
Housecleaning (make bed, vacuum rugs, laundry, etc) 11:30am
Lunch 12:00 noon
Reading & listening to music 1:30
Go to pool for lap swimming and hot tub soak 3:00pm
Web browsing or reading 5:30pm
Cook and have dinner 7:00pm
Neighborhood stoll 8:00pm
TV or reading 11:00pm
Bedtime 11:30pm

Of course some days I have grocery shopping or a doctor's appointment that cuts into reading or exercise time.

I find these activities and this pace just about perfect for me.

Grumpy

 

[retire@40]

Just to be different, here's my semi-retirement day:

8:30am  - 10:30am
Wake up, shower, shave, have breakfast, watch the morning news, do various things around the house, play with my kid, online browsing.

10:30am  - 12:30pm
Work

12:30pm - 3:00pm
Lunch, take a power nap, go shopping for fresh groceries for the evening dinner, do whatever comes to mind, or just sit outside in my lawnchair and think.

3:00pm - 5:00pm
Work

5:00pm - Midnight
Cook, have dinner, go out with wife and/or play a sport my my kid, watch TV, read, listen to music, plan next vacation, do any of my hobbies, go online, visit friends or family, wash the car, cultivate the vegetable garden, fix things around the house, or whatever else I feel like doing.

 

[Martha]

Retire@40, do you work at your home? Do you take lots of vacations or do this day in and day out?

 

[retire@40]

Retire@40, do you work at your home?  Do you take lots of vacations or do this day in and day out?

This is just a general schedule, and I do have an office away from home.  I really don't have a plan, but I end up kinda doing this by default.  Somedays I work 6 hours, others I work 2 hours.  Depends on how I feel.  I used to work from 8:30am to late in the evening and on the weekends for a long time.  I made lots of money and saved lots of it, but I came to the conclusion that the stress wasn't worth it.

I've been on a part-time basis for a while and I'm in a sweet comfort zone now.  When I'm 40, I'll give serious consideration to cutting back even more to maybe 5 hours a week, or if the going is good, full-time ER.

I tend to take most Fridays off in the summer and enjoy a long weekend.  I've taken lots of vacations and traveled in the US, Canada, and Europe since I cut down my workload.

 

[TromboneAl]

Typical:

Up at 6 AM (wish I could sleep later!)
Practice piano interspersed with web surfing, this forum, investment stuff and other miscellaneous stuff
Lunch
Practice trombone (maybe)
Read/nap
Projects (e.g. making piano bench, making backpacking alcohol stove, sawing firewood, woodworking projects)
Exercise
Dinner
Watch recorded TV programs or read
Go to bed at 9:30 or 10:00

 

[REWahoo]

Practice trombone (maybe)

Al, you'll never sound like Urbie Green unless you practice....

REW

 

[Mr._johngalt]

Here was my day.  Typical, except no nap.

Up about 5 am to see DW before she leaves for work.  Quick breakfast and feed/water dogs.  Visit this site.  Load boat and on the water about 7:30.
Quit at 11 am, back home for lunch.  Made a few calls and then went
over to the local auction barn to pick up the proceeds from some junk I sold.  Ran a few errands (some shopping, dropped off DW's outboard
motor for repair, gassed truck).  Put fishing gear away.  Now, back on this site
for about a half hour until DW returns.  After she settles in we just
talk philosophy on the deck until the evening news which coincides with cocktail hour.
Maybe a movie later.  And so it goes..................

JG

 

[kz]

We're pretty new to this but here's our typical day.
Rise and shine around 6:15am. Out the door for a 2-3 mile walk with the dog.
Enjoy two cups of coffee on the back patio while we watch the bunnies, squirrels, and birds.
Then it's a leisurely breakfast of omelets or blueberry pancakes. (we go out on weekends with friends)
Next is an hr. or two of laundry, cleaning or financial matters.
After showering we decide what's on the agenda for the day. It could consist of shopping, hiking, (snowshoeing in winter) ATVing, canoeing, boating (at sis's place), etc. We LIVE outdoors if possible.
Lunch is usually a simple affair. Salads, leftovers, etc.
When we're home DH works in his workshop tinkering around with something....usually repairing something for a friend.
I like to read, watch CNBC, spend time on the computer and do cross-stitchery.
Dinner is between 6 and 7 followed by TV viewing, reading, or a movie.
Lights out around 10pm.

 

[Martha]

The responses reminds me of the routine of Greg's nephews, who are five year old twins. We went on a camping trip with them a few weeks ago. Greg told them they had to remember three things: Eat. Play. Nap. In that order. Repeat.

 

[wabmester]

Eat.  Play.  Nap.  In that order.  Repeat.

Exactly. When I transitioned from school to work, I never got over the fact that I no longer got 3 months off for summer break, and another month off for winter. Now, I'm making up for those lost breaks. And then some.

 

[laurence]

I am of the firm belief that many (most) people are not comfortable with themselves. The ability to be content to just "be" is a blessing for a select few. I don't need to climb Everest or cure Cancer to have a day be fulfilling. A good sandwich and some cuddle time with DW and baby girl make for a perfect day. What really compares to the company of those you love?

 

[haha]

What really compares to the company of those you love?

Ok Ladies, I have sole North American distribution rights to "I Heart Laurence, He's So Sweet" tee-shirts.

I have stocked up especially on smalls and petites, 'cause I know what Hotties y'all are.

Ha

 

[laurence]

Ok Ladies, I have sole North American distribution rights to "I Heart Laurence, He's So Sweet" tee-shirts.

I have stocked up especially on smalls and petites, 'cause I know what Hotties y'all are.

Ha

LOL! Eat me! Arnold films rule! I love a good boxing match!

...there, was that better?

 

[Sheryl]

LOL! Eat me!      Arnold films rule!  I love a good boxing match!

Aw, geeze, I was just gonna order the shirt, too. Extra small of course.

 

[laurence]

Aw, geeze, I was just gonna order the shirt, too. Extra small of course.

Aw man! I know how to hose things up! Will you give me a second chance? And if you do order, will you post a picture wearing it?

...I'm just doing further damage to my rep at this point....

 

[LovesLife]

We need to order Laurence a T-shirt with a picture of his adorable little girl on the front that says "Daddy's little Girl". Cute picture of 'Tori, btw.

LL

 

[Sheryl]

Will you give me a second chance?  And if you do order, will you post a picture wearing it?   

...I'm just doing further damage to my rep at this point....

Yup - it's pretty much damaged beyond repair at this point.

Ha - have you printed up the shirts yet?