Backpacker
Recycles dryer sheets
Those would be the same people that told me "the way you eat your going to be fat at 40... and again at 50". So here I am at 50 still not fat Some people just want to P**s on your parade.
I did not retire "to" anything. I just wanted out. End of story. I have been nothing but uncontrollably happy with the results.
All the stuff people said about becoming bored, wasting away, climbing the walls, not feeling useful or fulfilled etc, was just another example of other people not knowing what the hell they are talking about.
+1 I actually had our HR person tell me: "You'll get tired of skiing the Alps, wintering in Florida and sailing your boat in the summer...it sounds good, but you'll get tired of it". Uh, no, I haven't! Looking back on it, he sounded kind of idiotic...
People with no imagination! They can't envision another lifestyle.
I like retirement because everyday is Saturday.
That always amazed me as well.I always thought it was strange that people thought I would get bored doing things I liked and having control over my life but didn't think I could get sick and tired of going to work and having to jump when somebody else blows the whistle?
I didn't see retirement as requiring a butler and a limo. Just what I already had without the going-to-work part. That takes a lot less money.
I did not retire "to" anything. I just wanted out. End of story. I have been nothing but uncontrollably happy with the results.
All the stuff people said about becoming bored, wasting away, climbing the walls, not feeling useful or fulfilled etc, was just another example of other people not knowing what the hell they are talking about.
Exactly!
I always thought it was strange that people thought I would get bored doing things I liked and having control over my life but didn't think I could get sick and tired of going to work and having to jump when somebody else blows the whistle?
I know you have to retire "to" something but do you HAVE to take on a "jobby" to feel like your life is still fulfilling? Will I be asking myself "now what?" a year or 2 into ER?
DH and I love retirement--his is more focused and achievement oriented and mine is more flexible and "let's try this." I am sure the OP will settle in nicely.
I am curious about announcing it to family 20 months ahead of time. Perhaps the family felt you were asking for their opinions, as that seems a pretty long advance notice about anything.
I always thought it was strange that people thought I would get bored doing things I liked and having control over my life but didn't think I could get sick and tired of going to work and having to jump when somebody else blows the whistle?
Definitely! Makes you start to wonder about brainwashing........Well said. Why do people keep saying we'll get tired of doing what we want to do and keep encouraging us to stay working and do the things we don 't want to do? Why does anyone think this? It makes no sense.
All the stuff people said about becoming bored, wasting away, climbing the walls, not feeling useful or fulfilled etc, was just another example of other people not knowing what the hell they are talking about.
All the stuff people said about becoming bored, wasting away, climbing the walls, not feeling useful or fulfilled etc, was just another example of other people not knowing what the hell they are talking about.
Well I guess it may have come off as an announcement, but I meant it as more of a sharing of our happiness, excitement and relief during a family get together. After 28 years of keeping our heads down and LBYM (which I wasn't always happy about at the time), it was soo great to run the numbers and see the light at the end of the tunnel. The loss of DH's father recently really drove home the feeling that life is precious and short. I think I couldn't contain myself. The reaction I got really took the wind out of my sails. It isn't out of the norm for family members to be more competitive and critical than supportive; I guess I should've known better.
I really am relieved by all of the experiences relayed in this thread, as most sound right in the ballpark of what I hope the "essence" of my ER experience will be...
Thanks very much everyone.
(Edited to remove a few too many "I guess")
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Someone once asked me: "You're retired? At such a young age? What do you do all day? Don't you get bored?"
I replied: "Oh yes, I do get bored sometimes. But NEVER as bored as I ever got in business meetings, conference calls, commuting, answering emails, working on powerpoints, sales meetings, annual reviews..."