I’m 53 and planning to leave my job this summer after 23 years. As I’ve gotten closer to my target exit date, I am becoming more keenly aware of how I spend my time on the weekends and the occasional holiday. I have interests outside of work, such as photography and guitar playing, and I’m on the HOA board for my condo, but I tend to spend a lot of time just hanging out at home by myself or hiking local trails. My girlfriend and I get together as often as possible but we don’t live together. We like to travel and figure we’ll do more once I’m no longer employed. But that can only fill so much time. She and all of my friends work full time so during the week I’ll be alone, just doing my thing (whatever that looks like).
Lately I find myself wondering whether I’m going to have too much time on my hands and get bored and lonely. Ordinarily, I never feel that I have enough time to do all the things I really want to do. I long for time off to get momentum on personal interests. I’ve read books on purposeful retirement, and living happy, wild and free, and that all seems plausible... volunteer, work an encore career, so on. But I’m kind of lazy when left to my own devices. I piddle around as my interests dictate, so I’m not sure how realistic it is to think I’m going to do something purposeful every day. And making new friends has never been my strong suit.
I recognize the need to establish some sort of routine. I plan to get up around 8, read, drink coffee, then get to the gym around 10:00. After that, eat lunch and (of course) take a nap early afternoon. Probably devote an hour to guitar practice. But then I run out of ideas—and since I live in a congested downtown area I’m constrained by rush hour traffic, so nothing doing between 4 and 7 pm unless I’m just looking for frustration.
My girlfriend has kindly given me a list of things I can do over at her place and I’m happy to do them, but again—only so much time can be spent there.
I guess my questions for you ER singletons out there are these—do you find yourself content doing the things you always wanted to do? Or do you find yourself practically working full time looking for ways to stay busy? How do you combat loneliness when all your friends are working?
Thanks!
Lately I find myself wondering whether I’m going to have too much time on my hands and get bored and lonely. Ordinarily, I never feel that I have enough time to do all the things I really want to do. I long for time off to get momentum on personal interests. I’ve read books on purposeful retirement, and living happy, wild and free, and that all seems plausible... volunteer, work an encore career, so on. But I’m kind of lazy when left to my own devices. I piddle around as my interests dictate, so I’m not sure how realistic it is to think I’m going to do something purposeful every day. And making new friends has never been my strong suit.
I recognize the need to establish some sort of routine. I plan to get up around 8, read, drink coffee, then get to the gym around 10:00. After that, eat lunch and (of course) take a nap early afternoon. Probably devote an hour to guitar practice. But then I run out of ideas—and since I live in a congested downtown area I’m constrained by rush hour traffic, so nothing doing between 4 and 7 pm unless I’m just looking for frustration.
My girlfriend has kindly given me a list of things I can do over at her place and I’m happy to do them, but again—only so much time can be spent there.
I guess my questions for you ER singletons out there are these—do you find yourself content doing the things you always wanted to do? Or do you find yourself practically working full time looking for ways to stay busy? How do you combat loneliness when all your friends are working?
Thanks!