Every day Saturday? Not quite for me yet

[FIREarly]

Working for a Fortune 15 company with a really phenomenal golden parachute that I have declined, simply means that everyday is not a Saturday! I am going to wait for 3 to 7 years and prepare to retire, and then pull the Retirement String. For now, it is business as usual, and of course, that means enjoyment for me (really) and also lots of learning in IT / AI, and hopefully LOTS of Retirement Management, and Financial Management from this forum that I am really enjoying.

Ken

Good luck, read a lot here and ask questions. There are some very smart personal finance, not licensed, people here.

FYI, ER sends out automated emails with posts you might like. These are great ways to start your engagement with the site.

 

[pacergal]

On most Sundays and Thursdays, we take one of our DGS (age 4) to watch while parents either have appts, need to work around the house, or simply have some adult time.
Taking him home, as we cross over the major freeway, DH and I always look at the lined up cars/trucks on the road and say Thanks for retirement!
It seems to get backed up earlier now, was 5, then 4, now often by 3.
Garbage day is Thursdays.
So Sunday/Thursday is how we define our week--lol. I still have a calendar on my desk for appointments so DH can check, I use my phone calendar, but he refuses, so old fashioned paper calendar is it.

 

[marko]

I am just 60 and can retire any minute now financially. Used to looking forward to it but lately not much so. Surprised not many people mentioned similar dilemma.
I am first time grandpa a few months ago. Since I work from home, have been helping the both working new parents babysit. Even though it is a lot of joy, it is indeed very tiring though. Whenever I am on leave, babysit becomes automatic my full time job unless I can get a leave from my leave. I know you can say it is up to me, but how could you u be not helping or ask them to hire expensive babysitter! On top of that, I hate cooking and never really done it because of the good excuse that I am working and my wife retired long time ago. With these two reasons, I am actually a little scared if I really retire. Again, they are the closest people in my life and no way to say no if I truly love them, which I do.

You might have to make it clear to the troops that things have changed as you retire. I'd suggest taking up some sort of activity that gets you out of the house for a few hours a few days a week. Golf, pickleball, church. Otherwise, you're just swapping one job for another. You need some guardrails and try to work out that maybe the kids get a babysitter for a few hours each week.

"Grandpa is retired now and wants to do some other things. You might need a babysitter to fill in for a few hours a week. I'm still available for some days but not all the time"

I had a similar situation with my suddenly disabled brother. Left to his own devices and personal demands (he's very demanding and a bit selfish as a person), I'd be devoting 18 hours a day to his needs. I had to set expectations that I'm not available and that I have my own life. Instead he knows that he 'has' me for two hours each morning for going out, coffee, doctors etc and that his other caregivers will be along to pick up the slack for the rest of the day. You can't fall for the guilt-trip.

"Cast in this unlikely role
Ill equipped to act
With insufficient tact,
One must put up barriers
To keep oneself intact" (Rush)

 

[Fermion]

I prefer every day to be a Tuesday. It is very annoying to realize it is Sunday and the store you want to go to is closed. Also, weekends and holidays suck because all the working folks have time off and make the places I want to relax crowded.

Tuesday is great. And the Chinese restaurant is open.

 

[OnTheBeach]

I have been retired for 2.5 years and I don't feel every day is a Saturday. My schedule is no longer dictated by a work schedule but by the activities schedule. Tennis is Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat and golf is Tues/Thurs/Sun. One of the best parts of retiremente is doing errands during the week when the stores are quiet. When I have to go food shopping on a Sat/Sun for something we forgot - I am amazed at the crowds. My friends that are still working always ask me "what do you do all day?" I generally have something planned for everyday - even if it is for 1 hour. But, I enjoy sitting on the couch with my wife during the day to watch a movie or catch up on a TV show. I honestly believe some people can retire and relax and some people will always work becuase they can't relax - even if they have plenty of money.

 

[CaptTom]

"Cast in this unlikely role
Ill equipped to act
With insufficient tact,
One must put up barriers
To keep oneself intact" (Rush)

There's a Rush song for everything. But I wouldn't have gone with Limelight. I'd lean maybe more toward Something for Nothing:

You don't get something for nothing
You can't have freedom for free
You won't get wise with the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dream might be

What you own is your own kingdom
What you do is your own glory
What you love is your own power
What you live is your own story

In your heart is the answer
Let it guide you along
Let your heart be the anchor
and the beat of you song

Sorry. Rush lyrics are sort of a religion with me.

 

[big-papa]

63 and retired a little over a year ago. Only "days" I think about are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays when I get on my bike and ride 30 miles/30 miles/60 miles every week. Oh and I check each Monday to see if it's recycling day for trash pickup or not.

I'm becoming and expert at doing whatever strikes my fancy on any given day without regard for which day it is.

Cheers.

 

[disneysteve]

I don't feel like every day is Saturday, nor would I want it to be. I love being able to go out and do things during the week when most folks are working. Stores and restaurants are less crowded. Hotels are cheaper. Tourist attractions aren't as busy (unless they get school groups and then after 1pm or so they clear out).

We just got back from 3 days in Alexandria, VA. We went Tuesday through Thursday which was great. Much nicer, cheaper, and less crowded than Friday through Sunday would have been.

I do still need to keep track of what day it is because with my ebay business, I shop at a lot of estate sales so I need to know if it's Thursday or Saturday or whatever. There are also a couple of thrift shops I go to that have a senior discount on Tuesday or dollar day on Sunday. That helps keep me oriented LOL.

 

[Koolau]

I do still need to keep track of what day it is because with my ebay business, I shop at a lot of estate sales so I need to know if it's Thursday or Saturday or whatever. There are also a couple of thrift shops I go to that have a senior discount on Tuesday or dollar day on Sunday. That helps keep me oriented LOL.

Strictly curious: What kinds of items do you look for and then offer on ebay?

 

[mystang52]

"Every day a Saturday...." to an extent. DW and I have 2 habits that haven't died: going out to dinner on Saturday night, and Sunday morning grocery shopping. Other than that, we love doing odds-and-ends shopping on morning weekdays, and generally do little on weekends because we don't like the crowds.

 

[disneysteve]

Strictly curious: What kinds of items do you look for and then offer on ebay?

I sell all sorts of things but mainly vintage and collectible items. I’ve recently started selling a lot of china too. Recent sales include books, flatware, cleaning supplies, a stamp album, an old 8mm John Wayne film, a set of Christmas ornaments, Disney pins, a Cutco knife, etc.

 

[Route246]

Working for a Fortune 15 company with a really phenomenal golden parachute that I have declined, simply means that everyday is not a Saturday! I am going to wait for 3 to 7 years and prepare to retire, and then pull the Retirement String. For now, it is business as usual, and of course, that means enjoyment for me (really) and also lots of learning in IT / AI, and hopefully LOTS of Retirement Management, and Financial Management from this forum that I am really enjoying.

Ken

Not sure of your circumstances but did you turn down a package with incentives to leave? That is admirable.