friar1610
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2002
- Messages
- 1,643
I've been retired about 6 years. Retired at 58. Been in my current location about 4 years and brought with me some of the retirement activities I started in my old location and added some new ones. But, during the last year or so, I decided that I'm getting bored/burned out on some of them.
Specifically, I've been doing adult literacy/basic math tutoring 1 - 2 fairly full days per week for about 6 years now. Although it has been very satisfying, I've decided I'm getting a little sick of it. So, I gave "notice" at the place I do the tutoring that I won't be back in fall. (I always took the summers off anyway.)
I've been the Service Officer for our local American Legion Post for 3 years. What this mainly means is (1) giving out medical equipment like hospital beds and walkers from our garage full of donated equipment to folks who need them and might not be able to afford them; (2) getting color guards together for funerals of deceased members; and (3) helping people apply for VA benefits and do other government paperwork related to veterans' or survivor benefits. I decided not to stand for reelection this year, but said I would continue doing (3) but not (1) or (2) (since the guy who is succeeding me isn't a great paperwork person.)
I've worked out from Sep - May at a local physical therapy center (which has a small amount of fitness equipment) twice per week for about 4 years (in addition to the fitness stuff I do on my own.) As with the tutoring, I've taken the summers off because I get plenty of exercise outdoors during the summer between yard-work, hiking, paddling, running, etc. But I won't be returning in the fall.
I decided that most of these things have gotten old and - you know what? None of them are "jobs" that I need to keep doing to earn a living. So, I'm currently researching other volunteer activities that will be a change of pace and keep me interested. The nice thing is I have that option and when you're a volunteer, you call the shots, not a boss. I've also taken on a couple of new responsibilities with my church - different from the other volunteer things I've done and sure to keep me interested for a few years. There's also travel and, on the fitness side, I think I'll join a fitness place that maybe has some classes (as opposed to doing the weights and machines.) I've also started going to yoga classes once a week with my wife (who goes more regularly.)
So my point is that even if you're doing things in retirement that are fun and satisfying, they, just like a job, can get old after a while. But it's a helluva lot easier to find some new things to do from the myriad of things out there than it is to go looking for a new job.
Specifically, I've been doing adult literacy/basic math tutoring 1 - 2 fairly full days per week for about 6 years now. Although it has been very satisfying, I've decided I'm getting a little sick of it. So, I gave "notice" at the place I do the tutoring that I won't be back in fall. (I always took the summers off anyway.)
I've been the Service Officer for our local American Legion Post for 3 years. What this mainly means is (1) giving out medical equipment like hospital beds and walkers from our garage full of donated equipment to folks who need them and might not be able to afford them; (2) getting color guards together for funerals of deceased members; and (3) helping people apply for VA benefits and do other government paperwork related to veterans' or survivor benefits. I decided not to stand for reelection this year, but said I would continue doing (3) but not (1) or (2) (since the guy who is succeeding me isn't a great paperwork person.)
I've worked out from Sep - May at a local physical therapy center (which has a small amount of fitness equipment) twice per week for about 4 years (in addition to the fitness stuff I do on my own.) As with the tutoring, I've taken the summers off because I get plenty of exercise outdoors during the summer between yard-work, hiking, paddling, running, etc. But I won't be returning in the fall.
I decided that most of these things have gotten old and - you know what? None of them are "jobs" that I need to keep doing to earn a living. So, I'm currently researching other volunteer activities that will be a change of pace and keep me interested. The nice thing is I have that option and when you're a volunteer, you call the shots, not a boss. I've also taken on a couple of new responsibilities with my church - different from the other volunteer things I've done and sure to keep me interested for a few years. There's also travel and, on the fitness side, I think I'll join a fitness place that maybe has some classes (as opposed to doing the weights and machines.) I've also started going to yoga classes once a week with my wife (who goes more regularly.)
So my point is that even if you're doing things in retirement that are fun and satisfying, they, just like a job, can get old after a while. But it's a helluva lot easier to find some new things to do from the myriad of things out there than it is to go looking for a new job.