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When my parents retired they never knew what day it was or what time it was for that matter. They had no part time job or responsibilities at all so life pretty much just dragged on day after day after day after day!
Without a reason to wake up they had no real purpose in life. They lived in a retirement community in Mesa Arizona and were shocked how fulfilling the lives were of many of their fellow retirees. In sunny warm Arizona many of the people who lived around them never left the house even though their health was still good.
The neighbors who seemed to be the most fulfilled were still working part time in their retirement. They did a variety of jobs in town and unlike the younger workers doing routine jobs these senior citizens seemed to enjoy themselves at work.
Others did not work for pay but spent 2-3 days doing volunteer work.
How about you if you are a senior citizen, do you work a part time job for pay or a volunteer gig?
Interesting points in the OP, but the poll was not constructed with all of those points in mind because there is no option to vote for volunteer work. I voted in the poll before I read the OP, and the poll sounded like it was asking only about work for pay. Of course it's hard or impossible to make a poll that has enough choices to cover all people's bases. I voted for the closest thing to my reality ("Yes", but just to get out of the house and have something to do), but actually that choice understates the enthusiasm I have for my occasional paid projects and the amount of gratification they bring me. I also enjoy meaningful volunteer work, but that had nothing to do with my poll answer.
The issue raised - people who are at loose ends with nothing to look forward to in retirement - is such an important one. Of course it has come up before in various guises in this forum. Many of us had interests and hobbies in addition to our work while we were still working full-time, so it's hard for us to relate to people who dread retirement because they can't imagine what they will do to fill the time. I know two or three such people, and I feel sorry for them. Researchers who study longevity and well-being among the elderly always emphasize the importance of having meaningful activities and relationships as an important component of good health and vibrancy.
i retired at 60 after 38 years as a social worker, and although over that period of time, i had enjoyed some, not all, of the jobs i had, i was more than ready to leave the work world. after my retirement, i did private, part-time social work consulting, as a geriatric care manager, for about a year, but soon found it took more time and particularly networking time in a new location, than i was willing to give.
since then, in the last year and a half, i have taught courses in writing ( has always been an avocation;published in magazines; self-published two books ) and what i term "social worky" type courses for a university adult continuing education program. this is primarily a volunteer position with a small stipend. this involves one day a week of class with probably two hours preparation time for each class each week.
prior to the beginning of each semester i spend a great deal of time in creating and developing the courses, as well as planning the material to be covered for each class period. there is definitely work involved but i enjoy it a great deal; certainly the fact that i have the freedom to develop the course to be taught as i choose to do so increases the satisfaction for me. teaching in this setting has become very important to me, and it most definitely defines, to a large extent, my retirement life.
I teach a (paid) adult ed class once or twice a week each season, and also do some PT paid consulting with clients but am not pursuing work. I'm a co-chair of the library friends and that entails fundraising and meetings. Even with these activities, I'm frequently bored and I admit I waste a lot of time that could be put to much better use. I'm looking for new outlets this year,within my mobility range, such as getting back to artwork, but the longer you don't do something you used to do, the harder it is to get back to doing it.
As for retiree-type activities--golf, cards, bowling, bingo, casino--I've no interest whatsoever. Just not my thing. I miss being in the thick of creativity and productions and don't know that I can ever regain those "highs" (along with the wretched lows ) of working with creative nutcases (er, geniuses). So in some respects, I'm a bit lost and restless (I'm always restless, so that's nothing new). The people who find it hardest to retire are people who were highly involved and felt like they were in the thick of things...maybe your parents could tap into their passions from their 20s and get going again. It doesn't have to be paid work. In fact, retirees who don't need pay ought (imo) leave these jobs to others who really need them.
Last edited by RiverBird; 01-03-2012 at 07:50 AM..
When my parents retired they never knew what day it was or what time it was for that matter. They had no part time job or responsibilities at all so life pretty much just dragged on day after day after day after day!
Without a reason to wake up they had no real purpose in life. They lived in a retirement community in Mesa Arizona and were shocked how fulfilling the lives were of many of their fellow retirees. In sunny warm Arizona many of the people who lived around them never left the house even though their health was still good.
The neighbors who seemed to be the most fulfilled were still working part time in their retirement. They did a variety of jobs in town and unlike the younger workers doing routine jobs these senior citizens seemed to enjoy themselves at work.
Others did not work for pay but spent 2-3 days doing volunteer work.
How about you if you are a senior citizen, do you work a part time job for pay or a volunteer gig?
In my not so humble opinion, your post is fraught with stinkin' thinkin'. You may be a workoholic (I believe that's a social disease) but not everyone is so afflicted.
I think that many consider, as do I, merely living as a purpose in life. After 45 years of work, 20 of them in rather hazardous occupations, this morning I awoke to the view of our lake awash in golden sun light with the temperature outside a balmy 20 degrees and inside a comfortable 68. Life is good and fulfilling even if all I want to do is sit in my recliner and spend the day contemplating my navel.
No real purpose in life indeed! Sounds to me like someone needs to get one!
When my parents retired they never knew what day it was or what time it was for that matter. They had no part time job or responsibilities at all so life pretty much just dragged on day after day after day after day!
Without a reason to wake up they had no real purpose in life. They lived in a retirement community in Mesa Arizona and were shocked how fulfilling the lives were of many of their fellow retirees. In sunny warm Arizona many of the people who lived around them never left the house even though their health was still good.
The neighbors who seemed to be the most fulfilled were still working part time in their retirement. They did a variety of jobs in town and unlike the younger workers doing routine jobs these senior citizens seemed to enjoy themselves at work.
Others did not work for pay but spent 2-3 days doing volunteer work.
How about you if you are a senior citizen, do you work a part time job for pay or a volunteer gig?
I couldn't answer your poll because none of them fit me. Yes, I work part time but not to "get out of the house" and, no, I don't "hate" it. I love my job, have fun at work and the days go by fast. THAT has it's pros and cons because the days fly by fast enough as it is when you get older! I do it for the money and it's a bonus that I also enjoy it. Don't know about the "fulfillment" thing because I've never felt UNfulfilled.
IF, by some miraculous chance, I could fully retire I would NEVER be bored because I can always find something to do. Even if I waste a whole day playing online I am doing what I WANT to do. lol
Sometimes, even with a job, I'm not sure what day it is. Sunday I thought it was Monday all day and wondered why people were still buying the Sunday paper!
Oh, and I live in AZ where the weather is absolutely gorgeous right now. It's in the 70s where I live and I get off work early today so I am gonna enjoy the heck out of it.
In our current economic climate the concept of retirement has become muddled with out of work and can't find a job. When you are 62 laid off and unable to find work and your benefits have expired or are about to expire and you are getting down on cash and elect to take SS are you truly retired? If you supplement with part time work while you look for a job are you truly retired? Isn't retirement the absence of paid employment? Perhaps you are partially retired. My sense is that now a days when an older person says they are retired others wonder if that means out of work. Or when they are working part time others wonder if thats all they can find. However there are things that can jump out and say retired.
I answered yes as I used to work part time 6 hours (10a to 4p) a day, 2 or 3 days (Mon, Wed, Thur) a week at a major retail office supply store. I did it to get out of the house and have an extra $150 a week to blow. I stopped early this year when we moved, but I have been considering maybe trying something part time again but nothing that requires me to be on my feet most of the day thus probably not retail.
I am not the type to sit around the house. I get bored real fast. I like to be up, out, and about. Part time work a few days a weeks plus I play golf a few days a week keeps me occupied.
There is great freedom/fun in working when you can afford to walk away from it any time you desire.
In our current economic climate the concept of retirement has become muddled with out of work and can't find a job. When you are 62 laid off and unable to find work and your benefits have expired or are about to expire and you are getting down on cash and elect to take SS are you truly retired? If you supplement with part time work while you look for a job are you truly retired? Isn't retirement the absence of paid employment? Perhaps you are partially retired. My sense is that now a days when an older person says they are retired others wonder if that means out of work. Or when they are working part time others wonder if thats all they can find. However there are things that can jump out and say retired.
Dunno! Retired/retired quite on purpose and with malice aforethought at age 62.5, two years earlier than planned but the number-crunching worked out and I was done. Have never looked back, never lamented the "loss" of revenue and celebrate my status daily. Could have worked another eight years had I chosen to. Didn't wanna. Don't know if it was dumb luck, wily or inspired. Whatever it was, we're secure and content.
Dunno! Retired/retired quite on purpose and with malice aforethought at age 62.5, two years earlier than planned but the number-crunching worked out and I was done. Have never looked back, never lamented the "loss" of revenue and celebrate my status daily. Could have worked another eight years had I chosen to. Didn't wanna. Don't know if it was dumb luck, wily or inspired. Whatever it was, we're secure and content.
I hear you and we did it at 59 1/2 plus a few months. I have a number of neighbors who are also transplanted and had retired from their jobs. However if they worked at all others told them they were not retired and had a job just like them. As the economy tanked and people lost their jobs I noticed discussions and confused perceptions of people regarding their retirement status and that of others. There were other factors involved but generally I found a different attitude about retirement from the community I came from to where I relocated. I know folks who are not yet 60 lost their job a few years ago and their unemployment benefits have expired and they have no investments etc. After having no luck finding jobs they proclaimed themselves retired. They have money coming in from having land they own being partially leased and their house is paid for. They get help from children but is this really retirement or is it the new retirement?
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) of working with creative nutcases (er, geniuses). So in some respects, I'm a bit lost and restless (I'm always restless, so that's nothing new). The people who find it hardest to retire are people who were highly involved and felt like they were in the thick of things...maybe your parents could tap into their passions from their 20s and get going again. It doesn't have to be paid work. In fact, retirees who don't need pay ought (imo) leave these jobs to others who really need them.
