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Old 08-20-2012, 06:43 AM
 
Location: Near a river
16,042 posts, read 21,939,523 times
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Retirement would be much more individually meaningful if we were retiring to something rather than retreating from all responsibility. In Maine towns these past few days I met many retirees, well off and maybe not so well off, who are enjoying their retirement because they are now part time or full time exhibiting artists, artisans, or farmers or who have small enjoyable enterprises like teaching classes, fishing and giving boat rides and tours. I met a couple of park rangers who work summers on the beach and winters working in the outlet stores in Freeport. They are still involved in something that demands focus and gives to others at the same time. A life of pure leisure can get old to many of us. It's nice for those who like it, but can be depressing over time for those who need that giving, involved aspect in their lives.
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Old 08-20-2012, 07:12 AM
 
Location: DFW
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My mother at 76 still does taxes and investments for some of her elderly clients. As I've gotten older much of my real estate work has shifted to helping many retirees sell their homes to downsize or move back closer to the kids.

Luckily retirees still need services and who they gonna trust more than an experienced older person who can relate to their needs and place in life ? So whether you cut hair, do taxes or sell homes there are luckily satisfying service careers that we can throttle back to a slower pace, stay busy and make a little extra cash.

I kind of wish I had a career with a nice pension but there is a lot to be said about being self employed and being able work as little or as much as I want.
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Old 08-20-2012, 08:16 AM
 
Location: Virginia
18,717 posts, read 31,018,324 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rakin View Post
I kind of wish I had a career with a nice pension but there is a lot to be said about being self employed and being able work as little or as much as I want.
That right there is the key to it all. When you're retired, you can do as much or as little as you wish. I just don't relate at all to the attitude that retirement is something to dread because you'll be bored. If you are bored, go out and do something you find interesting. You can do whatever activities you wish. You can even do the sort of activities that someone might pay you for, if you'd like.

Best of all, you're not on an employer's schedule anymore so--as the poster above points out--you're free to do that activity for just a short time if you want, or all day long if you want. And if, for some reason, you truly think life would be more stimulating if you went back to work, you can do that too.

Last edited by Caladium; 08-20-2012 at 08:44 AM..
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Old 08-20-2012, 08:27 AM
 
31,680 posts, read 40,976,802 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newenglandgirl View Post
Retirement would be much more individually meaningful if we were retiring to something rather than retreating from all responsibility. In Maine towns these past few days I met many retirees, well off and maybe not so well off, who are enjoying their retirement because they are now part time or full time exhibiting artists, artisans, or farmers or who have small enjoyable enterprises like teaching classes, fishing and giving boat rides and tours. I met a couple of park rangers who work summers on the beach and winters working in the outlet stores in Freeport. They are still involved in something that demands focus and gives to others at the same time. A life of pure leisure can get old to many of us. It's nice for those who like it, but can be depressing over time for those who need that giving, involved aspect in their lives.
I am still all given out. May recharge that spirit but doesn't seem like anytime to soon.
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Old 08-20-2012, 11:18 AM
 
Location: SW MO
23,593 posts, read 37,398,089 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newenglandgirl View Post
Retirement would be much more individually meaningful if we were retiring to something rather than retreating from all responsibility. In Maine towns these past few days I met many retirees, well off and maybe not so well off, who are enjoying their retirement because they are now part time or full time exhibiting artists, artisans, or farmers or who have small enjoyable enterprises like teaching classes, fishing and giving boat rides and tours. I met a couple of park rangers who work summers on the beach and winters working in the outlet stores in Freeport. They are still involved in something that demands focus and gives to others at the same time. A life of pure leisure can get old to many of us. It's nice for those who like it, but can be depressing over time for those who need that giving, involved aspect in their lives.
Never looked upon it as a retreat. Simply looked upon it as an advance to the rear in terms of working for a living.

I, for one, thoroughly enjoy pure leisure. I made my "mark" politically and legislatively while working, had some milestones and successes no one would ever really be able to associate me with because I preferred to work in the background but millions benefit from them to this day and I'm content.

I believe I've earned my rest from "responsibility" and make no apologies for it.

Knock yourselves out!
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Old 08-20-2012, 11:22 AM
 
Location: Florida -
10,213 posts, read 14,789,658 times
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"Then I read somewhere that people who retire are more likely to die sooner than those who continue to work. The reasons why that might be vary. Maybe because they're not as active anymore so it's easy to get sicker or maybe no purpose, no social contact, etc. "


.... or maybe it's because they are older!
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Old 08-20-2012, 11:45 AM
 
Location: DFW
40,936 posts, read 49,032,812 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Curmudgeon View Post
I believe I've earned my rest from "responsibility" and make no apologies for it.

Knock yourselves out!
No need for appologies. I'm impressed with anyone who's worked hard and saved a little toward the time where they can do what they please. My goal is to be a "Gypsy". I'd love to travel the US, live somewhere for a bit then move on when I'm ready.

What's absolutely stunning today is the people who hit 60 without any savings.
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Old 08-20-2012, 07:55 PM
 
Location: Near a river
16,042 posts, read 21,939,523 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Curmudgeon View Post
Never looked upon it as a retreat. Simply looked upon it as an advance to the rear in terms of working for a living.

I, for one, thoroughly enjoy pure leisure. I made my "mark" politically and legislatively while working, had some milestones and successes no one would ever really be able to associate me with because I preferred to work in the background but millions benefit from them to this day and I'm content.

I believe I've earned my rest from "responsibility" and make no apologies for it.

Knock yourselves out!
As I said, that's cool for those who love it. For those who want or need something more, there's no denying it. They have to find something that fills that need to be involved. I'm one of them. Just got back from doing nothing but sit and enjoy life for four days, it was great, but it was enough.
Attached Thumbnails
Is retirement overrated and work underrated?-p1010034.jpg  

Last edited by RiverBird; 08-20-2012 at 08:06 PM..
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Old 11-14-2013, 06:54 PM
 
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Question Is retirement overrated-well it depends

I retired at age 66 after working over 40 years in healthcare. I thought I would be relaxed and happy with retirement. Unfortunately I had some surgery that left me feeling tired most of the time and although I intended to work until age 70 I just couldn't cope driving in rush hour traffic 5 days a week for 15 miles. In the past several years the traffic has become much worse and whereas in the past you could get onto the freeway from the ramp in about 5 minutes this now takes about 15 if you're lucky. There are many more accidents due to people driving crazy from the frustration of trying to get somewhere in the time it took several years ago. To make matters worse my employer decided to tear up the parking lot and that meant having to drive further to a rented lot and take a shuttle. We were still required to be on time. At lunch the on-campus food is terrible and the lines in the canteen are very long due to lack of staff so I often missed lunch b/c I didn't have time to go off campus and couldn't even get a carry out sandwich on time to get back for my first afternoon client (many times I couldn't go to lunch at all due to AM work that had spilled over into the lunch hour.
The work place was very understaffed and there was no competent replacement provided if an essential person was gone on emergency or sick leave for weeks. In such instances the few remaining staff were supposed to pick up the slack when they were already stretched to the limit. In the 15 years I worked there the documented work load tripled and staff remained the same. We had one support clerk who was paid very poorly and as a result none stayed over their required year when they could apply for a better position. I was the supervisor of the work unit and was never able to get any meaningful support from my supervisor who was over her head also, and new in a position with a high turnover because it was a "no-win, thankless job. Because this is Federal Government the politics and red tape, meetings, etc. were terrible. Many employees were miserable but the pay was so good they wouldn't leave. When I started to observe some of my colleagues, both my age and younger, getting cancer, having serious health problems, and yes, even suicide, I decided I had had enough. I certainly do not regret leaving but am experiencing both anxiety and depression from the boredom of retirement. I have sufficient money to last me for awhile depending on how the market performs and cost of living. I sold my house and bought a condo but still have $1300. /mo HOA & a 15 yr. mortgage and live in an area where the cost of living is expensive. The HOA fee will probably go up in a 30 y/o building. When all expenses are figured I need to be judicious in spending so I have money for the future. I have friends who traveled extensively and are now almost broke and struggling just to find a room in a decent area.
I have never had any hobbies as I spent alot of time with family but that is no longer the case as the grandkids are now too old to want to spend time with me (understandably) and my children and their spouses are working all the time and just trying to maintain their sanity with their schedules and expenses, kids, etc. My daughter suggested that I could watch her kids in the summer but this would require driving in rush hour to get to her house on time everyday, and dealing with a 10, 8 and 7 year old who can never agree on what to do. It really doesn't appeal to me much as most of the time it requires sitting in an unairconditioned house while they are on i-pads playing computer games between complaining about being bored, etc. There are no other children in the neighborhood for them to play with, so play dates are arranged and each one had different friends. Last year I took them to different day camps and picked them up, they are hungry when I arrive and taking three kids out to eat everyday is expensive.
I thought about traveling but it too is expensive and everyone who is interested in going along doesn't have any money.
I walk for several hours about 4-5 days a week in a nice park and when I want to drive will vary the locale, but this is usually alone, and go out to a movie or lunch with a friend occasionally but that doesn't come near "getting a life". Many of my friends still work or live 25 miles or more from me. I also find that I am not able to tolerate walking in the hot sun on a beach for long.
I read alot but that is sedentary and isolating. I have no desire to be a greeter at K mart-or to go to happy hour or casinos. It is during the day I am most bored but b/c I live alone but the evenings are lonely too. I have explored senior center activities but found they were very uninteresting. There is a significant fee involved for many classes which is fine when there is one that interests me, but again most would require commuting in rush hour. Many of the classes involve crafts like jewelry making, pottery, painting and flower arranging but the supplies and tools are expensive just to find out if you like it, and I don't need anymore "stuff" in my condo. When I sold my home I gave away alot of nice pottery, art, etc.
I live in an area where lots of very talented artists also reside and they can't even sell their art b/c people aren't able or willing to pay what it is worth. There are ball room dancing classes and bus trips to museums but truth be told you can only do so much of this after awhile.
It would be great if there were some meaningful social projects where you actually got to know some people and have regular scheduled days to work together so you develop friendships. It doesn't seem like it should be so difficult but in talking to other recently retired folks I am learning they feel the same way. Going out to lunch three times a week doesn't do it. For many professional working women who had children there was never much time for hobbies or much else.
If I had plenty of money to last a lifetime, and help my grandkids with college then maybe there would be more options. I feel like my brain is shriveling up. I also realize this seems quite absurd and it even surprises me how empty the void seems.

Last edited by mavl9946; 11-14-2013 at 07:02 PM.. Reason: spelling error.
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Old 11-14-2013, 07:37 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles area
14,017 posts, read 20,869,471 times
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^^^^^^^^ Congratulations on making such an intelligent and nuanced post as your very first one on City-Data. Given all your personal circumstances, the difficulty of coming up with sufficient interesting and engaging things to do is understandable. Have you looked into volunteer work? The schools often need people, and some of the need goes beyond the envelope-licking type of work. I read aloud to fifth grade classes once a week for 30 minutes per class - total of six classes divided between two different schools. It is an intellectual challenge to find books of the correct level and make them intelligible to the kids; if too much explaining is required the book is too hard for them and won't be fun, but if no explaining is required they aren't being challenged.
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