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Nah! You're still an amateur. I'm in my 35th home; my 22nd since I left home lo these many years ago. Hopefully it's the last one but time and aging will tell.
I think I have just beat you: 27 since we got married, but I might be a little off. afterall my brain doesn't work the say it used too...regardless, we have moved a lot, especially the first 25 years or so. Now, we settle down and spend several years in the same place. I think our days of moving have about come to a halt. I can only think of one more move before we go to the fureral home, that might be some type of senior living center if taking care of the house and yard get to be too much. Right now, we aren't even thinking that.
Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
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So far there seems to be basically two kinds of retirees, the folks who regard retirement as a sort of extended ''vacation'' and recreational period, limited only by their budget (and health). While others apparently see it as just another stage of life and a time to ''re-invent'' themselves. Though maybe all that has more to do with their current health & energy level, and how they felt about their prior career and meaningful work to begin with (whether it was something they enjoyed or if was just a 9-5 ''job'').
And naturally folks gotta go with whatever works for them, but probably the part that bothers me most about the ''extended vacation'' approach, is the nagging feeling that all I'm doing is just ''killing time'' (aka, Waiting for the Grim Reaper)!
mateo those are good points but I think they are different ways of the same thing. Each of them are a remaking of the previous life. Taking endless vacations is one way of keeping busy as does changing careers to keep in the meaningful feeling. The health issue determines the level of depth one throws themselves into that remaking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mateo45
So far there seems to be basically two kinds of retirees, the folks who regard retirement as a sort of extended ''vacation'' and recreational period, limited only by their budget (and health). While others apparently see it as just another stage of life and a time to ''re-invent'' themselves. Though maybe all that has more to do with their current health & energy level, and how they felt about their prior career and meaningful work to begin with (whether it was something they enjoyed or if was just a 9-5 ''job'').
And naturally folks gotta go with whatever works for them, but probably the part that bothers me most about the ''extended vacation'' approach, is the nagging feeling that all I'm doing is just ''killing time'' (aka, Waiting for the Grim Reaper)!
My wife and I have been retired 6 years. We have a house and some children and grandchildren nearby. We don't have to work so it doesn't seem logical to do so for us. Volunteering is just work without pay. Seems even less logical to us. What do we do? Well life is a job. You need to cook, clean, take care of the yard, get in some walking to stay limber, shop for groceries. We occasionally go out with friends, go to someone's house or invite them to ours. See the grandkids. There's holidays, birthdays. My wife enjoys watching soap operas and doing puzzles. I enjoy surfing the net, jamming with a friend live over the internet once a week or so and recording our performances. I enjoy reading and responding to forums, reading books, watching youtube videos on conpiracy theories, shopping on line and writing reviews. We both enjoy talking on the phone to friends and relatives. We both try to eat and stay healthy without being fanatical. I like to drink alcohol moderately on a daily basis. I love our dog. I love my wife. What else is there? I don't know. Maybe nothing else is better. What's wrong with what we have now?
From where I sit, there is absolutely nothing wrong with what you have now. And the main proof of that is that you and your wife are satisfied with what you have now. There is no reason for you to seek out volunteer work because you don't feel any "void" to fill, you don't feel like you are at loose ends.
However, I just want to add that for some people (who have been fortunate enough to find something that they find meaningful and rewarding), volunteering can be something they look forward to eagerly, not "just work without pay".
I read aloud once a week to four different fifth grade classes at two different schools, and I run a middle school chess club (grades 6 to 8) at a third school twice a week. The reaction of the young people, their interest and enthusiasm, is its own reward. I am quite aware that this sounds corny and trite, but for me personally it is deeply gratifying, something far more than merely a way to kill some time.
I read excerpts from "Dance on a Volcano: A Teenage Girl in Nazi Germany" by Renata Zerner, a non-fiction memoir, then had the author, now age 85, come speak to the students and answer their questions. Her visit was very exciting for all concerned, and there was real content involved. I have read about a half-dozen other books aloud over the past three years, including "Call of the Wild". I am now reading Ms. Zerner's book again, and several students have shared that they had great-grandfathers in World War II. Since I am a World War II history buff I am able to help them with information relating to their great-grandfathers' service. One boy had a great-grandfather who was a Tuskegee Airman, so I got out a library book on the subject to share with him. Another boy had a great-grandfather who served on the USS Missouri, so I have offered to take him (with at least one of his parents along, of course) to visit the USS Iowa (a sister ship of the Missouri) which is now anchored in Los Angeles Harbor at San Pedro.
I offer my volunteer experience as simply an example of an activity which has proved to be of extraordinary interest to this particular volunteer.
I seem to be an outlier on this question. Had a great career (it just got old near the end of 35 years), reaching financial independence and retiring early. Retirement was novel and fun at first, and I did a lot of new things, but after 1½ years I've begun to feel a little guilty or self-indulgent that I'm not contributing to society while I am still very much able. I don't have any need to return to work for the $, but I'd rather feel more useful. I am thinking more and more about a second career, maybe volunteering but I'd rather be paid something. YMMV
Our evolution occurred when we lived in bands, or small tribes, if you will. The world was full of danger and hardship, and having enough food was not guaranteed. We had to be useful to each other - there was really no choice. Some people made tools, others gathered, others hunted, etc., etc. That is, we are a social species. While there are recluses who prefer their own company almost exclusively, that is the exception, not the rule. We are hard-wired to need human contact, not continuously, but on a fairly regular basis. We need to be needed.
While working, we are needed in our role as breadwinner for ourselves and our families. At the workplace itself, we are presumably needed, otherwise why would they pay us to be there? Then after retirement, we find other ways to be needed. We are perhaps useful to our spouse and/or other family members. It feels good to help an elderly neighbor, for example. Hospitals, libraries, schools, and more need help. Some volunteer work can be deeply gratifying (see my other recent post for an example).
I suppose this post is just a wordy way to say I find your words which I bolded very understandable and very normal.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Escort Rider
.... find meaningful and rewarding), volunteering can be something they look forward to eagerly, not "just work without pay".
I read aloud once a week to four different fifth grade classes at two different schools, ... The reaction of the young people, their interest and enthusiasm, is its own reward. ...
I offer my volunteer experience as simply an example of an activity which has proved to be of extraordinary interest to this particular volunteer.
Great post / explanation of volunteer "rewards" (which OFTEN we may NEVER know while we are volunteers); & thx for your V efforts.
I was raised by my grandparents, so was doing volunteer work for the 'elderly' (and others) since age 5, Thus as we homeschooled our own, we volunteered every week in local public schools, often in reading programs. Realized that MANY of those elementary kids had NEVER had someone sit and read with them, much less a family together (Dad, mom, and our kids). & Excitedly we would work, cry, laugh and enjoy books together. Wow, it made an impression on all. (Both my kids became mentors) & I understood how painful it was for these kids to not be able to read.
Most of my volunteer efforts will not come to GREATness in my lifetime, but I DO desire to always teach others to enjoy learning, and to NEVER consider a mistake as WASTED. (I make PLENTY, still)
Stages of retiring... for me... EACH day is a 'stage'... +/- chalk it up as EXPERIENCE. (and everday I need to remember to GET-OFF THE STAGE!) I have learned MOST from either REALLY old (fun) people, and from the YOUNG that are struggling. SOME with their very life! Watching someone die has proven to be a valuable lesson to me (especially those younger than I). I learn from THEM, and from the responses of those around them. Hospice volunteer is on my bucket list. Maybe that will be my FINAL stage.
Location: On the "Left Coast", somewhere in "the Land of Fruits & Nuts"
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While a lot of it's true, one of the things that bothers me about that list is that it takes the traditional view that retirement is the ''last stage'' of our lives. And perhaps it is for some. But it seems like many things have changed now, ever since the day when reaching your 60's was once official ''geezerhood''. And now there are LOTS of older folks running around these days who are still in great health and with plenty of energy, but now have the knowledge, experience, emotional maturity and the resources to pursue other options they couldn't even consider when they were younger. So my sense is that nowadays the only true ''last stage'' is when your mind and body finally give out!
We're coming-up on 5-years into retirement and have about played all the golf, read all the books, taken all the cruises, engaged in new hobbies, etc ... we care to. We're still enjoying retirement immensely. but, for those of you who have been retired longer, what's next?
We bought an RV and started snow-birding to FL, camping and traveling. We love it and can take our four cats everywhere with us. We're 67 and 68. We're not ready for the rocking chair on the porch while awaiting the Grim Reaper.
While a lot of it's true, one of the things that bothers me about that list is that it takes the traditional view that retirement is the ''last stage'' of our lives. And perhaps it is for some. But it seems like many things have changed now, ever since the day when reaching your 60's was once official ''geezerhood''. And now there are LOTS of older folks running around these days who are still in great health and with plenty of energy, but now have the knowledge, experience, emotional maturity and the resources to pursue other options they couldn't even consider when they were younger. So my sense is that nowadays the only true ''last stage'' is when your mind and body finally give out!
Of course you are correct about 'this not being your grandfather's "sixties". However, at some point, retirement will inevitably leads to the "last stage" of our lives ... sooner for some, than others --
My question, which I thought the list did a fair job of outlining, deals with "When?" or the timing of the sequence (assuming the sequence itself is somewhat accurate). -- I suppose the timing is different for everyone, depending on health, finances, attitude and a host of other things --- but, none of us will escape the 'last stage' ... unless, perhaps, the 'rapture' comes first(?).
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Further thoughts on volunteering
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