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The social contact (or lack of) will be very different. I was in a job where I was in contact with 40-80 employees on a daily basis - and about the same number of "customers" (patients). There's a big void after you're not exposed to that - not sure how to properly deal with that. As a younger retiree, you'll find that people your age are continuing to work while you aren't - so they won't be available for you to do things with - you might have an older social network to interact with once retired.
The social contact (or lack of) will be very different. I was in a job where I was in contact with 40-80 employees on a daily basis - and about the same number of "customers" (patients). There's a big void after you're not exposed to that - not sure how to properly deal with that. As a younger retiree, you'll find that people your age are continuing to work while you aren't - so they won't be available for you to do things with - you might have an older social network to interact with once retired.
So true. I ran medium sized companies. I had 50+ employees plus I was dealing with over 60 subcontract employees on a daily basis. So I was constantly around people. I'd be in business meetings with another 10-20 people each day.
It can be a total culture shock to go from that environment to just sitting home with your significant other. For many people that are "type A" it won't be healthy.
I'd recommend some meet up groups or just think outside of the box a bit. It's not difficult to meet people at the gym, at church, volunteer groups, or even on Citydata! I've met several people on Citydata that I've become very good friends with here in my town.
Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and invite people to coffee or lunch. For example, the guy that sold my car to me, I invited him out to lunch one day to thank him for his help. We became really good friends and even have traveled internationally together on vacations and meet up weekly for lunch.
People your age will probably be working during business hours but you can see them on the weekends or after work for happy hour, etc. Before, I never would have time to do anything during the day. Now it's nice to go to a Home Depot in the middle of the day when it's empty. That's another idea, you can take DIY classes at Home Depot. Even if you are handy you can learn things.
What's I'd recommend if you're type A is you stay a bit active. I don't think the best thing for "type A" personalities is to just sit home and do nothing.
You say you haven't had a vacation for 16 years. Try to transition yourself a bit into retirement by taking a vacation day here and there over the next two years, in all seasons, so you begin to get a taste as to how it feels like to be on your own during the week while your acquaintances and friends are working. Don't spend those days resting, doing household chores, running errands or at your computer. It will help to give you some realistic ideas as to how you might want to spend the first couple of years of retirement.
For many workaholics, feelings of identity, accomplishment, self-worth and status are tied to their jobs. When the job is suddenly gone, it's a shock and they can struggle.
I had a career change into Real estate into my late 40's. It took a few years to get it going but I can in the future work as little or as much as I want.
It's pretty nice having no boss and having my freedoms. Ever thought of a 2nd career like this of something you want to do ?
You'd be in a great location and a great age for this.
I have thought of this...actually I'm psychologist who went I to the corporate world because I was not keen on clinical practice, but have been approached by a concierge medicine group to be their shrink, cash only, probably three days per week. Might be perfect!
Thanks!
I think getting in a routine of some sort will be important. For me it was getting into an exercise regimen routine. My new job was to keep myself healthy - get out and exercise in some fashion (for me: swim, run, bike, tennis, golf), occasionally treadmill and stretch/lift light weights). Make taking care of yourself the number one priority. Being a Type A - this will be very important for you -
Another new job assignment was to manage the BucFan Trust. I made personal finance my new area of expertise. I study, took classes locally (community ed) to strengthen my knowledge on my personal finance and to find ways to keep what I had and to hopefully grow it through safe investments.
Travel: I traveled a lot in Europe while in the military, but never really got a chance to see much of my own country. I started taking regular trips to the major cities I've always wanted to see (DC, Miami, SF, New Orleans, NYC, Boston). Didn't spend a ton to do it.
Volunteer:admittedly, I haven't even broached this yet for myself. There are tons of areas here in Tampa that I can find to volunteer my time, but haven't started yet (I'm a former RN). Might happen later.
I have several hobbies (photo, sports fans (Bucs, Rays, PGA), avid golf/tennis - most of which I developed as a teenager, but neglected during the working years, but now I'm returning to. I did take a few days (as a retirement reward) to attend the David Leadbetter Golf Academy to brush up my game. I'm thinking of doing likewise to the Bollieterri Tennis down at the IMG in Bradenton, FL. If you're inclined, you might want to develop your hobbies by going to the experts to improve your technique.
I started a reading list when I first retired -but haven't even touched that - leaving it for a rainy day or when I'm less active, or if I get injured and I'm tied up to a recliner. So far, not tackling the reading list.
Good luck w/ your retirement.
Thanks for your response.
Thankfully I have been involved in athletics since HS, currently play ice hockey on a women's team, do croc fit etc.
I am a car nut, and your response made me think of something, I have always wanted to take some type of cool driving class....
My suggestion: In addition to responses which you receive in this thread, look for older threads on this topic in the Retirement Forum for additional reading, as the subject you raise (an excellent one) has been beaten to death here. For example, I have posted several times about volunteer work which I find very meaningful and gratifying, but I don't have the time right now to repeat myself.
Yes, ugh, as soon as I posted this I realized I should have done a search.
First you need to get rid of the notion that retirement should be "leisure" or some sort of vacation. Retirement will be everyday for the rest of your life.
I was a super type A and I also had a demanding job and a long daily commute. When I worked I had time for little else. Even on the weekend I spent time just reviving and trying to allow myself the rest I did not get during the week. Fortunately, even though I had no time or energy, I still had lots of interests that I wanted to pursue in retirement. Once I retired I continued life at full speed. I had taken up photography as a serious hobby and I also wanted to travel. Before I retired I had an RV, sold the house and was ready to go. I have spent most of the last two years traveling and photographing the national parks. Also visited relatives. In the past I did fishing, archery, gardening and a bunch of other hobbies. If I ever find the time, I would like to do some of them again. I had also planned on taking adult ed courses. In my area there is a very good Osher Lifelong Learning program with a hundred plus courses and thousands of "students". That would be a great opportunity to meet new people and take up new interests. So far I have not had the time.
I have no idea what to recommend for you. Try this. Make a list of all the things you are interested in. Make a list of things you would like to accomplish. Think about what your life means and what you would like to do with it. Make a list of friends and relatives you want to spend time with and what you might like to do with them. If you cannot come up with a lifetime worth of things to do, then there is no reason for you to retire....or to continue working.
So take that first year of retirement to literally do nothing while exploring what you want to do after.
Enjoy that you don't have work obligations. See what's out there that might interest you.
Nothing saying you have to retire for good and nothing saying you can't take a year or more off to just chill and think about what's next.
And if you need to do something while you do nothing (type A) then you could volunteer in your local school a few days a week.
Thanks, had not even thought of taking the time to chill lol.
You get up in the morning and say, "What do I want to do today?" and go do it.
My husband works on a schedule. He is mowing our grass today because it is Thursday. I am trying my best to never have a schedule but when I worked my schedule was varied too.
I went to water exercises the other day and some of the people in the class asked me if I had been sick because I am pretty much a regular. My answer was "no." I told them that some people can do the same thing day in and day out and some people cannot. I had just gotten out of the rut for a while. I had to go back because I needed the class, but I needed to be out of the class for a while too.
I have a desk calender that I'm constantly putting in activities for the upcoming weeks/months. Today I ran a few miles, hit a few tennis balls w/ my hitting partner, took a nap - then headed for an RV show here in Tampa (thinking about getting one, very premature at this point, though - want to travel the USA). That pretty much killed the day until 4 pm.
I try to emulate my work hours, but instead of working, I'm exercising, playing, seeing sights, or trying to do something constructive.
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I ran medium sized companies. I had 50+ employees plus I was dealing with over 60 subcontract employees on a daily basis. So I was constantly around people. I'd be in business meetings with another 10-20 people each day.
