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1. I missed the camaraderie I had at work
2. The novelty of not working wore off
3. I was bored
4. My mind wasn’t being pushed
5. I didn’t have as much disposable income as I thought
6. The glow just wears off because you get used to it
7. When everyday ended being the same as the day before
8. I didn’t have many friends who had retired
9. The nice weather ended and I had to spend more time indoors
10. I was lonely
11. I just didn’t have enough things to fill my days
12. I didn’t have many hobbies or interests to fill my time
13. I didn’t like being seen as ‘old’
14. I felt redundant
15. Daytime television is awful
16. I put on weight as I wasn’t as active
17. I ended up running around after everyone else i.e. grandchildren and children
18. My partner and I drove each other mad
19. I hated telling people I was retired
20. My partner was still working and I resented that.
The 'camaraderie' I saw at work was forced. When you live inside a steel pipe 7 months a year underwater, you have to get along with your comrades. There is little choice in the matter.
I am often busier now than I was then, but now I do the things I determine to do.
Bored is what bored does.
I challenge myself and I like it.
We planned far ahead for my pension, so our budget is fine.
We are way more active socially now as retirees than ever when I was working.
A person whining they have no hobbies, interests, or social life is in a rut. If you can't decide to be active than might as well end it.
Somehow I can't help but feel that articles like this are a subtle form of brainwashing to keep people from retiring. They are wanting to raise the retirement age higher and higher, so the indoctrination needs to start now with the younger people that "retirement" is a dirty word
I completely agree about camaraderie in the workplace often being forced.
I think people in the study (and article) were referring more to an automatic positioning oneself every day among people and having contact with people daily automatically due to being at work. For many, the automatic contact with people at work (and/or with the public while at work) fulfills a need to be among people and assuages some loneliness - something that doesn't always happen automatically during retirement.
And if one has a job that is working with the public daily or often, even more so.
TOP 20 REASONS RETIREMENT BECOMES A BORE
Missing camaraderie in the workplace was given as the top reason for people not enjoying retirement
1. I missed the camaraderie I had at work
2. The novelty of not working wore off
3. I was bored
4. My mind wasn’t being pushed
5. I didn’t have as much disposable income as I thought
6. The glow just wears off because you get used to it
7. When everyday ended being the same as the day before
8. I didn’t have many friends who had retired
9. The nice weather ended and I had to spend more time indoors
10. I was lonely
11. I just didn’t have enough things to fill my days
12. I didn’t have many hobbies or interests to fill my time
13. I didn’t like being seen as ‘old’
14. I felt redundant
15. Daytime television is awful
16. I put on weight as I wasn’t as active
17. I ended up running around after everyone else i.e. grandchildren and children
18. My partner and I drove each other mad
19. I hated telling people I was retired
20. My partner was still working and I resented that.
Just for starters I have a lifetime's worth of books I would love to read. Meanwhile, so long as my physical state cooperates, I have many chores to take time. These are just basics, I have not even delved into social activities and other things out in the world. My own challenge? By the time I hit my number, there is just so much to cram into a decade or two.
There isn't any comraderie at work anymore. Most people at office jobs are going home based. For me, the women at work are mostly young, married, and raising children--a demographic that I'm not in. I don't feel work offers any social opportunities for me at this point.
TOP 20 REASONS RETIREMENT BECOMES A BORE
Missing camaraderie in the workplace was given as the top reason for people not enjoying retirement
1. I missed the camaraderie I had at work
Not so much. It was nice talking to people but my friends were after work not during.
2. The novelty of not working wore off
That's a novelty I hope will never wear off. It's been six years now.
3. I was bored
I was bored at work. If I get bored in my retirement, I am free to do something about it.
4. My mind wasn’t being pushed
Work was redundant. Not having to work, I can pursue that which isn't.
5. I didn’t have as much disposable income as I thought
True, but I don't need to spend as much either and I get some old geezer perks.
6. The glow just wears off because you get used to it
I am not sure what this means. Get used to waking up when I want? Wearing sweats during the week instead of the weekend? Going grocery shopping during the weekday instead of the weekend with the mad rush of the working people? I still appreciate the freedom.
7. When everyday ended being the same as the day before
That was my work day.
8. I didn’t have many friends who had retired
True but I had enough
9. The nice weather ended and I had to spend more time indoors
Like working 9 to 5 wasn't spending all day indoors? And that doesn't count long hours of over time
10. I was lonely
Nope
11. I just didn’t have enough things to fill my days
I agree that the days are longer in that respect but I manage to fill them. It's not a problem.
12. I didn’t have many hobbies or interests to fill my time
That would be the result of not having any before. Once retired, a person has more opportunity to find some.
13. I didn’t like being seen as ‘old’
That's just silly. I would look "old" whether I was retired or not. I am old.
14. I felt redundant
Nope
15. Daytime television is awful
Then don't watch it. I do sometimes.
16. I put on weight as I wasn’t as active
I have more opportunity to exercise than when I was sitting behind a desk all day
17. I ended up running around after everyone else i.e. grandchildren and children
I don't have any of these so no.
18. My partner and I drove each other mad
I don't have one of these either.
19. I hated telling people I was retired
I love telling people I am retired. They always say "Good for you."
20. My partner was still working and I resented that.
My cat is thrilled to have me around more.
Now some of these things do apply not because I am retired but because I moved to a new city and had to make new friends and find new interests. Retiring may have made it easier because I'm now in an independent senior living complex so there are lots of other retired people and there are lots of things to do. But when I was first retired in my previous city, I did not have any of these problems. Retirement is like anything else in life, what you make of it.
The only thing I miss is the comraderie I had at work. I have found very few people with which I have anything in common, or are anywhere near intelligent enough to carry on anything other than a superficial conversation... in, like, 8 years. But the rest of it? Wouldn't trade it for the world.
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