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Of course this depends on your job making almost everything else here irrelevant. I always get the feeling reading things like this that people assume everyone has a low stress and non physical job making retirement undesirable. That's not the reality for millions of people.
I work in the kind of job that can be stressful with long hours sometimes. Fortunately, not most of the time. At this point, it feels like I've gotten so used to it that I wouldn't know what to do if I retired.
I also hear about people who lose their mental acuity and motivation after they retire. That scares me. I don't want that.
I have a colleague who is 95 and he still works full time. I find that inspiring in a way, even though it's unusual.
People who stay busy in retirement don't lose their mental acuity. They do relax and aren't on edge like they were when they were working. Being on edge and ready to hop as needed is more of a nervous system reaction than a sign of mental functioning.
Personally, I'd rather be in a pool listening to Jimmy Buffet then tensely waiting for the next shoe to drop at work.
So much depends on your job and whether or not you really enjoy it or if you are hanging onto it because that is the life that you are used to.
I am several years away from potentially considering retirement.
However, I've started wondering what exactly retirement is about.
I am quite happy with my current home and have no intention of moving anytime soon. I travel a few times a year and have seen most of the bucket list places I wanted to see. I already engage in a number of hobbies including playing and performing music.
I am also very used to the salary and overtime pay I earn from my job.
So, I've been wondering - What am I going to do after I retire? What if I don't want anything to change significantly?
You need to ask yourself which part of the above that you really enjoy or enjoy the MOST. Is it the work, the travel, the music playing, or your other hobbies?
Would you be happier if you could enjoy the more enjoyable parts more often? If so, AND if you are financially secure for the next 30 years or so without working, then I suggest that you devote more time to doing what you enjoy most.
People who stay busy in retirement don't lose their mental acuity. They do relax and aren't on edge like they were when they were working. Being on edge and ready to hop as needed is more of a nervous system reaction than a sign of mental functioning.
Personally, I'd rather be in a pool listening to Jimmy Buffet then tensely waiting for the next shoe to drop at work.
So much depends on your job and whether or not you really enjoy it or if you are hanging onto it because that is the life that you are used to.
Good points: do you want to keep working because you enjoy the life or because you're afraid of what's on the other side?
I work in the kind of job that can be stressful with long hours sometimes. Fortunately, not most of the time. At this point, it feels like I've gotten so used to it that I wouldn't know what to do if I retired.
I also hear about people who lose their mental acuity and motivation after they retire. That scares me. I don't want that.
I have a colleague who is 95 and he still works full time. I find that inspiring in a way, even though it's unusual.
Ahh, now I understand. You actually WANT to retire, but you're afraid of the unknown. In that case, I suggest that you try to ease into retirement by working only 20 to 25 hours per week... with the approval of your employer, of course. If you find this reduced work schedule more enjoyable, then that will help you to ease into retirement with more confidence.
You need to ask yourself which part of the above that you really enjoy or enjoy the MOST. Is it the work, the travel, the music playing, or your other hobbies?
Would you be happier if you could enjoy the more enjoyable parts more often? If so, AND if you are financially secure for the next 30 years or so without working, then I suggest that you devote more time to doing what you enjoy most.
Let's say if I had the resources to quit my current job, then I would focus more or playing music and doing other hobbies.
If I did that, then wouldn't those activities become like jobs in themselves?
When you quit your job, do you actually retire from working and staying busy?
Let's say if I had the resources to quit my current job, then I would focus more or playing music and doing other hobbies.
If I did that, then wouldn't those activities become like jobs in themselves?
When you quit your job, do you actually retire from working and staying busy?
No hobbies aren't like a job unless you turn them into one and over commit yourself in some way.
If a past time isn't working for you, just do less of it. It's not like you have that option at work...well, at least ethically speaking. You can't just say "Eh, I'm sick of this job so I'm just going to stop doing it and see how long my employer keeps paying me for it." But you can absolutely do that with a hobby - just be considerate of the other members of the group, it isn't cool to leave people hanging.
If you enjoy what you're doing and are physically able to keep doing it there's no reason to retire.
True but when it breaks it sometimes is catastrophic or at least intolerable. A new boss or a buy-out/merger or major change in work culture or duties makes retirement look pretty good. If you are going home angry or stressed out every night, it wears on your health and family.
Let's say if I had the resources to quit my current job, then I would focus more or playing music and doing other hobbies.
If I did that, then wouldn't those activities become like jobs in themselves?
When you quit your job, do you actually retire from working and staying busy?
I wouldn't consider them as "jobs" if it were something I enjoyed and could do them or ignore them as I pleased?
Yes, when I retired from working, I stayed busy doing things I enjoyed.
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