What do you do to keep occupied when retired? (moving, community, movies)

[taurus430]

I am approaching early retirement (62), although I've been unemployed since April. I am an active person, but I find it hard sometimes to keep busy after going to work for 40 years. I do cook some, enjoy the internet, walk every day and watch some TV but after an hour or two, I get restless. In a sense, I do miss work. I miss the social part of it, something to keep my mind occupied but not the politics or commute. Somewhere to go.....LOL

I will try to get a part time job but it's hard as some of you know when you're in your late 50's, early 60's. I was wondering how others do it and like being without work. What do you do to keep from getting bored, if you get bored. I do know some people who love doing nothing, but I like to keep my mind occupied.

[deckdoc]

Originally Posted by taurus430

I am approaching early retirement (62), although I've been unemployed since April. I am an active person, but I find it hard sometimes to keep busy after going to work for 40 years. I do cook some, enjoy the internet, walk every day and watch some TV but after an hour or two, I get restless. In a sense, I do miss work. I miss the social part of it, something to keep my mind occupied but not the politics or commute. Somewhere to go.....LOL

I will try to get a part time job but it's hard as some of you know when you're in your late 50's, early 60's. I was wondering how others do it and like being without work. What do you do to keep from getting bored, if you get bored. I do know some people who love doing nothing, but I like to keep my mind occupied.

Where to start~ snowbird to Az~ where I play cards,walk, work out in gym, read paper, do some compuering, shop, cook, stained glass, travel, enjoy the sunshine, model rr,volunteer work, play cards!! read when I got some time left over!

Guess I could keep busy if there were 48 hours in every day!

[beachdiver]

Well, I can't retire just yet, but I am chomping at the bit! I'm looking forward to having time for the things I can't fit in now: more gardening & yard puttering, reading magazines at the library, geneology, cooking, taking some classes, golf...maybe I'll have time to volunteer somewhere too.

[taurus430]

But do you have to "work" at keeping busy as I do? And I am a homebody, I enjoy my home including cooking as I mentioned, gardening, home improvements etc. I guess I just have to get use to it. Yesterday for instance, I ran some errands in the morning, made a pot of soup in the afternoon, and had company for dinner at night. This is a good day. Other days I have to think what I can do, and I do miss being around people as at work.

[rferd]

I understand your concern. I feel the same way. Hopefully I will be retiring April 1st. What I am doing is "easying" into retirement; let me explain. I have listed over 50 different things that I would like to do when I retire. At present I am begining to incorporate some of these activities into my daily routines. For example, I am teaching some Internet courses and MS Office applications at my local library. Tried teachind English as a second language but it did not work out. I am trying to establish a routing for the weekends and have prepared a "Retirement Budget" and meassuring my present expenses agains this budget just to see how it would be when it is for real.

Basically, I am trying to - like I said before - easying into retirement. Doing things that might occupy my body and my mind when I retire from full time work.

Hope it helps.

[StealthRabbit]

there are several threads about this, and it varies with one's interest / activity level.

I have friends who love trying new jobs to learn skills or meet people. (some interesting ones for ex-office people are; auto parts, legal, or medical delivery, airport parking shuttle, school bus driving, construction, tile laying, stone work, finish carpentry)
Volunteer, education, clubs, interests (photography, writing, woodworking, hiking, gambling, gardening...)
travel,
cyber-travel
exercise

I have a 91 yr old friend who is my incentive. He just ordered a whole new MAC system to run his projectors and TVs. He has never run a MAC before, but is really excited about learning. He has many networked devices. He retired at 68, climbed all the Colorado 14,000 peaks AFTER retirement plus quite a few elsewhere. Plenty of hunting, fishing...In his 70's he and 3 other 'old guys' were on an Alaska wilderness fishing float trip and lost their rafts in some rough water had to hike for several days to get to a lake where they found a connection to the outside world...

He is a lot of fun, but tough to keep up with (I'm only slightly over 1/2 his age! )

Always off to Europe or Africa on a camera safari, or visiting friends. Also likes to fly and just helped a neighbor finish a kit airplane. He gave up the motorcycle, but still has a 'hot' car and likes to 'light-em-up' on occasion.

[esselcue]

It's kind of funny...I will be retiring in January and often when I mention this I have folks saying: "Oh, good! Then you can come help us with..." and recite a dozen or more happy things to do to fill the time. I actually plan on moving from my current area but I suspect that wherever I land I will find the same opportunities to stay as busy as I want to be. I am sure anxious to find out...all these years of working for The Man has made me want to throw away my alarm clock, my pantyhose and my lipstick and just follow whatever trail leads me.

[MotleyCrew]

Well now it looks like we will be working to make up what we just lost. LOL

[taurus430]

Thanks so much for your quick responses. It helps to talk about it. I hope to get more.

I forgot to mention, my Dad lives alone in S. Jersey, I go every other week to spend time with him and cook for him. He is going to be 94 and in good health. Maybe later I will volunteer for meals on wheels as he gets meals from them.

[Retired Law 08]

It is a period of adjustment....I retired this year at 49....what I usually do is
excercise..run..the gym...go for walks to stay in shape...try to eat right..
gardening/plant...we have a community garden in my town..lots of fun
you get to plant and meet people...I fish..summer/winter...golf...cook..
go on bus tours to wineries...do wine tastings at wineries...get to see friends and family more...the internet....enjoy movies...help out the community
with upcomming festivals/events...the list goes on. I just thank God everyday
I was able to retire and do not miss work at all....I just enjoy life more...
and appreciate my time here...