Just Retired - How has your life changed? (community, social security, depression)

[janetvj]

As of yesterday, I've been officially retired 1 month. Got my first retirement check (actually direct deposit - even better!) on Friday. I was a little curious how close the net pay would be to my estimate, but after deductions for taxes (both the Feds and MD tax retirement income) and health insurance, it was right around what I aniticpated. So far, so good.

So far, I have been able to stay just busy enough that I'm enjoying life. Maybe at some point I'll get bored, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

[rferd]

Today I start my third day of retirement. I am beginning to establish a routine with plenty of free time (not tied to a clock). I have, however, so many things to do to get the house ready for sale and us ready to move, that have not enjoyed the free time to read, watch some good programs in TV (there are some but you have to look for them). It is good, however not to "have to" do anything I do not want to do.

Life is not as sweet as I would like, but hopefully after our move is done, it will be.

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by rferd

Today I start my third day of retirement. I am beginning to establish a routine with plenty of free time (not tied to a clock). I have, however, so many things to do to get the house ready for sale and us ready to move, that have not enjoyed the free time to read, watch some good programs in TV (there are some but you have to look for them). It is good, however not to "have to" do anything I do not want to do.

Life is not as sweet as I would like, but hopefully after our move is done, it will be.

Where are you moving from and to rferd? How is the market in your area? In my case, I was hoping to move from the Baltimore suburbs to the gulf coast of Florida - buy a nice little 2/2 rancher outright, and have much lower utility bills, and probably lower real estate taxes based on the area that I was interested in. No state income tax is also a plus. But I would have to sell my current home in order to buy another, and houses aren't selling right now. In my small development of 53 identical townhomes, 3 have been on the market for the past 6 months, and now my next door neighbor has just listed their's this week. Add in very similar homes in the same general area, and those numbers increase even more. Nothing is selling, and I've watched list prices drop by $30,000 or more. And the prices are very modest to begin with - $199,000 - $209,000 now asking $160,000 to $185,000.

It would definitely give me breathing room in my budget to not have the mortgage payment each month, but I have to stay put for now.

[educator1953]

My husband and I both retired last week after more than 30 years of teaching. We are ABSOLUTELY loving it. I know many people say, "What have you got to get used to? You always had summers off." Not so. During our teaching years, summers were spent at teaching workshops, professional development seminars, etc., and both of us worked different jobs during the summer so we could retire this early in life. (Age 55 for both of us.) You know what I notice? We actually have to MAKE ourselves slow down at meals. We always had to rush eating lunch at school because we only had twenty-five minutes for lunch, and often we had outside duty during that time, too. Now, we can take our time--not just with meals but with everything.

Also, other posters are correct. That feeling that the weight of the world has been lifted is THE BEST!! My husband has gotten to play golf (his passion), and I have been on my morning walk (Ahhh, morning, my favorite time) each day. We are planning our trips and have Alaska to look forward to next summer. All the stress of the education system is gone.

After I finish my morning coffee (husband is already gone to the golf course--I am SO HAPPY he gets to do that now!!), I'm going to putter around the house, run some errands (when I get ready to go out), and go for another short walk. I plan to take a nap this afternoon and work in the flower beds later this evening. Gosh, life is good!! Didn't take me long to get used to this lifestyle.

[sealace]

Quite a bit!! Less stress, house more maintained, but get bored sometimes and betwixt and between. When I walk the dog each morning, I feel like the only one home in the whole neighborhood!! Not a sole around. I could do backflips all the way down the street and no one would know!!! Lol!!!
Sealace

[rferd]

Janetvj,

We are moving from expensive NJ to inexpensive SC. The market where we live seems to be picking up. Not that they are the way it was a couple of years ago but houses are selling. We do not need to make "a killing" on ours as long as we get enough to be able to buy another when we move. We ae in the same situation as you; have to sell before we buy. In fact, we will not move 'till we sell. Are doing some upkeep like taking our the wall paper, painting the whole inside with a neutral color, repairing all the imperfection on the walls and some "face lifting" like changing the front doore, some cabinet doors and hardware, more painting, some landscaping and a new black top. Nothing much but enough to make the house look current. It is not too old; about 25 years but needed some upgrading.

I have lived in the Tampa many, many years ago. The West coast of Florida is nice but hotter than the Eastern part. Hope you do not mind hot weather.

Well enough for now best of luck on you sale.

[rferd]

Educator1953,

I understand your feeling and need to slow down. I am still in "high gear" but I'm beginning to internalize that I can take it easy. The change I like best is being able to have lunch at home and relax for an hour or so; not a nap, I cannot sleep during the daylight hours. I still think of work and how my replacement is doing. He has not called so I am thrilled about the idea that very soon other things will occupy my mind. My wife and I are in the process of making some adjustments; after all, I am now "in her castle". I am sure things will work out fine. I do not golf but have other pastimes that will keep me away from her castle part of the day.

Funny how things turn out. You and your husband are quitting teaching and I am thinking of doing it part time. I always liked to teach but got into industry ($$$) and now that I do not have the economic pressures of raising a family (all children are on their own), I might do what I like; teaching.

I congratulate you both in been able to retire while you are still "young pups". I am sure both of you will enjoy the best things in life as retirees.

Best of luck.

[educator1953]

Originally Posted by rferd

Educator1953,

I understand your feeling and need to slow down. I am still in "high gear" but I'm beginning to internalize that I can take it easy. The change I like best is being able to have lunch at home and relax for an hour or so; not a nap, I cannot sleep during the daylight hours. I still think of work and how my replacement is doing. He has not called so I am thrilled about the idea that very soon other things will occupy my mind. My wife and I are in the process of making some adjustments; after all, I am now "in her castle". I am sure things will work out fine. I do not golf but have other pastimes that will keep me away from her castle part of the day.

Funny how things turn out. You and your husband are quitting teaching and I am thinking of doing it part time. I always liked to teach but got into industry ($$$) and now that I do not have the economic pressures of raising a family (all children are on their own), I might do what I like; teaching.

I congratulate you both in been able to retire while you are still "young pups". I am sure both of you will enjoy the best things in life as retirees.

Best of luck.

Thank you for the kind words, rferd, and good luck to you if you decide to go into the classroom. My husband and I feel that the education system has really changed from when we first started teaching, and that was one of the reasons we decided to retire (along with the fact that our child is on her own and we could financially afford to retire). I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do.

[PrincipalBob]

I retired on June 5 from 32 years in education... 15 as a teacher, 15 as a school administrator. My last 10 I was an elementary school principal. My situation is a bit different because I was on extended sick leave for most of this last year. I began suffering from severe depression last fall, and the doctors said that the job stress was probably causing this... so I have been off since then. Two weeks after I left the job, my blood pressure went down from its usual 140/90 to 110/75! It was that point that I new I'd made the right decision. With some medication, the depression has pretty much gone away.

As the year has gone by, I have had the chance to slowly adjust to being off work. The challenge for me has been to allow myself to slow down, and not hurry as I do things. The great part of it is the extra time I have had to spend with my kids and grandkids. My relationships with my kids are better now than they had been for a long time.

I am looking forward to participating in this forum.

[rferd]

PrincipalBob,

Very happy to hear that things are now under control. I know what you mean by "need to slow down". Starting my second week of retirement, just like you are, I'm still at 75 rpm instead of slowing to 45 rpm (we, old 'farts, know what I am talking about).

My children and grandchildren are away but plan to visit them end of this moth. Looking forward to take them to the Zoo and see their reactions with the animals.

My best to you on your retirement. There is another forum "Retiring this year" that you will find interesting.