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Has anyone been able to realize their childhood dream in retirement?
Emphatically YES!
As a child, I grew up on the very low end of the blue collar socioeconomic spectrum in a boondock little town in Pennsylvania. It wasn't a "fun" existence and there was no money for travel and related experiences.
I was (still am) an avid reader and my childhood fascination and intellectual salvation was reading about different cultures, places and especially, ancient history.
Since retiring in 2007, I'm traveling the world several times each year and actually visiting the places and cultures of my early fascination(s). Its a blast!!!
Travel is one of the greatest joys of my life, too ... but I am not retired yet and have managed to do it whenever I can.
At last count I've visited somewhere between 85 to 90 countries worldwide on six continents. Not just short tourist visits either ... for instance I was in India for 3 months on one trip (been there 4 times) and 4 months in Israel on another trip. After my 15th trip to Europe I stopped counting. My goal is to visit about 10 more countries, being 57 I think I just might attain that goal.
i cant play music or or paint with the energy of a young guy. its tai chi instead of fencing. its roller blade instead of unicycle.
as long as i am clear about my limitations, it has been very very enjoyable.
Travel is one of the greatest joys of my life, too ... but I am not retired yet and have managed to do it whenever I can.
At last count I've visited somewhere between 85 to 90 countries worldwide on six continents. Not just short tourist visits either ... for instance I was in India for 3 months on one trip (been there 4 times) and 4 months in Israel on another trip. After my 15th trip to Europe I stopped counting. My goal is to visit about 10 more countries, being 57 I think I just might attain that goal.
Sorry to remind you, but See America First ! remember ? NA has so much to see. I know it might not be " in" to travel by car or RV , but its the first thing we should do, before retirement and after as well.
Sorry to remind you, but See America First ! remember ? NA has so much to see. I know it might not be " in" to travel by car or RV , but its the first thing we should do, before retirement and after as well.
Very good point! I've been working overseas for over 40 years and have seen much of the world, but almost none of my native land. I greatly look forward to places like Yellowstone, Niagra Falls, Yosemite, etc. It will be great!
It's ironic to have seen the Taj Mahal but not the Grand Canyon...
Great posts! Being retired gives us more time to explore options for our own growth and entertainment. The internet provides us with info to do many things economically. For instance, since retirement, I've learned to research alternate ways to travel and have had a great time doing horse treks in foreign countries. I also did Greece on only $50 a day in 2004, renting a small car and camping all over Crete. Oh the adventures!!!! Since life is now a bit dull, I've recently joined the local search and rescue groups and have started taking classes on-line thru FEMA. Who knows what that will lead to but it's nice to be around emergency responder-types: people I can respect and get along with. Retirement is a luxury of time and opportunity.
Great posts! Being retired gives us more time to explore options for our own growth and entertainment. The internet provides us with info to do many things economically. For instance, since retirement, I've learned to research alternate ways to travel and have had a great time doing horse treks in foreign countries. I also did Greece on only $50 a day in 2004, renting a small car and camping all over Crete. Oh the adventures!!!! Since life is now a bit dull, I've recently joined the local search and rescue groups and have started taking classes on-line thru FEMA. Who knows what that will lead to but it's nice to be around emergency responder-types: people I can respect and get along with. Retirement is a luxury of time and opportunity.
it is better to be a slow old small blossom than crash and burn at 30.
when i was young i learned the hard way to keep my art making and money making separate.
when i retired i jumped back on the art train but of course i am now old so cant expect miracles from the senior center adult ed art classes, but i do my best. we adjust our expectations and can have a shot at happiness.
Great posts! Being retired gives us more time to explore options for our own growth and entertainment. The internet provides us with info to do many things economically. For instance, since retirement, I've learned to research alternate ways to travel and have had a great time doing horse treks in foreign countries. I also did Greece on only $50 a day in 2004, renting a small car and camping all over Crete. Oh the adventures!!!! Since life is now a bit dull, I've recently joined the local search and rescue groups and have started taking classes on-line thru FEMA. Who knows what that will lead to but it's nice to be around emergency responder-types: people I can respect and get along with. Retirement is a luxury of time and opportunity.
Retirement also means that our own mortality is catching up to us. Time IS a luxury....and opportunity. Its how you feel in the end that matter most I guess. I just had a friend who died at 92 , never married, yet , spent his whole life searching for new experiences. From his years with the Diplomatic Core, living all over the world, to his Habitat for humanity adventures while in his 80s, he lived a full life, always looking for the next hill to climb.
I have been so busy remodeling my house that I haven't even had time to give it much serious thought. I am coming around to the idea that I will still have to do something. I just don't know what yet. I still need to contribute and have a purpose.
I will probably work and do volunteering as well. Fun things.
I think I'm blossoming. I know my husband is blossoming. Being somewhere warm for the winter has a lot to do with it I think.
I'm looking into volunteer opportunities that involve wildlife here in Florida. That's going to be really fun.
I am learning to relax and not worry about schedules, and try to act like there are no weekends (that's tough.)
Learning that I have plenty of time for exercise, and can actually enjoy it. Can just go for a bike ride down to the water, or through the woods and appreciate what's around me.
We have done some serious travelling before retirement, although we're not in the same league with some of our travel buddies. We managed to spend time in parts of Eastern Europe, the U.K., Portugal, Greece, French Polynesia and Central America; also cities like Rio, Istanbul, New York, London, Amsterdam, Athens, Vilnius, Bordeaux, etc.
We did this with our employment income, balancing vacation time against good salaries.
Now we're balancing restricted income against our travel lust. So we'll be travelling differently, but not sure how. This spring it will be Alaska, on a luxury cruise. Perhaps next fall we'll fly to some European city and just spend a couple of weeks. And do some local driving trips when we get back home to Canada in the summer.
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