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I know there is a whole retirement section here on CD but I wanted see if any San Diego users are retired or at least "semi".
I will be eligible to retire this year, not mandatory though, and I am contemplating it. I will almost be able to match my current lifestyle but may have to cutback a bit. So in essence, the money issue is not a problem.
My quandary is "what the hell do I do all day"? I play golf, but can only play a few times a week before my back gives me problems. I like to fish but would be bored if I fished everyday. I like hiking alone, but the solitude after a while becomes downright lonely. I have a few other hobbies that are frivolous in nature that I enjoy but worry that they would also lose their luster.
Don't get me wrong, I love my wife and family and they love me and the idea of spending more time with them is appealing but too much and I think I may end up driving them crazy.
I have been thinking about some volunteer work but can not think of a cause that would get me excited enough to donate my valuable time. Does anybody do any volunteer work that they enjoy?
I have been thinking about starting some kind of business venture that is far removed from what I do now. This sounds good to me. I like having a purpose and making things happen. Only problem with that is after over 25 years as civil servant my skills are limited to cutting the lawn and cleaning the pool. Is San Diego in need of another pool guy or landscaper (rhetorical)?
I think retirement will provide me with a new found freedom but I also worry that it is a countdown to death.
So in short:
What the hell do I do all day?
Does anybody do any volunteer work?
Has anybody started a business?
I know there is a whole retirement section here on CD but I wanted see if any San Diego users are retired or at least "semi".
I will be eligible to retire this year, not mandatory though, and I am contemplating it. I will almost be able to match my current lifestyle but may have to cutback a bit. So in essence, the money issue is not a problem.
My quandary is "what the hell do I do all day"? I play golf, but can only play a few times a week before my back gives me problems. I like to fish but would be bored if I fished everyday. I like hiking alone, but the solitude after a while becomes downright lonely. I have a few other hobbies that are frivolous in nature that I enjoy but worry that they would also lose their luster.
Don't get me wrong, I love my wife and family and they love me and the idea of spending more time with them is appealing but too much and I think I may end up driving them crazy.
I have been thinking about some volunteer work but can not think of a cause that would get me excited enough to donate my valuable time. Does anybody do any volunteer work that they enjoy?
I have been thinking about starting some kind of business venture that is far removed from what I do now. This sounds good to me. I like having a purpose and making things happen. Only problem with that is after over 25 years as civil servant my skills are limited to cutting the lawn and cleaning the pool. Is San Diego in need of another pool guy or landscaper (rhetorical)?
I think retirement will provide me with a new found freedom but I also worry that it is a countdown to death.
So in short:
What the hell do I do all day? Does anybody do any volunteer work?
Has anybody started a business?
I retired a little over a year ago. We moved from Mission Bay area to Fallbrook to cut expenses. My husband is also retired. We volunteer at Brother Bennos (Soup Kitchen in Oceanside) once a month. I am now running the Women's Ministry at church and we both help out with AWANAS (Kids after school Bible Club) once a week. I have 3 volunteer jobs, no income at all from them and it gives my life meaning and purpose.
My husband also loves the retired/volunteer life style. I think find a passion and then invest your time and talents in that passion. That to me is the key to a successful retirement. Fallbrook seems to be about 50% retired. The ones that are volunteering seem to stay forever young to me. At Brother Bennos after serving food for two hours (we get up at 5:00 a.m. to served breakfast) I might think my back hurts then I look at the volunteer next to my husband who is 85 years old, never misses a shift and is full of joy. I am 54 and my husband is 56, we both retired early took huge pay cuts, our income is less than 50% of what it was (living off of pension and savings), and we love our life and would not trade it for our prior life of high stress jobs.
I know this is different for men than women so included my husband's experience as well.
I retired early last year. I've found that it is important to keep in mind that there is no "right" way to do retirement. Everyone enjoys different activities, and this is your chance to spend your time however you want to spend it.
Although I do volunteer a few days a month, doing work related to what I did before I retired, volunteering is a tiny part of how I spend my time. I've been passionate about photography since I was a teenager, but now I finally have time to pursue it on a deeper level, and I'm enjoying the challenge. Photography can be a lonely pursuit at times, but I've joined two photography meet-up groups and literally can't keep up with all of their events and excursions each week.(By the way, there are a ton of hiking related meet up groups, so you might want to look into that as a possibility See: Hiking Meetups in San Diego - Meetup). I was hesitant about the meet ups at first because I thought I'd be the oldest one in the bunch, but most of the people in the meetups during the week are retired (or semi retired) and it's been fun making new friends who share similar interests. I've also taken some of the classes at the SDSU OSHER Institute (https://www.ces.sdsu.edu/osher) in whatever subjects strike my fancy at the moment, and have also taken a class through UCSD extension. I'll be taking a class three mornings a week at a local community college this semester in anthropology, a subject I've always wished I had time to study back in college. So, I feel very busy and satisfied with life since retiring.
I would be lying to say that there there aren't days here and there when I find myself feeling like the hours are stretching out endlessly. What works for me on those days is having a running "to do" list of projects around the house, as well as a mental list of places to go to get out of the house and into the world -- it may be as simple as going for a walk at Torrey Pines or to one of the museums in Balboa Park or as complicated as jumping in the car and heading out to Borrego for the day. It is wonderful to be able to explore like this at any time, and I've discovered places that I didn't know exist in San Diego County even after living here over 30 years.
I also agree with Happyinca that women may find it a little easier than men. My husband hasn't retired yet, but he is already wondering the same thing as you about how he'll fill his days. He doesn't have many hobbies, but he does enjoy road trips, so I figure we will be doing a lot more day trips to Borrego and beyond. However, I do worry that he'll drive me a little crazy, so I am already working on a "to do" list of projects for his retirement. LOL.
One final thought: neither of my parents had the chance to enjoy retirement. My dad was several years older than my Mom and died suddenly two years after he retired from a heart attack, before my mother could retire. Within two years, my mom became very ill (cancer) and was forced to retire due to health reasons, but her "retirement" was taken up with medical treatments and surgeries; she died two years later. They never did any of the things that they were "saving for retirement."
My parents' experience made me realize that although we like to think the future is endless, it isn't guaranteed for anyone. Whether you're retired or not, today matters. Make the most of it! If you're in good health, decent shape financially, and have your spouse to share it with, retirement is a blessing to be enjoyed and savored. Wake up each day with that attitude, and you'll find ways to make your retirement days satisfying and interesting. Don't feel you have to meet anyone else's expectations about what you "should" be doing with your retirement years -- the "shoulds" end when you quit working!
fresh and salt water fishing
CA has pretty good hunting for about everything, deer, pigs, turkey, ducks, dove, quail you name it
cycling
rock and arrow head hunting
gold mining panning in creeks
bird watching
sailing, SUP or surfing
casinos
off roading mt and desert
camping
museums
I spend a lot of time reloading and shooting
hitting the gym
garage sales and craiglisting for fliparoonies
archery
playing pool in local clubs
this is just the stuff I do and I'm not even retired
fresh and salt water fishing
CA has pretty good hunting for about everything, deer, pigs, turkey, ducks, dove, quail you name it
cycling
rock and arrow head hunting
gold mining panning in creeks
bird watching
sailing, SUP or surfing
casinos
off roading mt and desert
camping
museums
I spend a lot of time reloading and shooting
hitting the gym
garage sales and craiglisting for fliparoonies
archery
playing pool in local clubs
this is just the stuff I do and I'm not even retired
I like AngryTaxpayer's post. It made me think about how when we were kids we had NO problem filling up our days with all sorts of interesting stuff. Somehow, work knocks that excitement out of a lot of us. Retirement is your chance to be a kid again and explore the world each day as it comes. Or, you could be like AngryTaxpayer and do that before you retire.
I like AngryTaxpayer's post. It made me think about how when we were kids we had NO problem filling up our days with all sorts of interesting stuff. Somehow, work knocks that excitement out of a lot of us. Retirement is your chance to be a kid again and explore the world each day as it comes. Or, you could be like AngryTaxpayer and do that before you retire.
I've been retired just over a year. I liked my work, but it didn't define my life.
I have no trouble 'wasting time'. I said to my mom, "I have a ton of things I could do. Eventually I might start doing some of them. Or not."
DH is semi-retired. We like having the freedom to take off with our trailer for several weeks at a time and just go traveling. We also often camp locally for a few days at a time, just to get ourselves outside more.
I do volunteer at libraries a couple of times a week, because it's a place I like to be and it's a way to sneak in extra exercise.
We retired here about 3 yrs ago. Somehow, someway, we fill our time! DH is a car fanatic, so he spends lots of time tinkering on his cars ( whether they need it or not). Car shows are everywhere!
We own a few acres here in Fallbrook, so there is ALWAYS something to do on the property. We love being outdoors....so a little hiking, SUP'ing, off-roading. Our dog is also a Certified Therapy Dog, so I (sometimes DH goes along) volunteer with her. We work with drug abuse and sexual abuse adolescents. LOL...we have actually said at times: " We don't have time for ____" ��
I've been retired just over a year. I liked my work, but it didn't define my life.
I have no trouble 'wasting time'. I said to my mom, "I have a ton of things I could do. Eventually I might start doing some of them. Or not."
DH is semi-retired. We like having the freedom to take off with our trailer for several weeks at a time and just go traveling. We also often camp locally for a few days at a time, just to get ourselves outside more.
I do volunteer at libraries a couple of times a week, because it's a place I like to be and it's a way to sneak in extra exercise.
Good point about work defining your life. My work definitely defines my life and influences my character and decisions I make on and off duty.
A lot of my comments on this forum are tongue in cheek and mostly facetious but in real life I'm kind of uptight and straight laced. I have been in the military and law enforcement for over twenty five years and don't have a lot faith or trust in strangers I meet. I always assume people are lying and find myself questioning rather than engaging in conversation. Just a hazard of the job. But I would like to change that, become more open and gregarious if you will.....I'm not talking about growing out dreadlocks, getting my card and smoking dope all day but some happy medium where I can stop to smell the roses.
If anything I should probably spend some time in therapy, it would probably be the be investment in time and money i have ever made.
Good point about work defining your life. My work definitely defines my life and influences my character and decisions I make on and off duty.
A lot of my comments on this forum are tongue in cheek and mostly facetious but in real life I'm kind of uptight and straight laced. I have been in the military and law enforcement for over twenty five years and don't have a lot faith or trust in strangers I meet. I always assume people are lying and find myself questioning rather than engaging in conversation. Just a hazard of the job. But I would like to change that, become more open and gregarious if you will.....I'm not talking about growing out dreadlocks, getting my card and smoking dope all day but some happy medium where I can stop to smell the roses.
If anything I should probably spend some time in therapy, it would probably be the be investment in time and money i have ever made.
Don't beat yourself up so much, Echo. No one is perfect. Some people are just better at pretending they're perfect.
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