• secretlife said on May 12, 2008....

  i've been working for the same company for 24 years, and think about retirement a whole lot differently than i thought i would 20 years ago.  it's not so much stopping work, as making a change.  i've worked long enough supporting a family...my next 'career' is going to be something i love......for me.  and if i can make money doing it?  so much the better.
   
  i think if you've got plans, then you'll be fine.

• woman said on May 12, 2008....

  Secretlife Having a second career (that would be something you love doing) sounds perfect if you have the health and the desire. Good luck with your dream. I am fortunate to have had a career I loved. Lots of taking care of people all my life. Now a little time for me. Thanks. Woman

• scipio said on May 13, 2008....

  Happy Retirement. Take care of health. That's the only thing that matters. Rest everything will follow. Good Luck.
   

• woman said on May 13, 2008....

  Scipio Thanks so much. And of course you are right about the health thing. Diabetes makes it a challenge but I plan on staying on top! woman

• soaringraven said on May 13, 2008....

  Having recently retired myself all I can say is:   I don't really know what to say about retirement.  I haven't stopped running at nearly the same speed as my working life speed yet.   Too many events have unfolded in my life since I took my last look at the office and turned it over to my sons. 

  I will say this much.  I don't miss it nearly as much as I thought.   I sleep longer (1:00am to 7:00am as opposed to 12:00am to 5am)    I eat when and where I want and skip meals if I want.   I haven't had on a suit more that a couple dozen times in the last ten months.   Its tee shirts and levi's for me most of the time.

  I haven't done many of the things I dreamed of while working (haven't done any actually)  Circumstances arose which have prevented that thus far.  I shall do some of those thing though, the passing of my wife not withstanding. 

  Recently I have been in meeting with a team of lawyers fighting a battle I thought I would never have to fight.   They get a chuckle everytime I show up at their offices wearing jeans and a tee shirt, topped off with a yankees cap and canvass hightops.  After, for many of them, seeing me only in 'proper' business attire or formal wear at social gatherings for nearly thirty years, the change of attire comes as quite a shock.

  Also I have been spending considerable time with the grand ones.  They have been growing up without much attention from their old grandad for the last few years.  Its time to try to catch up.

  All in all, retirement for me hasn't meant a slowing down for the most part.  Its been more like a change in purpose and direction.  There will be no second career for this old man though, rest assured.

  soaring

   

• Expendable said on May 13, 2008....

  Don't rush but don't waste time on trivia. Make sure you do the things you want to do. A list or calendar helps.

• bluegum said on May 13, 2008....

  in my case i never went to higher education so from age 13 to 60 was my working life ,my life revolved around a timber logging,milling and a cattle property our nearest town was 70 k l m away.kinross and i had talked about selling up and moving back to our original starting out town which we are at now and.when the house buying and shifting was over a few months of lying in and enjoying retirement a dark cloud came over me ,i lost all intrest in my life and surroundings it was the worst part of my life and what stopped me from doing the unthinkable it was not fair too my wife and family. i am fully in charge  again thanks to kinross and family and family doctor,i'm a baby sitter,a cook and bottle washer ,gardener,a renovator of our home the list is endless and life now is great i'v learnt to use a computer a bit got some internet friends ,my belief about retireing is by all means do it, prepare a road map of sorts and a happy and fruitfull retirement.
   
  blue.

• woman said on May 13, 2008....

  Soaringraven What a wonderful response. I love hearing how you have moved from suits to hightops. Are those Converse high tops? (I have a red pair!) So sorry to read of your loss. And so glad to hear you will still follow your dreams. I have 7 grandchildren~from 4 children~and I too am eager to spend more time with them. What a gift they all are. I also want to travel and combine that with my attempt at learning spanish. I like traveling to Guatemala to attend the language schools there. It is a an exciting trip each time I go (such a beautiful country) and now I will be able to spend enough time to actually make progress. I'm with you, no second careers for me either. I don't mind the idea of trying a little of this or that, but no real careers. I'm after adventure and new experiences now, combined with lots of hugs and kisses from those beautiful grandchildren. Keep writing. It's a pleasure to read. Woman

• secretlife said on May 13, 2008....

  lol...i moved from suits to sweatshirts, jeans and in the summertime shorts and flip flops when i started to work from home 12 years ago.
   
  i don't know if i could ever go back to dressing up every day, or even to commuting more than downstairs and into the home office.
   
  i'm sure i'm spoiled.

• woman said on May 13, 2008....

  Expendable Wise words. You are writing the queen of lists and having had diabetes for years, I always have a sense of time rushing past me and a sense of urgency to live NOW. Thanks for your response. Woman

• woman said on May 13, 2008....

  Bluegum~ I appreciated your honesty in sharing your experiences with retirement. It sounds like you have a loving family and that you have moved on from the dark place you visited. I have seen other people struggle at this time in their life and while I don't think I will have a problem, no doubt they didn't either. I do have plans. Hope that's enough. Thanks Woman

• woman said on May 13, 2008....

  Secretlife~ Why yes indeed you are spoiled! You know working from home sounds so inviting. I always wondered if I would be focused enough to make it work. You must be! Woman

• soaringraven said on May 13, 2008....

  Yeah, converse.  They're quite old actually.  I bought them while in grad school shortly after I married the first Mrs. Soaring. I didn't wear them much though because even then I was all about 'proper' business attire.

  They were like new when I dug them out of the closet a few months ago, still in the box.

  soaring

• CreativeWoman said on May 13, 2008....

  I hope you get to kick up your heals and have some fun during your retirement.  I kind of few retirement as a reward for a job well done.  :-)  I work from home dabbling with my writing, farm bookkeeping and Avon.  Retirement is a ways away for me.
  
  CW
  

• woman said on May 14, 2008....

  CW~ Ok. I get it. You are MUCH younger!!!! Well, I am nearing 60. Except for the diabetes, and a better view of the end than I want, I am fine about that. It's really the first part of my life that I can spend on myself. Oh sure I share myself with others but I still have the option to explore my needs and desires. Not a bad place to be. Finally. By the way, I come from a long line of farmers. Hard work. Provides a lot of writing material though and the solitary nature of it lends itself to introspection. Good for writers I think. And CW, I plan on having as much fun as legally possible. As for kicking up my heels. I'll try. They don't kick as high as they used to! Have a good day. Morning reading was 156. Not a bad beginning, though I have read about your 80's. Never been in those numbers in the morning. Without the good fight I would be in the 300's when I rise. Like moving through mud! Woman

• CreativeWoman said on May 14, 2008....

  woman,
  I'm in my forties.  I'm not so much younger.  This morning I was 98 when I got up.  If I have bad dreams before waking it will be higher though.  :-)  I hope you have a wonderful retirement.  It seems we have a lot in common.  I like you already.  :-)
  
  CW
  

• quietone said on May 15, 2008....

  hello woman, I am so looking fwd to retirement.   I have been working since I was 14,  I haven't thought of what I will do to fill my days, other than just enjoying the fact that I won't have to get up to be somewhere, only if I feel like it.

• woman said on Jul 04, 2008....

  I just saw this comment Quietone. And yes, the idea of having more options with my time and having a little more energy is very appealing. I do love my job teaching but for every thing there is a season.

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