Thread: What to expect???

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Ok so I know that some of you Guys and Girls <- got to be careful with this one...are retired, so in three weeks I`ll be on vaca for a month and then retired, I guess its the unknown that has got me thinking, after 41 years at the same job and working 11 hours a day ( for a least the last ten years ) 5 and 6 days a week sometimes seven....it will be a big change. Sometimes a little apprehensive about it What to expect...besides being able to work on my stuff 11 hours a day.

It's a big adjustment. I retired almost two years ago (for the second time) and for a while your body clock is telling you that you should be someplace else, working. At least for me it was pretty enjoyable in the beginning but then you can only watch so many TV shows, sleep in so many mornings, play on the computer and work on your projects so much before it gets boring.

I guess some people fall right into it and have enough to do to keep themselves occupied but I kinda miss working. It kept me younger and my skills of being able to communicate with other people a little sharper. I have some nice conversations with our two cats, but they don't talk back much.

BUT.............there are some upsides to it too. I can run errands whenever I want to and if some event comes up that I want to attend I don't have to worry about getting time off. I can also work late at the shop and not have to worry about getting up early for work the next day.

You sound like you also enjoyed your job so it will take you a while to fall into the swing of things, and not feel like you have been put out to pasture. That is a big part of it mentally, overcoming the feeling that you are yesterday's news and over the hill. But if you keep active and find things that you like to do you will start to enjoy most parts of being retired...........at least that is my experience.

Don

Oh, and if you are married or in a relationship, you will start to find you are "underfoot" quite a bit. She has enjoyed the luxury of you being away from home all those hours and now you are going to be right there 24-7. That sometimes takes it toll on a relationship, so you might want to find ways to get out of the house as often as possible.

Married for 37 years same gal, she also enjoys the Hot rod scene, don`t think she would have it any other way, she been working same job for 39 years, will retire in June. I just turned 60....she 56, hope she don`t read this after putting it in print. There are a lot of things we want to see and and do but have never been able to do after raising two kids, putting them thru college, house is paid for, no bills. Kids are both married now, both have homes, no grand kids yet, just a cat....

I've never embraced the notion of "being retired", denial I'm sure. When people say "What do you do for a living." I just respond, "I'm terminally unemployed". Embarasses the wife, and has other benefits. Most of the time when I'm more serious I respond something like, "I'm not retired, I just haven't found anything interesting enough yet."

As Pops states, it takes some adjusting, though I still get up a 5:00 every morning, and probably will as long as I'm able. The thing I've come to realize is not having as much interaction with people......good, bad, interesting, boring, whatever, is important to me. Sure, you can get into social groups at the coffee shop, community center, and so on, but it's not the same. These kind of forums are a partial substitute, but still, not the same. One of the reasons I so look forward to rod runs and SEMA is the sensory overload.

After 10 years of kickin' back (with a few short consulting gigs in there) I took a trip to Minneapolis last week to feel out a teaching opportunity for a corporate level training company. It might be fun to be a road warrior again (what is it they say about fading memories?), and to imagine teaching younger people what the real world is like. Hey I can dream can't I?

The company has approached me to stay on in upper management less hours, but I can`t stay put at a desk...I would go nuts, and not realizing it the amount of knowledge we aquire that is not on paper, the company has had consultants picking my brain for the last month....the level of people coming into the work force are just not of the caliber of years past and for me to move into a corporate office and not be on the floor just would`nt work...I think I would just have more headaches than I do now, having 102 employees I oversee, both men and women, there are a lot of issues and as I call it.. firefighting...that I`d still be responible for but not having direct control over. I do need to Retire.

Bob hit on the head about the interaction with other people. It stimulates the brain and keeps us young. The first time I retired was for almost two years before someone called and offered me a job. In that two years of being off I aged more than I had in the 5 previous years. I felt old and unimportant anymore. When I started working again I felt I was contributing and vital to the company I worked for.

But it sounds like you have a good handle on things you and the Mrs want to do and will have enough catching up on life to keep you happy. Me...........I can't wait to find a job I like again.

Don

Maybe a job at a street rod shop...

I've been retired for 10+ years now and have loved every minute of it. Worked 38+years at the same trade and was burned out on it. After retirement I decided it was time to redo the 34 and am still doing that, these things take time you know. Also took up metal working to help with the redo, mostly machining, and am loving that. That hobby also helps with repairs around the house and all things mechanical and keeps me busy. I guess what I am saying is you will most likely find so many things to do in retirement you won't have enough time to do them all.

Jack.

most of my friends retire and go back to work because they need the rest.
seems the minute they retire they become everyone's chauffeur and errand boy .
i don't think there will be any retirement for me. i do the same thing everyday . i guess retired will mean i stop working on other folks stuff . having my shop here at the farm makes it easier. no commute , don't use much fuel . but i will most likely kick the bucket here in the shop or out in the field. i enjoy what i do and i guess that is retired enough.
enjoy your retirement , you earned it.

Only change I've seen in retired life is that I can be really fussy about who's stuff I agree to work on... I've got two left that belong to customers then unless something really interesting comes along I'm going to just do my own stuff. I do continue to do some chassis setup work for a few of the circle burner guys, mostly just scaling them and some suggestions on springs, shocks, and bars. Best part is, I don't have to do any of it if I don't feel like it or decide it's a good day to just kick back, go fishing, go hang out in someone else's shop for awhile, or whatever else.