For those who are retired. - Page 2

CrazyKittyLvr2 · ‎05-11-2013

@Mom2Dogs DH retired in Jan. of 2011, 4 yrs. before I did. He was never one to sit around so he worked part time for his brother for a while. He was very mechanical so he was everyone's fix-it guy. Everyone single woman and widow had our number. LOL. He brought any parts and fixed their mowers, weed whackers, chain saws etc. He charged what the parts most and would take $10 if they insisted he be paid.

I retired in March of 2015 and he was diagnosed with rectal cancer 5 weeks later. The next year was treatments, tests, surgery etc.

After he recovered he wasn't a ball of fire but we went out occasionallly to eat or to visit my family. He has several siblings in town and he would go visit them them.

For me, after that first year of running to Drs. and hospitals, I was happy to be home and putter. I had a small stroke in Oct. of 2016 and have had both a total hip replacement and a knee replacement.

He passed around in May of 2019 of a non-cancer related event. I am still a home body.

QVCkitty1 · ‎05-23-2015

I believe there are two different kinds of people. Those who need to be busy all of the time, and people like me. 😁 When I worked it seemed like I was always on the go, and never had time to get everything done. I see retirement as freedom and blessed time. Time to take care of the house, experiment with recipes, and read, read and read some more. I love not having a schedule and being able to go where the day takes me, even if it takes me to the couch for a nap. 🌺

" You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts."
Daniel Patrick Moynihan

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

@Mom2Dogs

I totally understand how you feel about retirement, especially since it's your business that yo built. Hubby and are turn 60 in 2021 but we healthy and we love what we do. Hubby is an RN and I am a healthcare analyst. We know the day will come when we do retire but I dread it. You can't shop, eat out, go t movies 5 days a week. Of course, the longer we work, the more comfortable we will be financially when the time comes. That's no small thing. I don't want to be one of those 90 year olds who has outlived her money. We have a 90ish friend who is in that position now. It's funny, I am not a worrier. But this is something I think about.

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

My DH is a retired engineer and he finds so many projects around the house to do. I think he's busier now than when he was working full time...

We have a partial privacy fence that he added next to our patio & garden a few years ago. Now he decided to add another two panels with flower boxes and lattice. We have a screen house that needs screens repaired so he's also working on that.

I usually do my own thing. This afternoon I met up with some girlfriends for outdoor dining and will celebrate another friend's birthday tomorrow. I also have an online Etsy shop. I sell & paint custom signs.

I have no idea what sort of business you have but maybe it's time to find a new passion and try some hobbies...do you like to paint, sew or maybe take an adult class? I discovered an online site that offers courses in all sorts of subjects called "The Great Courses"

The are always places to discover locally right now...if you don't feel up to dining out bring a picnic lunch.

Mom2Dogs · ‎03-09-2010

@chrystaltree wrote:
@Mom2Dogs

I totally understand how you feel about retirement, especially since it's your business that yo built. Hubby and are turn 60 in 2021 but we healthy and we love what we do. Hubby is an RN and I am a healthcare analyst. We know the day will come when we do retire but I dread it. You can't shop, eat out, go t movies 5 days a week. Of course, the longer we work, the more comfortable we will be financially when the time comes. That's no small thing. I don't want to be one of those 90 year olds who has outlived her money. We have a 90ish friend who is in that position now. It's funny, I am not a worrier. But this is something I think about.

@chrystaltree Totally agree with all you said...my biggest fear is 1. retirement. 2 Loss of DH...he is a good deal older than me and as I have said, we worked together all our married life. I do have really good friends but being alone is my #1 fear/concern.

I enjoy being home to putter, work in the yard, read, etc. and by alone, I mean if he should pass be fore me. I know it's something everyone will experience at some point in their life. Like you I am not or have I every been a worrier, execpt for this one issue.

Mom2Dogs · ‎03-09-2010

@haddon9 We dine out a lot! There is something to be said to live in a more urban area...we are in an area where if we want to shop or do something interesting. it's about a hour away. Beause of Covid every single thing that we usually do in the summer was cancelled. Can't wait for next year to get back out there and flea market, hit the art shows, etc.

I have a few hobbies. I like to strip and restain or paint furniture....my favorite thing to do is clean and organize!

I wish my dh was a tad more handy, I could keep him busy doing a few things instead of hiring things to be done.

I just mentioned to him a little painting that needs to be done around our garage. Now that it is not so humid and a bit cooler, he will take care of that project tomorrow.

I'll take a look at that web site you mentioned!

kitty60 · ‎03-13-2010

Wow, sounds familiar. DH and I had a business for 25+ years but when our land was taken by the state we decided to retire. DH was in his 60's and I was only 50. I worked a few more years consulting and then we decided to move to a new state. That kept us busy for a couple of years, we moved ourself that took a year and then we spent a year renovating our house. DH has a large workshop and another barn where he enjoys working on his hobbies. I love to volunteer (something I never had time for in the past) and he also volunteers a bit with me. I also keep busy in the yard spring through fall.

As to free time we may take off as excuse to "Play." We have found some little restaurants we enjoy that take us an hour or so to get to, but why not! Also, grandkids who live an hour away are always an excuse although now they are getting a bit older we are not needed as much. We do not do well planning travel and DH really isn't interested so although we could we don't.

Still, we have trouble just sitting and relaxing as we are so used to being on the go. We feel guilty if we take a day to read or rest. Always something to do if you look for it.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

Hi @Mom2Dogs ,

I retired a couple decades before my wife. How we live as a couple has changed very little because of retirement. One of us always being in the hospital multiple times every year for 14 years was the hard part of my retirement.

After that changed and we have both been retired, and at home, we live like we did prior to being retired. She lives her kind of life and I live mine. Though a lot of our interests are the same, the active parts are not.

She likes to eat out, I don't. When it comes to eating meals, she makes what she wants to eat, my way is much different, and I take care of that myself.

She gets bored, I do not. So she is out and about more, and also gone a lot with her Pet Sitting business. I have everything I need to live my happy life right here in our home, she needs more of the outside world, I don't.

Guess retirement for some may be more complicated with 2 people. Ours is pretty simple, pretty much the same as when working.

hckynut

hckynut(john)

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

I LOVE RETIREMENT! Even tho I retired due to my husbands health as well as my mother's health, I love and enjoy every single day.

It took my husband a long time to be happy with retirement. He is a social person and needs to be around people, which he fulfilled thru his service technician work. He finally made some new friends and they get together 2x a week for coffee, but that will change once the weather changes, since they're meeting outside now.

I have never been that person who needs to be busy doing something every day. I do nothing very well, and enjoy it immensely. I don't want to be on the go; vacations don't interest me and I don't shop. I concentrate on caring for my family, but I also read, work on genealogy, have friends and family I text daily, color, watch tv, and oversee maintenance of a family cemetery, plus cook for my mom. I've got something to do every day, and at no time in my 7 years of retirement have I ever thought, let alone voiced, I'm bored! I'm very happy with my life.

My closest friends from the office kept putting off retirement because they didn't want to be home every day. They thought they were healthy and could just keep working. I lost one this spring, 21 months after she retired. The other has been retired 1 year and suffered a major heart attack this week. They were so concerned about having enough money, and now one is gone, and one is struggling to understand the extent of damage to her heart.