Community Chat

[Bird mama]

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@Kalli wrote:

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@occasionalrain wrote:

The thing about retiring is that the future is nothing but death. One can find rewarding busywork or entertain themselves with travel, crafts, grandchildren...to distract themselves from the closing in inevitable.  What's to look forward to but decline? Where is the joy in that?

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Yikes!

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Indeed 

[Susan in California]

@teainlondon

Your heartfelt post really got me thinking.  Have you considered taking classes

or joining a health club?  I know there are colleges in our area that offer interesting

classes for retired people. 

I was also going to suggest some fun cooking classes.  But it doesn't sound like

that is interesting for you.

A friend told me his wife had been struggling with retirement, so she ended up teaching a few classes in her field at the local junior college.

You are not alone, there are many people who miss their careers.

I am not one of them, but my husband's aunt told me not to retire

because she struggled and missed her career when she retired.

I hope you find something that brings you joy.  Keep us posted, and thank

you for such an honest, heartfelt post.

[Moonchilde]

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@hecate wrote:

I've been retired for 18 months.  I retired early because the job I had was VERY stressful and was affecting my heatlh.  I slept for about 6 months (seriously) after I retired.  But after that period of time I haven't looked back.  Everyday I thank the Universe that after working for 44 years, I'm now able to do whatever I want, whenever I want.  I know time is counting down, but I feel this is a gift for me that allows me to decide my fate rather than have others decide it for me.  It is a wonderful feeling and I truly feel blessed. 

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I too have slept a LOT.  Starting to feel just a little guilty about it...but just a little ;-) I was another 0-dark-30 person.

[KathyPet]

It is a shame that some,people,never develop other interests or friends outside of their work,environment then when they retire or lose their job for some reason they feel cast adrift.  Very sad indeed.

[PamfromCT]

When I retired, my DH was still working.  He liked his job and wanted to continue.  Within two weeks, I kid you not, my Mom became ill.  She eventually ended up in a nursing home, with many hospitalizations.  I devoted myself to her for the next two and one half years, a decision I would never regret.  It was my time to give back to her.

After she passed, I felt such emptiness.  I tried a few volunteer situations, but nothing I felt happy about.  I finally realized that I felt a special affinity for the elderly sick population.  I approached a religious non-profit residential facility serving the elderly.  To make a long story short, I have volunteered for a long time with their skilled nursing residents.  The care there is superb (so different from where my Mom was).  I love spending time with these people.  The staff just does not have the time to visit with residents the way a volunteer does.  Truly, I have never met a resident I don't love.  it did take me a while to deal with deaths, but it was something I managed to learn to deal with.  

Hey, I am not Mother Teresa, but I wish I could go back in time and change my education and career path.  I do also enjoy time at home, no schedule, no dictates.  You are now your own boss.  Take some time to loaf.  When you are ready, get back into the world.  Get a part-time job or explore volunteering.  You may end up like me, loving something you have chosen to do.  The important part is interacting with people, making new friends, and finding something new that gives you purpose.  

Best wishes to you!

[qvcfreak]

You will love it. Being able to go and do what you want is great. Not everyone has that luxury so enjoy it to the fullest. I retired at 51, stayed home a year and got a part time job working 12-18 hours a week. I love it and it gives me a lot of time at home and the 2-3 days that I work I go in late, the earliest 10:15a which still gives me time to sleep in. Congratulations on your next chapter of life!!

[Kalli]

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@PamfromCT wrote:

When I retired, my DH was still working.  He liked his job and wanted to continue.  Within two weeks, I kid you not, my Mom became ill.  She eventually ended up in a nursing home, with many hospitalizations.  I devoted myself to her for the next two and one half years, a decision I would never regret.  It was my time to give back to her.

After she passed, I felt such emptiness.  I tried a few volunteer situations, but nothing I felt happy about.  I finally realized that I felt a special affinity for the elderly sick population.  I approached a religious non-profit residential facility serving the elderly.  To make a long story short, I have volunteered for a long time with their skilled nursing residents.  The care there is superb (so different from where my Mom was).  I love spending time with these people.  The staff just does not have the time to visit with residents the way a volunteer does.  Truly, I have never met a resident I don't love.  it did take me a while to deal with deaths, but it was something I managed to learn to deal with.  

Hey, I am not Mother Teresa, but I wish I could go back in time and change my education and career path.  I do also enjoy time at home, no schedule, no dictates.  You are now your own boss.  Take some time to loaf.  When you are ready, get back into the world.  Get a part-time job or explore volunteering.  You may end up like me, loving something you have chosen to do.  The important part is interacting with people, making new friends, and finding something new that gives you purpose.  

Best wishes to you!

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@PamfromCT, Bless you!  What a wonderful thing to do for elderly folks!  I'm sure they so look forward to your visits!

[conlt]

I am 57 about to be 58 and people ask me all the time "when are you going to retire?". I work hard and enjoy it. I always tell them "when they kick me out but then I want to be a lobbyist" LOL. It is true, I don't want to retire for the very reasons that you have stated. Can you go back part-time to your original work place? Maybe another work place? Good luck, I would get out an find another job if I were you.

[RedTop]

At the end of the year I will have been retired 4 years; and have yet to feel one bit of sadness or regret.   I maintain close contact with my work friends; more often by text or email, but we do meet for lunch several times a year.   

I worked after my husband and I were first married, but the plan was for me to be a stay at home mom.   Life changed that plan, and I had to go back to work when my youngest daughter was 5.   Every job my husband ever had ended with a layoff, but my job was steady and paid well.   16 years of my life was spent working nights, weekends, and holidays; I missed a lot of family time I can't get back, but I did what I had to do.  I gave 27 of the best years of my life to my hospital job.   When my husband became disabled, and his health issues worsened, there was no question of where I needed to be, and it was not in an office.  

The last 2 years I worked, more than 8 members of my hospital family lost their husband; all were my age or older, and all were in the countdown to retirement.   It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear their stories of what they had planned to do in retirement, and see them adjust to being alone.   I was only 57 when I retired, but I knew I wasn't going to let something happen to me, or my husband, and be cheated out of the time together to enjoy what we worked so hard for.   I cherish every day we have together, and my job is just a memory.   

[occasionalrain]

I'm a realist. I see the retired, most are no longer current or vital. I have no desire to join them. Volunteers are not decision makers, not taken seriously, I have no desire to join them. 

I reduced my hours some back when there were massive layoffs so as to allow another to remain employed which gives me more free time. Other than that, I have no plans or desire to retire.