Community Chat

[Tissyanne]

I retired early for personal reasons four years ago. I have not ever had any regrets, or ever missed my job. I had a very good job, and it paid well with wonderful benefits. I hope that you enjoy every day of your new future. It will be a whole new world for you. Embrace it, and seize each day.

[Hayfield]

I'm 62 and work only part time and think about quitting often but I know I'd miss it.  I have a very flexible job and they give me time off when I want it, so I decided just to work less and less every year and I've really enjoyed that. 

[Stray]

Retirement is a life event and you are wise to recognize that you have ambivalent feelings.  That's normal if you like your job.  Everyone has differences and no one can tell you if you will be happy or not in retirement.   I retired 2 months short of my 70th bd ....I loved my jobs, both as a nurse and a nurse in a corporate setting who became someone/something very different.  Tho, I closed our department, on the way out, I had job offers which I declined....it was just time....and, it leaves room for younger people to move up; I had my turn

I thought i would have a difficult time....but, I didn't ....you redefine yourself and retirement is what each individual makes of it.  You can use your acquired skills in a different way, enjoy life in terms of time but not the time clock.  I've always worked in stressful situations but I didn't miss that sense of urgency....

think about things you want to do now and start planning; don't worry you will ease into a more casual lifestyle.  Just not wearing high heels was a plus for me!  Maybe you will keep your work friends and maybe you won't but you will meet new people and life just happens!   Many workplaces hire older people and seniors as temps and if you find that you miss work too much, you can get some type of work...it's really easier to work on your own terms..

It will be emotional for the day but I felt like I was just on a vacation at first but the vacation was a long one....then, I just didn't miss the negative things about working and enjoyed the positives of retirement.  Everyone reacts in a different way to life's events and no one person has the same experience as there are too many variables....

good luck! 

[YorkieonmyPillow]

  You could always start something new, like a business from home.

  Take your hobby and turn it into a business, you may be surprised at what happens.

[151949]

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@teainlondon wrote:

I wish I could tell you how happy I am that I am retired, but I am not. I grieve every day for the interaction with colleagues. I found that many who still work distance themselves and I don't have anything in common with them since I am not in the thick of it. I was busy and going and enjoyed the meetings and discussions. Now that is not a part of my life. I don't like to be by myself. It's just my DH and me. He is retired but still works part time. He has a reason to get out of the house and be with people. I am at home alone.

I mourn every day and often am too depressed to do anything. I was never a housewife; I had domestic help that did the cleaning and cooking. Now that's left to me, and I am a lousy housewife.

I would give anything if I could go back to work.

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So - go back to work! See , easy, problem solved.

[151949]

The final 5 years of my career I was no longer physically able to work in ICU so I accepted a job working in dialysis. It was the ultimate worst job I ever had.Horrible Horrible Horrible. By the time I retired I was way more than ready. I couldn't get out the door fast enough. 

Now I belong to a couple clubs and I volunteer at the food bank and I go to the YMCA and swim or exercise depending on the weather. The good part is - if I don't want to go to any of these activities I can come & go as I please.