Big changes ahead

[johnniecakes]

So today is the last day of my work life. As of 4:00 I am officially retired after 45 years of employment. I have worked for 3 different companies in that time with my longest tenure being 27 years and the shortest being just under 4. I look forward to the next chapter in my life. Having time available is going to be a big adjustment after averaging 50 hours a week for the last couple of decades. I already have some volunteer things lined up, driving the elderly, counseling men at the crisis pregnancy center, meals on wheels, etc... It seems like once word got out that I was retiring many people became my friend, like when you get a swimming pool or have a pick up truck.

Any advice for those who have already retired on pitfalls to avoid?

[AngryScientist]

congratulations johnny. that's a huge milestone.

i'm nowhere near retirement, but my advice, having seen some of this first hand - is don't over commit yourself and your time. after such a successful, dedicated career, you've earned some downtime, dont feel guilty for sleeping in, taking 2 hours to have breakfast and coffee and falling asleep for a few hours on the porch.

all the volunteer work you've got planned sounds great, but i have seen some pals who get sucked in and wind up with a second unpaid career when the momentum gets your name in the system, then you dont want to disappoint anyone and you wind up working again.

just a thought, enjoy yourself!

can you mention what line of work you were in? 27 years with one company is super impressive. i hope you had a blow-out retirement party!

[rePhil]

Congratulations, welcome to the club. For me one of life's greatest gifts is the gift of time. Enjoy!

[biker72]

I retired at age 60 with almost 40 years with the same company. Rode my bike every day for the next 3 weeks....:eek:

After 3 weeks I decided I really need to be working somewhere. Been working part time ever since. I'm now 80 working at a bike shop.

The key is of course to keep moving. Too many people I used to work with have passed away. Most of them quit doing anything and put on a bunch of weight.

[eddief]

ride more, garden more, read more, try to drink less.

[El Chaba]

I retired at age 60 with almost 40 years with the same company. Rode my bike every day for the next 3 weeks....:eek:

After 3 weeks I decided I really need to be working somewhere. Been working part time ever since. I'm now 80 working at a bike shop.

The key is of course to keep moving. Too many people I used to work with have passed away. Most of them quit doing anything and put on a bunch of weight.

This is what I was thinking....in about 5 years...Thanks for the affirmation!

[Mikej]

Congratulations-

[oldpotatoe]

Well, for me(retired 5 years ago next month at age 62)..not having the go to work 'structure', I found I was busier than before BUT depends on you. My wife and I started nannying a new born and 2 year old(my grandkids), 3 days a week, each day started at 6:30 or so and we went home at 8pm...Days 'off' spent riding and for me, building wheels. What's nice, is if you aren't 'required' to be somewhere, you can do whatever you want..right now, with time off, I'm going to the range and binge watching stuff like 'Narcos(NetFlix)..

But stay active, both physically and mentally. All of us in our sixties, if we are lucky, only have a decade or 2 left on this earth..For ME, family is a big part of life today..2 son's, 2 grandkids, wife and daughter in law. I'm pretty much their home repair guy..I are a swamp cooler Zues!:)

oh, and watch yer $, make sure your heath care plan is set in stone...have some sort of plan when you can't live by yourself any longer.

[johnniecakes]

can you mention what line of work you were in? 27 years with one company is super impressive.

I was the senior controls engineer for a OEM of hose reinforcing machinery. We exported about $30m worth of heavy machinery every year. Surprisingly the vast majority went to China, where I visited 9 times.

[yakstone]

Don't feel guilty about taking time for yourself. Like Angry said, don't over commit.
I hung up my career 2 years ago; 43 years in the same line of work with the last 20 at the same company.
Now I have a part time gig and hit the gym 5 mornings each week. I don't know how I ever found time to work 60 hour weeks for 40 years.
Stay active, eat right and don't over imbibe.

[Tickdoc]

No advice here as I am far far away from any scenario like yours, but congrats and make the most of it!:banana::banana::banana:

[5oakterrace]

Congratulations and may the future be filled with much peace and joy. I have seen a lot of folks retire. Some are quite content to live the free and easy lifestyle - play golf here and there, visit here and there - every day almost a blank slate. Others have plans - trips galore. Others stop working, take it easy for a few weeks and realize "this is not working for me." My suggestion - know yourself. What has brought you fulfillment through the years... My wife and I went to Florida a few years back for a week. She was content to be at the beach. She loved it! I loved it, too, for about 20 minutes. Mind you, from the cold of New England I was really looking forward to this. Then, 20 minutes was my limit. Enough.
We are all different and each of us ends up finding our own way. Be well.

[Ralph]

I retired at age 60 with almost 40 years with the same company. Rode my bike every day for the next 3 weeks....:eek:

After 3 weeks I decided I really need to be working somewhere. Been working part time ever since. I'm now 80 working at a bike shop.

The key is of course to keep moving. Too many people I used to work with have passed away. Most of them quit doing anything and put on a bunch of weight.

Everyone is a little different, but something along these lines.

For me the key is....I'm doing it my way. If I find myself busier than I want to be, I just cut back, no boss to ask. I've stopped doing things that require me to get up at 4 AM, etc.

And like above says....make sure your health insurance is good. As active people on here, most of us are basically healthy.....but as we age, more and more small problems crop up that require medical attention.

[Nooch]

You've just inspired me to play with the amortization schedule on my mortgage to see when the soonest is I could pay it off (after paying off my student loans...) It would be seriously helpful if I could execute what I've mapped out and pay it off when I'm 51...

But more importantly, congrats! Ride lots. Travel. Enjoy your family and your time!

[Dirtdiggler]

Congrats. Please take a picture of your first retired sunrise and post on it here.

Thanks

[merlinmurph]

Think back and try to remember the things you wanted to do, but couldn't because you couldn't take the time. When you only have weekends and a few weeks of vacation, you're limited to what you can do, Now that you have the gift of time, take advantage of it.

Enjoy!

[vqdriver]

Some good words here.
Congrats op. Retirement seems a long way off for me so im envious. Enjoy the life youve earned

[Seramount]

have been retired for 2.5 years...people cautioned me that I'd probably get bored and suggested that I should consider getting a part-time job.

hasn't been the case...I find it very easy to fill my days. get up, shower, make bfast, catch up on news / email, ride 25-40 miles, go to lunch, swim, work in the yard, cocktail hour, dinner, read, watch movies...repeat as necessary.

throw in domestic chores, running errands, house projects, and random things like happy hours, massages, doctor appts, etc. and there's really not much downtime.

traveled to FL twice this year, once for cave diving and then again to crew on a friend's motor yacht that was cruising from TX to NJ.

thought I might resume playing golf after a long lay-off, but it's way too time-consuming. would interfere with too many other things. currently toying with the idea of getting my pilot's license...

my only advice for those contemplating retiring is to do it sooner rather than later. I find that life without the aggravations of office life (pointless meetings, performance reviews, etc etc) is pretty glorious...

[redir]

I was hoping to be retired at 40 but that didn't work out :(

All I do when I am at work all day is think about all the things I'd rather be doing if I didn't have to work. Not that I hate my job, I don't but I will never suffer from lack of things to do that's for sure.

My father retired and after about a month had to go back to work. So he consulted for the US Government for about a year before he finally woke up and said, what the hell am I doing commuting to D.C. every day, I'm retired... And has enjoyed his retirement ever since. He drove an ambulance for several years, does lots of volunteer work but if he wants to chill out and do nothing all day too he's happy to do it.

I guess what I am saying is, get over any temptation to go back to work. You did your time.

[sc53]

Congratulations! I will join the ranks of the retired on Feb. 28 of next year, right after I reach my social security age of 66. I've been a lawyer for 35 years and may keep up my bar membership and law license just in case somebody needs me to do something. Also, Nooch, if you save enough money you don't need to worry about having finished paying off your mortgage. I will still be making a mortgage payment for several more years. Don't let this supposed impediment shape your whole thinking about the future. I hope to be able to continue biking, esp with retired friends who bike just about every day, and to visit friends and siblings in other states without having to worry about using precious leave or other time constraints. I'll have more time to hike with my two Golden Retrievers too; right now doing nature hikes with them competes with doing bike rides with my recreational touring club so I look forward to having as much time as I like for both activities.
Of course, why is the market diving just two months before I am retiring???? So infuriating!

[old_fat_and_slow]

Congratulations!

No first-hand advice because I'm still a few years away.

My first suggestion would be, besides cycling, spend more time on your hobbies. If you don't fish, learn how. You can burn up a lot of time fishing. :)

[PaMtbRider]

Congrats! You must have seen a huge change in technology during your career. Good controls engineers are hard to come by and I am sure you will be missed.

[54ny77]

CONGRATS!

I know quite a few retired folks (family friends) from all walks of the socieconomic/professional spectrum, from blue collar trades to high power executive. Some love it and are busy as all get out in so many ways, including athletically. Some got fat, as in really fat. Lotsa restaurants suddenly available to go to whenever they want and no self-control on the eating & drinking aspect (life's a party). No bueno there. And others are bored and regret not being in the flow, i.e., retiring way too soon. That's somewhat on them though, they could have well gotten back out to consult, mentor, etc., but for whatever reason lacked that extra personal oomph to do so.

Retirement is highly personal. I hope you enjoy yours!

:cool: