Retirement Feels... Strange

Vern1961

Vern1961

Vern1961

Soldato
Joined
29 Mar 2007
Posts
4,723
Location
Swindon UK
Being one of those pesky, self entitled baby boomers with a reasonable occupational pension, I took the plunge and treated myself to early retirement. 41 years on the railway, most of it working shifts, I didn't feel too much guilt about going.

However now Day 2 and it does seem a bit odd. Should have been on early turn yesterday and today so keep thinking I'm late for work, or having a sly sickie or maybe just on "gardening" leave. I'm sure this will pass, but I guess you can't just go from working a fairly rigorous 24/7 shift pattern to, erm, not doing anything and getting paid for it! Well we do have plans both jobs around the house and days out etc. but as I say very strange sensation.

Maybe part of it is that I don't feel or regard myself as "old", indeed my view of retirement has always been the start of the rest of your life, not working till you drop then eking out a few years with ill health before shuffling off the mortal coil.

Any of our other retired members or those who know someone who retired gone through similar?
 
I know my dad was like that for the first few weeks after 40 years of work. He felt like he was on an extended holiday or something.

Then he realised he can play golf 4 days a week, go away for holidays when he wants, DIY, reading etc. Even silly things like having a snooze in the middle of day if he felt like it!

Enjoy - you've worked hard, enjoy the benefits and live life!
 
Use a planner on an electric gadget, or using the old pen and paper, to give some structure to your days/weeks. Otherwise, the novelty of having so much time to yourself can suddenly turn into months going by and you then look back and think what have you actually done to use that free time constructively. There's good reason why so many people work hard for many years, retire and then relatively quickly meet their maker... Not enough interest/hobbies and social interaction to keep them stimulated.

I'm not retired, but spent a number of years feeling like I had no energy to do anything outside work, not to mention living on a tight budget while being overweight and very unfit. My saviour was recreational cycling for the last ~22 months, I've gone from ~30 cycle commuting miles with ~1000 feet of climbing per week to 125-300 miles a week with ~10000+ feet of climbing. The tranquillity of the South Downs hills and the fresh air in nature is amazing, I just wish I'd found it sooner than last summer!
 
IvanDobskey said:
I'd soon get bored sitting around the house all day :p
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Not me :)
I have had my `retirement`planned since i was 13:eek:
Was a bookworm in my teens and would spend 8 hours a day reading
After i started work it had to change a lot .
Nearly retire time /55 here and looking forward to returning to my youth:D
 
Vern1961 said:
Maybe part of it is that I don't feel or regard myself as "old", indeed my view of retirement has always been the start of the rest of your life
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So start acting like it ;)

Enjoy it, do what you've wanted to do. Explore lots of the UK, take up a hobby etc.
 
Look at the positive reasons you chose to take retirement when you did, and turn those motivations into reality and activities. Enjoy it - it is certainly tough enough to reach the point where you're confident enough to retire.
 
RETIREMENT AGE IS THE CORRECT TIME TO PUT AWAY THE NONSENSE OF YOUTH AND SINGLE BLADE.

BECOME YOUR DESTINY. BECOME ... ANIME!

*~ DOUBLE KATANAS IN THE PIZZA AISLE AT TESCO (OR COMPARABLE SUPERMARKET OF YOUR CHOICE, REGIONS VARY, ALWAYS READ THE small print ~*
 
Blackvault said:
Take up model railwaying and pretend your back in work driving the trains :D
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Now that one I like!

Might look doing some voluntary work in due course, just a day or two a week.

The emphasis is definitely going to be on keeping fit and healthy, get a bike rack put on the car so we can take the bikes further afield and do some riding. Read Lord Of The Rings trilogy again, to remind myself of the real story not Peter Jackson's version of it.
 
ANDARIAL said:
Not me :)
I have had my `retirement`planned since i was 13:eek:
Was a bookworm in my teens and would spend 8 hours a day reading
After i started work it had to change a lot .
Nearly retire time /55 here and looking forward to returning to my youth:D
Click to expand...

Ah well I do regard reading as a worthwhile and productive activity, so I could happily sit and read for a few hours a day :)
 
My dad felt the same or at least that he should be doing something more and being an Architect Surveyor his qualies were still up to date and so went back as a consultant ... two weeks later and he said sod this I'm staying retired. Yeah he plays golf 3 days a week now at least.
 
Vern1961 said:
Now that one I like!

Might look doing some voluntary work in due course, just a day or two a week.

The emphasis is definitely going to be on keeping fit and healthy, get a bike rack put on the car so we can take the bikes further afield and do some riding. Read Lord Of The Rings trilogy again, to remind myself of the real story not Peter Jackson's version of it.
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Maybe start to learn piano or another instrument. That will keep you busy too.
 
DIY, my neighbour seems to have done his whole house up 3 times over since he retired. :p

Something to add structure to your day is good but as to how regimented you need to be comes down to your previous working traits (going from being busy busy busy to nothing can be quite a shock).

But yeah enjoy it, you've earned it. I know a few people who retired (one not through choice) and now work part time, either to keep them sane or to top up their income as the retirement pot doesn't always stretch that far.
 
Vern1961 said:
Now that one I like!

Might look doing some voluntary work in due course, just a day or two a week.

The emphasis is definitely going to be on keeping fit and healthy, get a bike rack put on the car so we can take the bikes further afield and do some riding. Read Lord Of The Rings trilogy again, to remind myself of the real story not Peter Jackson's version of it.
Click to expand...

While you're reading it again, why not get out and take some trips to visit some of the locations? New Zealand for example, not Middle Earth*





*If you do happen to find out where this is, please let me know.
 
My neighbour has just retired and she seems busier now than ever.

She had so many tasks she put on to do lists during her time working and never got around to completing them.

She’s almost planned the next 6 months with these task lists.
 
16 replies and not once has anybody said:

Just fap!!!!!!!

or

Visit every letterbox in the neighbourhood

or

Take up amateur pest control and eradicate Queen Wasps

GD, you've failed :(
 
There is so many things to do these days. The list of hobbies is endless!! If i didnt need to go to work 8 hours a day and i had a regular income i would fill my day with enough hobbies to keep me going for the rest of my life 3 times over!! Come on OP, try harder!

The below is a snippet of the list i would start with personally.
  • Project Car
  • Play Computer Games
  • Do the house up
  • Learn new skills
  • Study History
  • Take trips to the countryside
  • Take trips to the city
  • Paint Warhammer Models
  • Build a Workshop
  • Grow something
Basically, just do all those things that you wanted to do when you got home from work but were either too tired or didnt have enough time to get started or done.
 
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