Retirement, pros, cons, opinions and advice

[nakneker]

I’m approaching retirement. I’ll always be actively doing something, I’m a contractor by trade and I don’t ever see myself not having a project in motion but having said that I’m looking forward to a lighter work load. If I want to go fishing, call coyotes, look for arrowheads it will be nice to have the freedom to do that when I want to do it.

Many of you are retired, you’re experiencing that stage of life now. So my question is what are the pros and cons of retirement. Many would say there are no cons but I’ve seen people in my own life who were not happy in retirement. I’ve seen others who became stagnant and lost their physical and mental sharpness. I’ve also seen the opposite, many who have flourished and seem to enjoy a high degree of peace and satisfaction.

If you were to give your opinion on the pros and cons of retirement what would you offer, what would you advise.

I know everyone has a different set of circumstances, finances, health, everyone’s path is their own but I’m curious what pointers or advice would you offer?

 

[Big_Daddy]

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement!

I retired at 53 and can say that the biggest downside, if you want to call it that, is that for about 6 months you will need to adjust to not having to be somewhere everyday.

Keeping busy with hobbies, whatever they may be, is the key to adjusting.

Enjoy!!!

 

[jackbrownii]

Congratulations!

I retired in January at 56. The biggest downside I've seen so far is missing people I worked with. I moved from WA to SD, so, I can't just pop into the old work place...

Overall, though: fantastic! Having more time for hobbies is great. A quote I saw that made worlds of sense is: "Have something to retire to, not just retire from."

 

[jackieschmidt]

Probably the biggest negative in any retirement is not having enough money to do what you really want to do.

I am 78, and I still am extremely active in our business, which I am one of the owners. So I guess I can’t relate. The main reason I simply just don’t quit is I enjoy what I do and am well rewarded for doing it.

But, I do have many friends that are retired and enjoy their time, and several do have a certain despair over not being able to do some of the things they want to do because of lack of funds.

 

[nettle]

I have worried about things all my life. I quit worrying about things after I retired and retirement was one of those things.

 

[JMayo]

Losing identity was my biggest issue.
If im not _____ what/ who am i.
My friends are not connected by employment so if i do not contact them and they do not contact me the relationships fade.

I had to work on findings hobbies. I always just worked. Now age & medical are becoming more and more impeding. Another faze to go through i suppose.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I quickly discovered there was no room in my schedule for work after I retired. Be careful of friends that think you need something to do.

 

[Old Navy]

The best part is no schedule. It ruins my day when I have a doctor's appointment, haircut etc. I go to breakfast every morning with several guys I worked with for 30 years.

 

[Rob01]

I retired when I was 51 and no real downside short of missing the guys at work but I moved about 2 months after retiring so just keep in touch other ways than stopping in. I find myself busier now. It’s an adjustment but just another that comes in life.

 

[Lone Hunter]

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement!

I retired at 53 and can say that the biggest downside, if you want to call it that, is that for about 6 months you will need to adjust to not having to be somewhere everyday.

Keeping busy with hobbies, whatever they may be, is the key to adjusting.

Enjoy!!!

This^^^^^^^. I retired at 53 but worked part time on my time. ( meaning when I wanted to work ) . The main key is staying busy whether it’s working for yourself or someone else or just doing what you want when you want. To me the only con is the money is not there like it was when working full time. I haven’t regretted one day of retirement. I can always find something to do.
Edited to add : I’m 65 and am thoroughly enjoying retirement. You can ALWAYS find something to keep you busy and you don’t have to look hard for it either.

 

[Bob3700]

Since retirement, I don’t know how I ever had time to go to work! You don’t realize how many things u don’t do or put off doing because u spend so much time at work. I have discovered that work is a four letter word. Between grandchildren, traveling and hobbies, my weeks go Monday- Friday. One interesting thing, u loose track of what day it is. U also find yourself avoiding going places on the weekends. Too many people out on Saturday n Sunday. Love retirement!

 

[ogre1911]

Retired Feb 2024. Bought a Shot marker, some decent scopes and rifles and NEVER looked back.

I shoot 3 times a week minimum at 600 and 1000. Rest of the time is reloading, mowing an acre of grass and tending to a wife, 30 fruit trees, 2 lunkhead father and son labs (one black, one fox red) and cooking stuff on smokers.

I run out of time doing all that........

Forgot about Flathead fishing

 

[ShootDots]

I love to shoot competitively, and I love fishing even more! When I was a kid, I loved hunting, shooting (not competitively) and fishing! I also played sports. Summer vacation was AWESOME! I was only limited by the few nickels and dimes I had in my pocket.. However, retirement is like summer vacation with $$$ in my pocket not pennies! This is even BETTER than summer vacation from school AND it is all year long! I love it! No downside or "con" that I can see! Only positives!

 

[McGrew]

I retired 3 years ago at 65. Spent my entire career designing and building equipment. I always did all the renovations around the house. Now that I am retired, the wife thinks I am her personal slave. In the past 3 years I have remodeled the kitchen and one bathroom. Both were large time consuming projects. There has been numerous other smaller projects. My advice for anyone looking at retirement? Know your limitations and know when to say “no”. Danny

 

[nettle]

20 acres
6 goats
6 Highland cows
4 horses
2 piggies

 

[troupe]

I have retired after 28 years of dealing with some of the lowest humans know to man. After seeing how the times has changed in LEO, I would not do it again, only if it was only possibly a federal position. No extensively serious injuries reached on my end, Thank God for sure, Amen! My specialty was hands on contact, sometimes non lethal when needed, but mostly hands on. I am proud to say over the 28 years, every case was justified, and never a abuse of the positions or holds, take downs, etc. My thought was if I could not talk you down and I was wearing polyester and had a tin badge that very easily could be seen, my game plan was to hurt you so you would not forget.

I don't miss it, but do miss all of the contacts. The job opened a lot of doors for me in the shooting industry. Have had the opportunity to meet and shoot with some of the US World's Elite Soldiers, and that experience will be cherished for my lifetime. Great friends in the shooting industry that I have roomed and traveled with around the country. Good times for sure.

I have slowed down and don't go to range like I used too. Getting some rifles put together hopefully to change that, may get lucky and get out to go and meet a few of the forum members as well as shoot a ground hog, coyote, or just getting out to see some of the rest of the country. I am lucky because my wife (Best Side Kick) is retired now as well. She is not much of a hunter but loves the outdoors. We try to get things done in a manly order around the house, it is paid for. We don't drink, smoke but do enjoy food.

I still teach some Concealed Carry Classes from time time, not a lot. Would like to find a local to learn some building skills in the precision rifle and the 1911 end of it, Could turn into some fun hobby.

Enjoy your retirement and there will be a day that you are not sure what day it is or what month.

 

[muddy72]

Congratulations on getting to this point!

Retirement and how you go about it or plan for it can look very different for everyone. Me, I'm 47. I retired Sept 30th 2024 after working 26yrs for a auto manufacturer here in the Midwest. Honestly, It was hard! It took a year later than I planned for. I grew up there with a bunch of good people! We were some of the first employees! 3 different trips to HR to finally feel good doing it. I never left somebody to go home to "do what I want". In the end, planning was the key and that's another story.

Pros- Less stress for sure. Help others more often. Enjoy activities you thought you had time for before. See my wife kids EVERY morning. Meet up with the retired crew. You'll have things you didn't realize you dealt with everyday and how they affected you negatively! Those are the real pros!

Cons- Honestly, I took pride in the various positions I had and what I learned from them. Now I don't have a outlet to use some of those abilities but I'm getting there. As was said, the daily conversations with your work family and connections may be missed or your maybe your still close from working together.

Even though I'm younger than most, some things are the same as those who retire later. It didn't take long to feel free from not having to deal with the stress of work and it is something to adjust too. The project list will get short quick so have a plan! It's not as long as you think! I get cabin fever quick!

I can fish for days and hunt when I want, thats always been there. Kids keep me plenty busy too! For me, as a kid I mowed grass and worked on my own equipment. I worked the dairy farms as a teenager and home construction the summers home from college. Skills for life!

I have always wanted to return to some kind of agriculture or equipment related job if the right opportunity came up and after waiting patiently it did. I recently started working for a ag equipment dealership. I oversee equipment inventory and manage the property. The job checks alot of boxes, I fish the pond on the property at lunch, it's close to home, plenty flexible, no stress, small staff, I can use alot of old skills, I'm outside more, good activity, shoot the $$$$ when I want or have a serious conversation with a farmer to help him keep going. There's that pride in your job thing again!

If it gets to be too much I can move on! That's the thing about being retired you can generally create your own schedule as the seasons change and do as you please. Take a little time and give it a good thought. Only you will know when it's time and if it's time. Get away for a few days if you can and see if it feels right. That's what really helped me.

 

[Tommie]

“I’m busier after retirement than I ever was while I was working”
Heard it countless times. Guess I don’t have enough spare time to retire.

 

[Timon]

The thing I enjoyed the most about retirement occurred on my last day of work. I was standing there and it suddenly hit me, I’m never going to work another day in my life! What a great feeling!

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I'm coming up on 30 years and we were planning to go out in January 2026. I/we decided to extend a year. We've prepared for this and even though we can afford it, I had a very hard time wrapping my head around health and medical expenses compared to what I currently have. I'll be 61 in June, and the plan was to roll right into social security after I retired and did my 1k hours (temp time) for the state. Our thought process is to get SS while you can. However, for each additional year I do, I net another $400 a month. But the main reason was to take the pressure off me and allow me to buy my toys for the thing they call varminting! I have a very generous wife, and we made a deal some time ago. All my overtime, holiday pay and shift differential come on my mid-month check, and that all goes straight into the gun fund. So, by extending a year I can pick and choose the gravy OT and relax. I'm grateful for my job and I've earned this

I too am like you; I choose to stay active and look at this being another full-time job. By that I mean, with reloading, load development, rat shooting, coyote hunting, along with my normal duties, this will keep me occupied to the fullest! Oh, did I mention golf? Yup, once I'm all set up, I plan to gulf 3 times a week.

I'll assume your self-employed as you mentioned construction. Count your lucky stars you were disciplined enough to set yourself up for this time sir!!!

The amazing thing though, is there going to pay me to retire!