Thursday

[susandennis]

I have been retired now exactly 2 years. Retirement was not my idea although it had been in the back of my mind for several years. When my investments grew to where I could live off the proceeds, I started thinking about it. When I got laid off and no other job landed in my lap, it turned kind of ipso facto.

I still do think about going to back to work. I look at job postings. I consider sending in my resume which is still up to date. But haven't, for lots of reasons.  I've considered volunteering here and there and decided against it for lots of reasons.

I'm not sure I'm 100% trained in retirement. My house is clean and tidy. I have one closet that still needs a good day's work done to it but I even the junk drawer in the kitchen is neat and organized. When the laundry basket gets full or kind of full, I do a load. When the load comes out the dryer, it gets folded and put away immediately. I do not put stuff off. I just do it as soon as it occurs to me it needs to be done.

I have many many hours that are totally free and clear with nothing planned, nothing to do. I'm reading way more than before - both words and audio. I watch maybe a little more TV. Since my job was working on the internet, the time I spend there now is about the same but very different in tenor. I have no desire to travel anywhere. Maybe down to Portland or up to Vancouver for a night or two but that's really it.

But I struggle with the basic how to's.  It amuses me how I search for retirement role models. What do other retired people do with their time/their lives - any hints or clues there for how I could do it better? What's better? Am I still working towards a performance review? How the fuck gives performance reviews to retired people anyway??

My entire working life, I never joined the 'when I retire I will do xxx' chorus. I did not have a plan, I never even gave it a thought. So now I have nothing to fall back on. Nothing to finally devote myself to or even to finally try and reject.

I got a flyer the other day in the mail for Community College Passion Classes. I wasn't interested in the art classes or the dancing classes or the photography classes but then I hit a section on retirement classes!! Except, they were all about learning how to manage your finances for retirement.

I do so appreciate that I don't have to worry about the finances. I don't have billionaire cash for willy nilly spending, but I have plenty to keep me in comfort and support my tech gadget addiction. And I'm not touching the principle so presumably, I'll continue to have that 'plenty' for the rest of my life. And, for that, I am exceedingly grateful.

And I'm grateful for a beautiful home and I really am grateful for the freedom of time. I'm grateful for swimming and having such great swimming options.

It does get easier and I get more comfortable but I also think in the back of my mind that after 2 years, I should not have to spend so much time and energy stressing over whether I'm doing it right!

Comments

[shutterbug.livejournal.com]

Two years already?! Craziness.

Personally, I love how you are spending your retirement. It's just like dating - there is no rule book. You are happy. You "get out" nearly everyday to do something you enjoy. You splurge when we want to/can, you enjoy your quiet because that's what you enjoy. You aren't restricted by much of anything.

To me, you definitely model what I think about "when I retire" - happy, pleased, content, free.

[susandennis]

Thank you. Maybe if I can't find a roll model, I can be one. I'm ok with that.

[brigitte lichtenberger-fenz (from livejournal.com)]

You are a very inspiring role model. Happy, pleased, content and free, as shutterbug said. What else could one want? And I'm sure that if you'd long for changes in your lifestyle, you'l make them happen. Whether you want it or not, you're a pretty good role model and I'm happy that I can follow your online life.

[susandennis]

Thank you very much!

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

You're doing what you want, when you want, with no economic constraint within the limit of your interests.

This, to me, is the ultimate in wealth.

[susandennis]

Nicely netted out. And you are right and I agree! Thank you.

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

You're doing exactly what I would do - enjoying the day to day life. You never seem bored, you have daily activities that you enjoy, and you seem perfectly happy. :)

[susandennis]

:)

[andrewducker]

Sounds like it's going very well!

(I've read a bit about being happy in retirement, and the biggest thing, so far as I can tell, is to be involved in your community in some way, and feel like you're making a difference. But this isn't true for all people.)

[susandennis]

I have read that, too and also happiest are those surrounded by friends and family. I think not having any of those elements - community work, friends, family make up part of my Am I Doing It Right concerns. But, like you said... isn't true for all peops. :)

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you have it down perfect. You get to dictate your schedule and needs. You can hang out as you choose, or get busy. To me that is the dream.
My Grandparents and my Great Aunt really knew how to be retired well. They did as they pleased, they had enough economic security, and they enjoyed life their own way. (my great aunt was more about being involved in the community.)
I would go and visit my Grandparents when I was a kid, and they would just hang out. My Grandpa might read a book, they would poke about in the garden, take me somewhere like the zoo, and then it was back home in time for cocktails. (I would get a Shirley Temple.)

[susandennis]

Nice to hear that there are others doing it like me! And, I hit drinking age just minutes before I needed Non-AA for Shirley Temple overload :) To this day, I cannot drink a sugary alcoholic beverage!