Retirees, what do you do all day?
- Thread starter vraiblonde
- Start date
I hesitate to ask this, but have any of you had existential thoughts on future retirement? I'm really struggling. My husband is looking forward to retirement, and here I am thinking my life will be wasted waiting and doing nothing. For context, I am driven. I have trouble relaxing. I overschedule myself and then get overwhelmed. While he is looking forward to not having to work and to make bullets and go shooting and play video games until the wee hours, I'm afraid I will be terribly bored an unmotivated. I love to travel and read but you can't do that ALL the time. And if I'm not working, I don't see how we will have enough money to travel as much as I'd like. We can't afford that even now. We splurged last year and went on 4 fantastic trips, and I'm still trying to save up enough to get back to where we were before. Without an job, we will have a finite amount of income from retirement. I have lots of things I like to do, but struggle with the WHY? part of it. I mean, I can do my hobbies, start sewing, creating my photos books, but if I don't do any of it, no one cares. I can't seem to get past being needed to get stuff done. Currently work fills that feeling, but what is the point if I'm not needed? I watched my grandmother do the EXACT same routine daily for 40 years and I just can't fathom wondering WHY BOTHER. I dread the thought of retirement. I guess I've spent so much time doing things for others that I just can't see the importance of doing something just for me. I need to work this out in the next few years because I doubt I can keep working forever. I'd love to be looking forward to retirement life.
Don't look at it as losing your worth, but deciding where YOU want your worth to be. If you love what you already do, is there the possibility for part time employment? Can you find something different you love that is part time to supplement retirement income? Do you have skills that are needed on a volunteer basis? Such as working at an animal shelter or a hospice, or a thrift store that supports them. Teaching classes, helping at food kitchens or women's shelters? Gardening at historic estates like Sotterley plantation, helping in a gift shop or museum at a historic site.
I don't like to be idle for too long either, but I'm looking forward to deciding for myself how long is too long, and how to fill the time in a way that I choose, and that I can do more things for less time at each if I choose, or more. To ME, it's more about that freedom to be busier doing different things than not doing anything (or not feeling guilty about having a month of being lazy if I choose).
LightRoasted
If I may ...
For your consideration ...
Ahh, the Nation has already been built. You sure do push socialist ideals; work until death.
Now, if monies were targeted to repairing/rebuilding, in addition to new, infrastructure that benefits the people, (rather than hundreds of billions being sent to foreign countries), more people would be working.
Tell us this; Why would anyone work today, (if they don't need to), for some constantly devalued dollars? And even if they did work, they would be further taxed than they already are because of those extra earnings? So what exactly is the point of working more if one does not need to?
Ahh, the Nation has already been built. You sure do push socialist ideals; work until death.
Now, if monies were targeted to repairing/rebuilding, in addition to new, infrastructure that benefits the people, (rather than hundreds of billions being sent to foreign countries), more people would be working.
Tell us this; Why would anyone work today, (if they don't need to), for some constantly devalued dollars? And even if they did work, they would be further taxed than they already are because of those extra earnings? So what exactly is the point of working more if one does not need to?
Above Written by one of the forums dip-$hit, Commie parasites, sucking off uncle Sam’s teet
I work REAL JOBS for 30 Plus years .... I've for the arthritis to show for it
Military, Plumber, Electrician, Carpenter, Worked on repairing cars, short order cook ... digging in the dirt on the Branch Ave Metro Site in 1996
the past 23 yrs Various IT JOBS including managing an IT Dept in a Fortune 500 Company for 6.5 yrs
Military, Plumber, Electrician, Carpenter, Worked on repairing cars, short order cook ... digging in the dirt on the Branch Ave Metro Site in 1996
the past 23 yrs Various IT JOBS including managing an IT Dept in a Fortune 500 Company for 6.5 yrs
Probably Snapping his carrot to that crap
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On January 6th, 2021, unarmed Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt was shot and killed by deranged Capitol Police officer Michael Byrd during the January 6th Protest. Her family sued for $30 million; they are represented by Tom Fitton’s firm, Judicial Watch. Yesterday, lawyers for the parties informed the court they had reached a settlement in principle and it was being reduced to writing.
Ashli’s mother, Micki Wittehoff, led a nightly protest outside the Washington, D.C., jail for over two years, to keep attention focused on imprisoned protestors. She was arrested several times.
On his first day in office, President Trump pardoned all January 6th protestors. Ten days later, on January 31st, Trump’s interim DOJ Director summarily fired Joe Biden’s January 6th prosecutors effective immediately.
Those unjustly imprisoned deserve compensation. Some public officials who lied and abused their offices need justice. But we are getting there. The nation is slowly healing.
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Most damning jab study yet drops to media silence; Ashli Babbitt case settles; Trump locks in his first 100 days; Florida reins in amendments; Russia 'unexpectedly' rises; EU fumbles for a fight.
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While I still work part-time fixing Minn Kota trolling motors and working on boatyard equipment, yesterday I cut the rusted battery tray out of my Super Beetle project and prepped it for a patch panel. I've got so many interests that there is always an unfinished project or three to work on. Oh, and napping is good, too!
Same. So many projects I'm almost overwhelmed.
Finish the trim in the kitchen, living room and family room.
Install new ceiling lights in the living room.
Put in a junction box to clean up the mess I made in the breaker panel after the sub-panel install.
Put in a window a/c which doesn't fit right an needs custom brackets.
Repair the air bag lift on the flatbed trailer that's leaking.
Finish rebuilding the cupola for the garage.
Today was out getting estimates for the ding in my bumper/fender after backing into a pole.
Grumpy
Well-Known Member
Today was out getting estimates for the ding in my bumper/fender after backing into a pole.
Maybe you shouldn't be driving at your advanced age?
Shots fired!
Aw, comeon.... I've only had to replace that bumper 3..... no.. 4 times since last year.
One task down.
If you need/want a new window a/c, I highly recommend an inverter unit. Absolutely quiet, only hear the fan running. Worst case power use is 600 watts, in ECO mode it's less than 250w, far better than 5000w for the central unit. 12000 BTU. More expensive than a regular a/c, but I think it's worth it. Savings in the electric bill should be pretty good this summer.
Is that something that I should consider?
I dunno...do you need a new a/c?I got this one so I could just cool where I sit most of the time and not the whole house, and draws so little power I can use it with my backup power systems if power goes out.
Not yet, but eventually I will. You have been in my house, right? The big one in the kitchen cools in there, the living room and into the hall. I have one in my bedroom that doesn't even cycle on that often. The upstairs bedrooms have their own. They aren't even on unless I have company staying up there.
I got this one so I could just cool where I sit most of the time and not the whole house, and draws so little power I can use it with my backup power systems if power goes out.
Unless the units are old, loud and not terribly efficient and you want to get something to save some $ on the electric bill, keep the thought in the back of your mind for when you do need one. I'll bet that by the time you need one, the old style units won't be available anyway.