I sort of “fell into†retirement in April this year. I'd been working part time for a while, but over the last few years my hours had gone from 25 down to 10. So I decided to look for another job, but then my mother passed away leaving me with an inheritance that I could add to the retirement money I had already accumulated – so decision made. I had been planning on retiring in the next 2-3 years anyway, so it was just brought forward a bit.
The first couple of months I became really depressed because I didn't have enough to do. There are only so many cupboards you can clean out and shopping, gardening and housework you can do. I became really overwhelmed by this “what the hell am I going to do with the next 30 years†thing.
So, being someone who can't stand listening to myself complain for too long, I had to push myself out of my comfort zone and join some groups and meet new people. Now my weeks are almost too busy. I met a nice group of ladies at a local coffee group, I've also joined a couple of other groups. I've even found out that I have a knack for acrylic painting, and do a class every week, even though I'd always said I couldn't even draw stick figures. Next month I'm going to be learning how to play mah-jong because I have some friends who really enjoy it. I have now become one of those really annoying retirees who says “I don't know how I had time to go to workâ€.
The only complaint I have now are those people who feel they have a right to judge and make comments about other people's decisions. I'm 56, so I have retired early, and because I look younger than 56, it makes it even worse. So many people have rather indignantly told me "you're too young to retire" or "how can you afford to retire". I wish I could be just as rude and tell them to mind their own f***ing business. So basically I don't tell many people I'm “retired†anymore. I usually just say that I'm taking a break from work for a while. I don't feel that I should have to justify myself, or give them personal details about my inheritance, so if anyone has any ideas of a polite but cutting comment I can come back with to those people I'd appreciate it..lol...
Anyway, after that very rambling post, the one piece of advice I now give to working friends is that planning financially for retirement is only part of the equation. You also have to plan for what you're actually going to do with all that spare time. Most people still need to feel productive and active, and that can be a challenge when you've just spent the last 40 odd years working. Retirement depression is actually a very common ailment (or so Dr Google tells me), so make sure you allow time for the adjustment.
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Topic: Anyone decided to retire and gone through with it? (Read 12344 times)