Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,722 posts, read 58,054,000 times
Reputation: 46190
Advertisements
I've been (unexpected / undesired / forcibly) 'retired' for 19 yrs, and have yet to get to my 'planned' retirement. I don't see that opportunity arising in the next 5 yrs, maybe never.
Totally different than planned.
3 yrs ago a medical mistake significantly changed my capabilities.
I still do a lot of variety, but everything is very painful. (And not improving).
I do what I can, and attempt plenty I fail at. (That's been my normal life, nothing has gone as planned).
One step at a time.
Many people are challenged by far more difficult barriers than mine
The math indicates 93% of my yrs have been exhausted on caring for others, or under their control. I squeeze in 'me-time' as possible, but never assured or planned for.
Learning to be grateful. Unfortunately, that's a stretch for me.
Just making it work, as possible.
And accepting the results.
I enjoy what I can and am striving to achieve more. I'm just saying that what you think your retirement will be is a FANTASY while you're still working and haven't yet retired. It's easy to say "I'll do this this and this." I said it, too. Not always so easy to actually do. Something to keep in mind.
And this question was asked of retirees.
I may not be retired, but I am definitely thinking ahead. This question is going to be very different depending on who you ask. Some people thrive when living on a schedule where others dont. Regardless if you are retired or not, the type of person you are dictates how you live.
My in laws have been traveling non stop since retirement, to the point that I think its excessive. They also like 55+ communities and having a very scheduled and detail oriented life style. Their retirement sounds like hell to me and I would be very unhappy, but it works for them.
Plan B for me is get divorced, live alone in a cabin in the woods and be a miserable old man. Ironically, this doesnt sound bad either but neither scenario has a schedule, lol.
Plan B for me is get divorced, live alone in a cabin in the woods and be a miserable old man. Ironically, this doesnt sound bad either but neither scenario has a schedule, lol.
If the cabin is secluded enough, you won't even have to bother with a divorce.
I still get up early, I can't help it after 5-6 hours my body will no longer allow me to go back to sleep. One of the advantage of aging, at least for me, is you don't require as much sleep.
Yeah, that definitely differs from person to person. For me, it’s great that I finally am able to get a good eight hour sleep every night… Sometimes I even get 9 or 10 LOL. I love it.
What happened to those dreams? Did you get sick? Or were your dreams unrealistic? Or were just afraid to take the leap?
Quote:
Originally Posted by otterhere
Sh*t happens.
Yes. And people make impetuous decisions they never anticipated and they themselves later regret.
Some wounds are self-inflicted.
But I suppose that could be in the sheet happens category also.
It is true for all of us....that we can make plans. And plans can change. I think we all understand that.
Certainly, I would not state that just because a plan can change that one should not have a plan. No one has stated that a person shouldn't have one. But I also don't think one always has to be reminded that plans can change. Anyone who has any cogent thought process knows that. It's a given, if you will.
Quote:
Originally Posted by otterhere
Sh*t HAPPENED, which is why my well-laid plans of many years (as Burns put it) went awry.
I'm working on rebuilding, but it's not easy. Another poster has reported that health problems upended her intention to spend hers traveling. Again, sh*t happens.
I'm just saying, don't be too sure or cocky about how great your retirement will be WHEN it happens. It's easy to dream... This question was meant for those ALREADY retired.
1) All the best to you as you rebuild.
I am the OP who started the thread and I an not retired yet. And I exercised the right to answer my own question. And anyone who wants to answer is welcome.
Okay, and you can try to pick up the pieces and make lemonade from lemons, but you'll never have the lemons you dreamed about. That's always a possibility, and one should remain humble when assuming (much less preaching about) what retirement should be.
And "what do you fantasize that your retirement will look like in the distant future when you eventually retire?" is a whole different question from "what is your daily routine as an actual retiree?" which, after all, was the question.
I've been retired over 20 years now and it has not been the same schedule.
Right after retirement we (husband and I) expanded doing pre-retirement activities we enjoyed, tennis, gym, traveling.
20 years later we only travel locally (hate flying), don't go to the gym but walk daily and husband takes Pilates class.
10 years after retirement I volunteered for 7 years with an education-oriented non-profit with other retired women. Really enjoyed it but started to lose interest at the same time my painting avocation (30 years doing it) started getting top awards and I was offered a one-person show at a top gallery.
My retirement schedule keeps changing because I am open to change.
We are both lucky that no serious health crisis (other than Covid) has hurt our choices of what to do.
I think health is the biggest factor in being successfully retired, more important than money.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
