Arts & Humanities

Retirement

Arts & Humanities

Posted by: CAT17

22nd Jul 2011 09:47pm

Hi I am retired and was wondering what others think of their lives since retiring. I have been retired for nearly 5 years now from teaching and I cant say I miss it as I have managed to fill my "spare time" with other interests. My husband and I did the "grey nomad" thing for quite a few months and saw a fair bit of the western side of this great country of ours. It was fantastic having no schedule or time table, we just wandered about . Made our daughter's home our base and ventured out from there. We headed back east after six months in the west and got as far as Adelaide and because of one thing and another decided to retire back here (which is our original home). We have now been here nearly four years - how time flies. Our two daughters and families live on either side of the country so being in the middle sort of makes sense. It is a nice city to live in and I am now rather settled into life here. Adelaide has changed a lot in the over 30 years since we lived here (we have visited ofcourse - we have family here)but it is home and being here has brought back memories. Since being here I have engrossed myself into a group of volunteers who fundraise for our local library by hosting book launches/celebrations featuring SA authors. Meeting people of a like mind has made my retirement enjoyable. My husband and I would like to do a bt more "wandering" yet and will get back on the road again soon. Maybe go up the centre - I have a sister in Alice. Retirement has its good points but ofcourse as with most things it does have a down side! Getting used to being a "twosome" all day each day can frey the nerves at times, but once you get your own "things" going it all becomes quite pleasant! Its the first tweleve months that are a little tricky!! Enjoy retirement and if you feel like it, please reply.

Comments 16

chookybo
  • 6th Nov 2011 01:09pm

Hi CAT17. Looks like we have even more in common than chooks, books & movies. I have been retired since 2000 and have no regrets. I had a very demanding job and worked long hours. When we retired we moved to be closer to the sea. So we retired and what did we do - built a house on a vacant block (70 acres) we had owned for 20 years. Yes, I mean WE built the house. It took three and a half years and most of that time we lived in a shed.

pietam6
  • 4th Nov 2011 10:56am

after retirement. where did one have time to include a job? There is so much to do, and some much to please yourself in what you do. Your time has come...enjoy! I, too had been on disability for several decades and always felt it was a privilege, not a right. With that, it became my job and responsiblity to improve my health and lifestyle to the best of my ability...in the end it paid off! You have just got to 'go with the flow!'

Anton
  • 2nd Nov 2011 10:32am

I was forced into retirement through disability at age 31 and its not a lot of fun

chookybo
  • 6th Nov 2011 01:17pm
I was forced into retirement through disability at age 31 and its not a lot of fun

For the last couple of years I have been somewhat disabled but it hasn't stopped me - slowed me down considerably yes, but I am still me. I can't do lots of things which I could previously and can't walk long distances or ride a bicycle now. It is very difficult to get in and out of a vehicle but I manage. I often do feel frustrated but refuse to acknowledge defeat. Don't give up. Disability is not fun but don't let it ruin your life.

Ermar
  • 31st Oct 2011 08:31am

i am coming up to 69 and have been retired for just over two years. I find I am busier almost than when I was working.
I think the best way to approach retirement is to scale down the work slightly at sixty then decrease the days of work till 65. I did that and it worked well. On the days I didn't work i did my hobbies and interests. So I joined and art group, a poetry group and learnt Tai Chi. I helped in my church parish doing administration and I developed pottage gardens out the back. I always read and knitted so I had lots to do. By the time I gave up work I had more than enough to occupy me. I also had made a lot of friends outside the people I worked with.
This way of approaching retirement meant I was not faced with what to do nor with being cut off from people. I am single and live alone so I think this approach is especially good for single people.

gnome
  • 21st Aug 2011 04:37pm

I have been retired for some years now and have found that the best way to keep myself sane is to help others less fortunate than myself. There are a many groups out there who need assistance and you will be surprised at what you feel after someone you have helped smiles at you and say's thanks.

CAT17
  • 22nd Aug 2011 01:54pm
Cat, the best people to help first are family and I would imagine that your husband is very appreciative. Just another way is if you are not against the troops overseas, maybe organising small...

Thanks for the suggestiins gnome. I am certainly going to look into them. My time is taken up with my husband's needs but as he is improving I will be able to do more for others. Unfortunately our children and grandchild dont live near us so dont get to spend time with them - mind you than might change soon - so in the mean time will plod on with my lot and look forward to all getting better soon and time to really retire and do more things that interest me.

gnome
  • 22nd Aug 2011 09:52am
Hi gnome, good on you for volunteering to help others. A smile certainly is a wonderful reward. I would like to do volunteer work, but I am busy caring for my husband. I will certainly look into...

Cat, the best people to help first are family and I would imagine that your husband is very appreciative. Just another way is if you are not against the troops overseas, maybe organising small items for care packages, to go to the troops, both male and female. Reading to sight impaired people can also be rewarding. An active mind is a growing mind.

CAT17
  • 21st Aug 2011 11:51pm
I have been retired for some years now and have found that the best way to keep myself sane is to help others less fortunate than myself. There are a many groups out there who need assistance and...

Hi gnome, good on you for volunteering to help others. A smile certainly is a wonderful reward. I would like to do volunteer work, but I am busy caring for my husband. I will certainly look into finding some way of helping others as soon as I can. Mind you my husband is pretty thankful for what I do for him!

CAT17
  • 18th Aug 2011 10:09am

Hi all you happy retired "campers" sounds like life is pretty good so I wish you all Happy Retirement for many many years!

bobdown
  • 18th Aug 2011 10:02am

Hi CAT, i retired in 2005 after 42 years with the one company. I had recently remarried a beautiful lady and we went to Europe and the US as well as a few other places. After two years BIG SURPRISE my wife concieved and we had a boy. It was wonderful i watched my son grow up (with my first marriage i didn`t get to see much growing, because of my work hours). I was too busy trying to set up a good future for my family working 6 days a week and so on. My first wife died 15 years ago, my 2 children married moved interstate and have given me 4 beautiful grandchilren whom i see on a reguler basis. Then came the market crash and i am sure everybody was affected by it, so i have now returned to the workforce ( with the same company bless them) on a part time basis. My point is i found that after 4 years in retirement (apart from watching our beautiful son take his first steps and other things) i really retired too early, i am only 61 and quite fit and healthy and i enjoy combining 4 hour days at work and the rest with my family. So my opinion is think long and hard about retirement age, it can last along time, and also wait a bit longer. Cheers Robert.


bluegirl
  • 17th Aug 2011 10:50pm

Hi Cat, been retired three years now and wish I did it a few years earlier. My husband is still working part-time and my days are full.. Young grandchildren, computer class, reading club, walking group, exercise class, no time to be bored.

kathy77
  • 17th Aug 2011 09:30pm

Hi Cat, well as for myself and my husband we live in Sydney and find while my husband is retired we find many things to do in Sydney not that much in the winter time but in the summer and warmer months we have some of the most fabulous beaches here and I do volunteer work and it makes me feel great to help others I also find that whilst I have a younger son he keeps me very busy.

NSWMoke
  • 17th Aug 2011 08:04pm

Great story but we really can NOT relate. After being married for 41 years without children, our past 11 years of retirement are still kind of like a dream world without jobs! And when we were working, we HAD dream jobs! Neither of us complained about our jobs. They were exceptionally gratifying & rewarding. As is our 'retirement'. It's too great to enjoy constant guilty private giggles ALL THE TIME while putting up a front due to things that are dire & serious all around us! No mortgage, no debts, no health problems & we enjoy each other today as much as we did in 1969! It's really hard to believe we are so fortunate beach side while others are desperately suffering EVERYWHERE!

NSWMoke
  • 18th Aug 2011 10:45am
Hi there NSWMoke! wow are you ever living the dream - enjoy enjoy enjoy - more happy days to you.
Up date on my retirement - my husband's health has improved and so we are off to see our...

Aloha Cat17: "Getting used to being a "twosome" all day..."?
Well, perhaps we should convey our independent TVs have been instrumental in marital bliss for most of the 42 years & all of the past 20! But the beauty of being in love is that all we ever really need is each other! Our 11 years retired included a few road, coach, rail & plane trips to the US, Perth, Goldcoast & Geelong/Anglesea but Port Macquarie is jes fine! There is no downside to our retirement other than poor internet service, inaccurate TV schedules & news of improvements to arrive postmortem!
Good to hear the health is better. Enjoy the 'now' while preparing for the reunion! You are certain to see Christmas with the thought of how fast the season is upon us & October jest another fading dreamlike memory! Ho-Ho-Ho!

CAT17
  • 18th Aug 2011 10:05am
Great story but we really can NOT relate. After being married for 41 years without children, our past 11 years of retirement are still kind of like a dream world without jobs! And when we were...

Hi there NSWMoke! wow are you ever living the dream - enjoy enjoy enjoy - more happy days to you.
Up date on my retirement - my husband's health has improved and so we are off to see our littlest grandson Christened in October! Our 2 girls and their little sons will all be with us for the first time in 5 years. Cant wait!

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