Retired - Now What?

[NIGHTHAWK]

After 35 plus years as a Union Steamfitter, I retired the day I was eligible (end of Nov 2025). Talking to my financial planner, he asked “Now what are you going to do?”. My reply was; collect my pension and stay on as a construction manager. “Why he asked?” “Because you can afford to not work”…. I didn’t have a good answer!

I’ve worked since I was 12 years old and most of that was laboring of some sort. I don’t know how not to work. I’m up everyday at 4:30am and enjoy routine. My longtime girlfriend is younger and will likely continue to work for the next 15 years.

I’ve got plenty of things I like to do and have flexibility in my work schedule to include vacations when I want to take them.

I know I want to have a small ranch type property 50 - 200 acres, where I can spend time hunting or fishing from, relaxing, working on it, and have a nice trophy room.

There are several of you on AH that I respect and admire for a lot of reasons. You appear to have nice life balance and I’m certain that is what I’ve striving for. To include: finding or building my dream property and house, traveling to hunt and fish, maintaining my health, spending quality time with friends and family, pursuing old interests and new hobbies, and having “that” balance.

What was/is your retirement experience like? What would you do differently?

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

After 35 plus years as a Union Steamfitter, I retired the day I was eligible (end of Nov 2025). Talking to my financial planner, he asked “Now what are you going to do?”. My reply was; collect my pension and stay on as a construction manager. “Why he asked?” “Because you can afford to not work”…. I didn’t have a good answer!

I’ve worked since I was 12 years old and most of that was laboring of some sort. I don’t know how not to work. I’m up everyday at 4:30am and enjoy routine. My longtime girlfriend is younger and will likely continue to work for the next 15 years.

I’ve got plenty of things I like to do and have flexibility in my work schedule to include vacations when I want to take them.

I know I want to have a small ranch type property 50 - 200 acres, where I can spend time hunting or fishing from, relaxing, working on it, and have a nice trophy room.

There are several of you on AH that I respect and admire for a lot of reasons. You appear to have nice life balance and I’m certain that is what I’ve striving for. To include: finding or building my dream property and house, traveling to hunt and fish, maintaining my health, spending quality time with friends and family, pursuing old interests and new hobbies, and having “that” balance.

What was/is your retirement experience like? What would you do differently?

Congratulations on your retirement!

 

[JimP]

I retired at 55, took a buyout and had a FA invest it for me and never looked back.

While I would like some land to play on I don't want anymore land than I already owned to take care of, my hobbies take care of my spare time. I do enjoy my yard and working around it but now that I am in my 70's I don't enjoy the upkeep as much as I did just a few years ago. So I spend more time just enjoying life by fishing and hunting. Quite often in the summers I get out and try new loads in my hunting rifles getting ready for the fall hunts. But there is always fishing.

Retirement is different for everyone. Just make sure that you keep busy doing things that you enjoy while you can enjoy what you like to do. All it takes is a moment in time to change things to where you will no longer be able to enjoy them.

Congratulations on joining a elite group.

 

[Shootist43]

Nighthawk, I stayed on as a Construction Manager. As such you can pick your jobs, I'm guessing that you are 57 or 58 years old. At that age you will have too much energy to sit around and 'see what happens." Between jobs you can look around for the "right" piece of land. Do you reload by chance?
I find it a wonderful way to keep my brain and hands active.

 

[Red Leg]

I can't tell you how important it is to have something to stay meaningfully busy - that doesn't mean a demanding schedule - but going from a daily pattern to zero is a great way to wake up dead within far too short a span of years. The patch of ground plan is a good one. I have a friend here who sold his company three years ago, lives in a lovely home on with a lawn manicured by a service. Except when hunting, he is miserable and is pretty good at making his family equally so - none of us should want to be that guy.

After three decades as a soldier, I then went into the corporate world for another decade, finally truly retiring in 2014 and buying our place in Texas when I was 62. We have been on our forty acres when not traveling for the subsequent 12 years. Managing just forty acres of which 25 have to be maintained and mowed for pecan harvest is a full time half time job. I can stay about as busy as I care to with mower, tractor, or chainsaw. Then there are books and art and playing on this thing. The occasional hurricane, tornado, ice storm, or flood add periods of extended work as well. The great thing about it, unlike my two previous careers, I don't take any of it to bed with me.

Congrats on reaching this point. An periodic foray as a construction manager sounds perfect.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Nighthawk, I stayed on as a Construction Manager. As such you can pick your jobs, I'm guessing that you are 57 or 58 years old. At that age you will have too much energy to sit around and 'see what happens." Between jobs you can look around for the "right" piece of land. Do you reload by chance?
I find it a wonderful way to keep my brain and hands active.

Turned 55 late last November
I reload
Fish
Belong to a gun club
Exercise
Train/work with our dogs regularly
Go to shooting schools every other year.

My goal is to get some bucket list trips in to
Include more hunting and fishing:

Spain
More Africa
Greenland
Alaska
Canada
Australia
Mexico
Many US States

Intend to get more training for sporting clays
Join a waterfowl club
Get in better shape for Alpine/mountain hunting.

 

[Milo]

Ask yourself, is continuing to work the best possible thing I could do with my time? Of all the other things in the world, is it work?

 

[Surgeon1]

Forty plus years of 100+ hours a week as a surgeon then have my fourth bout of Covid leave me with a
voice that has taken more than a year to recover forced retirement at 70yo. I now have at least a functional voice. So, retirement initially sucked! The future for me is bright in a world that sometimes
isn't so bright (the political world around us). In 11 days, I leave for Uganda, one of my favorite places in the world to hunt. Hunting and fishing, shooting and completing projects that for 50 years of education and surgical practice have been on the back burner is exciting. The hardest part is establishing a new social network and life that medicine was previously the core of. It just takes work!

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I can't tell you how important it is to have something to stay meaningfully busy - that doesn't mean a demanding schedule - but going from a daily pattern to zero is a great way to wake up dead within far too short a span of years. The patch of ground plan is a good one. I have a friend here who sold his company three years ago, lives in a lovely home on with a lawn manicured by a service. Except when hunting, he is miserable and is pretty good at making his family equally so - none of us should want to be that guy.

After three decades as a soldier, I then went into the corporate world for another decade, finally truly retiring in 2014 and buying our place in Texas when I was 62. We have been on our forty acres when not traveling for the subsequent 12 years. Managing just forty acres of which 25 have to be maintained and mowed for pecan harvest is a full time half time job. I can stay about as busy as I care to with mower, tractor, or chainsaw. Then there are books and art and playing on this thing. The occasional hurricane, tornado, ice storm, or flood add periods of extended work as well. The great thing about it, unlike my two previous careers, I don't take any of it to bed with me.

Congrats on reaching this point. An periodic foray as a construction manager sounds perfect.

Very nice. I appreciate your effort and lifestyle…

I spent a few summers on my great aunt and uncles small walnut and almond orchard in Northern Ca on Cache Creek. That was a great life experience.

 

[PARA45]

Congratulations on your retirement.

I served in the military for 34+ years and then as a GS employee doing the same thing while I was in uniform. I was petrified of pulling the plug and retire. Fortunately, I was becoming a dinosaur and my leadership style was not quite on par with the new military. So, I pulled the trigger before the job killed me, and retired at 62 years old.

I stay busy by doing things around the house, and mowing our 1 acre lot. I also got into woodworking, and have done some projects and have given them to friends who retire from the service. I don’t charge anything because I don’t want it to feel like another job.

My wife (my biggest fan) and I bought a little piece of land (26 acres) and we’ve been busy working on the mobile home that came with the land. Also, working with the upkeep (mowing) of the three acres around the mobile home. Also, maintaining the deer feeders is keep me busy. I go there at least 3 times a week, I’m sure I will be busy in the summer

Also, hunting, reloading, shooting and social life keeps me busy.

So, don’t force it, find things to do that you like, and of course don’t cost too much to do. Find a happy medium between the things you do and enjoy life. You worked hard all your life, enjoy what’s ahead.

 

[JimP]

One thing that I should add if you are going back to work, make sure that it is the type of job or that you have the option of calling in the night before and telling them that you are not going to be there for a week or two.

I have a couple of friends who went back to work once they were retired and they can't do that, the job is dependent on them showing up and putting in for vacation just like it was before they retired.

 

[PARA45]

Some of the projects I’ve worked on. And one of the most relaxing and rewarding things I do. I hope I didn’t come a cross as bragging or about me. I’m just trying to give you ideas.

 

[Tanks]

There are several of you on AH that I respect and admire for a lot of reasons. You appear to have nice life balance and I’m certain that is what I’ve striving for. To include: finding or building my dream property and house, traveling to hunt and fish, maintaining my health, spending quality time with friends and family, pursuing old interests and new hobbies, and having “that” balance.

I retired for the first time at 33. For the next several years I lived at the beach, partied, sailed, traveled and played tennis. Even with that I got bored. When a friend asked for help for me to consult on a project for a few months I agreed. This led to starting another company, but this time it was different.

No more 80 hour workweeks or being obsessed with work or growth 24/7. From the start I decided to keep things small. I vowed not to take on any project over $10M. I hired just a core staff and used contractors if I needed more bodies. And the biggest change; I decided to take 3-4 weeks off every quarter.

It has worked so far for the last 30 years. I will probably pull the trigger soon and fully retire. After all, I will be getting my full social security when I turn 70 next September.

 

[Throwback]

Following with interest as I am on the cusp myself and think about this way too much. As I think all have said, retiring in my 50's I know I need something to do, not a "kick your feet up on the porch in the rocker and do nothing" retirement.

Just enough land to shoot a rifle whenever I want to out to at least 500 yards, but no more so as to be burdensome is my goal. Maintaining that, setting up new rifles with the right scopes/loads, etc... and planning and going on my next hunt or vaca trip with the wife is my plan. I figure that will take up more than enough time. Throw in some grandkids into that plan at some point too.

My dad died suddenly at 63 and my wife's mom died at 47 from cancer. Constant reminders to us both. Had a buddy die a few months ago at 53 as well. We both are in the camp of pulling the ripcord on my job as soon as it makes sense. I think that will be when our son graduates high school in 2027. My hunting buddy and I are already planning hunts in 2028 that pretty much figure we will be retired by then (or if not my employer will fire me for taking 3 weeks off to go on safari in darkest Africa!, lol). Cheers

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Ask yourself, is continuing to work the best possible thing I could do with my time? Of all the other things in the world, is it work?

See that is a great question. Talking to my old friend and real estate broker. His advice is to have a moving target if I were to continue to work. I see that as buying a ranch or least a second home near really good fishing. He also told me, I’ll know when it’s time to stop.

My job does allow me time off when I need it and it is rewarding in a lot of ways. I actually enjoy it. There is a component that allows me to participate in charity events and BD activities that relate to my hobbies…

Even though I’ve been planning for some time, I can’t believe the day has come. I guess it’s nice to have some options for now.

 

[Rumrunner]

Retired last month after 44 years working for contractors to NNSA. As many of us I have been working for 50 years. I have to say that I’m not adapting to the change very well. My wife and I have a couple trips planned that I hope will help me settle into retirement mode. I shoot and reload, do projects around the house and look forward to warmer weather. I think retiring during winter was a mistake, just not enough to occupy my time. I was used to weighing options and making significant decisions, now I decide what to put in the Walmart cart.
Enough whining. When the weather warms up the cover will come off the Harley and I’ll do some riding. May do some consulting or contract work to fund cruises and hunting.

 

[coyote wacker]

Enjoy everday that you have....once a day is gone you can never get it back !

I was fortunate retired at 50 years old. Went and started my own outfitting business in the UP of Michigan. It was a adventure that I looked forward to. Kept the house on Lk.St. Clair for the summer went to the UP in August to set up for bear hunting and deer.
But my world came down in January 2021 had planed to go to the UP to trap we had a snow storm so I held off traveling for a day. I had a stroke was very lucky I was down State and not far from a good hospital. Most of all the stroke was not that bad, I have some memory loss, but no physical ailments. That summer the wife said the propterty in the UP must be sold. So with very heavy feelings it was sold. I have not fully recovered form the loss of the UP property but looking forward to new adventures on the African Continent.

 

[WyoBull]

I retired from a very stressful corporate career at 62 about a year and a half ago. I can tell you that having hobbies and something to get you out of bed and off the couch is very important.
It was difficult for me at first going from 100 mph to 0 mph overnight. I thought about going back and doing something again but do not want to get back on the hamster wheel and I want to take off when I want to do what I want. The further away I get from retiring the less I feel the need to go back into the work environment.
One thing I was not prepared for that is still taking some getting used to is that the longer you are away from the workplace, the less and less you will hear from your friends and associates you may have worked with for 20, 30 years. You are soon forgotten as they continue working and you are no longer there. You basically become irrelevant to that group of people and environment. Today, I spend time with new friends who are also retired and have like interests.
I can highly recommend retirement but it does look different for everybody and you need to make it be what's right for you and not what the Joneses are doing.
I will say that one downside to retiring prior to 65 and being eligible for Medicare is the cost of health insurance. Luckily we budgeted for that before I retired but I still hate paying it as the insurance companies are doing nothing but getting rich off of us.
Enjoy retirement, take your time settling into it and always remember how blessed you are to be able to do it and enjoy it as many people cannot afford to do it.

 

[Newboomer]

I retired from a very stressful corporate career at 62 about a year and a half ago. I can tell you that having hobbies and something to get you out of bed and off the couch is very important.
It was difficult for me at first going from 100 mph to 0 mph overnight. I thought about going back and doing something again but do not want to get back on the hamster wheel and I want to take off when I want to do what I want. The further away I get from retiring the less I feel the need to go back into the work environment.
One thing I was not prepared for that is still taking some getting used to is that the longer you are away from the workplace, the less and less you will hear from your friends and associates you may have worked with for 20, 30 years. You are soon forgotten as they continue working and you are no longer there. You basically become irrelevant to that group of people and environment. Today, I spend time with new friends who are also retired and have like interests.
I can highly recommend retirement but it does look different for everybody and you need to make it be what's right for you and not what the Joneses are doing.
I will say that one downside to retiring prior to 65 and being eligible for Medicare is the cost of health insurance. Luckily we budgeted for that before I retired but I still hate paying it as the insurance companies are doing nothing but getting rich off of us.
Enjoy retirement, take your time settling into it and always remember how blessed you are to be able to do it and enjoy it as many people cannot afford to do it.

Congrats on your retirement. I know the feeling of kind of being a ship without a rudder after I semi retired. I worked from the age of 6 in logging, construction(had my own company) and military reserve. At 85 I still do few odd jobs just for kicks and giggles and to keep my hand in. I'm as busy now as I was working full time. The big difference is I can pick and choose my jobs and time.
The crucial question is when to draw the line. It's very easy to say you'll get another job just for something to do and before you know it you're right back in the rat race. Take time to do just what you want when you want and I'll bet you will be quite busy.

 

[skydiver386]

I retired after 24 years on active duty, but still work full time mostly for what I call boat and gun money. My retirement is taken care of, so current income will be used to fund gun buying, Hunting trips overseas, and a new fishing boat for both salt and freshwater.

Tina and have 30 acres of land in Florida comfortably out in the boondocks. In another year we plant to move from Ohio to Florida and work on the property to turn it into our own little slice of hunting paradise. We plan to live in one of the over 55 communities, possibly the Villages.

There will be high ceilings and a trophy room/living room, Tina just doesn't know it yet.

Shooting leagues, hunting, fishing and working on the property will keep me busy. Any forum members that need a winter break will be welcome to come down for a visit and thin the hog population and do some casting for Redfish.

I hope you are able to enjoy your retirement and do all the hunting you couldn't do in your working years.