Retirement and next chapter

[K-man]

The first thing in retirement is something to get you out of bed every morning. A hobby, part-time volunteer work, etc. You must stay active and mentally challenged. I will be semi-retiring in the next couple of years, probably fully retire in five. I already have a plan to stay occupied and active. My lovely bride will make sure I am out of the house almost every day.

 

[JamieM]

Semi-retired earlier this year at 55 to look after the family farm and other business interests.

My father passed away in 2022 and I have since tried to manage the family businesses as well as a frantic very successful high pressure sales roll which I have being doing for the last 25 years or so.

In April, I reached the end of the backhanded comments from the office support staff and director, and came to the decision that there was more to life and resigned.

It has taken most of the summer to adjust to the quieter way of life and the realisation that not everything needs to be done immediately.

 

[Safari Dave]

I was able to retire for the first time in 2016 (after working for a local municipality for 25 years).

I will be eligible for retirement again on January 2, 2027.

I'm now working for a state game & fish agency, which I have liked, but the situation has changed recently, and I don't really love the role that I'm currently in.

I'm only 61, so having two government pensions would probably be really nice.


On one hand, I think I could probably make well as a consultant.
On the other hand, I'm not as stress tolerant as I used to be.

None of my friends are retired, and my son is too busy to entertain his "old man," so I'm in a bit of a dilemma.

My lovely wife is mainly interested in yard work, and I have very little intertest in doing that until I'm pushing up daisies.

 

[sgt_zim]

The missus and I were just talking about this. We should both be permanently semi-retired in the next 18 months - she'll be 60 and I'll be 59. I'll farm out most of the management of my rental properties to a 3rd party. Look for new properties to acquire. It ain't difficult.

A safari or 2 a year, a cruise a year.

Other than perhaps a double in 450/400 3", I have all the stuff I want. I'll get my 2013 F150 a workover, I'm just not interested in a new truck. Church is 3 miles away, the grocery is 2 or 3 miles away, liquor store a little farther than that, barber 9 or 10 miles away. The occasional drive to LA to see my sisters across the hell scape I-10 between Houston and Baton Rouge has become.

Make the garden bigger, add more rabbits to the rabbitry, another 5 or 6 more fig trees. Visit my kids and grandkids more often.

 

[meigsbucks]

Hang in there.

Thanks. You’ve had a hell of a time but it sounds like you’re on the right track now.

 

[DillonG]

I’m too far from retirement to chime in on any plans. I will say that listening to all of the stories has me motivated to be more physically active in my 30s. I have been behind a desk for about 10 years now. My weight is fine and I still help on the family farm. Sitting at a desk and behind the wheel commuting has me in poorer shape than I would prefer.

Until retirement, I am raising a family with my wife and we will be celebrating 10 years of marriage in a couple of weeks.

 

[arniet]

Everything went right and I retired @53 in 2011. We moved back to my wife's home state of NJ and lived on a tidal creek. We did this for about a year, riding the tides and exploring the tidal marsh. One day on a whim she suggested going to an RV show (I had been trying to buy an RV for years, but had given up just before retirement). She fell in love with a rear kitchen 5er. Good thing I had earned a CDL in my working days.

We ran the wheels off that thing over the next 15 years and loved every minute of it. We helped her parents at the end of their days, and took my mother into our home for the end of hers. Made it to 49 of the 50 states, and only missed two provinces in Canada connected to the road system. Sold that 5er about 2 months ago, maybe we will buy a truck camper to visit the boonies next. About half way through we moved to WV.

Always stuff to do, just back from a fishing trip and cruise in Alaska. Helped my son put a deck on his home in CT this summer. Double cape buffalo last October. Hauled corn for deer season on Thursday. We take turns through church serving 65 homeless meals (Wednesday next week), on the church finance council, current Grand Knight in my KOC council (real proud of our Coats for Kids work). Just as busy as before retirement, but my wife, family and self set the schedule now.

 

[wesheltonj]

I must have this retirement stuff wrong. Upsizing house and working part time. I am managing to travel more for pleasure. Maybe when I turn 67 and the Government does not penalize you for working and drawing Social Security, I might cut back. And maybe not, you stop you die.

 

[Pondoro]

I am 64 years old..will retire in june -27 after 30+ years in oil, 2 months from 65.. I have plenty to do..managing 2 houses and a cabin in the mountains, otherwise I plan to do more hunting both domestically and abroad, read southern Europe and Africa.. Very into doing more driven hunts in Europe, quite fun that. Will get a new setter and train him for hunting grouse and black cock..

I believe in getting out of bed early, eat healthy and excersise.. Oh..that damn boat standing in my yard for 4 years will be put to sea again..

I have all the guns and rifles I need (except the .600 I dream about but can live without..)..just need more time to use them.. I will make an effort to shoot my old Purdey better..no more exuses..

 

[kpoynter]

This is a subject many of us think about and many of you here have done and dealt with here with great examples to share.

I’m 55 and have been thinking about it for some time. I certainly have been very fortunate and have the money to retire without blinking an eye…
I’ll be an empty nester in 18 months. I won’t gain really more time with kids at this point (somewhat sadly). They will still be in college though and I can spend as much time as possible with them then.
I can’t (or won’t) work long enough to plan on handing over any proverbial reigns to one or both.
You must have purpose…
I can afford to do literally anything I want now which is kind of weird honestly. So what do you do?
We sold our company earlier this year and I promised to stay in as CEO for at least two years (again 18 months to go). I own interests in some other fun businesses so I might simply retire from my core life and continue to work some just doing some things for sheer enjoyment that don’t feel much like work.
My partner and I that sold the company (who’s on here) plan on doing some business engaged in the safari and a outdoor business both for fun and I have some ideas that will change the way some of these safaris are structured. That would give me both fulfillment, activity, and a great reason to make my hunting and fishing travel a write off (a legitimate one lol)

I plan to Hunt, Fish, and travel…
I’m looking at a “Farm” tomorrow actually as part of this process. More of a large chunk of raw land to develop into a private wildlife sanctuary I can manage and do what I want.

We only get one life and we only remain physically capable to do certain things we love like Hunting for so long.
I’m going to hunt the shit out of some elephants, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard etc…
Do more European stuff….going to Italy as an example in a few weeks to buy some custom guns as heirlooms and to hunt with.
There’s a lot of life to live… so I need to pull myself away from stress and 60+ hours a week of work

 

[Newboomer]

This is a subject many of us think about and many of you here have done and dealt with here with great examples to share.

I’m 55 and have been thinking about it for some time. I certainly have been very fortunate and have the money to retire without blinking an eye…
I’ll be an empty nester in 18 months. I won’t gain really more time with kids at this point (somewhat sadly). They will still be in college though and I can spend as much time as possible with them then.
I can’t (or won’t) work long enough to plan on handing over any proverbial reigns to one or both.
You must have purpose…
I can afford to do literally anything I want now which is kind of weird honestly. So what do you do?
We sold our company earlier this year and I promised to stay in as CEO for at least two years (again 18 months to go). I own interests in some other fun businesses so I might simply retire from my core life and continue to work some just doing some things for sheer enjoyment that don’t feel much like work.
My partner and I that sold the company (who’s on here) plan on doing some business engaged in the safari and a outdoor business both for fun and I have some ideas that will change the way some of these safaris are structured. That would give me both fulfillment, activity, and a great reason to make my hunting and fishing travel a write off (a legitimate one lol)

I plan to Hunt, Fish, and travel…
I’m looking at a “Farm” tomorrow actually as part of this process. More of a large chunk of raw land to develop into a private wildlife sanctuary I can manage and do what I want.

We only get one life and we only remain physically capable to do certain things we love like Hunting for so long.
I’m going to hunt the shit out of some elephants, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard etc…
Do more European stuff….going to Italy as an example in a few weeks to buy some custom guns as heirlooms and to hunt with.
There’s a lot of life to live… so I need to pull myself away from stress and 60+ hours a week of work

The main thing about retirement is to stay active. I've known several guys who said when they retired they were going to sit in the rocking chair and watch the world go by. That lasted for a few years and most of them died off from lack of activity.

I semi retired from my construction business about 10 years ago but still do a few small jobs occasionally just to keep my hand in. At 86 I'm as busy as I ever was with bowling 3 days a week, working with a personal trainer 3 days a week, staying involved in my Masonic lodge, doing some woodworking and steelwork. And of course there's always yard work and housekeeping when you live alone.

The secret being to find something you like and working at your own pace. Come and go as you please(by direction of the missus if you are in that situation. I'm not). Look at what you've missed and do it.

 

[Rare Breed]

I am 64 years old..will retire in june -27 after 30+ years in oil, 2 months from 65.. I have plenty to do..managing 2 houses and a cabin in the mountains, otherwise I plan to do more hunting both domestically and abroad, read southern Europe and Africa.. Very into doing more driven hunts in Europe, quite fun that. Will get a new setter and train him for hunting grouse and black cock..

I believe in getting out of bed early, eat healthy and excersise.. Oh..that damn boat standing in my yard for 4 years will be put to sea again..

I have all the guns and rifles I need (except the .600 I dream about but can live without..)..just need more time to use them.. I will make an effort to shoot my old Purdey better..no more exuses..

I choose to still work at 67 given I live what I do and make nice six figures working 20 hours per week. Money goes to my wife and my fun funds which for me is Africa. Debt free and enjoying life with retirement secured