Just retired at 52, 34+ years in Navy, spent many years of that away, cost a marriage and some $$$, children are grown and doing their things. Always dreamed of an African safari but needed a push to do it, in 2000 my dad went to bed one night at 56 and never woke up. That was the big push I needed, been to Africa 3 times (4 safaris) since and just booked for a month in summer of 2020. A hunting wife would be good but think they only exist on TV. Just sold my house and looking for that dream build with 1 large room for a big collection of "memories". Will work again but only doing what I love, with no stress and for my set hours. Life's way to short and nobody knows when its ending. Retire, live, have fun and don't look back. My 2c. MB
Retired at 56 and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Traveling the world with my wife, taking lots of fly fishing and hunting trips and reconnecting with friends.
I retired from the Navy just short of my 39th. birthday in 1996. I went to work full time a week later and have been working ever since with no plan to retire again. Now at age 60 I enjoy my job and it provides the means to enjoy my passion for hunting and shooting. I hunted Africa for my first time last August and plan to go back in 2021. I figure I'll work until I'm no longer physically able to and then try to find something productive to do other than sit around and watch the TV.
Just hunt more and it will keep you busy! Best of luck deciding. If you can’t make up your mind I’ll sell you some sheep for your ranch then wpyoull be plenty busy Philip
but you got fancy sheep -- wife wants to know if they will get along with all of our longhorns-- lol ==your good guy Phillip -- just read an article today on the impending resurgence of mutton and lamb on restaurant tables-- if this is real-- your my first call - i think-- butthat would be like a real job-- wouldn't it....
I retired from university teaching 4 years ago, at age 72. I had hunted in SA once before, in my 60s, and the first thing I did after retirement was schedule a hunt for buffalo, kudu, etc. in Zimbabwe. I'd love to go back, but I manage to fill up a lot of time now hunting deer, ducks, etc. in NC, plus spending a fair amount of money and time saltwater fishing. I am so busy I don't know how I ever got anything done while I was working. I'm 76 now, but I'd like to think there's one more buffalo in my future, and maybe a chance to sit around a camp fire listening to lions at twilight. Hell, I'd go back just for that!
Steven A, I’m a youngun compared to you (only 72). I hope I’m as active as you when I get old! I think you need to take a bit of time off and go take that buffalo while you still can! JMO Keep it up! You’re very encouraging to us young guns!
I think it is a lot of sense in that statement.. I am 57 and plan to work to 65 if all turn out well. My work schedule is 2 weeks on and 4 weeks off on an oil rig...I work 90 hours + weeks when at work..been in oil for 25 years now.. Gotta finance those african hunting trips...
Ridgewalker, I told my PH back in 2015, when we had climbed about the 101st rocky hill looking for a good kudu, that I was OK except for my right knee, which was showing its age. (It didn't like rocky hills.) Since then I've had a knee replacement, and my new steel and plastic knee likes hills and rocks just fine. Hang in there, young'un, and if your parts start wearing out, get new ones.
