What did you do on the first day of retirement?

[sixdogs]

Lots of times you can get Medigap insurance coverage through your employer by paying for it. Have to have this to go with Medicare.

 

[bunyip]

I have a few 'retired' friends who now consult, they say they wish they had done it a lot earlier as it is very flexible and pays better than the usual 9-5, I asked one how he charged and he said he just puts up a $ sign followed by his phone number.
I get paid a lot more than when I worked full time but not that much, I do work for myself and the downside is the boss is impossible, the other boss takes a lot of deductions from my account without any justification but reminds me that she does the housework etc.
Might have to call the union.....

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Lots of times you can get Medigap insurance coverage through your employer by paying for it. Have to have this to go with Medicare.

You have to have medicare (65+ yo) to get medigap. Im looking for insurance < 65 yo.

 

[ovrszd]

When I retired I went on with my part time renovation business.
LOL, but then all my 'jobs' were an extension to one hobby or another so I was never bored.

Problem now is as 80 is just around the corner I don't have that stamina that I always enjoyed.
The last couple of years I 'slowed down' but enjoyed consulting to folks that had major projects, while not exactly lucrative the goal was to keep active.
A few minor health issues behind me now should see me getting back into the slot.

Congrats on your good health at 80!!!! Another guy on here, "oddballs", is 82 or 83, can't remember for sure. Thru the Spring and Summer he shares pictures of his garden. Wow!!!!! That man has energy!!!!

 

[cat fever]

My retirement week only has Saturday and Sunday. 6 Saturdays. 1 Sunday.

I look forward to the schedule you enjoy.

I really could go anytime I want and that makes working less of a pain. Not sure if I'll last until June. If it starts to snow a lot I might just pull the plug so I can enjoy my snowmobile.:thumbsup: So far this year the snow Gods have not liked us much in Utah.

In keeping with the question of this thread; Not sure what I'll do on that first day, but sitting back and not thinking about anything for a day would be very welcome. My job is not physically hard but my brain hurts when I get home from the stress of keeping an oil refinery running and on spec. Forgetting all that will be a great blessing.:thumbsup:

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Do any of you have "flashback" nightmares about work after you retired? I still do occasionally, but they are getting fewer. They are almost always about forgetting something and causing a disaster. Wife has them worse than me. She worked in a stat medical lab.

 

[ultrarunner]

Good topic and one I can learn from... none of the men in my family ever retired... they worked until they passed away... anywhere from 73 to age 90... none had pensions and all were self employed... sales, manufacturing and farming.

Dad was the only one that ran out of time... and he passed just a week shy of 74...

 

[Big Barn]

Checked the newspaper first thing in the morning to make sure my name wasn't in the obituaries.

Not a good idea. Have you never seen that episode of Twilight Zone where a fella does just that and sees HIS OWN obit and drops dead of a heart attack????

 

[ultrarunner]

Having a purpose is something I think gives you a reason to get out of bed each day...

Don't want to get too far off topic... think this story is related...

One of my childhood neighbors was senior management for a large glass factory... worked his way up and was transferred to California around 1960... very active socially and loved golfing... as a kid he was the only one we knew that golfed...

Upon retirement with all that goes with it... they sold the California family home of 40 years and moved to Florida to be close to his wife's family... it nearly killed him.

He no longer had a purpose and things he lived for... golfing with friends and work related activities like the monthly retired luncheons from his company etc... were in California.

He was happy and content and left it all behind for his wife's idea of retirement... and they were really good together...

There were dark times for sure... eventually he did work through it.... it seemed the big past time in their new community was drinking... it would start around 11 AM and go on to evening... either on the golf course and endless cocktail parties... he found the entirety of retirement revolved around drinking...

One day the local supermarket owner was grousing nobody wants to work anymore... he hires kids to stock shelves and as soon as they made enough money they would quit.

My friend... a retired executive with an entire division reporting to him said he wanted the job stocking shelves at night... the manager thought he was nuts but after a few weeks of help wanted signs... gave in... they made a deal of a one week trial with either calling it quits.

Clyde was quickly the best employee in the store... the customers loved him... the older folks found him dapper and charming... the younger ones looked up to him... always on time... always ready to help... his wife said he was a new man... see, he made a lot of friends with the kids that worked there and became a mentor to them... someone they could go to... at one time the manager even wondered if Clyde was after his job. Clyde had plenty of money, excellent retirement but no purpose... no grand-kids, no family left on his side... etc. (No Tractor)

A highlight was being best man for one of the kids at the store... his wife said it was like he was reborn...

At Clyde's funeral it was all customers and co-workers saying what a great guy they had in their lives... and more than one of the kids said Clyde had put them on the right path when they had troubles with drinking and drugs...

Many need a purpose...

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I found out there's a way i can get health ins with my first employeer, when i take my retirement at 60. I just have to get rehired and then take the retirement.
Gotta work on this. Cant do anything before then, but beats waiting for medicare.