Well... Tomorrow's the big day.. "R" Day!

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Any advise on retirement? Tomorrow is my last day of work. Mostly... There are some stipulations to it, contract/consulting work as they need me, it's for my benefit as I get a retainer for a few years.

My grandma used to say son when you get old don't set up. Followed with if you set up you ain't gonna get up. Meaning don't sit around all day.

We work all our lives for the R Day, it feels surreal now. I have struggled with the idea and always wondered how much is enough (savings, 401k, land etc to get you through retirement). I "think" I am there.

Planning to use the farm as my gym... How does this sound on a Tee Shirt, "Granny Pearls Farm, will workout for food". Our farm is named after my wife's grandmother.

The farm and hunting and fishing and other projects I have been saving to build/do. Bought all kinds of toys... err tools like welder, cnc router, wood lathe, and other wood working stuff, Drill press. And of course my good ole tractor... Got some slabs of blackwalnut just itching to be made into a table or 5..

How has the "R" journey been for you?

 

[oldnslo]

If like me other projects will occupy your time and within 8 - 10 months you will wonder how you had time to work.

 

[ronjhall]

Today is 21 years since I retired. My mother told me when I retired. Do not wait to do the things you want when retiring. Wife and I bought a 35’ motorhome. Traveled from one coast to other several times. Great times. 15 years later my wife passed from ALS. Sure am glad I/We have all those good memories.
Today I can use all the tools that I collected before retirement.

 

[t1kilo]

Congrats to you! I also just retired in early September after selling my IT business. So far, so good. Made a living for 41 years in computers; 25 on my own. It’s nice knowing that I don’t have to do something that I really don’t want to. I’ve grown to despise a lot of technology, especially as it relates to everyday life.

 

[mjonesnh]

Worked in machine shop 17 years, 5 days/wk till 62 then dropped down to 4days /wk till 65. Company asked me for 2 days/wk till I decided to retire at 67. Best advice I can give is to keep moving. Walking 5k 7days/wk weather permitting plus 20 minutes exercising keeps me in better shape than I was 10 years ago. Know people in my age group that barely getting around with some using canes simply because when they retired, they just quit moving and joints started locking up.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I have knee issues arthritis and spurs. But today I feel pretty good.

My machine shop background is why I bought the CNC router. That and my IT background so I embrace technology. I get to play with cnc and use a fairly cheap medium, wood and light metals.

Can't wait to see what I can fabricate.

 

[Runner]

I don't really have any good advice, just a couple of observations. First, if you think it feels surreal now, wait until the first day you don't have to wake up to an alarm and you are out driving around (or doing anything else) and you realize everyone else is at work. It really does feel like being in a dream.

Second, time seems to pass ten times faster than when you were working. I have been retired for nine years and it feels like just yesterday.

Third, you are probably going to dream about work a lot. For about the first five years, I dreamed about work almost every night. Still do sometimes.

Fourth, OK well, one piece of advice, set some goals. Doesn't have to be anything big, just a to-do list and try to get one thing done each day. That way, when you get more than one thing accomplished in a day, you can feel good about it. Sounds silly, but helps you stay a little bit productive.

 

[Hughman]

Pulled the trigger in 2016. No manual required.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I don't really have any good advice, just a couple of observations. First, if you think it feels surreal now, wait until the first day you don't have to wake up to an alarm and you are out driving around (or doing anything else) and you realize everyone else is at work. It really does feel like being in a dream.

Second, time seems to pass ten times faster than when you were working. I have been retired for nine years and it feels like just yesterday.

Third, you are probably going to dream about work a lot. For about the first five years, I dreamed about work almost every night. Still do sometimes.

Fourth, OK well, one piece of advice, set some goals. Doesn't have to be anything big, just a to-do list and try to get one thing done each day. That way, when you get more than one thing accomplished in a day, you can feel good about it. Sounds silly, but helps you stay a little bit productive.

Good advice. My "problem" is I have way too many interests. My brother got me a book subscription thing. Its where you write whatever you want then they help edit it etc. I started on that a few months ago. I'm about to get into the pranks chapter. I've played an awful lot of pranks over the years. Then publish it and give it to the family.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Congrats!!! How old are you?