things i've learned in retirement so far

You miss your buds at work.
I don't know how to relax. Does anyone teach a course?
I still wake up at 05:00. That's just dumb.
The friends you have outside of work, well they are working during the day.
I bragged that I had stuff to keep me busy 24 hours a day. 24 hours is a long time.
The time I would normally take to do something expands greatly.
The projects I had planned...............cost money.
I don't think you can ever save enough for retirement.
Maybe when it cools off enough to shoot and fish comfortably things will be different.
5 gallons of brass doesn't really take that long to process.

Retirement is highly overrated.

I've always thought of a second career but haven't figured out what yet.

Vast majority of my active friends are shooters and we meet at least once a week to shoot, compare notes and prepare for our next match. Try stopping by the nearer ranges and see if any of the venues meet your interests and abilities then join the fun. My shooting takes up all my free time. Tomorrow we will shoot a match and the majority are over 65 years of age so it can be done year round if the incentive is there. The incentive for me is buffalo era rifles at silhouettes 200 yards away from benches. This will be the fifth match for this month and tomorrow there will be as many shooters on the line as there was at the first of the month. Not preaching my game but there plenty of venues out there if you get out and go looksee, good luck.

The asshat that I worked for had been trying to get me gone since he came on board. Then he screwed up and leaked out my lay off date as well as one other guy's. Only gave up a couple months to get out of there. One of us had to go. Had 6 bosses in 4 years, go figure. First two were great and it went down hill from there.

A part time job doing something different may be in the future. Wouldn't mind working in hunting, shooing or fishing store. Or I might start my rod and reel repair business back up. Still have a lot of rod building stuff left.

Dale Flinchum said:

Vast majority of my active friends are shooters and we meet at least once a week to shoot, compare notes and prepare for our next match. Try stopping by the nearer ranges and see if any of the venues meet your interests and abilities then join the fun. My shooting takes up all my free time. Tomorrow we will shoot a match and the majority are over 65 years of age so it can be done year round if the incentive is there. The incentive for me is buffalo era rifles at silhouettes 200 yards away from benches. This will be the fifth match for this month and tomorrow there will be as many shooters on the line as there was at the first of the month. Not preaching my game but there plenty of venues out there if you get out and go looksee, good luck.

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I'm a member of PHA but I've only shot on weekends since I was working. I plan on at least three days a week starting next month. I'd like to get back into clays also. I've shot buffalo matches up here also. Going to get my 22 bench guns out and knock the dust off. Til now I've been picking low hanging fruit off the home things to do list but I've almost caught up. Where do you guys shoot?

REELDOC said:

Where do you guys shoot?

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I shoot at home unless I find a PHA member to invite me there ().

If you’re lookin’ for stuff to do, you could join us when we meet for lunches in High Point.

"I don't think you can ever save enough for retirement."

how MANY times i have heard this from people
in their 60's who regret that boat or RV
or European vacation they bought when
they were 40 instead of saving up.

..........i want to hate this post!!!! Im not in your shoes but im a simple guy. Hot coffee, cold beer, keep the dogs happy, go fishin' 2x a week or shootin' 2x a week and im happy. When im off work..... I live like a cheap retiree.

I think you crazy as hell. I have so many hobbies I don’t think I could ever be bored if I was retired. One thing you did say that makes sense to me is the money part. Everything costs money in some form.
Shooting=money
Fishing = money
Biking =money
So I guess I will increase my 401k another percent and keep counting down the years...

turkeydance said:

"I don't think you can ever save enough for retirement."

how MANY times i have heard this from people
in their 60's who regret that boat or RV
or European vacation they bought when
they were 40 instead of saving up.

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Pretty much me in a nutshell. Spent a lot on vacations for the whole family. Now I face the decision process around divorce and 1/2 of what has been saved will not be enough for fun.

I tell everybody that will listen. Don't spend up to your means, instead SAVE up to your means. I went through a divorce and 4 layoffs. Makes it tough but you have to suck it up. Social Security should be a supplement to your retirement, not your paycheck.

I would rather have managed building some more big projects for a couple more years but nobody wants old guys. Screw it.

All is well and good to go. Just have to get my retirement legs straightened out.

REELDOC said:

I'm a member of PHA but I've only shot on weekends since I was working. I plan on at least three days a week starting next month. I'd like to get back into clays also. I've shot buffalo matches up here also. Going to get my 22 bench guns out and knock the dust off. Til now I've been picking low hanging fruit off the home things to do list but I've almost caught up. Where do you guys shoot?

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I presently shoot three ranges when they hold buffalo type matchs; PHA, Rowan Wildlife and Durham. For practice I meet up with those clubs members and shoot under their invitation.

Yup...and all that shootin costs money...

turkeydance said:

"I don't think you can ever save enough for retirement."

how MANY times i have heard this from people
in their 60's who regret that boat or RV
or European vacation they bought when
they were 40 instead of saving up.

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yeah. that's why I purchased land in my 40s.
IMO, the only reason I'm ever buying a boat or an RV is to live in it. Both are facing industry downturns, both have terrible depreciation (worse than any car or truck), and both are commonly found in great shape on the used market.
FWOW I have a popup camper that we paid cash for if I need somewhere to sleep in a campground. Also have a 16ft flatback canoe with a 3.5HP outboard. Cash bought em both and cash will take em both out of my hands lol.
But they take me to the same places as that $35K camper or boat people like to pay 22% interest on.

my version of retirement is near-zero debt, watching farm animals do their thing, giving my kids advice, and loving up on my woman. Oh and the occasional walk up the the hill to my private range. With my handloads and a gun I bought long beforehand.

What was the joke? "I plan on working until noon on the day of my funeral"

Men, I am here to tell you retirement is the best job I never had. I have three primary interests, any one of which could occupy me full time if I let it; I'm busier that when I was working, but with less pressure. You pick one main interest to focus on and fit the others around it as you can. It helps if this main interest also involves doing things for other people on a regular basis. Another thing that will keep you active is having a couple of dogs that insist on being taken somewhere to explore every day. I wring as much as I feel like out of every day, and I'm happy when I hit the hay. You can do it, it's up to you.

Ikarus1 said:

my version of retirement is near-zero debt, watching farm animals do their thing, giving my kids advice, and loving up on my woman. Oh and the occasional walk up the the hill to my private range. With my handloads and a gun I bought long beforehand.

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Beautiful.

Got another 7 to go and my plan is very similar.

8 months and a wakeup to go...

Red Marley said:

Men, I am here to tell you retirement is the best job I never had. I have three primary interests, any one of which could occupy me full time if I let it; I'm busier that when I was working, but with less pressure. You pick one main interest to focus on and fit the others around it as you can. It helps if this main interest also involves doing things for other people on a regular basis. Another thing that will keep you active is having a couple of dogs that insist on being taken somewhere to explore every day. I wring as much as I feel like out of every day, and I'm happy when I hit the hay. You can do it, it's up to you.
View attachment 157794

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Now you went and did it. Ya made me envious. I wanna walk thru a place like that with a dog by my side one more time.

Amps 13 said:

I think you crazy as hell. I have so many hobbies I don’t think I could ever be bored if I was retired. One thing you did say that makes sense to me is the money part. Everything costs money in some form.
Shooting=money
Fishing = money
Biking =money
So I guess I will increase my 401k another percent and keep counting down the years...

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This! ^^


I retire at the end of the year. I've never bought a new car. I have zero debt and a paid off house. I have a decent 401k , 1000 lbs of lead, 50 lbs of powder and buckets of brass, a room full of ham radio equipment, a early 70's Corvette to restore and a wife to spend time and travel with.

I can't wait!

concepthomes1 said:

If all goes well, I’m shooting for retirement at 50.

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I used to say that too.

With luck, I'm looking at retiring in the next 2 years or so (turning 50 at the end of the year). We'll be on a fixed, but comfortable income & have a pretty good chunk socked away in 4o1Ks, stocks & the like. I feel comfortable that we'll be 'set', though we won't be living extra large. Fortunately, our struggles of the past several years have taught us how to live comfortably within our means & we'll actually be in a better position post-retirement than we are currently.

I'm one of those people, who if I don't have anything to do, that is exactly what I'll get done. Nix. Nada friggin' thing. That said, I have more hobbies & interests that I have time for.

Matches & actual training are definitely on the agenda, as is beginning some sort of formalized training in Krav Maga. Past that? I used to build incredible, bespoke electric guitars & custom furniture in a former lifetime. I would love to take leather working up again & maybe even see about teaching myself to make jewelry again. I want to become a 'legit' handgun hunter & put in the time to take my handgun game to 100yds & it's for certain my Super Glide doesn't get nearly enough miles put on 'er.

Been retired 5 years now and when I first retired I was shooting every other day. Now I'm shooting almost every day except Sunday. Would have kept working but there is no such thing as a professional 40hr a week job anymore. I was working 60+ hrs a week and had a 30 year old smart ass punk boss. He made it real easy for me to quit at 55. Been looking at full time and part time positions sent to me from Monster and LinkedIn for 5 yrs and they all SUCK. The only jobs open these days are ones NOBODY WANTS. Shit jobs. 24/7/365 HEADACHES. Gen XYZ zero or whatever can have them. You never have enough money to do all the things you want. Priorities change. Interests change. Ive taken up a shooting discipline I said I would NEVER do and am really enjoying it. And I did it on my own. None of my shooting buddys are doing it with me. Nobody talked me into it. Meeting new friends and going new places. Live for the day because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Cheers!

Today completes my fifth month of retirement. I took a long trip to Texas in the camper. Getting ready for deer season. Shooting and fishing. Many house projects. Dittos on the thing about your friends working during the day. At least you can always find a campsite at the state parks midweek.

But I do wonder what's going to happen come January, when you can't shoot the deer, and it's too cold to fish or camp. Maybe take the camper to Florida? Learn to squirrel hunt? Organize photo albums? Paint the guest room? I've only had a few days when I didn't do much, and I didn't like it very much. I'm the kind of guy that feels like he has to be accomplishing something every day. Maybe I'll get my EMT certification renewed. I liked my job, but I wouldn't go back to work vs. what I'm doing now.

MostWanted said:

Today completes my fifth month of retirement. I took a long trip to Texas in the camper. Getting ready for deer season. Shooting and fishing. Many house projects. Dittos on the thing about your friends working during the day. At least you can always find a campsite at the state parks midweek.

But I do wonder what's going to happen come January, when you can't shoot the deer, and it's too cold to fish or camp. Maybe take the camper to Florida? Learn to squirrel hunt? Organize photo albums? Paint the guest room? I've only had a few days when I didn't do much, and I didn't like it very much. I'm the kind of guy that feels like he has to be accomplishing something every day. Maybe I'll get my EMT certification renewed. I liked my job, but I wouldn't go back to work vs. what I'm doing now.

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Go fish Harris in January. Big fish to be had. Deep main lake points.

REELDOC said:

The asshat that I worked for had been trying to get me gone since he came on board. Then he screwed up and leaked out my lay off date as well as one other guy's. Only gave up a couple months to get out of there. One of us had to go. Had 6 bosses in 4 years, go figure. First two were great and it went down hill from there.

A part time job doing something different may be in the future. Wouldn't mind working in hunting, shooing or fishing store. Or I might start my rod and reel repair business back up. Still have a lot of rod building stuff left.

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I'm just getting started in the rod building thing. If you wouldn't mind passing along some info, I can use all the help I can get!

MostWanted said:

Today completes my fifth month of retirement. I took a long trip to Texas in the camper. Getting ready for deer season. Shooting and fishing. Many house projects. Dittos on the thing about your friends working during the day. At least you can always find a campsite at the state parks midweek.

But I do wonder what's going to happen come January, when you can't shoot the deer, and it's too cold to fish or camp. Maybe take the camper to Florida? Learn to squirrel hunt? Organize photo albums? Paint the guest room? I've only had a few days when I didn't do much, and I didn't like it very much. I'm the kind of guy that feels like he has to be accomplishing something every day. Maybe I'll get my EMT certification renewed. I liked my job, but I wouldn't go back to work vs. what I'm doing now.

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You want to really accomplish something worthwhile? Go shop for the best lounge chair you can find and then make every effort to see how long it takes you to wear it out, shortest time wins the prize.

Only thing I'd advise is that you will hear a lot of retirement chatter about saving or investing money or how much and so on. Main reason is that the financial industry only makes money if you buy or sell something, and inducing paranoia about it causes them to make more money. The after savings phase makes them little money.

You need to realize that you are making a parallel bet that your health ( and your loved ones) will extend to make that equation close. To paint a clearer picture, imagine someone who is 90 years old, frail, in nursing care, unable to travel but with a rosy bank account. Then imagine that same person burning down the money to match their ability to make use of it, most active years being active and then later on as health declines being more sedentary.

It makes no sense to end up into poor health and unable to make use of your savings. Balance best use today and sure, prepare for tomorrow, but don't obsess on it to the extent where you defer defer defer living.

What "retirement" has tought me:

I had the time and ability to spend one week per month with my sister before she passed.
I had the time and ability to renew relationships with my extended family.
I now have time to make my home what I always wanted, slowly.

Money???! Yeah, there is never enough. Make do with what you have and move on. Life is way too short to work to make it shorter.

Alfred said:

Only thing I'd advise is that you will hear a lot of retirement chatter about saving or investing money or how much and so on. Main reason is that the financial industry only makes money if you buy or sell something, and inducing paranoia about it causes them to make more money. The after savings phase makes them little money.

You need to realize that you are making a parallel bet that your health ( and your loved ones) will extend to make that equation close. To paint a clearer picture, imagine someone who is 90 years old, frail, in nursing care, unable to travel but with a rosy bank account. Then imagine that same person burning down the money to match their ability to make use of it, most active years being active and then later on as health declines being more sedentary.

It makes no sense to end up into poor health and unable to make use of your savings. Balance best use today and sure, prepare for tomorrow, but don't obsess on it to the extent where you defer defer defer living.

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I think the law of diminishing marginal returns may apply to much of what you are saying. I retired this year at 60. I didn't buy new or high end cars, but I drove reliable, comfortable cars like a Camry. While my coworkers were taking their whole family to Italy or living large at Disney, I put my family in a pop-up camper and went to places like Yellowstone, or West Virginia, or Texas. We found some of the most unique things, my kids have the best memories, and I spent a fraction of what others did. So I guess I'm saying there's a sweet spot somewhere in the middle.

fieldgrade said:

Retirement is highly overrated.

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Been working on the same job now for 54 years. Ima keep goin til they run me off.

REELDOC said:

Where do you guys shoot?

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Right here...come on! Stay a few days in The Bunk House and decompress. @Hashknife is coming tomorrow for 3 or 4 days.

Jeppo said:

If you’re lookin’ for stuff to do, you could join us when we meet for lunches in High Point.

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Damn!! There ya go!!! Good company and food!!

B00ger said:

Yup...and all that shootin costs money...

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Yeah....try supplying Other people's shooting.

Ikarus1 said:

my version of retirement is near-zero debt, watching farm animals do their thing, giving my kids advice, and loving up on my woman. Oh and the occasional walk up the the hill to my private range. With my handloads and a gun I bought long beforehand.

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You jus described every day of my life Now. Ceptin for the farm animal and chillum part.

Red Marley said:

. I wring as much as I feel like out of every day, and I'm happy when I hit the hay.

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Bless your soul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JohnFreeman said:

This! ^^


I retire at the end of the year. I've never bought a new car. I have zero debt and a paid off house. I have a decent 401k , 1000 lbs of lead, 50 lbs of powder and buckets of brass, a room full of ham radio equipment, a early 70's Corvette to restore and a wife to spend time and travel with.

I can't wait!

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A man with a plan!!!!!!!!!!!!

jimmyjames8 said:

Ive taken up a shooting discipline I said I would NEVER do and am really enjoying it. And I did it on my own.

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Welcome to come and stay a while and shoot with different faces.

MostWanted said:

liked my job, but I wouldn't go back to work vs. what I'm doing now.

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That says it all, congrats

Alfred said:

It makes no sense to end up into poor health and unable to make use of your savings. Balance best use today and sure, prepare for tomorrow, but don't obsess on it to the extent where you defer defer defer living.

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Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MostWanted said:

I think the law of diminishing marginal returns may apply to much of what you are saying. I retired this year at 60. I didn't buy new or high end cars, but I drove reliable, comfortable cars like a Camry. While my coworkers were taking their whole family to Italy or living large at Disney, I put my family in a pop-up camper and went to places like Yellowstone, or West Virginia, or Texas. We found some of the most unique things, my kids have the best memories, and I spent a fraction of what others did. So I guess I'm saying there's a sweet spot somewhere in the middle.

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Yes, for sure money is only a part of it- effort, energy and a desire to participate in life rather than wait till "later" is the key- sounds like you've had the right balance. When I was a child I had no idea my family was "poor", it wasn't until I was an adult I realized what I great time we had despite having very little money.