"You'll be Bored" (in retirement)

[CMoore]

I have been retired for the last 3-1/2 years. The only thing I miss is the paycheck (and some of the people).

Hear Hear.
I joined the painters union so i had a job, that paid enough wages so i could survive. Four years later, i took the test for the electricians union, but by that time i was 28 and it was going to be another 3 years before THAT would work out for me, so i stuck with painting.
Anyway........ i never understood the whole Retired/Bored scenario.
Unless you happened to -
Like photography and work for Kodak
Like playing guitar and join The Rolling Stones
Enjoy driving cars and end up at Team Lotus
Have artistic design aspiration and work you way up the ladder at Disneyland......

I always saw a job as just being a job, a way to make a living so you could do things you like to do when you are not working.
A job gets in the way of living the life you want to live.

 

[Alan9940]

Bored? I've been retired for 4 years now and quipped many times to friends and family that I don't know when I ever had time to work!

 

[guangong]

I'm curious; I've never heard that.- What did Carter do that caused this to happen? I have a large number of friends who are full-time professors, employed by the universities where they teach.

I agree with your statement on the value of hanging around with young people. It's more inspiring than many people would expect if they have a mental image of millennial slackers.

Andy

Bad to ridiculous foreign and economic policies, an energy crisis that caused a college semester to be reduced from 15 weeks to 12 weeks (many institutions never went back to a full semester) and runaway inflation. Sort of like the Obama administration’s view that no serious negotiations on China on trade and manufacturing can never come back without a magic wand. Many institutions cut back on faculty.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I've been retired for well over 12 years now. Not boring at all. Like everything in life it's much to do with your outlook, drive, interests, what you put into it and most importantly some given plans. I've never been idle my entire life. So, it's easy for me to dodge the slumps. I do have a brother that after retirement went back to consulting merely as a need to be active. He golfs and fishes but needed more. I find between 2 photo social media sites and 2 selling sites and my weekly photo outings I remain busy. Not so much I feel it's a job or "work". I can stop and nap when required, but never burned out like my 45 years of work with 35 years of those in the 7-24-365 telecommunications industry.
Enjoy your time off. Many never live to see the day. Thankfully I'm a lucky soul who has made it in the vertical position.

I'm like your brother without the consulting job. A couple of days of week would be nice. There's stimulation and a sense of accomplishment from work I always got. Not that I'm a workaholic. Retired 6 years sometimes gets boring although the no pressure routine is often nice. Trying to be of service to others, something I don't do enough of, is rewarding. Hobbies can get stale.Even photography. One more mountain sunset to photograph. Another milky waterfall. Being healthy is important because without your health, you've got nothing including boredom.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I was on sick leave for 5 months due to a heart attack. During that time, I wasn't bored in the beginning. I was occupied with recovering my health. As I got better and got more energy, I did more household chores that also helped me through occupational therapy. I was bored and missed being at work. What kept me from being a recluse was having lunch from friends, family and coworkers. After my health improved enough, I went back to work. Other than genetics, my cardiologist think it might have been stress from work. I was bored being at home was because I was thrown into a situation unexpectedly. I'm 57 plan to retire in a year or two but I think through carefully planning I won't be bored. Having cardiac arrest and being in the hospital for 12 days gave me a perspective about mortality, work and life after work. I'm really lucky. I have a loving, caring wife, great doctors and medical insurance.

That's really great-glad you're doing OK> I'm 74 had triple bypass in April out of the blue. Living in a 55+ community when I retired can get depressing I refuse to read the regular newsletter and community emails. Someone's always dying. I refuse to read about it.I hang out with different age groups outside of the community with my hobbies and connections but also play poker once a week and eat outwith a bunch of guys for breakfast every Friday my age group from my community My wiofe and I have traveled a lot since we moved here. We're due for another jaunt or cruise. I kill (waste) a lot of time on photo forums. I think spiritual connection are important as they provide peace and comfort and meaning especially. My perspectives about these things occurred before the heart problem. What's you perspective on these things?

 

[Trail Images]

Being healthy is important because without your health, you've got nothing including boredom.

Very true, Alan. Between such a hectic career and a few dramatic health issues I just keep treading forward without busting into a sweat anymore. I go to the field once a week. Usually send in film after two outings. Then the post processing begins. So, enough to keep me going thankfully.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

What's you perspective on these things?

I definitely have a new perspective. After nearly died and still on the road to recovery, I try not to take anything for granted. Not that I did that before, but now showing and feeling gratitude has deeper meaning. Before my heart attack, I was pretty active and had and still have a wonderful life with my beautiful wife. Now I tolerate her quirks where as before, they used to irritate me. I try keeping active by not feeing sorry for myself and I could invest my time to recover my health.

I'm lucky that I work at a university where I work with Millennials. The environment is very alive with undergrads that are idealistic and not jaded. As for you, maybe volunteer your time to the less fortunate and possibly younger population. Getting out of your community will give you a fresh perspective. After my close call, I emerged a bit more spiritual with a view that I'm just part of a greater whole. I staved off death for now. On another note, my friend and colleague at aged 52 retired a couple of months ago. He's still single and I'm getting a feeling that he's going down the wrong path. We meet every week for lunch to catch up with each other's lives. He's a serious gamer and he told me that he rarely leaves his house. But maybe gaming, watching TV and reading makes him happy? I don't know. I do get a sense that he's not bored.

If my health allows it, I'd like to travel, learn a new language and of course do more photography.

 

[guangong]

My wife says I retired when I left the academic world and became a kind of independent scholar doing what I enjoy.
When I was 7-8 years old, I had a cascade of childhood diseases (at least did not get polio or rheumatic fever). No antibiotics then, unless well healed and connected, because total production went to military during WW2. Only sulphate drugs. Ugggg! Teachers still passed me along to next grades, which was a struggle for a few years. Nevertheless, while the gods tormented me In my younger years, they are giving me perfect health at the end.
Why would anyone want to live in a 55+ neighborhood I? Especially since many of them ban children. I get a kick out of little kids.
A cruise ship is like a giant hotel. Except you can’t go outside and walk around the block. My wife and I don’t believe we are old enough for that kind of cruise.

 

[cbella]

I still believe that doing work that's meaningful and satisfying for your fifty-odd years of working, while carving out enough time for your family and interests is the best approach

Having given this issue considerable thought of late, this is the perspective that I have settled on. Even though I doubt very much I'd be bored without work and typically lament not having more free time, it would seem ideal to be able to satisfy one's goals outside of work without necessarily having to retire. I will pull the plug when that is no longer feasible. All the better if there is the possibility of gradually dialing down work rather than having to go cold turkey.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

My wife says I retired when I left the academic world and became a kind of independent scholar doing what I enjoy.
When I was 7-8 years old, I had a cascade of childhood diseases (at least did not get polio or rheumatic fever). No antibiotics then, unless well healed and connected, because total production went to military during WW2. Only sulphate drugs. Ugggg! Teachers still passed me along to next grades, which was a struggle for a few years. Nevertheless, while the gods tormented me In my younger years, they are giving me perfect health at the end.
Why would anyone want to live in a 55+ neighborhood I? Especially since many of them ban children. I get a kick out of little kids.
A cruise ship is like a giant hotel. Except you can’t go outside and walk around the block. My wife and I don’t believe we are old enough for that kind of cruise.

I deal with younger people outside my community. However, there are many activities also in my 55+ community that keep me busy as well. Also activities I don't have to worry about like shoveling snow, mowing the grass, etc We have a golf course, 2 pools, tennis courts, bocci, cludhouse, cafe, etc. plus all our clubs including the photography club, fishing club, you name it. The homes are single story so you don;t have to climb stairs. DOwnside is too many people are dying all the time. SO I refuse to read the local newspaper. Recently we went to our fire department training academy and got a personal tour and great chance for photos and videos.
and we have an Antique Muscle Car contest in our community that we do for the whole NJ area around here every year, another chance for photography.

PS cruises are nice. Go on one with your wife. You can walk around the decks which on a big ship can be up to half a mile in circumference. When you hit different ports, you can take your cameras and then when you get back to the ship after the shore excursion, just dump them in the room's safe to secure against theft. Once you're on board, you don't have to worry about dragging all your equipment or your clothes from place to place. The foods and shows are great and you get to relax too . While more expensive, get an outside cabin so you can sit on the balcony and watch the sea go past while you're sipping your tea or coffee or beer.

 

[CMoore]

I deal with younger people outside my community. However, there are many activities also in my 55+ community that keep me busy as well. Also activities I don't have to worry about like shoveling snow, mowing the grass, etc We have a golf course, 2 pools, tennis courts, bocci, cludhouse, cafe, etc. plus all our clubs including the photography club, fishing club, you name it. The homes are single story so you don;t have to climb stairs. DOwnside is too many people are dying all the time. SO I refuse to read the local newspaper. Recently we went to our fire department training academy and got a personal tour and great chance for photos and videos.
and we have an Antique Muscle Car contest in our community that we do for the whole NJ area around here every year, another chance for photography.

PS cruises are nice. Go on one with your wife. You can walk around the decks which on a big ship can be up to half a mile in circumference. When you hit different ports, you can take your cameras and then when you get back to the ship after the shore excursion, just dump them in the room's safe to secure against theft. Once you're on board, you don't have to worry about dragging all your equipment or your clothes from place to place. The foods and shows are great and you get to relax too . While more expensive, get an outside cabin so you can sit on the balcony and watch the sea go past while you're sipping your tea or coffee or beer.

If leaving from and returning to the usa, would there be any real problem to bring Marijuana on a cruise ship.?
Thank You

 

[AndyH]

Having given this issue considerable thought of late, this is the perspective that I have settled on. Even though I doubt very much I'd be bored without work and typically lament not having more free time, it would seem ideal to be able to satisfy one's goals outside of work without necessarily having to retire. I will pull the plug when that is no longer feasible. All the better if there is the possibility of gradually dialing down work rather than having to go cold turkey.

Well put. I think that the gradual cutting back is the best way to retreat from the paycheck driven part of your life. Nobody wants to be Willie Mays playing center field for the 1972 New York Mets just to earn meal money. And replacing each of the different stimuli and pleasures you get from your work with new ones ought to help make the transition easier.

Andy

 

[CMoore]

Did you mean 1972.?

 

[AndyH]

Did you mean 1972.?

Sorry, yes.... I'll fix it. Fingers go faster than brain at times. Thanks for catching it.

Andy

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I'll probably sign up to be a TOC (Teacher On Call) after I retire. I'm retiring about ten years early, so my pension cheque will be a bit smaller. It'll be nice to get that paycheque which will keep me in film, on top of my pension cheque.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

If leaving from and returning to the usa, would there be any real problem to bring Marijuana on a cruise ship.?
Thank You

Don;t do it. You go through customs when you return. Worse, you don;t want to get caught in a foreign country. Some of these have punishments a lot worse then in the USA. What was that movie about the guy who got caught in Turkey? You don;t want to be him. Get drunk on the ship if you have too. Drinks flow from morning to night. You can even buy a "pass" to get drinks all day long if you want. Just don't fall off the boat. We'd miss ya. There's gambling at sea too, Just in case you're a degenerate gambler too.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Let me clarify my post. If you're landing only in the USA, you won't go thru US customs. But I'm not going to recommend you break the law. I suppose if you can find a ship that sails out of the returns to landlocked Colorado, it may be OK IOt's actually an interesting question. I think Washington State pot is legal. If the boat leaves and returns there, it might be legal. DOn;t know. Check with the cruise line. They might have restrictions which people ignore.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Reminds me of the time, a long time ago, when I flew to Jamaica with my girlfriend. We dabbled a little while there. Then, when I was packing, I find pot in my suitcase. Asking her what's going on, she says that it was so good she thought she'd take some home. So I say are you nuts? We have to go through customs. And it's in MY bag. Stick it your bag. Well, we decided not to do anything that stupid and left it in the room.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

She didn't stay my girlfriend.

 

[CMoore]

Don;t do it. You go through customs when you return. Worse, you don;t want to get caught in a foreign country. Some of these have punishments a lot worse then in the USA. What was that movie about the guy who got caught in Turkey? You don;t want to be him. Get drunk on the ship if you have too. Drinks flow from morning to night. You can even buy a "pass" to get drinks all day long if you want. Just don't fall off the boat. We'd miss ya. There's gambling at sea too, Just in case you're a degenerate gambler too.

My wife smokes, neither of us drink.
She would only be smoking on the ship, and nothing would have to come back off the ship.

 

[MNM]

Let me clarify my post. If you're landing only in the USA, you won't go thru US customs. But I'm not going to recommend you break the law. I suppose if you can find a ship that sails out of the returns to landlocked Colorado, it may be OK IOt's actually an interesting question. I think Washington State pot is legal. If the boat leaves and returns there, it might be legal. DOn;t know. Check with the cruise line. They might have restrictions which people ignore.

Just to point out... it's not legal in ANY state. Regardless of any state laws the federal statutes still apply. It's just that currently, the feds are choosing to not enforce the law.

Perhaps by the time I could possibly retire in the 2050s, that might be different.

 

[guangong]

A friend my age went on an Alaskan cruise. Old guy came up to her and said a lot of folks on cruise ship swap spouses. Her answer, “ I already have an old man. If you can fix me up with some young guy, I might be interested.” Old guy quickly turned on his heels and left. I still don’t think I am old enough for a cruise.

Wife and I have apartment in Fourth floor walk up and two story house in sticks. Stairs good for legs and heart. After extensive surgery on leg, spouse believed need to climb stairs helped to quickly liberate her from walker and cane.
Building located in what is considered a hot town for younger college grads. I still enjoy looking at beautiful young ladies...one of the advantages of being old. House in what passes for mountains in NJ and enjoy the seasons, snow included. Get some of my best ideas removing snow from my 150 ft driveway. Surrounded by two huge NJ State Parks. Because of what I consider over hunting, I do miss the bears visiting my stream for water.
All of which proves absolutely nothing, but that we all prefer different lifestyles...just as we prefer different cameras, etc.

 

[KenS]

I was "downsized' from my position at a local Gov't Agricultural Research Centre.. they needed the space I occupied. (and 'digital was the 'becoming 'thing'... so i went to the local University and earned my BFA (it was 'free of costs.. other than textbooks...since I was over 65 YOA.. Alberta Provincial Government covered all tuition costs).. and.. I got 'my hat and gown' at the ripe old age of 74.. with a GPA of 4.2
I still make a point of getting 'out there' with my much experienced Linhof monorail when the weather co-operates and I'm 'having a ball'... down there in my basement darkroom making prints using the 'archaic print' processes with my home built UV light source

Ken

 

[Vaughn]

Not bored. -- that is a mental condition.

I have never worked a fulltime job in my life. My 12 year USFS job was seasonal (I was a permanent employee guarenteed 6 months work/year). Winters were unemployment benefits and photography. Then, my 24 year job at the university running the darkroom/studio was halftime/10months/year. Incredible job, loved my work...I'd still be at the university except for digital. The Forest Service work was incredible...packed mules, built/maintained wilderness trails, and involved with wildlife, watershed, range, and recreation projects. Fought wild fires, too -- not 'fun' having flames in my face, but exciting.

I raised (SAHD) a set of triplets -- another incredible 'job' -- not retired from that one, even with the boys far away. Fortunately, the mother of my boys decided to retire me from our marriage -- smart gal, though she ended up having to pay me child support and alimony until the boys hit 18. I don't think she saw that coming.

Officially work retired, I am making more money than when I was working (pension, Social Security, and medicare)...plus I got a~ $12,000 raise this year and will get another ~$12,000 raise next year (one boy out of college, and another finishes in May 2020) - time to get the darkroom created...did not need one with the university facilities available.

My present permanent, full-time job is being an artist/educator. Just finished giving a workshop in Yosemite (AA Gallery) and am prepping tonight for another workshop this weekend at PhotoCentral (Hayward, CA). If I did not love the challenge, excitement and rewards of teaching workshops, I'd stay at home. Photographing, shows and workshops...love it and I even get paid for some of it.

 

[kb3lms]

I'm 57. Four years to go until retirement and I cannot imagine being bored.