Congratulations on your retirement! I understand your trepidation (I don't want to call it fear) about having too much time on your hands.

Maybe you can find someplace to volunteer once a week. Or join a bowling league. Or take up golf. Or needlepoint. I cannot afford to retire, but I am thinking about joining the local senior center just to meet people my age.

Be thankful your children are still at home, they will help you. My husband had planned to retire. He passed away 6 days before. So now I just feel like he was cheated. We had planned to travel, build our retirement home, do the things retired people do. I'm sure you feel the same way. I can't go out much because I either run into couples that we used to go out with or my friend & I will go to places where all I can do is think of the times I was there with my husband. Hate to say maybe you should have kept working, but maybe retiring is what you need. It is scary to move forward on your own, but this is probably what your wife would have wanted you to do. Enjoy your retirement & do some of the things your wife may of liked to have done but didn't get the chance. :)

Russ change of any kind is scary, but you can have time to try other things, just get used to your new income range. But if it were mein your shoes? I would take an Alaskan criuse or a safari trip, get out of the cocoon for a week with like minded folks. Go Aussie for a week or two, try a vegimite sandwich. Get all Crocodile Dundee, for a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoufhVjvNjo

Congratulations It will be hard, if just because you worked there so long. If nothing else. It took me a while to adjust. Then I started getting things done around the house. Now I am saying, how in the world did I manage to get things done while I was working, and taking care of everyone? I can't get it done now? lol.....

Thanks for your reply's. I thought I had planned things out pretty well, but those plans seem to crumble like a house of cards when the grief hits. I have a new camera and I want to get back into photography and I plan to but a kayak , take classes, etc, so I plan to try new things. I have considered more exotic trips as Jewels noted (great song by the way), and maybe I will. Just a case of over thinking things again and getting to far ahead of myself.

Thanks,
Russ

April 1 is not that far ahead Russ. I have a friend, actually one of John's childhood buddies that does photo trips, You get their experience of natural lighting and the travel package all together.

maybe something like that in your area? He has a partner, both published photographers, and of an age where you won't be taxed just staying on the trail.

Some of his photo from his page if it shows.
https://www.facebook.com/search/128616667256334/photos-by

I retired last year at the age of 55, I had my time in plus some and decided I needed to enjoy life. I found out the hard way that life is way too short. I keep the road hot keeping my year old grandson, doing things with friends etc. My husband and I were going to retire together at 57 and travel. He unfortunately didn't make it. I volunteer at the local animal shelter and plan to do that traveling. You will enjoy the freedom of retirement, do what you want when you want. I have never looked back, congrats to you!

My husband retired from the State and worked part time waiting for me to retire. I ended up retiring to be with him the weeks he had after his diagnosis. When he died I had a chance to go back to work but for me
It wasn't possible. I am one of those people who hibernate when trouble hits. Not a good thing generally, but this time it was the right decision. I forced myself to get out of the house at least a couple times a week. I found interesting things to focus on. I spent time with friends who were no longer working. None of it changed my grief, but nothing can change it. I just did what I needed to do to take those babysteps everyday.

Take time for you now. Enjoy some peace with a good book and push yourself to be active too. I am so glad I had that time for me and you can find it too, Sharon

Congratulations Russ! I understand your concerns, but I hope that you can enjoy your "freedom" and try some things that you've wanted to do. It isn't the type of retirement that we had looked forward to with our spouses, and it is scary doing this on your own. I have been thinking about retiring in about 2 years from teaching at age 57, but I worry that I'll lose contact with friends from work, etc. Other days I can't wait to retire after spending a rainy day inside with 34 fourth graders! Good luck to you and keep us posted.

Hello, Russ ...

The decision to retire is a major one, and it's not at all surprising that you would feel uncertain. I wish only the very best for you as you take these next steps.

Wishing you peace . . .

I had a commissioned job that wasn't paying. I'm 57 and can retire early if I live frugally, so I did it. I'd like to have another job but realize the discrimination against older workers is real. I was afraid to even think about retiring at this age, so I read a few books on early retirement. These books were not about finances, but about what to do with yourself once you take the plunge.

Basically, the authors said to not wait until you retire to start your retirement life. Example, thinking about volunteering for something or other--do it before you retire.

I kinda like retirement. I can do what I want when I want. But there's a danger. Another friend of mine retired and sits around the house all day in pajamas. Not good.

Good luck.

Truhal... you talking about me?...lol....in the winter I wore pjs take my bath, put on different pjs....Now that its warming up,I put clothes on, so I can go outside....lol

I had planned on working a few years longer, but after my husband retired, I thought it best (for a LOT of reasons) that I did, too....and I have never regretted the decision. As we here all know, our life can change in a blink of an eye. And unless you are one of the rare few who have found the career they love and are passionate about what they do, I would say retire as soon as it is financially realistic.

It is WONDERFUL to spend time with people you choose. Not to have to deal with that "one" at the work place (we've all had them) that you have to tolerate day after day after day after day... and you are on your OWN timeline. Meaning you can schedule what you want to do, when you want to.

There are so many wonderful volunteer opportunities. I currently work in three different places, and can give as many or as few hours as I want to each. I've met amazing people, many of whom are also traveling the journey of grief. And have had such great doors open for me as a result.

And travel! If you can and like to, you now have the time to explore all those places you put off seeing.... I am so glad my husband and I spent as much time as we did abroad. And so glad that our last trip (just before he died) was to France. That we spend our 25th wedding anniversary in Lyon, after spending almost a week in Paris. I am so thankful we didn't wait any longer to see all those places on our bucket list...I still have many, and will get to them one day.

I retired on April 1, also. And as I left, I was thinking to myself what a great day it was. No fooling.

I am adding my congratulations to you, Russ! It's a big lifestyle change. I retired about 4 months ago at age 64. The only visitors I have are delivery and service people since I have been busy fixing up my long neglected home. I have certain rules for myself such as not over sleeping, bathing daily, wearing street clothes not PJ's during the day. Overall I am enjoying my freedom from the obligations of employment. A lot less income, though.

It sounds like you are moving forward. You decided to retire. I dream of the day that I can afford to that. Congratulations!

As I aged, I watched people retire. There seems to be 2 groups. The ones that enjoy retirement, and those who waste away.

Those who enjoyed retirement joined groups, or activities, or volunteered, or decided to work at an easy PT job, etc. In other words they got involved.

Any transition in life can cause apprehension. It's normal. In a couple of months, you will be looking back and wonder why you were so worried. Again, Congratulations.