Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: bobrebos on November 09, 2017, 09:29:52 AM
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What do you retirees out there do to take up your time? Ive just recently slowed down the work and pretty much retired, but the days are long!
What did you find that worked for you to fill the time in a meaningful way?
I work on peoples bikes, scooters, ATV's but that isnt enough to keep me busy enough. How did you adjust to retirement? Thanks.....
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ever think about volunteering at a dog shelter? you can be their first best friend, and they'll thank you every day.
just a pet on their heads, a treat, taking them on a walk, or just a kind word can make a huge difference in their life.
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I'm not retired, but I'm self employed. Sometimes it's very busy, and sometimes there's little work. During the little work times, I can't begin to keep up with projects around here. My problem is I have too many vehicles, gas powered equipment, house construction projects, and things like cutting and splitting the winter's wood. If you want to stay busy, collect several boats, cars, motorcycles, lawn mowers, and plan a home improvement or two. None of it has to be expensive... all my vehicles together aren't worth what some guys here spend on a Motus. If you collect enough stuff, you can achieve what I have achieved: Nowhere near enough time to maintain it all.
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Part time job doing something you love so you're not in it for the money?
Lots of volunteering needs: local hospital, after school programs (shop class?), meals on wheels.
Long bike trip to see old friends or family? This is top of my retirement list.
I've heard that you need three hobbies to keep you busy...
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I found that when someone says "we should" or "can you" or 'do you know" and I answer in the affirmative, I am obligating myself. It is your life, make up for all the times you said you would "like to do this or that". Keep a notebook of things you want and need to do. I am mostly retired at 58 y.o. I have properties and a small business that takes up some of my time. The rest is spent at a leisurely pace. I do participate in local politics. I go to the City and County Planning and Zoning and Council meetings. This in it's self has been very interesting and I found that I can have an influence on Local politics and agenda's.
Start cleaning up your estate so your family does not have too. De-clutter and get rid of all the things you really do not want or need. This is a slow process. I have carburetors boxed and sitting on the armrest of my truck now. Sold for$150. Money I did not have before and the carbs I do not need are going away.
Enjoy life.
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With 14 years of practice I'm happy to offer some thoughts. About the time I was retiring I signed up for a welding class at the local community college, then proceeded to take every welding class they offered. That allowed me to learn something new and also meet new people outside my normal orbit. Then I got my USCG license and taught sailing part time for the Navy. This also got me involved with a guy who owned a 79 ft schooner and needed crew. At the same time I volunteered to be on a couple city commissions that held my interest and gave me a chance to help make our city a bit better. I helped re-write our City Charter. Now I'm on the Planning Commission. Throw in about 6 rallies a year, at least one two week motorcycle trip each year, and at least one cruise with my wife.....time passes quickly.
The welding gig has been lots of fun and I end up doing odd welding projects for our community. Also do some small welding work for a local retail shop. I actually end up turning away welding work. Oh, I also have a woodworking shop and have taught a couple classes to neighbors. That's a great way to get to know them better and it's neat to watch a 60 year old lady having fun learning how to use a table saw, band saw, drill press, etc.
The key is to keep your mind active. Learn new stuff. Meet new people. Don't be 'that guy' who sits at home feeling sorry for himself because he's bored. Call your local city/county clerk and ask where they need volunteers. If you get into something that turns out to not be fun...quit and move on to something you do like.
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Get your self an old well worn Guzzi to keep running -works for me. Or better yet get a pickup with over 150K on it, Fords work for me. It is a POS and is in constant need of something and if you have my luck there will be things wrong with it that no else has ever heard of. Grumble -grumble, where is that neighbor's cat when I need something to kick? Just kidding of course, but after my farming gig where the work is literally never done, a little boredom is a welcome thing as long as it does not get out of hand and is better than the final alternative.
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After my disaster last year, I was overwhelmed in many ways, with work and life. I was not able to catch up. A few months ago I was able to retire. I have been very busy with trying to catch up. I still have a lot of paperwork, bills, etc.
Things were slowing down, so a week ago I took on a clutch repair job. That job involves a lot of side issues, like a broken exhaust stud. So it will be a few hours a day, for another couple of days.
I am still very busy. Plus taking trips. I will be going over to the coast for a few days this weekend. I like short notice get aways like this.
I still have not gotten very far with the items that Orange Guzzi mentioned. Cleaning up the estate, decluttering, etc. It is a VERY slow process. I need to start tossing out a LOT of old motorcycle bits. Try to sell a lot of things. This is a slow process for me. I need an Ebay account I guess.
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Good thread guys.
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One of several reasons for living in the country was to help keep me busy when I retired. Not a problem. Been retired a little over two years and still do not have enough hours in a day. M-F Friday the morning is filled by driving a 20 mile round trip to a wellness center for exercise. We have a garden, we volunteer quite a bit, keeping up house, cars, equipment all takes time. We try to prepare most of out food from scratch and that takes time. Need more riding time. Planned to start flying regularly again but that has not happened due to the club activities being mostly a weekend thing and we always seem to be having something else going on.
Life is what you make of it.
GliderJohn
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I've been waiting my whole life to take it easy, so that's what I do.
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Almost two years retired. A lot of my actions are reflected in earlier comments.....
De-cluttering is an on going project. Craigslist is your friend. My wife just sold a Christmas Tree (fake) yesterday.
I had a complete basket case "bacon slicer" I was going to reassemble in retirement..... I lost interest in wrenching on cycles, so I sold it and gained a lot of room.
If you can swing it, go south or west to a warm place for the winter. It's the BEST thing I've discovered!!! My asthma is almost non existent in AZ. We joined a LA Fitness we can walk to....I visit first thing in the morning for an hour of cardio and core building activity. By 9:00 am I'm back home showered with my blood pumping ready for the days activities of exploring the area.
Look for activities in your area. Sunday night concerts in the park etc. Last thing you want to do is sit in front of a TV during daylight hours.
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Help coach at the local high school. It doesn't matter if you weren't good at the sport. A lot of times the Head Coach will need the additional support. The kids could use the advice from another "Elder of the tribe".
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Sign up for a Martial Arts class - 2-3 times per week. Great fitness, good camaraderie, new people
Offer Services as a tutor - math, languages, science, or other skills if you have the skills and desire to pass on knowledge
Inventory your knowledge - what do you know how to do intuitively that you could share on a regular basis?
Paint the house
Seal the garage floor with a nice stain
Start donating a bunch of items you haven't used in the last 3 years
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Mis-read above:
" Start detonating a bunch of items you haven't used in the last 3 years "
And each day you could take a moment to remember you are basking in the glow of the envy of those who will never be able to retire.
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I retired the second time at the end of '93. Did a bit of contract engineering for a couple of years for one of my former employers. Then pretty much got into volunteer activities around the city.
My wife and I were CASA's in our local court system (Court Appointed Advocates for Children) for almost six years each -- interesting but discouraging to see how some families disintegrate mainly due to drugs. Then a few years at our local Hospice facility followed by a few years at one of our local food pantries. Most recently it was a year at our local homeless shelter -- got frustrating, difficult to help 20's and 30's with their lives, they already know everything.
Probably the most interesting/fun volunteering I do is shake the bell for the Salvation Army at our local Rural King store (similar to Farm and Fleet). I generally schedule this activity for 2 Hour periods on the Thursdays and Saturdays in December. RK has a very broad inventory so their customers range from one end of the spectrum to the other. I chat/joke/kid with them as they're putting money in the bucket. Fun gig.
My counsel is to get involved -- in something.
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If all the suggestions don't work and you prefer to stay home. Try baking bread from scratch. Make pasta or brew beer. Besides making something to eat. Loads of fun. :boozing: :food:
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Since you need three hobbies -- thought of compiling your family tree -- in detail -- and in the process going and visiting your many places of origin in your own country and from around the world? Scope to do as much or as little as you want.
I've identified the birth places of all but one of my 32 Great, Great, Great Grandparents and all but 14 of my 64 4th Great Grandparents. Many places for us to visit in Ireland, England, France, Germany and Australia including a noble's castle in France and also six transported convicts. My wife has Norwegian in there as well so will be a trip there also one day. I'm just more than half Irish and a quarter English back to the days when people did not move around much. Some German Wends and guillotined French nobles in there too.
We are a long way from retiring but my wife and I plan to motorcycle tour those places here and around the world eventually. Her family goes back to the early 1600s in Rhode Island then heads west so plenty of places for us to visit here in the meantime.
A massive amount of free resources online to do it so no real impediment.
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Just taking notes here. :popcorn: :boozing:
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Retired one year now. I find the trouble with doing nothing is------- one never knows when he is done
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All great ideas. Thank-You......Now I will be busier than ever! :grin:
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Wish I had that problem : (
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Just taking notes here. :popcorn: :boozing:
Yep, can't wait to have this problem!
I do like the sailing idea. I had a Mini Fish once and always loved taking it out on Lake Murray. I would love to learn more about it.
My brother just retired and has been photographing architecture with my Dad's old cameras. He had a great time in Schenectady with all the old stuff around here.
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I do some part-time teaching, and I take a ton of courses over at the local community college. I was a bit worried at first as to how I'd be accepted by the students and professors, but it's been great.
No pressure for grades, just learning for the fun of it.
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I took a half-time job running a cool little nonprofit organization -- skiinghistory.org
Maintenance on five old motorcycles in summer.
Teaching skiing in winter.
Yard work and projects for the wife year-round.
If I lived near water I'd also have a sailboat. If I had a lot of money I'd still have an airplane.
Someone once told me "Only boring people get bored."
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I do some part-time teaching,
You must have a teaching certificate?
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You want some real fun. Go as a sub teacher.
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get a dog. my son gave me a German wire hair puppy in July. we walk 3 times a day and often total 8 miles or more. I'm constantly cleaning up after him and now that hunting season is here I have birds to dress and cook each day. gotta go, he's chewing on something
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I retired on my 68th birth day 4 weeks ago, I've got 4 motorbikes, wife's car, caravan, 5 grandkids, brother with cancer, 92 year old mother who can't remember what happened ten minutes earlier, daughter going through a divorce and she has had to down size to a very run down house. I have not got time to fart. LOL
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get a dog. my son gave me a German wire hair puppy in July. we walk 3 times a day and often total 8 miles or more. I'm constantly cleaning up after him and now that hunting season is here I have birds to dress and cook each day. gotta go, he's chewing on something
I live out in the country and currently have three dogs. You are right, they take a lot of time. Two of them are getting pretty old now so they cant walk for long distances like they used to, but my Springer Spaniel still likes to go on long distance treks....
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Retired one year now. I find the trouble with doing nothing is------- one never knows when he is done
The 'Honey Do's' are never quite finished.
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Like that!
Retired some 8 years ago, still don't have time time to catch up with all that needs doing as well as doing stuff that interests me. Motorcycle touring takes up a bit. Perhaps some 400,000 km in that time, including a couple of laps of the Island. Then there's keeping the bikes on the road & trying to get the others back on the road - 3 of them, plus the Brevada V7, the Katana 650, even before I get to the CX500.
As I like cooking stuff, I developed an interst in gardening - being a bloke, mostly edible - and have done a lot with native foods, which leads naturally on to preserving the excess (jams, pickles, chutney, drying & the like) - and to involvement in community gardens. Living in a heavily urban environment brings it's own challenges. Haven't yet got into bees & honey, but likely will. If foods aren't your thing, orchids are fractionating, as is bonsai, Japanese gardens, ikebana. There's lots out there to develop an interst (or a mania) for. And lots of interesting fellow travellers.
Brush up your language skills in your free time, or learn another one or two - keep the mind active. There's plenty of skills to acquire ou there (and useful ones like those welding courses). Came across a bloke who started a cafe proct on an old boxer - ended up doing courses for the skills needed - machining, CNC, painting, panel beating, saddlery, the lot - the end result was a work of art on the road. Took him a while, though.
Some people keep up their interest in fishing - all sorts - fly, beach, Rock, River - and go out of their way to feed their passion. Me, I just set a line overnight to see if I can come up with breakfast. Bread & worms.
Do they have Men's Sheds where you are? If not, set one up. There's bound to be some support you can drum up. You won't have any spare time for years.
Volunteer stuff is good. Check out your local needs - there's bound to be something interesting. If you're in a rural or semi-rural area, the local fire brigade, emergency services, coast guard are starters.
To get more ideas of interesting stuff, try to get hold of "The Whole Earth Catalogue" should you not have kept yours. (That dates me). There were 3 editions I think, probably no longer in print, but ask around at book shops, libraries, or your superannuated hippy mates. Tons of interesting niches to explore.
Above all, retirement is an opportunity to expand the mind. Now you've the time to work on that. I've found that taking trips to new places, the further away the better, starts the process. There's loads of interesting stuff out there. Pick something. With a little luck, within a year or two you won't have time to scratch yourself. And enjoy. It's supposed to be fun now.
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I retired on my 68th birth day 4 weeks ago, I've got 4 motorbikes, wife's car, caravan, 5 grandkids, brother with cancer, 92 year old mother who can't remember what happened ten minutes earlier, daughter going through a divorce and she has had to down size to a very run down house. I have not got time to fart. LOL
Im a cancer survivor myself (So far anyways!) so sorry to hear about your brother. Yep, you have a full plate!
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You must have a teaching certificate?
My teaching is at a local university that also offers maritime certification courses for mariners to keep their licenses valid. I'm certified by the USCG to teach a number of them, and do it when the school gets up enough students to run a class. It's stuff like tankship familiarization, hazmat, and other stuff needed to keep their documents up to date.
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Retired just on two years now.
The honey do list, today's is replace popped decking nails with s/s screws and waterblast so she can get the good job of slapping on the paint.
Helping son out in his powersteering and wheel alignment business. Spent yesterday afternoon under the wheel arch of an SUV replacing enough parts on the mangled rh front to get it mobile.
Help my nephew out with mainly gardening but carpentry stuff as well.
A couple of 2 hour gardening jobs close by.
Play in the workshop. It is pretty well equipped and I enjoy making and fixing things.
Ride the bike more.
Not much "spare" time left after that. However I do things when I feel like it, if I want a slow start then I have a slow start.
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I enjoy my retirement. I am glad to catch up on 30 years of sleep. I go to the gym regularly. I can take rides, drives and vacations when I want. I keep the yard nicer. I do more maintenance projects around the house and on the bikes & cars. I've gotten involved with a political party and was signing new voters at the Fair. I like to BBQ and enjoy entertainment from cooking, going out and finding new restaurants. I go to concerts. I go to cheap matinee movies. I visit friends in other states. I never feel rushed anymore and every day is Saturday.
I think since you are asking, that retirement might not be for you. For myself, I've never had a question about it.
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My experience.....ssss ssslllllllllllloooo ooooowwwwwww down. Take lots of long walks. Get a bicycle. Go for long rides. Go 'splorin' on your Guzzi. Get used to the idea that you don't have to work. Shock your better half by learning to cook or doing the housework. Decompress.
Get a part time job or voulunteer. I took a part time job driving a special needs van for the local schoolboards. I use that money to take my wife somewhere warm around the end of February. And me somewhere fun on the Guzzi during the summer. Schoolbus drivers get the summer off!
Enjoy.
G
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I've been waiting my whole life to take it easy, so that's what I do.
I didn't want to be the first to say it , but yeah :laugh: Stop and smell the roses , walk the dog , pat momma .
Dusty
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Alternatively you could pat the roses, smell the dog, and walk momma.
Careful about the thorns though ....
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Not a single person on their death bed wished they'd worked longer or harder.
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Alternatively you could pat the roses, smell the dog, and walk momma.
Careful about the thorns though ....
It is becoming obvious why you can't spell normal :laugh:
Dusty
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4 years into retirement so far. I'm so busy doing things the way I really want them done that I wonder how I managed to fit 50 hours of work time into the mix. Wife & I usually ride bicycles 5 miles to breakfast. Eat and spend a couple of hours over coffee discussing everything. Then 5 miles to back home around 11 to noon. Then off to one of a million things I've always wanted to do better or correctly. Then it's bedtime and repeat. House projects & honey do's are Monday to Friday ONLY and they stop at 5 (unless they are really interesting). I am retired!
Oh - Winters in Florida. No ice, snow or cold and a whole new bunch of people to bike and breakfast with (and no hills). I do bring a motorcycle.
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A retired doctor recently told me once you retire spend 50% of your time taking care of you. Not bad advice.
GliderJohn
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All good suggestions. The best advice I got before I retired about 5 yrs ago is to NOT PLAN TO DO ANYTHING SUBSTANTIAL for at least 3 months after you retire - unless you already are deep into a hobby/activity/2nd job that you already enjoy & intend to keep doing. According to the 2 articles I read on the subject, people who can just "chill" for a bit before casting about for direction in retirement seem to end up happier in the long run than those who feel a compulsion to be busy right away. I didn't do much of anything consistently for 3-5 months before I started getting active again, other than some of the bike & home maintenance activities mentioned by others here. Then, I joined a tai chi class (any exercise class or activity would do), at first once a week, then twice a week, and now 4-5 times a week, plus 2 days/week meeting an old buddy at the gym for general exercise & running. An exercise class may only be an hour or so long, but with the prep, driving there & home, showering & eating afterwards, you've taken care of essentially a whole morning or most of an afternoon & have done something healthy for your body to boot. Make a couple/few friends & structure something regular. I hooked up with a "breakfast club" of old fart retirees (mostly cops & military) most of whom met at the same mom & pop restaurant Monday thru Friday - the uniting thing was an interest in riding motorcycles far & often. Anything regular like that provides structure you can plan the rest of your days around, too. But don't plan too much or too rigidly. The one dissatisfaction I have these days is that I don't have enough time to do everything I have the interest, time and budget for.
I originally planned on doing the volunteer things at animal shelters, vet facilities, etc., but between the exercise classes, motorcycle maintenance & riding, & the standing dates with 3 different groups for either daily or weekly meal meetings, I don't have time or the inclination to do many "honey-do" projects around the house, & my wife would also rather ride than clean house so the house is in worse shape than it was when we retired! :laugh:
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NGC Im struggling with this retirement thing....How to stay busy?
My wife said if you can't figure out what to do, you're a goner........ :wink: :grin:
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Take up a new hobby or two. After retiring, I started target shooting (and shooting skeet and trap) and I also began playing taiko drums (the big Japanese ones). I ended up building a drum. Do it now.
Rich A
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Speaking of volunteering, I became a literacy tutor to adults.
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Ok, I quite punching the time clock in 1992. :evil: :smiley: Until the cancer gig, I figured I'd live to a ripe old age. May yet. After "retirement" I finished up an airplane that I'd been building. I've built 2 more since then, and have a third under construction. I like barn find Guzzis, and have saved several. The latest is number 13, although only 8 were barn finds. I have a one horse machine shop, and I've been the horse.. until last year. I still support Ed the Rocket Scientist's business, but he has to send me a pup to do the labor. Just the last couple of days, I've been working with guys on the V11 forum to (hopefully) fix the transmission pawl spring breakage. They are still breaking after 17 freakin years. That's fun.. I read more, and waste more time on WG. I've taken over being the dinner cook. Did that when I first "retired." I do other stuff, too. As long as I "want" to. I don't work for other people. That's work.
Honestly, you need to find something you are passionate about and do it. Oh. And keep waking up. I think that's important.. :smiley:
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Forgot to mention that I follow my favourite sopranos on Twitter :grin:
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...& my wife would also rather ride than clean house so the house is in worse shape than it was when we retired! :laugh:
Excellent! :thumb:
Just chill for a few months, then evaluate how you feel about adding/subtracting activities after you get acquainted with your new self.
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Help put on a Guzzi rally. That should take up half a year for you.
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Get your self an old well worn Guzzi to keep running -works for me. Or better yet get a pickup with over 150K on it, Fords work for me. It is a POS and is in constant need of something and if you have my luck there will be things wrong with it that no else has ever heard of. Grumble -grumble, where is that neighbor's cat when I need something to kick? Just kidding of course, but after my farming gig where the work is literally never done, a little boredom is a welcome thing as long as it does not get out of hand and is better than the final alternative.
Funny you should mention the F150s thing. I have a 1952 Studebaker, 1973 VW Beetle, three bikes and a Dodge Ram. Now im looking at a 1987 Ford F150 short bed....Its an addiction I guess.....
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Funny you should mention the F150s thing. I have a 1952 Studebaker, 1973 VW Beetle, three bikes and a Dodge Ram. Now im looking at a 1987 Ford F150 short bed....Its an addiction I guess.....
I'm surprised you're looking for things to keep you busy, but since you are, just a few more vehicles should do it. Old ones seem to help more than newer ones (sometimes). And as I posted above, boats work well too.
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I retired this past April at 62 y/o. As I approached my last week of work a bit of panic/guilt began to creep in. Couldn't imagine not working so I applied for a part time job as a groundskeeper at a local museum. A week before I was to start, I had a change of heart and informed I would not be taking the job. The foreman (also a retiree) laughed and said no problem, he had gone through the same process. I will say that I was surprised how unsettling a process it was adjusting to not working. It took a couple of months to adjust.
Spring, summer and fall no problem keeping busy. started getting back into photography. After years of phone and "little cameras," I h ad to get used to using a SLR again. Incorporated this with hiking and motorcycling.
I was concerned about winter, and realized I now had time to attack all those little or annoying type projects around the house. I'm currently stripping doors and frames that have at least 100 years of paint on them. Getting everything back to bare wood. What is nice about retirement is those tedious / annoying things are no longer that. It's not like you have a weekend to complete the task, able to take the time and enjoy the process. After I paint the interior of my (very busy) brothers home, I will be remodeling 1 of 2 bathrooms. Never tiled before, looking forward to it! Add getting back into skiing after a 20 year absence (snowmobile phase), winter should not be a problem.
As my good friend Bob Wegman says, "When I get up in the morning I have nothing to do. When I go to bed at night I only have 1/2 of it done!"
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Just Thinking........
10 Best Roads in America
« on: November 07, 2017, 10:26:35 AM »
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So I came across this 10 Best Roads in America list on You Tube.
1. Pacific Coast Highway
2.Pikes Peak
3.Blue Ridge Parkway
4. Tail of the Dragon
5. Beartooth Highway
6.Going to the Sun road
7.Coastal Route 1 Maine
8.Grand Staircase, Escalante, Utah
9.Natchez Trace Parkway
10.River Road Texas
I have ridden number 1,2, 8, 10. But I wonder about number 10. How about Million Dollar Highway? Maybe they were afraid Montana and Colorado would dominate? In Texas is Twisted Sisters better than River Road? I have ridden both each has it strong points. So almighty all knowing Guzzi riders please weigh in with your thoughts.
Paul
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I'm not nearly retired at 24 years of age, but if I was, I'd like to think I would spend time investing in others, learning basic skills that I had never gotten around to learning (cooking, gardening, etc.), reading classic books, watching critically acclaimed movies, and trying to understand concepts that I hadn't had the time or effort to try and understand before (like basic basic physics, philosophy, etc. ).
I'd like to think even trying any of that would make me a better person for other people to have around. Mostly understanding other cultures, concepts, and skills, if I had to be a bit more concise.
Maybe it's a little too grandiose. I'm probably way too out of touch and naive to know better. I like it that way. :cool:
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It's a good plan, Willard.
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Well I finally sat down long enough to read this topic.
tons of great suggestions here.
I pulled the pin 8 years ago at 62. the first thing I was going to do was paint the interior of the house. 3 years ago I hired a guy to do it while I was in Az for the winter.
Now I do remember about 3 or 4 years ago there was a day I didn't know what to do so I sat on my ass and caught up on magazines. I don't recommend that. every day you need to be out doing something. just don't plan anything.
I hunt, fish and ride the 4 cycles while I can. I know the day will come when I can't so don't wait!
Now, here is what I can tell you not to do after being in daily contact with independent business owners all of my working life and seeing too many failures.
Do not buy a business of any kind or make an investment in somebody else's. this is the easiest way to lose all of your nest egg.
Good luck.
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Wow Bob
I retired about 10 years ago and ain't found the easy chair in the back yard yet ! :laugh:
I do have a bike rally at my house every year and attend at least 4 or 5 more elsewhere . :grin:
My youngest offspring is 20 years old and supply's lots of entertainment .
I did join the CMAUSA a few years back , we have "events" to help with and rides to do regularly .
I medically retired and it takes me a week to do a days work now , so the honey do list never get caught up ! :rolleyes:
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My dad said it best, “There seems to be just as much work to do now that I’m retired...only now I don’t have as much help!
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ever think about volunteering at a dog shelter? you can be their first best friend, and they'll thank you every day.
just a pet on their heads, a treat, taking them on a walk, or just a kind word can make a huge difference in their life.
That is a beautiful sentiment and I cannot better it...
However a good way to stay busy is to restore a bike, especially one that you may have had a history with.
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That is a beautiful sentiment and I cannot better it...
However a good way to stay busy is to restore a bike, especially one that you may have had a history with.
Dogs have always been, and will be forever my best friends.
Recently I clipped off the end of my little finger. Blood everywhere.
My Boxer, rescued after being abused as a pup, and my constant companion for 13 years, had a look of concern on his face as if it were his finger. I forgot about my pain to comfort him. Never had a bike that I care about as much as my current 3 rescues, or any of the other rescues I've had or fostered.
But that is me. Everyone needs an interest that works for them.
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Dogs have always been, and will be forever my best friends.
Recently I clipped off the end of my little finger. Blood everywhere.
My Boxer, rescued after being abused as a pup, and my constant companion for 13 years, had a look of concern on his face as if it were his finger. I forgot about my pain to comfort him. Never had a bike that I care about as much as my current 3 rescues, or any of the other rescues I've had or fostered.
But that is me. Everyone needs an interest that works for them.
:thumb:
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I told my wife that when I retire I am going to resurrect my woodworking skills and drive around picking up discarded furniture to restore and/or remodel and then resell. She wants me to buy and sell motorcycles. I may take a part time job at the local motorcycle shop since I have already put a lot of people on bikes even though I don't work in the industry.
My Grandparents occupied their time by going to garage sales. My Grandfather bought anything that was broken and my Grandmother bought items that she knew she could resell. Then they went to a local flea market once a month and sold what they fixed/bought for a profit. It was something they could do together and gave them some spending money.
My parents did a lot of volunteer work. Helping adults study for the GED. Cleaning streams. Working at the public television station.
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I work with the local Agency on Aging assisting senior veterans (well, those more senior than me) with companionship and money management.
Gerry
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As my good friend Bob Wegman says, "When I get up in the morning I have nothing to do. When I go to bed at night I only have 1/2 of it done!"
Or, like the old song says ... "They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time! Life's been good to me, so far ... "
Retired three years this month.
I probably have 50 unfinished projects around the house and farm and in the shop. Just got back from two weeks in Cornwall just exploring. Going to every rally I can. Visiting family and old friends.
If there were three of me and we had 25 years, I couldn't do all the things I want to do and finish all the projects I want to finish, so it's hard for me to relate, other than say that even though I enjoyed my work, the day I retired was one of the happiest days of my life and it's just gotten better as time goes on.
Lannis
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Dogs have always been, and will be forever my best friends..
I've also been taking my puppy (now 6 mos old--this pic was taken at 5 mos) to an assisted living facility to visit the residents.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/jx2fqw/P1020343.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jx2fqw)
upload your pictures (http://imgbb.com/)
Rich A
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I've also been taking my puppy (now 6 mos old--this pic was taken at 5 mos) to an assisted living facility to visit the residents.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/jx2fqw/P1020343.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jx2fqw)
upload your pictures (http://imgbb.com/)
Rich A
Wow! What a great thing to do. For the residents, and your best friend. :smiley:
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Volunteer work and travel. Find the best match for your skills and it fills your time perfectly.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/ncS57b/20170627_140349_1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ncS57b)
upload image to a post on web (http://imgbb.com/)
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Good timing for this topic to pop up for my situation considering I just decided last week to retire in the spring.
After chewing up the last 2 months of weekends rebuilding a deck at the house and missing the best 2 riding
months of the year helped making my decision.
I really enjoy these home projects (have plenty more waiting) but it stinks that they become such a grind plus
taking up all my free time takes all the enjoyment out of it.
I am not really worried as the OP is with finding things to do in retirement but you all have given me more great
ideas that I won't likely have time for!! Can't wait!!
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Just Thinking........
10 Best Roads in America
� on: November 07, 2017, 10:26:35 AM �
Quote
So I came across this 10 Best Roads in America list on You Tube.
1. Pacific Coast Highway
2.Pikes Peak
3.Blue Ridge Parkway
4. Tail of the Dragon
5. Beartooth Highway
6.Going to the Sun road
7.Coastal Route 1 Maine
8.Grand Staircase, Escalante, Utah
9.Natchez Trace Parkway
10.River Road Texas
I have ridden number 1,2, 8, 10. But I wonder about number 10. How about Million Dollar Highway? Maybe they were afraid Montana and Colorado would dominate? In Texas is Twisted Sisters better than River Road? I have ridden both each has it strong points. So almighty all knowing Guzzi riders please weigh in with your thoughts.
Paul
I've ridden the Million Dollar Highway and it's nice but has far too much traffic on it to be considered a fun ride IMO. I think they should add the Chief Joseph's Highway to the Beartooth Pass road as one can lead right into the other and CJH was pretty great too.
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The choice of the Pike's Peak road is a headscratcher. That's a great road only if you enjoy going up hill in heavy traffic. I wonder if the persons who wrote the list have actually ridden the roads they chose.
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Hike. brings back the innocents of your youth, great for your mental and physical health.
Bring a PB&J, something to drink, binoculars, and your best friend. 4 legged ones, they don't complain :wink:
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I'm not really qualified to answer that question, but I look forward to the day I have your problem. Some things I want to do are, riding, hunting, fishing, yardwork, riding, woodworking, riding, woodworking, building a lake, riding, woodworking, fishing, napping.
We'll see what happens :evil:
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Well, i like older used cars and trucks, and enjoy working on them (and cycles of course) so this is my new to me purchase. 1990 Ford F150.
Has a bad squeal coming from Serpentine belt area. Belt has been replaced, and still squealing. I sprayed water on the belt while its running and the squeal goes away. That is supposed to indicate a bad belt alignment, but Il be darned if I can find where its not aligned correctly??? Maybe I'l replace the belt tensioner even though the mechanic video I study says if water shuts down the squeal its an alignment and not a tensioner problem???
Oh well, keeps me out of trouble.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/eonF7b/00_P0_P_2_Id_U6p_SRowk_600x450.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eonF7b)
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Many good suggestions and ideas here, a lot depends on your personality. Are you a people person? Are you one of the live to work folks? I'm one of the work to live folks and have been enjoying retirement for 7 years now. I wonder how all the things I do now got done when I was working 40+ hours a week. Travel, learning a new language and going to computer classes are filling my time and still all is good. Good luck, most times it's a failure of imagination that holds us back.
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Something else to consider if relocating; Do you like the action & activities of a city or the solitude of the woods? I'd go crazy in the woods after a few days. I like all the action and activities to be nearby and easy to get to. In Phoenix we chose to be within the "freeway loop" with fast access to a lot of activities. Many of our friends are one hour away to come in for events.
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Spend your day posting on WG! 😄
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If you want a single project that will keep you busy for a couple of years, pick up and restore a basket case Indian. I'm not retired but my basket took me a couple of years AFTER I collected all the parts I needed. There's a large learning curve (learning is good), you have to rethink engineering and assembly processes you've learned on Italian bikes and the rewards are incredible!
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This book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/544038.How_to_Do_Things_Right
It is out of stock at Amazon but available used. Very funny musing on retirement. I read it years ago but now need a reread as I approach retirement.
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Remember all those times at work when the meeting was droning on or you suddenly realized everytime you emptied your Outbox your Inbox magically filled back up, or a annoying customer or co-worker wanted to blame all their troubles on you, and then your mind and gaze drifted out the window to regard a PERFECT DAY and wished with all your heart that you could be RIDING YOUR BIKE instead??
Now you can, because THAT'S what retirement is for...
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Now you can, because THAT'S what retirement is for...
Couldn't have said it better..
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Everyday is a Saturday. :thumb:
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Wife: What are you going to do today?
Husband: Nothing.
Wide That's what you did yesterday.
Husband Yea, I didn't get finished.
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I’ve got bees in two locations. They take up a bit more time than I thought they would, but the honey makes the time and the stings worthwhile. I’ve taken on secretarial duties for a couple of Masonic bodies. And whenever possible I’m out on the Guzzi, or visiting dealerships to have a road test on something interesting (without any intention of buying it).
I need these diversions. My wife packed in her job about nine months after me, and if she sees me sitting down without any apparent task in hand she finds me things to do. Shortly after she retired, she saw our doctor for a routine check, and was told that retirement suited her. Her blood pressure had gone down. I saw him a couple of weeks later. He told me that mine had gone up, innocently adding “your wife’s just retired, hasn’t she”. He’s now retired too, to spend more time with his Speed Twin.
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After reading all these post about retiring makes me wish I had asked for advise on what to do upon retiring.
Did I ever make a huge mistake shortly after retiring, told the wife to make a list of a couple of things she wanted done now that I would have gobs of time to do them between riding, building a man cave/garage for my toys. On returning home a day or two later from a short 200 mile ride I was presented with a 1000 sheet toilet paper roll with just a few honey do's she said. There were about ten items per page for the first 100 pages, then the number per page increased.
Long story short, after more than ten years of retirement I finally finished the second page. Not a whole lot of time available between riding and building a small building. The building did grow in size every time I heard complaints, it is still growing, I still hear complaints. At present it is 52' X 32' and growing.
Grant
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From Grant Borden:
Did I ever make a huge mistake shortly after retiring, told the wife to make a list of a couple of things she wanted done now that I would have gobs of time to do them between riding, building a man cave/garage for my toys.
Oh my, my poor naive retirerie. Never, never ask the wife what she thinks needs to be done or you will never have time to do the man things. :the wife:
GliderJohn
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From Grant Borden:Oh my, my poor naive retirerie. Never, never ask the wife what she thinks needs to be done or you will never have time to do the man things. :the wife:
GliderJohn
Man, that's a fact. I made the mistake one time of telling Dorcia that my Winter projects were caught up.. :smiley:
building a lake,
Trust me, that will keep you busy for years. It's not just the making it, it's the upkeep.
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I visited this old thread again because I still haven't made any firm decisions/choices as to whats the best to do with all the time once entering retirement. I guess Ive decided on procrastination! LOL :grin:
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I retired in June of 15. For the first 2 years I worked on cleaning out my home and selling it. At the same time I had to find a new place to live. Then it was time to resurrect my neglected bikes. Got that done and Bro and I did some touring to work out my and the bikes bugs. We really enjoy heading your way and finding all the Army corps of engineer projects we can and touring them. One thing that helped me a lot was NAPS!!!! Once that was all caught up, I got a part time job with a buddy of mine for the winter doing land surveying. It is good exercise and gets me into the woods on beautiful sunny/snowy days.
have to go clean up the snow from this last nor'easter!!!!
More to follow.
Paul
3/15/18
So, I have to say, it's not hard to keep busy.
Just got back from snow blowing my ex-in-laws driveway. She is still in good shape but he has issues that keep him from running machines, so they need help around the house.
Now i'm seeing another storm coming next week!!!!!! ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
I also do small odd jobs for them also. That takes up 1 day a week year round.
Stuff seems to keep me busy. Yesterday, after snow blowing, spent 2 hrs on the phone trying to figure out why I got $1600 in bills from my colonoscopy. (got bent over twice!!!)
This year I am also going to try to do my own taxes. That should take up a solid month!
NY instructions 71 pages, Fed 107 pages. WTF!
But, back to riding......
I now keep a small ultralight collapsible fishing pole and small box of lures on the bike. See accessible water, Fish!
I have also gotten back in touch with some old friends and we play 4hrs of doubles ping pong every Friday night. It would be really good exercise if we didn't eat pizza and drink heavily.
We add 2 other guys and play $0.25 -0.50 cent poker once a month. A bad beat night is $20.
The last round I lost $1.75 after 3hrs play. That is a lot cheaper than going out drinking at the local pub.
So..... after all that blah blah blah,
Do what you want. If you want to sit in a chair all day every day, do it. Its your life.
But... I think you'll find that life stuff will keep you busy.
For me the most important thing is the part time job. I need to feel that I am needed and contributing.
Happy retirement!!!!
Paul
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I'd recommend a scheduled exercise program at the local Y. Try three days a week at a regular time.
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Working on my aging body is the most important part of what I do in my retirement. Because getting healthy, keeping my mind and my spirit active and moving, is the best way to finish out living.
I ride a bicycle, nearly every day, 10-20 miles a day. It turns out to be both great for fitness and fun, and also to be incredibly practical. It saves a ton of money on fuel and insurance. Everything I know about motorcycle riding enhances it, and it enhances my motorcycle riding too. Win-win.
It's put me into so much better shape that I'm now past the physical therapy I needed for the past several years. Next step is to add some gym style training, with a trainer to give me advice and direction.
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Working 8-hours a day in an office keeps me back-logged with personal stuff to do.
Work gets in the way of life, every day!
I'm always surprised at retirees who say they get bored and wonder what to do with their time.
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This may not work for you, but it's worked for me ......... I do what I want to do, whenever I want to do it. Little or no schedule. Since I'm single, there's no 'honeydo's' or job jar. For some reason, I don't feel compelled to create things for me to do. There's always things to do. Working for me since Jan 1st, 2005.
Bob
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This may not work for you, but it's worked for me ......... I do what I want to do, whenever I want to do it. Little or no schedule. Since I'm single, there's no 'honeydo's' or job jar. For some reason, I don't feel compelled to create things for me to do. There's always things to do.
Bob
+1
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The worst part is feeling like you're not relevant because you don't have a "profession." Don't let this happen to you...stop watching/reading the news and quit the social media. All that stuff leads you down a despondent path.
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Well, I retired BUT I'm still working on Guzzi's and could use more to keep me busy. I am a bit choozy now though. Been thinking of going back slinging wood, get paid for exercise.
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Being a field service engineer for almost 40 years I pretty well set my own schedule and that has paid dividends in retirement. I get up about an hour later than I used to, but I still have a mental schedule I try to stick to. Morning rituals, breakfast, walk 4 miles 5 days a week, then the rest of the day is open to my list of stuff to do. Projects around the house, shoot pool with freinds, ride one of the bikes to town (15 miles one way), the list is endless and if I choose to do nothing , well that works too. But for me, I have to stay engaged no matter what the activity so the old brain wont turn to Jello . STAY ACTIVE!
Paul B :boozing:
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The worst part is feeling like you're not relevant because you don't have a "profession." Don't let this happen to you...stop watching/reading the news and quit the social media. All that stuff leads you down a despondent path.
Do you consider this forum 'social media'?
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I'm long overdue for retirement, pretty much decided to pull the pin this year, this thread has given me some great ideas.
No dog, too much of a tie
Help look after the grand kid(s if my Son gets busy)
Ride more, hopefully attend some rallies
Camping
Fix circuit cards for some gas money
Little as possible around the house, I've been doing that forever and it's still not finished.
Concentrate on health issues so I can stretch it out as long as possible
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Do you consider this forum 'social media'?
I consider it "anti-social media"
:azn:
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Just be careful not to end up like a friend of mine. He retired with no hobbies, small house and yard that requires little upkeep, doesn't really like to get out much and does not volunteer so he basically get up sits in his recliner and watches TV all day then goes back to bed. Seems like a waste of life to me.
GliderJohn
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Just be careful not to end up like a friend of mine. He retired with no hobbies, small house and yard that requires little upkeep, doesn't really like to get out much and does not volunteer so he basically get up sits in his recliner and watches TV all day then goes back to bed. Seems like a waste of life to me.
GliderJohn
1. "Never stop learning...."
2. "Never retire to LEISURE...only to PROJECTS!"
:cool: :thumb: :wink:
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I consider it "anti-social media"
:azn:
Like John L. said. This is a special interest forum; we�re enthusiasts.
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Just be careful not to end up like a friend of mine. He retired with no hobbies, small house and yard that requires little upkeep, doesn't really like to get out much and does not volunteer so he basically get up sits in his recliner and watches TV all day then goes back to bed. Seems like a waste of life to me.
GliderJohn
:1: on that John.
That would drive me bananas in a very short space of time.
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Buy a good, used lathe. End of story.
Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
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Like John L. said. This is a special interest forum; we�re enthusiasts.
Whew, that's good.
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What bike have you got ?
Plan a trip and DO IT !!!
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What bike have you got ?
Plan a trip and DO IT !!!
There is nothing like a long, (500-900 mile round-trip), overnight motorcycle trip to "cleanse one's soul!!" :wink:
"Movement and exercise" is also very important...
I like Patrick's suggestion about a nice used lathe! Never stop learning!
Regarding work (which sadly, I am still doing full-time...) No one on their deathbed ever said: "I wish I spent more time at the office..." :shocked: :huh: :rolleyes:
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Not retired yet but Ill be taking knife making courses at local blacksmith.
Bikes and knifes, that’s my retirement plan. And cigars. Maybe beer too. :boozing:
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Learn to make beer. :boozing:
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There's lots of s uggestions.on this thread previously, but none of which seem to have jumped out & grabbed your interest. It doesn't really matter what you pick to dabble in, but try a few things to see where your enthusiasms lie. This is. Not necessarily short term stuff - plan on, say, 30 years. Note that it's often the people you meet & friends you make along the way that keep that enthusiasm at a gentle boil.
Learning new stuff, or learning more about old stuff is always positive. Pick up some handy new skills along the way. In the meantime, another language is good (not the usual pick for em any people) - but it gets part of you mind working, meet new people, going to have to visit communities/countries a lot to get the accent/tones sorted. Anything that has fringe benefits that help health & particularly flexibility (of body or mind) is always an advantage. Do stuff you never had the time had time for till now - it's a wide, wide world out there. Enjoy it.
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Go and visit some children with terminal illnesses.
They'll reveal the true value of 24 hrs of life....
They could enlighten you on the inherent downsides of wasted days... (Freddy Fender)
Take some children with terminal cancer out on the bike and see if their Mum or Dad complain about the danger aspects..
Volunteer for Amnesty International or Salvation Army.
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I retired in June of 15. For the first 2 years I worked on cleaning out my home and selling it. At the same time I had to find a new place to live. Then it was time to resurrect my neglected bikes. Got that done and Bro and I did some touring to work out my and the bikes bugs. We really enjoy heading your way and finding all the Army corps of engineer projects we can and touring them. One thing that helped me a lot was NAPS!!!! Once that was all caught up, I got a part time job with a buddy of mine for the winter doing land surveying. It is good exercise and gets me into the woods on beautiful sunny/snowy days.
have to go clean up the snow from this last nor'easter!!!!
More to follow.
Paul
3/15/18
So, I have to say, it's not hard to keep busy.
Just got back from snow blowing my ex-in-laws driveway. She is still in good shape but he has issues that keep him from running machines, so they need help around the house.
Now i'm seeing another storm coming next week!!!!!! ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
I also do small odd jobs for them also. That takes up 1 day a week year round.
Stuff seems to keep me busy. Yesterday, after snow blowing, spent 2 hrs on the phone trying to figure out why I got $1600 in bills from my colonoscopy. (got bent over twice!!!)
This year I am also going to try to do my own taxes. That should take up a solid month!
NY instructions 71 pages, Fed 107 pages. WTF!
But, back to riding......
I now keep a small ultralight collapsible fishing pole and small box of lures on the bike. See accessible water, Fish!
I have also gotten back in touch with some old friends and we play 4hrs of doubles ping pong every Friday night. It would be really good exercise if we didn't eat pizza and drink heavily.
We add 2 other guys and play $0.25 -0.50 cent poker once a month. A bad beat night is $20.
The last round I lost $1.75 after 3hrs play. That is a lot cheaper than going out drinking at the local pub.
So..... after all that blah blah blah,
Do what you want. If you want to sit in a chair all day every day, do it. Its your life.
But... I think you'll find that life stuff will keep you busy.
For me the most important thing is the part time job. I need to feel that I am needed and contributing.
Happy retirement!!!!
Paul
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I haven't read all the previous responses, but depending on what your profession and experience was, it isn't hard to find contract jobs, on or offshore, that can add to your life experience in ways that feel more like vacation while doing something productive, meaningful, and usually very lucrative.
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Im slowly figuring this retirement out now i guess. Just slowing down is part of it. Now I'm going to spend time at my cabin, work on my old cars and my motorcycles, help the neighbors and cabin neighbors out, and generally make myself available to help others. Life is good! Thanks for all the ideas and opinions....
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Not retired yet but Ill be taking knife making courses at local blacksmith.
Bikes and knifes, that�s my retirement plan. And cigars. Maybe beer too. :boozing:
Years ago, I took a several week knife-making (fixed-blade) class from this guy, Tim Hancock. He is quite famous now...
It was quite interesting and educational...and the skill-set required to make custom knives at his level is not for the faint of heart....
http://artknifeinvitational.com/artist-tim-hancock/
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My dad retired at 53, the same age I am now. He and mom took up ballroom dancing and two weekends ago they danced in their last competition: he'll be 79 this year and mom will be 75. She gardens and for years volunteered at the Asheboro Zoo, same as dad. He also picked up the fiddle and the trombone (he played in his high school marching band) in addition to playing the guitar and piano and he also paints. He also spends time researching family history.
A few years ago, thinking of the day when I might not be able to ride, I started teaching myself the bass guitar and ended up with a collection and rehabbed a few. I've also got a backlog of model kits waiting.
I have another Indian project currently and would love to get another when this one is done.
Boredom is a killer!
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Good thread and great ideas. I'm 4-5 years out from retirement and am starting to plan now. Been hitting it hard since I was 14, am looking forward to working for ME and SWMBO......... lol I'm thinking I need to plan some kind of yearly project or trek and go from there. All will be 3-4 months.
Year 1 - Summer - see a baseball game iin every stadium during the season, ride my motorcycle between stadiums, and take my time - 3-4 months
Year 2 - Hike Appalachian Trail
Year 3 - Finally goto Israel (saving now)
Year 4 - Revisit Greece or Ireland
Year 5 - whatever I diddnt do above
In between I plan to work on the house, have a project car or motorcycle, spoil my grand kids, and in between write. Something I've always wanted to do but just never had the mental space to do.
I am also looking at affiliating with habitat for humanity or the Salvation Army, and the local hardware store/garage may need an old wrench to work a day or so here or there. My wife thinks I should do handiman work in the neighborhood as I am surrounded by a bunch of girly man skinny jean latte sipping liberals, but too many have hot wives....... LOL
Find a project, as others have said, volunteer, do what you LOVE, or find something new. I've also thought about the big brother program. But whatever I do I am NOT answwering to anybody but me.....
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Good thread and great ideas. I'm 4-5 years out from retirement and am starting to plan now. Been hitting it hard since I was 14, am looking forward to working for ME and SWMBO......... lol I'm thinking I need to plan some kind of yearly project or trek and go from there. All will be 3-4 months.
Year 1 - Summer - see a baseball game iin every stadium during the season, ride my motorcycle between stadiums, and take my time - 3-4 months
Year 2 - Hike Appalachian Trail
Year 3 - Finally goto Israel (saving now)
Year 4 - Revisit Greece or Ireland
Year 5 - whatever I diddnt do above
In between I plan to work on the house, have a project car or motorcycle, spoil my grand kids, and in between write. Something I've always wanted to do but just never had the mental space to do.
I am also looking at affiliating with habitat for humanity or the Salvation Army, and the local hardware store/garage may need an old wrench to work a day or so here or there. My wife thinks I should do handiman work in the neighborhood as I am surrounded by a bunch of girly man skinny jean latte sipping liberals, but too many have hot wives....... LOL
Find a project, as others have said, volunteer, do what you LOVE, or find something new. I've also thought about the big brother program. But whatever I do I am NOT answwering to anybody but me.....
That's a great list, and I hope it all works out for you, sounds like a real plan!
Having made the same kind of list, and having been executing it for 3 years now, I'll just give one word of advice from my own experience. Volunteering for the Salvation Army, or making yourself available for helping old folks in the neighborhood, or being a Big Brother, or a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, are some of the best things you can do.
BUT (and this is a big BUT with hooks and fangs in it), once you commit to a certain level of helping, it's very difficult to "back out" of it without hurting someone who might be expecting help, or who has come to depend on you. It's not just that once the people who run these programs see that you are a hardworking and DEPENDABLE helper, they will try to load you up with more ... those things are easier to say "no" to.
It's the programs that you are already in ... the calls come more and more often, and it's very hard to say "NO!" to them. At least it is for me.
Don't hesitate to get into it, but make it clear what level of involvement you are committing to. It's a big world out there with a lot of needs, and you can't do it all ... !
Good luck!
Lannis