NGC Im struggling with this retirement thing....How to stay busy?

[bobrebos]

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.....

[yogidozer]

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.

[Triple Jim]

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.

[toma nova]

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...

[Orange Guzzi]

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. 

[pyoungbl]

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.

[acogoff]

    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.

[Wayne Orwig]

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.

[Jim Rich]

Good thread guys.

[Gliderjohn]

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

[guzzisteve]

I've been waiting my whole life to take it easy, so that's what I do.

[John Ulrich]

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.

[Tom]

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". 

[PJPR01]

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

[normzone]

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.

[ChuckH]

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.   

[Tom]

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.   

[gvw]

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.

[screamday]

Just taking notes here. 

[calfruit]

Retired one year now. I find the trouble with doing nothing is------- one never knows when he is done

[bobrebos]

All great ideas.  Thank-You......Now I will be busier than ever!   

[Guzzistajohn]

Wish I had that problem : (

[Dilliw]

Just taking notes here. 

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.

[cloudbase]

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.

[Testarossa]

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."

[John Ulrich]

I do some part-time teaching,

You must have a teaching certificate?

[Tom]

You want some real fun.  Go as a sub teacher.

[drlapo]

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

[oldlegs]

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

[bobrebos]

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....