What do you do in retirement? (besides travel)

[PigsDad]

We retired at 56 (3 years ago), and started snowbirding between Colorado and Florida at the same time. Our summers in Colorado are filled more with interacting with longtime friends whereas we are still building up a friend base in Florida. While I have occasionally golfed and enjoyed it, I have never seen the value proposition in it. I'm probably just too cheap in that respect.

We have definitely increased our travel. This fall will be our fourth trip to Europe since we retired. We have also been on many cruises, including a 28-day Amazon cruise. Other than that, we fill our days with what we want to do. In Florida, there are more neighborhood activities we can join, such as bocce, various card game clubs, entertainment events, etc. I also have spent more time on home improvements, doing some of the work myself, and coordinating the rest. I haven't felt the need or desire to get into any structured activities yet, such as volunteering, being on boards, etc., even though I have been asked. At this early point in my retirement, I just want to focus on being free to do what I want, when I want. For now, that is making me happy.

Kurt

 

[rapmarks]

I'm also older and slower and now use an electric bike

I bought a three wheeler but have not used it yet.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

My retirement is a bit different. Gardening (roses and other flowering perennials), tropical fish, and reading molecular biology papers. (I'm a frustrated scientist )

i had rosarians over for a garden party Saturday. . .

 

[Rjbeach2003]

We are retired in that we both have SS and State Retirement. However I still am in sales, but only at 5-6 trade shows a year. Several times my wife has joined me and we have traveled to Zion, San Antonio and Central Florida along with a business trip. My wife loves to garden and I like to bike though not as much as my riding partners have quit. We both like to travel and have done 5 bike trips to Europe. 4 have been bike and barge, 24 passengers in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourgh and one in the Alps, staying in hotels. Switzerland, Austria and Italy. With each trip we have added time in Italy-4 times, as well as The Netherlands, Germany and France. The most recent was in June. I am 79 and my wife is 74. We go to Hawaii at least every other year, usually for at least 2 weeks. More trips are planned as long as we can. Otherwise it's time with family. Three kids, four grands all within 30 miles so we see them a lot.

 

[artringwald]

We are retired in that we both have SS and State Retirement. However I still am in sales, but only at 5-6 trade shows a year. Several times my wife has joined me and we have traveled to Zion, San Antonio and Central Florida along with a business trip. My wife loves to garden and I like to bike though not as much as my riding partners have quit. We both like to travel and have done 5 bike trips to Europe. 4 have been bike and barge, 24 passengers in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourgh and one in the Alps, staying in hotels. Switzerland, Austria and Italy. With each trip we have added time in Italy-4 times, as well as The Netherlands, Germany and France. The most recent was in June. I am 79 and my wife is 74. We go to Hawaii at least every other year, usually for at least 2 weeks. More trips are planned as long as we can. Otherwise it's time with family. Three kids, four grands all within 30 miles so we see them a lot.

How exciting to bike in so many places! Almost all my rides have been in the Twin Cities, although I have down downhill coasting rides in Kauai and Alaska.

 

[clifffaith]

Since we moved to the Old Folks Home (continuing care retirement community) four years ago we have more friends and acquaintances and are more social than at any other times in our lives. I (70 at the end of the year) play pony canasta, Italian canasta, Spite & Malice, Rummikube and/or Mexican train five days a week. Cliff (88 on his next birthday) plays all of the above and adds bridge, chess and poker — he plays something six days a week. I cherish my Tuesday afternoons at home alone at my desk after walking him to bridge (otherwise he sits down to read the paper, forgetting he’s on his way to cards). In spite of not knowing what day of the week it is or which drawer his underwear is in these days, he still plays and often wins his games even though he usually has a slow start with lots of questions about what he needs to meld.

I am involved with organizing the other cat ladies for lunch, cat sitting and helping to find new homes for kitties when my neighbors die or move to memory care or assisted living. Cliff gave up his garden plot this year (meaning I stopped organizing planting and harvesting) and is content to read or sleep when he’s not “gaming”. I always figured we’d continue to travel, but didn’t plan anything for our 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday because Cliff doesn’t have much stamina for walking, although he’d tell you that’s not true!

 

[rapmarks]

When I am up north, I mostly spend time with my grandsons.
I drive them and their friends everywhere, I take them out to restaurants and field trips. I take them golfing, and to driving ranges, and to school functions. I go to parent conferences, chaperone, church,whatever is needed. I also taught my oldest grandson to drive. I drive a 7 passenger van, and I need all those seats.
I play in the ladies golf league too, and the local book club., but the bridge group is kaput.

In Florida, I lead a book club, and a ladies social group. I play in two golf leagues, and in bocce league. I play duplicate bridge, social bridge, and attend a lot of functions at our club.
I still read about two books a week, play an ACBL bridge tournament daily, and try to do all the NYT puzzles. Try to get a walk in daily.

And then there is the ongoing relationship with at least a dozen doctors which takes an inordinate amount of my time.

 

[TolmiePeak]

Yes! At age 54.

Yep retired at 56. No reason not to. You never know when you are going to check out. Enjoy it while you can.

 

[TolmiePeak]

It did take me 17 years. Phileas Fog went around the world in only 80 days. I didn't ride much the first several years. I was spending time with the grandkids. But then they grew up, and more of my coworkers retired, so we started riding together. I did 2,700 miles in 2020 because there wasn't much else to do. Now I'm older and slower, so the mileage keeps going down. It's still fun though. I use RideWithGPS for tracking the miles. I often take pictures and RideWithGPS lets you paste them into the ride and shows where they were taken. This was my ride Saturday.

Wisconsin

30.2 mi, +959 ft. Bike ride in Oakdale, MN

ridewithgps.com

Nice app. If I lived in Oakdale I would be riding to Cossettas and back every day so I could burn off those pizza calories.

 

[artringwald]

Nice app. If I lived in Oakdale I would be riding to Cossettas and back every day so I could burn off those pizza calories.

I love Cossettas pizza and their cannoli. However, the group prefers places with outdoor seating for the sweaty bikers. In St. Paul our favorite lunch stop Is Obb's. In Minneapolis, it's Sea Salt, but you have to get there early to avoid the lines. My favorite place is Tally's Dockside, on the scenic White Bear Lake.

 

[Talent312]

No doubt about that. We keep adding more doctors. After my 3rd joint replacement, I made a fake loyalty card and asked them to give me another punch. DW has also had 3 joint replacements.

Read somewhere...
When you're young and in school, you look forward to having a job.
When you're middle-aged and working, you look forward to retiring,
When you're old and retired, you look forward to your doctor's appointments.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

retired at 56. No reason not to. You never know when you are going to check out.

Absolutely. Both of my parents died of cancer right around 50. By the time I was late 20s, I swore I would retire before 50, and I beat that by a good margin.