Retirement-most of my friends still work

[Marthe48]

I stopped working for pay in 2009, although I babysat my grandkids and helped my m-i-l, and did volunteer work all along. I realized today that most of the other people in my age group are still working, everything from odd jobs to full time.

I wonder how many people over 65 are still working, how many are finding ways to be productive and how many are really retired?

This will probably be the last year I am needed to babysit. My m-i-l passed away and I'm hoping to pass along the volunteer work this year. I am still healthy, have way too much free time, and wondering what I will do with myself.

[radical noodle]

1. I retired in 2012 at 65

I haven't worked a day since at a job. I don't miss working. I have a lot of hobbies that I finally have time for. What do you enjoy, what did you love doing as a young person?

One thing I've been working on is my family tree.

[Marthe48]

3. Nice to hear. And good questions

I always worked. My Dad had a grocery store and he employed all of us kids. When I wasn't at the store or at school, I watched my invalid great-aunt who lived with us. I got married, had kids, got to stay home with them. Went to work when they got their drivers' licenses Always helped family members who needed care. My husband passed away 3 years ago, and we were lucky to take some trips together before he got sick. I get to travel with my kids, as long as I can find someone to feed my cats.

I am used to working, solving problems. I know this should be a time of discovery and getting to know myself, but I'm stuck. The main hobby I had, I shared with my husband, was collecting. So far, I would be happy to send it all on its way. But I do keep adding to my knowledge, and I'm in some groups on fb where we discuss antiques.

I make a card every week, so I keep track of what I do, make notes on things. I have kept the cards, in no order. I went through the last 6 years of those the other day, and I was crazy busy almost all the time. So maybe I am still resting up.

I don't mind having free time, but I feel like I'm wasting time. Maybe I'm like an apple on a tree, just waiting to get ripe

[radical noodle]

14. Maybe you could use those cards

to write a little biography for your kids and grandkids to have. I'm sure they'd be surprised at some of the experiences you've had.

Collecting is fun but maybe you could sell instead of buy now. Or work part-time in an antique store. Don't feel like you're wasting time, just take some time to rest up and get your bearings. You've had a lot of changes with the death of your husband and your retirement.

[Marthe48]

15. Good idea about the cards

When my lie was simpler, I'd make a note on the calendar, which I kept. When I looked through those, I remembered a lot of good times

I didn't mean to make it all about me. I'm interested in hearing how other people are winding down or dedicated to new interests. There are a lot of ways to go and I hope I will be inspired, So far, so good

[radical noodle]

16. I had a few goals when I retired

I wanted to work on my family tree, get my old family photos in some sort of order (they go way back into the 1800s) and get them identified, and make a cookbook of the family recipes my daughter remembers from her great grandmothers, grandmothers and me. I'm not done with that yet, but have good software and am working on it.

I also love to read, sew, do needlework and bake. I had to give up the baking when I realized I was starting to put on the pounds!

[Coventina]

2. I can't wait to retire, although I will miss teaching and will probably do so part time.

I have so many books I want to read, so many places I want to go.....

(if I'll be able to travel, which is questionable).

[Marthe48]

4. I have relatives who sub

They really like the experience.

Hope you get to go to some places on your list. My husband, daughters and I went to London and Paris in 2005. While in England, we all went to Stonehenge. Since then, I feel like if I don't get to travel again, it'll be ok. My daughters and I are talking about visiting Northern Scotland, Iceland, maybe Nova Scotia, but so far, just talking.

Where would you like to go?

[Coventina]

5. Oh, everywhere! There are relatively few places I have no interest in.

And even those, it has more to do with current violence and other problems rather than lack of interest.

At the top of my list is Italy (but I'm going this summer, hooray!).

After that, probably China, but not until the coronavirus is under control.

[Marthe48]

6. If you get a chance in Italy

maybe you can see the Gardens of Ninfa, south of Rome. If they are half as pretty as the pictures, wow! Hope you have a wonderful tour

Our younger daughter went to Northern Italy years ago, stayed at an inn and loved the experience.

[safeinOhio]

7. I retired in March of 1972, 30 years there and was 52.

Doing great, could live on SS and pension, but not all that well. I have 3 or 4 hobbies that I love to do and add to my income. Buy and sell antiques and doing some short term hauling, about once or twice a month that pays great for a one day road trip.
Was lucky and able to save a little while I worked and my dividends almost equal my pension. Still have time to go fishing.

[MichMan]

8. Turning 100 this year?

That's great you are still so active at that age.

[safeinOhio]

9. Whoops...make that 2002, 18 years ago.

good catch.

[Marthe48]

12. Oopsie totally skipped the math :)

n/t

[Marthe48]

10. My husband retired at 55

His last day was his birthday. I'm really glad he was able to retire young. He left me comfortable, and if anything goes wrong, my kids will take care of me.

I wish I could get back into at least selling antiques. We collected for over 40 years, and we had fun. A month before he got his diagnosis, we bought a retired collector's garageful. Took 3 of us 5 days to pack it all. We barely got to look it over, put it in storage. We picked a few things out, sold on eBay and made back our money (that was a nice surprise!)

Do you drive a semi? Or something smaller?

[safeinOhio]

11. It's fun but.....

I would suggest you spend some time on learning the market. Right now it's easy to buy and hard to sell. I sell more than most at the antique mall I'm in because I sell lower than others.
I'd watch some items you have go on Ebay under sold items. You can check the little box on the left. See the range and consider condition. If it sells in a bidding sale, that is the very most it'd sell for the next time.

[Marthe48]

13. We started selling things on ebay around 2002

hit and miss. The last year before we stopped, we were selling a lot of little things. I always wanted an auction, but my husband thought selling items was a better plan. He had a huge lighter collection. When he saw how well lighters did on ebay, he sold many of them. I liked them, and put some of my favorites away. lol

[tinymontgomery]

17. Just officially stopped

Just officially stopped officially working this year, 62. Doing some side work subbing and working on some construction jobs. It's nice to jump in and out when I feel like it. Taking a week to go snow skiing, sailing starts in March, a little traveling. It is taking a little time to getting used to having so much time on my hands.

[NJCher]

18. why not?

Work is good, assuming you've been able to make a career choice that you enjoy.

Teachers...what a great job we have. So many of us never quit teaching and why should we? Getting together with a group of people and sharing information? What could be better than that?