Well, today is the 6-month anniversary of my retirement and I've been reflecting on whether it's been all that I expected it to be, all that I planned and dreamed for it to be. And the answer is not a simple "yes" or "no."
While I have yet to regret retiring, I have to admit there have been a few times I've wondered if I should have worked another year or two. These are the days when the economic news is so ugly (read: downright scary) that I wonder if I should have padded the retirement accounts a little more.
Then I begin to think about where I'd be if I were still working, and I remember why I retired: endless meetings, daily problems, too much stress, and long, long hours. I also remind myself that my pension income and retirement savings should be adequate if I manage my finances carefully and continue to live as frugally as I have done most of my adult life. Yep, I did the right thing.
But is it all I thought it would be? Actually, retirement has exceeded my expectations in many ways... having choice about how and where to focus my time and energy is great. Yet, the life I hypothetically imagined didn't just instantly materialize. I'm still learning how to better manage my time. There is such a thing as having too much choice and I now realize that some structure, such as that which defined my life when I worked, is necessary for me. But it is sometimes easier said than done.
So, retirement is a work in progress, and I am constantly tweaking the rhythm of my daily life, trying to find the balance that eluded me when I worked. Sometimes being able to simply relax and have fun has been a bit of a challenge because I can't shake the feeling that I should be doing "real" work. I am getting better at being OK with days that haven't resulted in the completion of an "important" task. Some days reading a good book, going for a bike ride or a long walk - activities that are self-focused - have been the accomplishment of my day.
What would I do differently? In retrospect, I'd probably pass on taking on as much part-time work as I did back in September, at least for the first few months. I was so used to being super-busy that I accepted consulting and part-time work at the university even before my retirement was official.
Don't get me wrong, the work is interesting and I'm grateful for the extra money, but I think I could have used a few months to just decompress. Then later, I could have taken on extra work if I felt the need to do so. I guess I was afraid to turn it down for fear it wouldn't be offered again and more so, I feared having nothing "important" to do. Ultimately, the part-time work has been rewarding even though it's kept me busier at times than I really want to be.
Despite the state of the economy, I am VERY happy I retired. Through the years, I've learned there is never a perfect time for anything, whether it's retiring, having children, or some other adventure. There will always be issues and challenges to face, but careful planning and a positive attitude go a long way to ensuring success.
My Hypothetical Life vs. My Real Life
February 19th, 2009 at 06:54 pm
February 19th, 2009 at 07:26 pm 1235071605
February 19th, 2009 at 07:30 pm 1235071826
February 19th, 2009 at 07:52 pm 1235073175
i guess in the end, work is just work. if you can have a few extra years of not having to work, and just try to be as frugal to make that possible, then why not? isn't one of the whole points of your working life meant to be that you are focusing on retirement?
February 19th, 2009 at 08:36 pm 1235075815
I still do struggle with why I'm not focusing on doing the things I like best (guilt), and what happened to that day (more guilt), but I'm definitely doing much better with the letting it all happen and just seeing where it takes me than I did in the first 6 months.
It's definitely a process, but as you noted a very exciting one!
February 19th, 2009 at 09:21 pm 1235078466
February 19th, 2009 at 09:36 pm 1235079413
Still I can't imagine being in the rat race anymore. I have really learned to experience life at a slower pace.