Thread: One disappointment about retirement

Hi Chambezio,

I think you may be experiencing a grief reaction to ceasing work and the order and social interaction and the whole bit that comes with work as a routine. I take heart in your report that you are stringing the odd better hours and the odd better days together to achieve something meaningful. That's great.

When I was a young man in my my early twenties 40 years ago I went through much of the same due PTS and I was nearly dysfunctional at one stage. Gradually the all bad days gave way to the odd less bad day and then the odd less bad day to not so bad at all days. There were of course downs and there were relapses. There was the great search for pathological illness that drew a blank: the problem was in the head but not acknowledged. Different times different approaches.

Gradually I recovered to semi full functionality over perhaps three years and then it was all going in the right direction again.I was fully restored to good health in around 10 years.

Hang in there Chambezio and seek such assistance as you think may benefit your current state. I'm confident from my own experience that you will come out the other side and not necessarily the same person who went in there.

Best Regards Old Pete

Originally Posted by chambezio

I have a forced retirement that started when i was 51.
It was very hard to get used to not having to get up and "do".
So now I am more used to the routine but....my mind races with project after project, collecting plans, information and even materials. The let down comes from more of a physical side that does not let me carry out these projects. No not a limb loss or anything like that its from the same brain that thought up these projects. My depression paralyses an ability to carry out these physical things. I go out to the shed to start a job and within 5 minutes I am wondering why I even bothered to start at all. So back to the house,TV/ computer, and wish it was dark so that I don't feel like I am wasting daylight, but feel frustrated because another day has been wasted.
Guess what the next day ends up the same, followed by....you guessed it another day the same.
Its not totally like this though, I may be able to get a small string of days together that I can actually accomplish something start to finish.
Yes I have the time and the place and the equipment but..... am thwarted by an ailing brain. I must admit that the frustration makes me wonder about an "out", like live power point or worse but to date its only a distant thought
If it wasn't for this Forum I really don't know where I would be
THANKYOU ALL!!

I have been retired (at 55) for coming up 12 years,always thought to keep working until I didn't enjoy it anymore and thats what I did after checking out the money.
Many say this and it's so true "I don't know how i would be able fit a job into my life"
My health is far better,I see my kids and grandkids a lot,between home and the holiday shack,making stuff with wood ,building decks ,pergola's,toys,furniture,spending time with new friends,enjoying the odd glass or two,a bit of travel life is full!!
For those who had to stop work before they wanted to for what ever reason,I feel for you good luck.

Originally Posted by BobL
I've got my target date set for my retirement and it's 74 weeks and 2 days away - not that I'm counting or anything!

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

I had a target like that until fate stepped in, now I miss out on all the public holidays.

Fate has stepped in for the good! and my target has been moved forward by 4 months. Plus I hope to be able to take a financially attractive redundancy which makes it even better.

Originally Posted by BobL

... my target has been moved forward by 4 months. Plus I hope to be able to take a financially attractive redundancy which makes it even better.

So how many sleeps now?

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

So how many sleeps now?

289, but during that time I will take 56 sleeps of accumulated leave.

"The best-laid plans of mice and men / Often go awry" or something like that originally quoted by Robbie Burns.
All the best Bob. Those days will pass quickly enough.

Originally Posted by Mulgabill

"The best-laid plans of mice and men / Often go awry" or something like that originally quoted by Robbie Burns.
All the best Bob. Those days will pass quickly enough.

I have to keep remembering that; "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans". . . . . .

Today I am in the workshop playing with all the toys making a chest for the tools I made in the first year of my apprenticeship, all up life is good, even though I have to live on a reduced income.

I made a lamb Pore and Cranberry hop pot for dinner it is simmering away in the slow cooker, it smells pretty good both Mrs Phil and me can hardly wait to chow-down.

I have realised it is the simple things that are worth it.

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

I have found one disappointment since retiring I MISS OUT ON ALL THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS I use to look forward to having a day off work

How come they still happen, you still get paid no deductions or OT if you work them though.

Oh to be on full indexed weekly standard wage for life.

Yes since forced retirement its like I just changed jobs and different boss with a few thrown in for good measure.

There are two dole que's as I see it both now have funds transfered into accounts. One you must jump through hoops to get with a Gov dep. The other just buy shares and hope the shares jump through hoops.
Both are frought with disaster, both governed by world economy, both rely on taxes.

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

Today I am in the workshop playing with all the toys making a chest for the tools I made in the first year of my apprenticeship, all up life is good, even though I have to live on a reduced income.

I made a lamb Pore and Cranberry hop pot for dinner it is simmering away in the slow cooker, it smells pretty good both Mrs Phil and me can hardly wait to chow-down.

I have realised it is the simple things that are worth it.

To celebrate my change in circumstance we could have gone out but instead I've gone home early to make a chilli and prepare some vege's so SWMBO can walk in on a cooked meal. She is going to be dead jealous about my change in circumstance as I was when she went from full time to part time earlier this year. Many of my work colleagues don't understand why I am going early but I'm done with traveling, living out of suitcases, smiling and pretending I'm interested in what people are saying and wearing suits and ties. I just want to hang around my shed in my bomby coveralls and workboots and take the new dog for long walks along the river.

I am going early ... I'm done with traveling, living out of suitcases, smiling and pretending I'm interested in what people are saying and wearing suits and ties.

Might as well, what are they going to do, sack you?

A few milestones on my pathway to finishing up at work next Feb have happened recently. Three weeks ago I gave my last class - in a sort of anticlimactic way, only one student turned up (am I that boring?) however it was an optional or catch up class. Yesterday I marked my last exam and now I just have a pile of admin work to deal with for 5 weeks - then I have 8 weeks of holidays and then 4 more weeks of admin. It's getting increasingly more difficult to stay interested. so all up only 45 more working days . . . . Whooo - hoooooo!

Originally Posted by BobL

A few milestones on my pathway to finishing up at work next Feb have happened recently. Three weeks ago I gave my last class - in a sort of anticlimactic way, only one student turned up (am I that boring?) however it was an optional or catch up class. Yesterday I marked my last exam and now I just have a pile of admin work to deal with for 5 weeks - then I have 8 weeks of holidays and then 4 more weeks of admin. It's getting increasingly more difficult to stay interested. so all up only 45 more working days . . . . Whooo - hoooooo!

One thing I found disappointing about retirement...................................I miss out on all the public holidays

Another "approaching retirement milestone" - tomorrow I start 8 weeks holiday - then I go back for 19 days of work in Feb and then I finally I get to hang up the boots.

I wrapped up everything I had to get done at work by this stage this past Tuesday, so the rest of this week has been very slow. I've spent most of my time cleaning out my office (long way to go yet) and answering administrative type questions (that's the main reason I'm still there). While cleaning out my office I have found all sorts of stuff I thought I had lost - some I have even been able to return to the original owners

Unfortunately the honey-do list is a long one but we have a few weeks of RNR down south so that will force us to get-away-from-it-all. Looking forward to that.