How do you see your retirement?

[Deleted]

I am saving retirement but I have actually never thought on how I would spend it. I mean (knock on wood) it's not for another 40 years and so many things can change by then.

All I know is:
- I don't want to be broke
- I don't want to be eating cat food
- I don't want to be begging for food in the streets.

and of course the usual
- spend time with family
- travel, etc.

But like having a clear vision for what I see myself doing, no. For those that have thought about it and have that vision when did it come to you.

When did you know, yep that is exactly what I plan to do during retirement! This is how I plan to spend my time

And for those that are retired, is it going as you planned? Or what changed?

Edit to add: If you have a SO how do they fit in the plan? Example my parents neighbor is retired but he doesn't really do much traveling since his wife still have another 8 years or so before retiring.

They only travel when she is on vacation and during the year he just keeps himself busy with other buddies that are retired. Will your SO retire at the same time as you or will you have to wait? Or are they the one waiting for you to retire?

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

<<< it's not for another 40 years and so many things can change by then. >>>

...bingo... let's get through March Madness right now, chaos for the next couple decades, and then start daydreaming in ~30yrs...

;D

[Deleted]

I'd like to do some traveling around the world. DH will need to go first class because of his health issues, so that will cost some money. We'd like to RV around the U.S. taking in the local sights, eating food, hitting the fairs.

I'm hoping DS will be living near us but if he's not I want to be able to easily visit him and the (future) grandkids.

I'd like to be able to play golf decently well by retirement so that DH and I can play together often.

I'll probably put around the house, reading everything under the sky and knitting like crazy, while DH works on his hobbies in the shop. I hope to be doing some volunteering.

[Deleted]

My husband is retired, and I am not. But I glimpse my retirement, at least the early years, every summer. It is very low-key and relaxed. There isn't a lot of going or traveling, but I don't bore easily. Somehow the time slips away when you are totally relaxed. That isn't to say that we won't DO anything. I was off a week for Spring Break (this week), and I finished painting the basement (started back in December). I kept the grandkids today. But it has been a nice week.

Of course, I plan on having $$$ for retirement. Otherwise, you will find me greeting you at Walmart or shelving books a few days a week at the local library (something I would enjoy if they would let a MLIS do a clerical person's job).

[reader79]

I plan to read all day, with breaks to make elaborate meals. I'm going to buy a cake plate and have one sitting on it all the time. I may or may not eat it, sweets aren't really my thing. I'll pick a local sports team and buy season tickets, and sometimes travel to away games. And i'll go to casino's, just not on the chinatown buses.

[dancinmama]

DH will be 55 and taking early retirement in the first quarter of 2012. I know that he just wants some time to relax, fish, golf, and play guitar. We also want to do some traveling at home and abroad. We have family (specifically my sister and her husband) that we love spending time with (they live over 25 miles away).

To be honest with you, I don't think most people know what their day to day life will be like in retirement until they get there. We envision having coffee in bed then taking the dogs for a walk, deciding what chores will get done, and what we will make for dinner - the rest we'll kind of figure out as we go along.

Right now, we're together all the time on nights and weekends, but not REALLY together cuz he's working on and off most of that time. I just hope that once he retires he doesn't drive me . If he does, I'm going to kick him out the door and tell him to find a job working for a golf course in some capacity. He's happy; I'm happy.....problem solved.

[dancinmama]

Mar 17, 2011 16:14:49 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

I am saving retirement but I have actually never thought on how I would spend it. I mean (knock on wood) it's not for another 40 years and so many things can change by then.

All I know is:
- I don't want to be broke
- I don't want to be eating cat food
- I don't want to be begging for food in the streets.

and of course the usual
- spend time with family
- travel, etc.

But like having a clear vision for what I see myself doing, no. For those that have thought about it and have that vision when did it come to you.

When did you know, yep that is exactly what I plan to do during retirement! This is how I plan to spend my time

And for those that are retired, is it going as you planned? Or what changed?

Edit to add: If you have a SO how do they fit in the plan? Example my parents neighbor is retired but he doesn't really do much traveling since his wife still have another 8 years or so before retiring.

They only travel when she is on vacation and during the year he just keeps himself busy with other buddies that are retired. Will your SO retire at the same time as you or will you have to wait? Or are they the one waiting for you to retire?

Awwww, your avatar is sooooo cute!!

[Tiny]

I'm 47 and been thinking about retirement since I was 40 or so... I keep a "I'm out of the 9-5 work day by 55" as a Holy Grail goal, but realize it might not actually work out that way. That said, I envision my retirement as being healthy and able enough to have some sort of a part time job (doing who knows what) while spending more time doing stuff I like to do - working on hobbies for instance hobbies would be (playing rpg's, reading, arts and crafts kinds of things, time for a book club, gardening, puttering about the house, visiting local attractions (I don't like to 'travel'), and who knows what else I'd come up with - sitting around watching TV isn't something I'd be doing.). I suspect I'll sell my house and move into a condo or townhouse which might let me "snowbird" if I pick up another property or two in a warmer climate. I'd have a couple of rental units and then a unit I live in 1/2 the year in one place and a condo/townhouse for my use in another.

I really really really really want to avoid working till my health is so far gone that all I can do once I retire is watch TV, take medication, do alittle housework, and go to my next doctor's appointment. I see alot of older (65 and up) who's retirements appear to be TV and Drs appointments.

[Deleted]

Mar 17, 2011 16:54:27 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 17, 2011 16:14:49 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

I am saving retirement but I have actually never thought on how I would spend it. I mean (knock on wood) it's not for another 40 years and so many things can change by then.

All I know is:
- I don't want to be broke
- I don't want to be eating cat food
- I don't want to be begging for food in the streets.

and of course the usual
- spend time with family
- travel, etc.

But like having a clear vision for what I see myself doing, no. For those that have thought about it and have that vision when did it come to you.

When did you know, yep that is exactly what I plan to do during retirement! This is how I plan to spend my time

And for those that are retired, is it going as you planned? Or what changed?

Edit to add: If you have a SO how do they fit in the plan? Example my parents neighbor is retired but he doesn't really do much traveling since his wife still have another 8 years or so before retiring.

They only travel when she is on vacation and during the year he just keeps himself busy with other buddies that are retired. Will your SO retire at the same time as you or will you have to wait? Or are they the one waiting for you to retire?

Awwww, your avatar is sooooo cute!!

Thank you, it's me when I was 5 or 6, just started kindergarden

[dancinmama]

Mar 17, 2011 16:59:06 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Mar 17, 2011 16:54:27 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Awwww, your avatar is sooooo cute!!

Thank you, it's me when I was 5 or 6, just started kindergarden

I think it's adorable even though you don't look that happy. Maybe you were thinking about the long haul before retirement. LOL

[SVT]

Looks like a prison photo.

[Deleted]

Mar 17, 2011 17:02:46 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 17, 2011 16:59:06 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Thank you, it's me when I was 5 or 6, just started kindergarden

I think it's adorable even though you don't look that happy. Maybe you were thinking about the long haul before retirement. LOL

That and it was during the time my parents were getting a divorce. I was not a happy kid between 5-7 my mom said: really angry and miserable since I was caught in the middle.

---

[dancinmama]

Mar 17, 2011 17:07:43 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Mar 17, 2011 17:02:46 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

I think it's adorable even though you don't look that happy. Maybe you were thinking about the long haul before retirement. LOL

That and it was during the time my parents were getting a divorce. I was not a happy kid between 5-7 my mom said: really angry and miserable since I was caught in the middle.

---

[cronewitch]

I am going to retire in 2 years I think maybe 3 years. ISO is semi retired now collecting on two pensions and working at least 800 hours a year.

When I retire I want to fix up and sell my house first so that might take 2 years to declutter and paint and stuff. Then I want to build or buy a new house that will be my forever house. It will be all one level and small enough to live in alone in old age but big enough for live in help if I need it. So probably a 3 bedroom 2 bath ranch style around 1500sq ft. I want lots of out buildings like sheds and garage and workshop space and a rain room. The rain room will be a room made of glass so you can hear the rain and will have a water feature like a hot tub or fountain so it stays steamy. The rain room will be for having morning coffee or reading books, patio style furniture. It will have a view of bird feeders so we can watch birds. The rain room will have plants hanging and in big pots and a floor that can stand up to dripping water maybe sand with stepping stones so it drains. I want waterfront but won't probably have any.

My days will be lazy mostly, first a pot of coffee in the rain room. Lunch, shopping, visiting with people, reading and playing games on the computer.

Any work will be no more than two days a week and volunteer maybe at a food bank or delivering meals on wheels. I might workout in a gym about 3 times a week or do aqua aerobics.

I might create some things like bird houses or sewing projects but only randomly. Some cooking and cleaning and a little entertaining should about fill my time with a fishing trip every couple of weeks in nice weather.

[Deleted]

We plan to travel, keep up on our rentals, maybe get a few more. My fiance may teach a college class or two when he feels like it (he is in grad school to get his PhD in neuroscience). We also will garden, eat well and maybe start another business.

[phil5185]

When did you know, yep that is exactly what I plan to do during retirement! This is how I plan to spend my time

I'm retired - I thought the whole idea was that you don't plan.
And after over 300 company trips, not having to travel was relaxing.

[debtheaven]

I'm retired - I thought the whole idea was that you don't plan.

LOL.

And after over 300 company trips, not having to travel was relaxing.

I can get that! But not everybody travels that much during their career.

We are not very "spendy" so I see us doing pretty much what we do now, except for travelling more often than once a year.

I alternate between thinking I want to be carried out of my house feet first, and thinking it might be nice to downsize and not have to do everything we need to do to take care of a moderately-sized home. I can't imagine not having a home big enough for my kids to come home to, but I know that's just because they are not all yet grown and "launched", so that will change over time.

Part of me wants to move back to the US. I fantasize about either owning or renting a place big enough to have my friends in the US come to visit. And DH and I would like to rent an RV and visit the places in France we've never visited. I know I'm more of a hotel person than an RV person, but I'd like the experience.

We still have time to think about it. Ultimately our plans will probably be influenced by where our kids settle (probably all over the place).

[Deleted]

I'm a lifelong learning junkie- the wonderful thing about that is that I can keep that up as long as my brain works. Maybe I'll learn to play the harpsichord, study Egyptian hieroglyphics, or learn another language. I'll want to get involved in some sort of volunteer work- probably teaching ESL. I'll read a lot and I won't set the %#@@! alarm clock. I'll take a more active role in managing the investments.

DH is 72 and already retired; because of his polycythemia he may not survive till I retire (6 or 7 years). We don't dwell on that; fortunately it's not a degenerative disease but it can eventually morph into an incurable cancer. So, I need to plan for a solo retirement unless I find another partner- and life with DH has been so good, I may try to find another good man.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

Vodka and a hammock...

[azphx1972]

I don't have a solid vision of my retirement yet, but I know that I want to have the freedom to not work if I don't want to. I mean, I don't see myself sitting at home all day, but not having to worry about money will make whatever I choose to do that much more enjoyable. Currently, I have a few ideas floating around in my head about possible pursuits, and most of them involve my passion in health/fitness, personal finance, and travel.

[lynnerself]

We are hoping to retire in 5 years at age 62. We see retirement in stages.
The first 10 years or so while we are relatively fit we hope to travel extensively and have budgeted money for it. The next 10 in a small single level house just hanging out together and visiting grandkids if there are some. And the last 10 (if we get that far) in some sort of assisted living arrangement or graduated care facility.

Our main problem is that DH wants to retire to the country with acreage and quiet and I want to be near the gym, restaurants, art classes etc.
He envisions lunches together and long walks and talks.
I think I might go crazy if it just the two of us 24/7.

[Peace Of Mind]

Mar 17, 2011 17:07:43 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Mar 17, 2011 17:02:46 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

I think it's adorable even though you don't look that happy. Maybe you were thinking about the long haul before retirement. LOL

That and it was during the time my parents were getting a divorce. I was not a happy kid between 5-7 my mom said: really angry and miserable since I was caught in the middle.

---

Awww, I'm sorry to hear that. But I have to agree with Dancin - you were adorable - even when you were angry and miserable.

I see our retirement as relaxed, working in our garden, lots of wild life and kitties, going out with friends, cooking and some boating and lake activities. Most of which we do now, but more of it.

[gsbrq]

It really depends on how I'm doing financially and physically by the time I hit retirement age. Right now it sounds like heaven to just have more free time...I would love to simply relax with my SO, my family, my friends, and my pets. I'd love to have a slower-paced life. Although I guess that after the "honeymoon" phase of retirement had passed, I'd probably want to do stuff as well.

I'd like to move to a house that's better suited for me to "age in place"...my current one is ok for now but has steps, narrow doorways, and tiny bathrooms. Don't need anything big or fancy, but would really like to have a pool since I live in a warm climate and swimming is my favorite way to exercise/relax.

If I can afford it, I hope to travel a good bit. I would like to do some volunteer work, although if money is tight I might have to keep working part-time...we tend to have long life-spans in my family, and I worry about outliving my savings.

I love to cook, but don't have time to do anything elaborate right now, so it would be nice to have time for experimenting. I want to stay current on technology, and continue to learn & educate myself throughout my life.

I hope my partner & I will get to spend many happy years together in retirement.

[motherto2]

I have been in some preretirement classes lately, so I have really been doing some thinking about what I want to do when I retire. I don't really want to work and don't think I will need to financially which helps in the decision process. I've always wanted to do some volunteering, outside of all the stuff I did when my kids were growing up. I have always been interested in meals on wheels, and i think I'm going to look into that. The pup and I would love to visit the older folks and chat with them for a few minutes to brighten all our days . The dog I had before this one I seriously considered training her to be a therapy dog, but then the kids got busy and that meant I got busy and we never did it. I'd love to see about doing that with this dog because he just loves everybody. The biggest problem is he wants to jump up and sit in everyone's lap, and I know that isn't something they will put up with. So, hard to say about that one. Of course we will do the usual, wake up when we want, which is usually 7ish, leisure coffee, walks, etc. I love to do yard work and putter around, and this year I'm thinking about trying a real garden instead of a couple of tomato plants in pots. I would dearly love to help with animal shelters, but with my allergies it would probably be too much. We'll see though. And last, both kids will be in the service then, so I anticipate traveling to visit them from time to time, wherever they may be.

[Waffle]

I love auctions, yard sales, tag sales, etc. So as long as I'm healthy enough I want to spend more time buying and reselling vintage items. That probably just sounds like more work to some of you, but I really enjoy it.

I don't seem to have much interest in traveling - there's lots of places left to see, but the actual getting there turns me off. I don't like driving long distances and with all the security measures, I'm no longer interested in flying.

I'd also like to find a cause/group I believe in and do some volunteer work. I expect my retirement to be a pretty simple one - my biggest decision will be where to live.

[Sum Dum Gai]

My biggie right now is taking a couple years to sail around the world. Docking for a few weeks to maybe a month or so at all the places I really want to see. Keep in mind I'm 29, so who the hell knows whether or not this will be a realistic retirement goal. It's what I daydream about when I spend too long with people suffering from craniorectal inversion at work though.

Other things that sound fun would be getting a pilot's license and a small two seater prop plane to travel the country in. Spending too much time spoiling any potential grand kids. Building a forge in the back yard and teaching myself to make reproductions of accurate medieval weaponry. Maybe some volunteer work or a part time job working with kids. Coaching a sport or volunteering to teach some electives at a private school for example both sound fun.

[Deleted]

Mar 17, 2011 16:21:41 GMT -5 BeenThere...DoneThat... said:

<<< it's not for another 40 years and so many things can change by then. >>>

...bingo... let's get through March Madness right now, chaos for the next couple decades, and then start daydreaming in ~30yrs...

;D

So you never think about it? You are ok with just stocking money away titled "retirement" with no idea or dream on how you would spend it?

My wife brought up the RV idea and cross country road trips but with a 45 minutes to 1 hour drive now (one way so double that for round trips)... I don't think I would be wanting to drive much when I am retired. Might be over it.

Traveling, definitely... and we think maybe building a nice vacation home by the beach in Haiti. We both already own land/homes in Port-au-Prince, Anse-A-Veau and La Plaine (inheritance from grand parents on my side and on her side from her dad)

Eating... we both like cooking and eating and with more time on our hands we would definitely be visiting a lot of those restaurants we see on the Food Network.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

Mar 18, 2011 0:25:20 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Mar 17, 2011 16:21:41 GMT -5 BeenThere...DoneThat... said:

<<< it's not for another 40 years and so many things can change by then. >>>

...bingo... let's get through March Madness right now, chaos for the next couple decades, and then start daydreaming in ~30yrs...

;D

So you never think about it? You are ok with just stocking money away titled "retirement" with no idea or dream on how you would spend it?

My wife brought up the RV idea and cross country road trips but with a 45 minutes to 1 hour drive now (one way so double that for round trips)... I don't think I would be wanting to drive much when I am retired. Might be over it.

Traveling, definitely... and we think maybe building a nice vacation home by the beach in Haiti. We both already own land/homes in Port-au-Prince, Anse-A-Veau and La Plaine (inheritance from grand parents on my side and on her side from her dad)

Eating... we both like cooking and eating and with more time on our hands we would definitely be visiting a lot of those restaurants we see on the Food Network.

...no, I don't really think too much about it... because it's ~40yrs away... and if the last 40yrs were any indicator (granted, I wasn't paying attention during the first part of them) then plenty can happen to change my "plans" between now and then...

...do I think you're wasting time to daydream a little bit now? nah... it's your time... but imho, try not to spend too much of today talking about tomorrow... lots of good stuff to pay attention to now, you know? ;D

[Deleted]

Mar 18, 2011 0:39:42 GMT -5 BeenThere...DoneThat... said:

Mar 18, 2011 0:25:20 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

So you never think about it? You are ok with just stocking money away titled "retirement" with no idea or dream on how you would spend it?

My wife brought up the RV idea and cross country road trips but with a 45 minutes to 1 hour drive now (one way so double that for round trips)... I don't think I would be wanting to drive much when I am retired. Might be over it.

Traveling, definitely... and we think maybe building a nice vacation home by the beach in Haiti. We both already own land/homes in Port-au-Prince, Anse-A-Veau and La Plaine (inheritance from grand parents on my side and on her side from her dad)

Eating... we both like cooking and eating and with more time on our hands we would definitely be visiting a lot of those restaurants we see on the Food Network.

...no, I don't really think too much about it... because it's ~40yrs away... and if the last 40yrs were any indicator (granted, I wasn't paying attention during the first part of them) then plenty can happen to change my "plans" between now and then...

...do I think you're wasting time to daydream a little bit now? nah... it's your time... but imho, try not to spend too much of today talking about tomorrow... lots of good stuff to pay attention to now, you know? ;D

Off course I am not talking about spending hours on it but more like a slight idea or a day dream of what could be.

I day dream about being as big as Ronnie Coleman or Jay Cutler one day but I know it would never be since my wife would chop my family jewels off if she ever founds out I am doing steroids. The one thing she made me promise to stay away from... but I still day dream about it when I hit the gym ;D

A lot may go wrong or I change my mind by the time I get there. But I agree... live for today and deal with tomorrow when it comes. Except for the stocking away money part; I deal with that today ;D ;D ;D

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...and you know, OP, I hope I don't sound brusk to you... your thread certainly is a good chance to think about food for thought... it's a bit sentimental for me, too, because a wonderful couple I knew shared the RV dream... but one didn't live to retirement...

...our retirement planning, for now, is almost strictly financial... we mostly view it as disability planning more than for golden years... in large part because we want these years to feel golden, too... also, we don't fit into the stereotypical "20/30/40 and out" career mold... we'll stop when we must...

...and I can also say that I never would've dreamed the dreams we've live these last decades... so why try to pick "destinations" for the coming decades? ...part of that came via marriage... some of "my" dreams came true... and then I married into a new set of dreams that I was happy to help pursue...

...fwiw, in the past decades, I've studied/graduated/worked in areas I didn't anticipate... I've lived in places I hadn't known existed... the UN doesn't even recognize all of them anymore, so I guess oblivion was their fate after all... I've discovered interests that would bore another... I've pushed myself beyond what my previous limit had been...

...so, imo, I'll start doing some serious daydreaming as we get closer to the horizon... I pray we'll both make it together... I have no doubt we'll press on regardless... today's "set it and forget it" planning will serve us well, no matter what the horizon looks like, or where/when it may be...