Retired at 65, in 2012. First 8-9 years were great, the last three the wheels are getting loose and it’s not as easy to fight the fast water in the rivers anymore. Hill climbing……. impossible. To slow to scramble out of the pickup to road hunt. Digging a post hole takes a week, but nobody cares anymore, that part is nice. Lost my libido, most liberating thing that’s ever happened to me.
Until the last year interest on savings has been an issue. I used to tell guys, if you have big plans to buy expensive toys, take long trips, go on lots of cruises, pay guides and outfitter $10,000 to $100,000 for hunting adventures, you best keep working because taking that cash out of your saving means it’s gone for ever. When you’re still working you can spend a big lump and replace it. Not so much after you retire.
Regular living isn’t as costly by retirement age…….. if you have paid off your home mortgage, own your vehicles, paid off the second home, etc etc, you have more of your monthly income to spend on other things. That’s a plus.
On the other hand, my insurance permiums (auto, house, health) keep taking more ever year. Inflation is not your friend unless you have major savings accounts, stocks have hit rock bottom twice and peaked out once during my 12 years.
I have very little debt. Getting to be less every year, as I’ve paid off a number of smaller lingering debts that I made minimum payment on……because the interest was minimal. As my wife and I retired, I arranged our Social Security payments and pension payments to come, one each week of the month. So……. I always keep a $100 bill tucked away in one of those little folds in my wallet. I figure, if I’m ever away from home and run out of money in the bank, I can get out the $100, buy a good book, and 8 or 10 cans of Dinty Moore Stew, pull into a shady spot and wait for another wad of cash to hit the bank. It’s called the “seven day survival plan”. Never had to test its validity yet.
Worst part of retirement for me was the loss of contact with co-workers.
Best part is the independence.
Getting old sucks but so far it’s beat the he!! out of the alternative.
I feel like I’ve lived at the best time in human history, ate the heart out of the watermellon, lived a full life with a wonderful woman and raised 5 great kids, that treat me way better than I deserve. No regrets and happy to say “nobody on Earth or in Heaven owns me anything”.
Here’s what I think, about one’s retirement. If you loved life while you were working and raising your family, you’re gonna love your retirement. I’ll leave the opposite unsaid.
All the best LIKE2HUNT.