How do you want to retire? – Well daily writing prompt question, you’re a little late with this one.

I’ve been retired now for 18 months. I’ve achieved some of the goals I had going into it and still have a lot more to work on.

• I wanted to sleep better – coming off years of overnight shift needed some adjustments.
• Spend more time with family and friends – doing well on this one.
• I want to travel a little bit – we have done a few small things but looking forward some larger trips.
• I want to work on my hobbies – I’m forging ahead in some areas well but need to really step up my woodworking and drawing/painting.
• Work on some home and yard improvement projects – not doing too bad, that is a lot of hard work at my age, but I also believe it helps keep me young.
• Cook and read more – another spot I could do much better at.
• I thought I’d have some more time to volunteer but that hasn’t materialized.

Some observations from my short time in retirement.

Get your financial and medical houses in order immediately. It takes time and effort.

I’d become so used to a nocturnal schedule I still struggle sleeping well at night. I’m usually up very early In some ways that works out well because I can work on my creative interest and not cut into family time. I’m tired a lot. I have taken naps occasionally now.

Even though I’m retired, most of my friends are still working.

Adapting at home. That transition for us has been easier because I was working from home my last few years. But we still had adjustments because we were on different schedules then and now we spend a lot more time together.

Less stress. Ownership changes and mass retirements in the last decade of my work changed it completely for me. What was once a family had become just a job. One that I loved doing but not for a lot of the people running it. So, the transition into retirement was easy on that front. I was ready to be gone. Making a separation from something you love is a lot harder. I see one of my best friends struggling through that now.

Having goals, challenges, plans are important. I had some childhood loves I set aside that I always wanted to return to and now I have the time.

Grandchildren – What a blessing and time consumer. I love them dearly, I will do anything for them. I’m glad we are close enough to help both families. Most of the time we miss them. But it does change the schedule quickly and thankfully we have that flexibility now.

TIME DISAPPEARS QUICKLY

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