Just wondering. I'm thinking retirement is overrated. The lack of things to do and meeting fewer people scares me. Also I'm not rich enough to travel each month, covid or not.
What Would You Like to Do after You Retire?
Frankensnore on 28/05/2021 - 10:39
Comments
"not much to do"
???
Obviously lacking imagination …
I can think of so many things to do for myself rather than doing meaningless work for a boss.
If you're so hard up for something to do, why not play online chess? … that would very easily take up 99% of your time … and you would likely enjoy it too!
Can't understand those who would rather drag themselves into a workplace each day than to do their own thing … yes there are people who think like that … believe it or not.
After reading through the replies, this is what I think. It's not the lack of human interaction or things to do after retirement, rather it's the lack of financial ability to do it after retirement.
Really? Which post said that?
I got essentially the other impression.
People don't miss the money, and emphasise that exploring your interests is important. And reminding us that many very enjoyable things are free simply strengthens the first point. It doesn't mean you're too poor to do things.
Fully occupied profitably trading shares/options during the day and trying out new kitchen recipes on the side at weekends.
Watching movies at night.
And enjoying my retirement doing what I want and whenever I want!No longer a wage slave answering to an alarm clock at some ungodly early morning time when I would rather stay in bed.
Retirement definitely not overrated for me.
Buy a large lot of land in a rural area, and setup a bunch of greenhouses. Then, over say 20 years, focus on the selective breeding for certain genetic characteristics.
Like potency?
I was thinking more like super delicious strawberries that grow on vines, but sure.
Travel, spend time with family, volunteer and explore new hobbies.
I am technically “retired” but not working kills your brain. So I will always work. These days I just work on what I want to without money driving my decision making on time allocation. I spend majority of my time actively raising my kids/running a house and building my family’s investment portfolio. I also consult on occasion but only for people I like and projects that interest me. It’s a privileged position to be in but I work even harder than I did in my formal career.
"not working kills your brain."
What I do now that I'm retired (e.g. trading shares/options, trying new recipes, watching movies) could not be classified as "work", BUT it's definitely not "killing my brain".
Where did you get such a ridiculous idea?
why do the retirees in my area only go to coles at 5pm on a weekday and during the weekends
'Cos they can :-)
What about all the oldies who wait outside the roller doors for an hour each morning?
That's when about to expire food is being marked down? I'm not a retiree but I also do that whenever I've got nothing else on. Good entertainment with the prospect of getting a cheap steak/fish/etc.
LOL! In Area, they go on a Saturday morning/midday. FML, what the fk do they do on the other 5 days.
Create aussiegrandpadoeshotties.com.au
By then, I won't care what anyone thinks 👀
Weren't they cracking down on people on pension living in SEA with 18 year old gf's
Fly to mars and grow potatoes
Join the community mens shed and go to other random community events
Get up early every week day and drive around in peak hour traffic…. at 20 under the limit. Call me mr popular! ;)
Volunteering could work. I don't think I will ever retire completely though.
I've seen brilliant psychologists at age of 60 still working (not full time I am assuming), and I think that's what I would like to do (if I do become one).
Work a bit and volunteer a bit, do hobby stuff a bit.I feel like if I stop and don't do anything, it wouldn't be too great for my physical and mental health I reckon.
Sleep
There are plenty of things to do. Who said you need people? I think you are suffering from low self esteem and lack of education.
It is through education that one finds themselves open to more potentialities. Where do you want to go each month? What a silly notion. Maybe research places b4 you go, and visit them once a year.
You need to educate yourself or remain ignorant till the day you die.Hopefully, solar panels will be more efficient and we'll have a good selection of electric utes and buses by then. My retirement dream is to travel around Australia in either an electric bus converted to a motor home or a nice caravan towed by an electric ute and charge it with solar panels on the roof, windows and body.
Do what everyone else does… spend your time driving around slowly in the right hand lane to hold up people who actually have things to do with their lives?
add in during peak hour traffic as well.
And go to the shops after 5 pm and on the weekend.
Full time gamer.
Work
Assuming im in a 'very strong' financial position (ie win the lotto of have a few grand in passive income weekly) and the Pandemic is over these are the things i would do
I would travel and by travel i dont just mean a 2-3 week holiday i mean leave Melbourne during Winter for Europe or the US - prob rent a car and hit the roads visiting different places. I Would also throw in a nice cruise Carrabin would be amazing - also drive around Australia for a few months
Make more time for my family and friends - the best thing about the Pandemic is i got to see my son grow up that year instead of being stuck in the office
I like football (Soccer) - so i would go to the UCL final, World cup (went to Russia and dead set nothing is more amazing then the world cup in a sporting sense i mean the Olympics is rubbish compared to the wc vibe) etc
I also like AFL so if i didnt have time to work i could get more active in my support for the Western Bulldogs
Focus on me more gym or have a better schedule ie do a class daily or get a trainer - i would even consider turning to playing Outdoor soccer for a laugh (social league)
I havent been snowboarding for a few years and i would probably get back into it
Make time to read
Get back into music - i used to play Guitar/Drums I havent played since i was in my early 20s but if i had the time i would like to jam out
Do random things i would never have time to do right now ie hit up a D&D night, more live shows like comedy etc
Play some video games - would love to have time to play games like i did in my high school uni days - im talking new and old school Adventures - Mass effect, KOTR, Witcher series, Baldurs gate etc
I would also like to get into surfing, mt bike riding, hiking etc
I can literally think of 1000s of things i would like to do if i had time and money to do it - i work 50 hours and most of my money goes into my home loan and living expenses to retire means my wife and I would be financially independent and not need to work whilst still looking after our children. - I dont mind my 'profession' but some of the people i work with a so toxic it makes my job terrible at times.
I think most people who dont like retirement and people whos whole life revolved around 'work and money' they lived to work not worked to live - i work with LOADs of old people in my job and honestly the amount that struggle once they retire because they have nothing to do amazes me - even the wealthy can struggle because they have spent the better parts of there life working they dont know what it is actually like to live - I really hope i dont end up like them in that regard
This was thoughtful, a real good read, and I hope you get there.
Something to consider about video games, play them now while you still enjoy them. Ive put off playing many games until "later" when i get more time. I recently tried playing these games i was once so excited to play and either i dont find them enjoyable or im just not as good as i used to be.
This. I can't get into the massively LONG games. Maybe because I still have kids. But I just feel like "what is the point?" when playing them. The last long game I got into was Zelda on the switch. But that is like a life changing event game :) so we can all understand that.
Otherwise has to be games I can get in and out of.
i feel exactly the same, either i have no patience or im time poor as i get older, i can no longer afford to spend 20 to 40 hours getting into a game.
uni student me however, 12 hour sessions were the norm.
@DiscoJango: I wish I had spent more of those uni days on physical exercise and studying. Games were good tho.
Nothing.
Really depends what is available in your local area too. In my local area there is a University of the Third Age, an over 50's leaisure centre and lots of other community groups to become involved with. I often go to theatre productions put on by the leisure centre, so I am sure a lot of retired people spend all their time rehearsing for theatrical productions.
What I have observed that most retired people spend most of their time helping drive their grandchildren around and babysitting in various forms. That seems to be number one retirement activity LOL!!
Wouldn’t you rather be able to afford to regularly see real theatre, like touring broadway shows and classic musicals? And be able to afford to take someone with you so you don’t always have to go alone. Plus dinner, drinks, and an Uber there and back. Adds up fast.
Honestly yes, I would, but not so much I'd miss it if I couldn't.
And I'd only want to do those things one a week or less.
Wouldn't add up that fast.
I don't really know how else to spend money than really slowly… I guess reading internet forums is the path to wealth after all.
'most retired people spend most of their time helping drive their grandchildren around and babysitting in various forms'
agreed - the key seems to be managing expectations
i.e. if they don't negotiate their desired level of involvement, young parents can happily dump kids all day every day without notice onto retired grandparents who can quickly tire of the demands
Actually I was advised to do a couple of things before I retired, by those already retired - to enable to live fairly well on very limited super funds and to receive a govt pension.
Firstly absolutely make sure you have no debt left and you own your own place to live.
Secondly, install as much solar equipment, solar power and solar hot water and all led lighting in your home. That minimises expenditure into the future.
I love working in general on my home and yard, keeps them maintained and gives me satisfaction. I get out a lot, to the big shopping centres for coffee etc and weekly travel to the Sunshine Coast or go touring inland. ( I'm Brisbane area based ). I travel a lot with friends and neighbours for both company and for splitting costs. I go to the gym, doing bodybuilding. I would not consider going back to work for anybody again.Some ppl go on the road travelling in their vans.
I suppose it’s better staying home in a flat waiting to die.
Seriously though, I suppose it’s about how many complications it takes to make you get up in the morning.
Losing work as a complication is a big deal for some ppl, others not so much.
I've worked with loads of older guys whom I've bumped into outside of work once they've retired and they all say they love it they feel great and the only thing they miss is seeing the guys at work.
When you think about it, a workplace is generally a mish mash of individuals (Well depends on what industry you're in) but some guys outside of work may not have many family or friends or say social circles to meet new people.
Perhaps these individuals need to form these types of social circles before they retire so that once they do, they have a group of friends to catch up with occasionally?
And it is hard to make quality friends when you are over 40. So I feel for those old work axes that have no one outside of their family and work.
Strangely the guys I've seen struggle with retirement recently were alcoholics. Their work place kind of enabled them on this by putting them in positions where Friday night drinking was their big outing every week and drinking on any work night was a "work function" for them. They'd spend their whole weekend recovering from there Friday benders.
Once they retired they thought it'd be one big party. But after a few months normal people don't want to keep catching up for drinks all week long.
If any of you have a silver divorce, or go through a few divorces in your lifetime, you won't be able to retire.
Tread carefully.
The unfortunate thing is those over 50's are getting divorced more these days. Prolly after their kids left their joint, they're running out of excuses to stay together?
Learn golf, you can play by yourself or with a bunch on people and new meet people.
Fight crime.
spend a year in japan
Can't wait, I will:
- Garden
- Run/hike/cycle
- mushrooming
- work on my cars
- volunteer in some capacity
- read more books and listen to more music
- spend more time with retired friends/family
- take up some new hobbies I suspect
Why wait; start doing it now by making some time for it.
People who ask questions like this have well and truly been beaten down by the system.
I tried a bit of an experiment once, i asked random friends and colleagues how much they had in super. Sadly, a majority didnt know, didnt care and didnt even really know what super was. These are the same people who will not retire well.
I'll give you a dumb answer like that as well because it is none of your business.
Potter around in the garden with the wife, build Lego and Gundam models, do some diamond art, play video games with the kids/grand kids, listen to music, LSD. Sounds pretty good to me. Also dont really like people much so "not meeting new people" sounds just fine for me.
I can retire right now but I like working.
Going to start playing Final Fantasy 14.
same thing as now: music, movies, tv series, games, books, watch sports and hopefully take some up (light things like cycling, hiking etc) and maybe pick up other hobbies in the future
could also volunteer or work part time
Most ppl mentioned what to do. But spare a thought about who you want to do it with. Travelling is great but I recall the best times with my love ones. Even hobbies are best shared with someone else. So don't feel guilty if you enjoy work, it could be you enjoy the company of your work colleagues. For me the most important things are positive touching experiences/interactions with ppl, they really do last a life time.
Travel. I’ve been to over 30 countries thus far and would like to do more and to see and taste the world.
Dunno what’s the point of retiring if you’re not able to afford travel. But horses for courses.
Do what makes you happy.
happy endings make me happy
Hopefully spend a lot of time with kids and (hopefully) future grandkids, enjoying my hobbies with them and enjoying their hobbies too.
Hopefully spend a lot of time with kids and (hopefully) future grandkids,
I thought I was the only one who plans on spending time with grandkids! I am glad I am not the only one :)
Take up carpentry.
Get a new partner.
(profanity) a girl in each country
Do anything I possibly can to keep my body fit to prevent injury from falls etc and maintain a good diet to also ensure I am staying as healthy as I can as I get older. Same goes for mental activities.
Prolly start this as soon as you can rather than delaying till retirement? By then, the damage's done.
Marital activities.
Chill at the country with my cows, have a new hobby.. won't let go of my pc though
Buy all the sleep and chips and gravy every day.
For this who are retired and with not much to do, how about some community service, like finding where the safety camera cars are and park 50 metres before them and sit there with a flashing light to notify the on-coming drivers of the hazard ahead. Instant local hero.