Anxiety About Retirement

[tuckerd1]

How many of you that are retired had anxiety attacks as you neared retirement?

I am now. I have 25 days to go and it appears I am stressing out about my pending retirement. I'm not one to stress out over things, but this is bothering me. I am 61 and have been workingsteadly since I was 16. I spent 8 years in the Navy and 3 years in college, but I look at those as the same.

I will be in decent shape money wise so that isn't the issue. I guess it is the single largest life change other than being drafted and/or becoming a father that I have undergone.

[gdmoody]

Congratulations!!

I retired from the Army in 1996 and plan on retiring from the Post Office next year (388 days, but who's counting). I don't remember having any anxiety about the one from the Army, at all. Just look at it as one chapter in your life ending and another one opening.

[SARG]

I suspect you won't regret it after awhile.

I guess it's all about the math. After all .... this life is a one way trip.

[tango1niner]

Congratulations are in order. Don't stress about it. You will be fine. I retired 4 yrs. ago and find I am busier now than when I was working. It is wonderfull. My wife retires in 6 mos., she can't wait. The only advice I can give is: If your home is not paid off you should pay it off as quickly as possible and rid yourself of debt. Do not hold a mortgage for the write off, that is BS.

Congratulations again and good luck!

[GunnyGene]

Been there, done that. Twice (USMC and Boeing). Currently I'm 13 years into my 3rd career as I like to call it. I won't say I had any 'anxiety' attacks in connection with my retirements; but the prospect of being hanged in the morning, does focus the mind.

[ozo]

I had anxiety for one day......
It too, passed.
Years of fast-paced, not-enough-time,
5hrs sleep/night, wife sayin' 'slow down,
you ain't no spring chicken'........
Took her advice, and it took a while.....
Now, I look at all that needs to still be
done, evaluate it for importance, try to
get [some] project done or at least worked on
a little bit.....each day.....no matter the size,
large or small........
And now have the option to use the 'Spanish'
that I have learned thru the years.......
.........MANANA....!!!!
[In English, it means 'tomorrow'......
in Spanish, it means 'not today']

I have 13 Zillion dollars that I got from
an obama program.....so...no worries, mate.
He fittin' to buy me a new bathroom
and pump my gas !

I now have the time to spend/share with
my lovely bride.....and that's worth more than $$$$

[Shooter45]

Don, I'm going into my third year of retirement and it's not so bad.

I still work a few days a month to get a break from shooting, camping and fishing.

I'm usually awake before 4 am and in bed asleep by 10 PM.

I like it.

[wv hillbilly]

i have no regrets about retiring.
i do miss some of the people i worked with, then there is some i dont care if i ever see again

[nmckenzie]

Retired in '93 and moved from the People's Republic of New York to Alaska. No anxiety attacks whatsoever, but the number of projects I'd been putting off for years has grown - or perhaps I'd just lost track of how many I'd accumulated while planning for retirement. No big deal, I just keep my assigned Honey Do chores and retirement projects in proper synch (about a 10:1 ratio it seems) and life is good.

[bamajoey]

Originally Posted by wv hillbilly

i have no regrets about retiring.
i do miss some of the people i worked with, then there is some i dont care if i ever see again

Same here. I retired 11 years ago at the old age of 54. The only anxiety I had was waking up every morning knowing I had to go to work. I still don't know how I had the time when I was working to do the things I do now and still work. Best thing that ever happened. Wifey retired 5 years ago, so we have lots of time to do the things we like best, travel, fish, travel, work in the garden, travel, and play with the grandkids. Did I mention travel.
Don't worry, keep busy, and you will wish you could have done it years ago.

[Hugh357]

I too was anxious about retiring in 1997. I asked friends, workers about retirement, however the ultimate decision came down to me. I was in a high stress job and was in charge of 90 appraisers, who all had their own idea how things should be done. I too had worked all my life after college and army. Once I got my pen and pencil set from the powers to be I never looked back. If you are only retiring because you can you need to look at your job. Do you enjoy what you are doing? Do you get along with your coworkers for the most part? Do you enjoy for the most part going to work every day? If you answer all those questions to the affirmative then why are you leaving? If there are things you do and would like to do more of but have been unable to because of your job then that is a good reason to leave if you are financially able to do so. Is there something else you would rather do? Then leave and do it.
It is a MAJOR life move. Think it out financially. The last thing you want to do is have to look for a part time job, unless you want to.
Best of wishes.

[gvw3]

I will be 63 next month. Home is paid for. My only problem is healthcare. My wife is 10 years younger and my job covers her. She has a heart condition so she can't go without healthcare. May have to work until they kick me out or I drop over dead.

[m77user]

retired. Really Exciting Thing Is Really Everyone's Dream. I am taking a part time job. Retirement is not mandatory. Hope you get over the stress, or uncertainty and get on with enjoying your new found free time. Congrats.

[Rogeritall]

Originally Posted by tuckerd1

How many of you that are retired had anxiety attacks as you neared retirement?

I am now. I have 25 days to go and it appears I am stressing out about my pending retirement. I'm not one to stress out over things, but this is bothering me. I am 61 and have been workingsteadly since I was 16. I spent 8 years in the Navy and 3 years in college, but I look at those as the same.

I will be in decent shape money wise so that isn't the issue. I guess it is the single largest life change other than being drafted and/or becoming a father that I have undergone.

Take up all the hobbies you never had time for when you were working... Also, if you get too bored you're still allowed to work part time, and there is always volunteer work at hospitals or church.

Due to health problems I've had to go into semi retirement at the age of 50 (now 52), and it was a terrible shock to my way of life. But, part time work and volunteer stuff has helped, not to mention hobbies likes shooting and reloading when my health allows. It seems like there is always something to do. I've been blessed.

Best of luck and good fortune to you...

[jedwil]

My worry is that, due to Obamacare, I will be forced to retire before I am ready. I'm 62 and would like to work about 6 more years.

[dons2346]

I went at 53 1/2 back in '99 and haven't missed the full time job yet. We have done some workcamping which if you find a good job is fun. I did, a few months back, see a summer job as a range master at a shooting range, that could be fun.

So far, I haven't seen the downside of retirement other than you don't get holidays off, no vacation, no big fat bonus check, etc.

Health care can be a problem but what bozo is promising, you will be ok.

[ejkoechling]

congrats. I have 4 years to go and will be out at 53 ( provided I get the 1200 hrs I need for the 4 years.) Have another career lined up part time at local gun shop and some part time at golf course. Can't wait to start over

[Carne Frio]

I am happily retired. Would suggest that if your are
a "people person" that you find an activity that puts
you around a lot of people. Enjoy being out of the rat race.

[nmckenzie]

Was just chuckling recalling my dad's retirement back in '77, age 61, after logging 30 years with the CAA/FAA. My mom, a stay-at-home housewife for those thirty years, then went out and found herself a part time job because dad was driving her nuts puttering with retirement projects, leaving tools parked in handy locations (like on her sewing table) etc. It took a bit of adjusting, but they both survived his transition to retirement.

[Redhand]

Your biggest worry will be finding enough time to get done what you want to,and wonder how you got anything done while you were working. The best part of retirement is working a job because you don't have too. Get yourself a good quality metal detector and get out and find what you and others have lost for years. It's FUN,addictive,great excercise and it really wakes up your imagination. Have a great one.

[nmckenzie]

[QUOTE=Redhand;1033480] Get yourself a good quality metal detector and get out and find what you and others have lost for years. It's FUN,addictive,great excercise and it really wakes up your imagination. /QUOTE]

The lady of the house presented me with a metal detector about six years ago. It's first operational deployment was tracing the journey of a wayward dental crown (gold) a friend of her's had swallowed during dinner. I'll leave the rest to your imaginations, but take my word for it, this gold detecting operation was hilarious. All told, from beginning to end (literally), it lasted four days.

[Clipper]

I was forced to retire at 60 (FAA required it then, now you can fly tip 65) That was back in 97, and I have tried to stay busy. A few of my old pals didn't keep busy and only drew 30 or so retirement checks. So my advice is to keep busy! Do something even if it is volunteer work. Congratulations for making it this far, and enjoy your retirement.

[Gabob]

It was a big adjustment for me. Took all of five minutes to get adjusted, Biggest problem is that you almost work yourself to death the first few months doing jobs that you have put off. It is hard to realize that you have the rest of your life to do them. After that the manana syndrome kicks in and you start to enjoy life

[medalguy]

Don't worry about it. If you're financially comfortable, that's 50% of the game. Your health is another 48%, so stay active and stay healthy.

I sold my business when I was 57 and was ready to retire. I haven't looked back a day yet. I'm 66 now. As long as you have some activities to keep you busy and active, you'll be fine. Look for hobbies you enjoy, and if you're married, that your wife will enjoy.

We travel quite a bit, both domestically and overseas. We're lately beginning to think we should probably confine ourselves to this country however. No problem there.

The biggest decision we have to make every morning is, what are we going to do today? We make sure we are up and dressed and out of the house every day, even if it's just to take a drive somewhere and have breakfast or lunch. We don't want to turn into a couple of slobs who sit around all day in our PJs or underwear (apologies to those members who DO sit around in their underwear).

Above all, HAVE FUN! This should be the most enjoyable time of your life.

[gvw3]

Everything I love to do cost money. I could shoot trap every day. I love to go to the pistol range also. If I retire I won't have the money to do what I like. For the most part I like my job anyway so its not a big deal. I have to keep the wife insured anyway so will keep working.

When I go on vacation I get pretty board fast. Run out of things to do. My dad told me he hated retiring. After working for the same company for 40 years he had nothing to do. About 5 of his friends retired at the same time. After one year 4 were dead. They just sat around and took it easy. Killed them. I am worried I would do the same thing.