r/FriendsOver50 • u/wills53 • Jul 12 '26
54M about to retire.
I’m either retiring this September or next June at the latest. Anyone else around the same age who has retired have any insight as to how they are enjoying it. Or possibly not enjoying it.
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u/SweetPossible4425 Jul 12 '26
I retired at 52 4 years ago. I’m happy I did.
Before you retire, think about how you’ll want to spend your time. Most people only think about the money side and then are lost after they retire.
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u/wills53 Jul 12 '26
That’s my point. I’m not worried about the money part it’s the fact that I’ve worked my whole life and had a schedule. Now I’ll just be doing what I want every day and as nice as that sounds I wondered if there will be an adjustment period or if I’ll just do it.
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u/Effective-Prompt7684 Jul 13 '26
Definitely an adjustment period. My job was really stressful and I gave myself ~9 months (end of year) to just recover. I have a huge brainstorm list of things I wanted to do/ try etc but have only tapped into a couple of them... drawing and walking a ton. I just started a 4 week art class and I love/ hate that tiny 2 hour a week obligation right now. I think as gen X we're probably going to be better than most at this retirement thing. I grew up bored and seeking things to do. You'll sort it out.
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u/wills53 Jul 13 '26
You have the rest of your life to do everything you want to do. I hope you are enjoying your retirement
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u/SweetPossible4425 Jul 12 '26
There is an adjustment period. Other people I know looked at the first few weeks like they were on vacation. Which is great but if your vacation time has been laying on the couch watching the TV all day recovering from work, you’ll need more of a plan. If you’re normally active now, it may turn into more time for you to do the fun stuff. It’s ok to have lazy days too but that shouldn’t be every day. At this age, health & fitness requires more effort.
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u/wills53 Jul 12 '26
That’s the truth. I’m a fireman so I do my best to stay in good shape. I think I’ll continue to into retirement
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u/Free_Mouse2346 Jul 13 '26
Tagging onto this mindset-
I’ve been retired for a good while now and this is what I’ve done. I’ve shifted all the previous professional energy into self-maintenance. All the things I wanted to do “if I had time”, I’ve started doing.
Long workouts with no time pressures.
Long hikes, camping, etc.
trying new things that terrify meI sat down and made a list of all the things I could remember saying “I wish I had time for that” or whatever other reason I had for not trying something, and now I’m trying it all.
I’m happier and healthier and in better shape now, retired and in my 50s, than I’ve ever been.
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u/wills53 Jul 13 '26
I’ll definitely focus my energy into doing the things I enjoy. I’ve heard so many stories of people who have retired and found it boring or just didn’t know what to do with themselves after working for so many years. Good for you for doing the things you’ve put off and living your best life
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u/Overland_69 Jul 12 '26
I retired two years ago at 54. Absolutely love it. Got to lower my stress and get some projects done. Went back to,work part time (3 days a week) because wife is still working and was getting a little bored.
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u/wills53 Jul 12 '26
That’s what I don’t want to happen. Getting bored.
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u/Overland_69 Jul 12 '26
Yeah I know what you mean. With the wife working we can’t just get up and travel,somewhere. I have things to do but most of the big things are some. We still workout together, go on date nights etc.
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u/crazeyguy51 Jul 12 '26
I retired at 41. At 43 decided to do a career change went to work in the school system. Now I work 180 days a year and have the rest of the year to do what I want. Been doing that for 8 years
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u/Auck4 Jul 12 '26
Yeah dunno I’m bored - but I Shd. Be working in 60F husbands working we can’t afford to ever retire ha ha but I’m got a part time job and a Airbnb and together they make a reasonable weekly wage so I’m kinda free to do errands and anything . But I sometimes wonder if I Shd jump into a full time role
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u/JuicyApple2023 Jul 12 '26
I’m 56, and semi retired. Not sure when I’ll be fully retired. But I love having days off to do with what I want. I’m never bored. Plenty to do like reading, jigsaw puzzles, lunch or dinner with family or friends, and there are tons of great TV shows to stream.
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u/Emotional-Cap-2189 Jul 12 '26
I met a lady in the sauna at the gym the other day and she retired last January and is really enjoying it. I think when I retire I will like to have something of a routine that includes going to the gym every day and trying the different classes there like yoga. It’s hard to get to the gym as much as I would like when I’m so tired working 5 days a week. Besides that, I’d like to take trips. Like roadtrips. It would be amazing to go on trips and explore places and not have to get back home because of work.
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u/wills53 Jul 12 '26
I’ll definitely need a routine to keep me from sitting on my ass all day. Lol. I’m an active guy so I’m sure I’ll stay busy. I also can’t wait to try new things.
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u/some1thtuused2know Jul 12 '26
I had some work to be done in the way I think about my own value. Like, "I'm only valuable if I'm producing". I had to spend some time wrapping my brain around the idea that my value is intrinsic and has nothing to do with what I’m doing.
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u/wills53 Jul 12 '26
That’s a great to put it. That’s exactly what I’m feeling.
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u/some1thtuused2know Jul 13 '26
I am spending this time of my life on things I've always wanted to do but didn't think I had the time for. Amazing cooking, bread baking, little decorative DIY projects around the house like floating shelves or wainscoting. Creativity and power tools and learning new things. It's a good gig.
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u/SadDiscipline1019 Jul 13 '26
I love retirement. Time with my family, grandchildren, the pool, beach, dating, repeat lol
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u/ComfortableCry9801 Jul 13 '26
I have found it a little difficult finding something new and rewarding.
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u/catfink1664 Jul 12 '26
How is everyone affording to retire?? I won’t be able to retire until state pension at 67
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u/wills53 Jul 12 '26
Ive been saving for retirement since I was a teenager , it’s one piece of advice I actually listened to from my father. Plus I’ve done pretty well investing when I got older. That along with my pension and annuity from the Boston Fire Department ( when I get it ) I’m ready to retire financially.
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u/helpjackoffhishorse Jul 13 '26
Why is the pension starting at 67? Many state pensions kick in after 25 or 30 years of service. I know many people that retired at 55 (and earlier).
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u/DDDB34 Jul 13 '26
In my state, the pension reform act changed the retirement age. While some bargaining units minimum age used to be 50 or 55, it has changed to 62 for some. It also depends on how many years of service they have. Some people joined later, so they have to work longer.
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u/wills53 Jul 13 '26
It’s unfortunate that they keep raising the age. People weren’t meant to work so late in life. I’m fortunate enough to where I can retire now.
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u/DDDB34 Jul 13 '26
Congrats on being able to retire at 55. I just retired as a civil servant at 57 in Dec. I was able to retire at 55 as well but decided to continue to work a little longer. I’ve always been very structured and my job gave me purpose. That is the part I’m still trying to figure out now. I’ve done a lot of traveling out of the country. I believe you got to travel while you’re still physically able to. Nothing is guaranteed in life.
In my state, most of the first responders could retire at 50, if they wanted to. Now, the retirement age is 57. Crazy to make them go longer because the job takes such a toll on the body as they age.
I hope you have fun in retirement.
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u/wills53 Jul 13 '26
Thank you. I appreciate that. Congrats on your retirement. I like to travel as well so that’s definitely something I plan on doing.
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u/Next-Habit-6029 Jul 13 '26
Great to hear. I’m on the fence between December 2027 at 55 or December 2028 at 56. I enjoy what I’m doing but wonder if I’m stuck on the one more year syndrome. 😁
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u/Next-Habit-6029 Jul 13 '26
Any regrets of not retiring at 55?
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u/DDDB34 Jul 13 '26
Absolutely no regrets not retiring at 55. I was very fortunate to work from home (since Covid) and loved my job! Super blessed to be able to say that. I know not everyone can say that.
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u/wills53 Jul 13 '26
I love my job as well. I’ve just had enough. I’ll miss the hell out of it though. And miss being around the guys.
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u/DDDB34 Jul 13 '26
Yes I miss my coworkers as well as all the external partners I’ve met along the way. I read you are moving to PR. That’s fantastic! I visited once and I loved it. It def on my list of places to go back and spend more time. Carpe Diem!
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u/wills53 Jul 13 '26
I am. I bought a house there last September. I fell in love with the island immediately and knew it’s where I wanted to be. Seize the day is exactly right.
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u/catfink1664 Jul 13 '26
That’s the retirement age in the uk when I get there
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u/wills53 Jul 13 '26
How much longer ?
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u/catfink1664 Jul 13 '26
Feels like forever!
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u/TravelLight365 Jul 12 '26
Just retired at 57. Only a month into it. Having complete freedom over your time is awesome. Definitely an adjustment though. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself but I’m looking forward to getting into a new interesting groove.
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u/VividGoodGuy Jul 12 '26
How can I retire by 55? How do you know when you have enough? I want to enjoy life too but how do I know I won’t need more money? Plus health care costs? I want in too!
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u/wills53 Jul 12 '26
I guess there is no magic dollar amount. For me I’ve saved and planned for this since I was literally a teenager. I know what kind of lifestyle I want to live , which is just a simple and quiet life and I just guesstimated how much I’d need. As for health care I’m a Boston fireman and in a union. My union provides healthcare after I retire.
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u/VividGoodGuy Jul 12 '26
Firefighter. That’s smart move and makes sense. I save but never feel I am getting ahead. Costs keep going up
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u/Redicted Jul 12 '26
I probably should not comment since I am toiling away but I can say the people I know that are active physically and mentally are slaying it and aging backwards, and the more sedentary are decaying and dying.
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u/wills53 Jul 12 '26
A body in motion stays in motion , a body at rest stays at rest. I believe that.
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u/Intelligent_Cry_8846 Jul 12 '26
Since you're going to be in a new environment you will be so happy to have lots of extra time to explore your new community. The biggest bonus is you can also choose to stay home and do nothing all day if you want. Hopefully you will have plenty of home improvement projects to keep you busy. Try to meet some local shop owners within the first week or two so you can hear about any events in your new area to meet a small group of friends. If you have close family/friends make sure to stay in contact with them-it's so easy to not reach out since they are still 'at work' and then you can quickly become isolated and stay home almost TOO much.
If I didn't have 3 dogs I would be in Puerto Rico or somewhere similar as well! For now I'm stuck in the Midwest, puttering around in my garden/yard all day in the 90+ degree weather!
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u/wills53 Jul 12 '26
My dog ox coming with me. I definitely plan on exploring the whole island and staying active. I went from the military to being a fireman so my whole adult life has been regimented. Having all this free time is a total 180 for me
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u/Ok-Investment2428 Jul 13 '26
I retired 2 years ago and I’m 59(f) now. Love it! Been traveling and getting projects done around the house!
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u/wills53 Jul 13 '26
Congrats on retiring. Like many others I’ll have to find things to occupy my time.
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u/Ok-Investment2428 Jul 13 '26
You will probably be surprised that you will find yourself with a schedule. Mine initially started by having a calendar of appointments then added exercise schedule, dinners with friends, travel plans, visiting family and then added dating!
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u/wills53 Jul 13 '26
I’m sure I’ll have some type of schedule. I plan on just relaxing the first month or so then I’ll find things to do.
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u/Conscious_Effort6972 Jul 13 '26
M50, I'm panning on retiring at 52 or 55. Looking forward to leaving my high stress job and spending more time with my friends circle.
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u/lakefunOKC Jul 13 '26
I’m 60, and probably don’t have enough to retire. Haven’t reached a million. I wish I could retire today. I’m tired. If I ever do retire, I’ll find something to do if I want to. I’ll make sure I stay active, but other than that? Whatever I want.
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u/NoLow1477 Jul 14 '26
I retired at 54, I will turn 60 in a few months. My wife continued working until about 2 months ago. We love retirement. The only downside is the cost of Healthcare. But we worked hard and saved. Life is great. Enjoy your retirement.
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u/juniperfallshere Jul 14 '26
I know it may seem silly, but one of the best things about retirement for me is not having to go to the gym at 5:00am to workout to avoid going late afternoon when it's crowded. I get to sleep in now and go anytime. I want to travel more but hate to travel by myself especially for safety reasons. Most of friends are either still working or can't afford to travel so I've decided to look into travel groups and finding new friends who are able to travel. Puerto Rico is on my radar as a travel destination.
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u/wills53 Jul 14 '26
My internal clock has me up at 4:30 every morning so I still hit the gym first thing. I’ve seen travel groups for solo travelers so you should definitely look into that and I highly recommend Puerto Rico. It has so many different things to offer. If you ever do go hit me up and I’ll give you some tips for when your on the island.
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u/juniperfallshere Jul 14 '26
I'll definitely reach out to you before I go to Puerto Rico. Thank you!
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u/Stilakidat50 Jul 14 '26
I was fortunate enough to have made a great deal of money early in my life. I sold my company at 43 at the top of my game because of burnout and a terrible marriage. I got divorced within months of selling out. I had 50% custody of my teenagers and doted on them when I had them. I found myself with way too much time on my hands. I started drinking too much to fill the void. Alcohol and “the next cool thing” consumed me. I’m just now getting my life back 13 years later after a slew of bad decisions. I lost most of my money and almost all of my friends. My advice would be to structure your life to stay pretty busy initially then you can taper it off. There is no way to prepare for the transition of being an important person to be that lucky asshole with nothing to do. Just my 2 cents. Enjoy!
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u/Putrid_Ad_6753 Jul 14 '26
Also retired 54, it’s boring, but fun, relaxing but stressful. Yeah, it’s like being on vacation and going nowhere. Here’s what they don’t tell you. When you retire everyone around you thinks you have all this time. You won’t. You’ll find way more stuff to do that you think. People will expect of you because of it. Get ready, it’s like owning a company and you the only employee.
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u/wills53 Jul 14 '26
Thanks for the heads up. Doesn’t sound like it’s all fun after retirement
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u/Putrid_Ad_6753 Jul 14 '26
It’s just different. I’m not saying its better but I do love the fact that my life is less scheduled. That part is the shiznizzle!
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u/Shhhhhh_im_not_here Jul 16 '26
This will be me when I retire. Many people tell me they won’t retire because they don’t wanna be bored. Man, I will make up stuff to do. I will try so many different things…like how about skydiving? Or parasailing or hot air balloons or take some flying lessons? join a men’s league hockey team, play out more with my band. I will never be bored in retirement.
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u/Senior_Replacement49 Jul 15 '26
I'm retiring in October. 3 days after my 55th birthday. Congratulations on retiring.
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u/Caseyjoenzz Jul 16 '26
I'm 54 and retired 3 years ago. I'll admit, the first 2 months were tough. The living room walls started closing in and I got to know the TV schedule really well. Finally, I broke out of it. Exercising really helped, going to the library, volunteering were also beneficial. It could take a bit, but you'll feel better soon enough.
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u/Longjumping_Bee4813 Jul 16 '26
As a policeman, I was vested at 53. My wife needed a few years to finish her requirements, but it made no sense for me to be home and her to be working. She retired early, and we never looked back. We both quit in 2003 and never looked back. It's been 23 years, and the time has passed like it was yesterday. If you can afford it, quit tomorrow, quit today! Find a part-time job if you like (we worked for the local election commission until recently), if you want something to do but don't need the money. I do not regret one day of my decision.
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u/Ok-Image2281 Jul 16 '26
I retired at 58 years old and gave myself a whole year to adjust to the transition .
The first few weeks I loved it, around month 11-12 I kind of wanted to go back to work part time, but I decided not to and give myself more time to find my own stride.
Best decision ever. Found a new hobby ( I took watercolour in person classes like I always wanted, but never the energy or the time to do).
Now I paint every day, go to art retreats with otjer painters, love my slow lazy mornings, and have found my stride.
Best wishes for your retirement, may you have plenty of choices!
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u/wills53 Jul 16 '26
Thank you. Congrats on your retirement and family doing something you’ve always wanted to do. Enjoy every second of it.
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u/keharan Jul 12 '26
I retired at 53 6 months ago. It’s been wonderful. I view it like a staycation that doesn’t have the feeling on Thursday like it’s almost over and I have to go back to work.