For those lucky enough to be retired, what are some of your favorite things?

[captain queeg]

Just to take a break from all the craziness going on with the government, though I’d bring this up. I was driving home in traffic a bit ago, not stressed at all. I notice I’m a lot more polite of a driver now I’m not in a hurry and don’t mind letting people in, for instance.

In no particular order; getting up or sleeping in whenever I feel like it. No office politics (so I can worry about government politics as much as I can stand). Lots of time to read. If I get insomnia and have trouble sleeping, no big deal (used to hate that when I knew I had to get up for work).

Just a couple things that come to mind. I just retired a few months ago and am still getting used to it but I’m liking it. I always used to say I didn’t like working but I liked being broke even less. So I’d always worked from the time I was 16 or less. Now I’m comfortable enough, I have a pretty simple lifestyle.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I discovered one of my favorite things almost immediately after retiring.

My last day of work was on a December 31, with January immediately following. It's cold here in January, and it snows. It was so lovely to wake up in the morning, look out the window and see the snow on the ground and in the street, and just go the hell back to bed. When I do get up I can just relax with a cup of coffee for as long as I want and hang out with my cats. The other favorite things involve being able to spend time on a couple of previously-neglected hobbies.

[customerserviceguy]

15. Oh, yeah

Getting to work in the snow was such a hassle when I lived in NY, now, the only ice I see is in my drink!

[GP6971]

52. That was my last day or work also!

For the first 3 or 4 months I just chilled out. Catching up on old TV shows, reading etc.

Still can't shake that waking up early though.

Staying busy is important. There's plenty to do...late spring to early fall it's all outside stuff. Winter, indoor projects and hobbies.

[likesmountains 52]

2. Sleeping in. My job required me to get up at 4:45 AM.

I absolutely love waking up naturally, not to an alarm. I loved my job as an NICU nurse, but am glad to be relieved of the 12 hour stressful shifts.

[customerserviceguy]

16. 4:45 AM

That's still night in most of the US, most of the year. Good for you, not having to do that anymore!

[safeinOhio]

3. Going on 18 years of retirement.

Have 4 money making hobbies that I love. Antiques, flipping cars, picking up and delivering cars with my trailer and resale at auctions. They all
Pay for themselves and tons of fun.

Good luck.

[LakeArenal]

4. I love everything about being retired

The worst day retired is better than the best day at work.

We feel like life just got started.

[customerserviceguy]

17. Amen, brother! n/t

[Raine]

5. Sleeping as late as I want

is my favorite thing along with getting to do what I want any day or any time I want.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

6. Everything you mentioned!

Another thing I really enjoy is not having to dread Sunday nights any more! Being able to go to the grocery store when it's not crowded. Getting together with retired friends for lunch and not having to watch the clock.

I've been retired for 18 years (was able to take early retirement from my Federal Govt. job in DC) and I'm pretty used to it now, so thanks for reminding me what I have to thankful for! I don't even want to imagine how horrible it would be to have to face a portrait of Trump grinning like a deranged ape hanging in the main lobby of my building every day. Not having to do that is my most favorite thing of all!

[secondwind]

7. We both retired at 50. The Clinton years were good to us.

Hubby went to South Africa with the Peace Corps (2 years), he’s also traveled to Kenya to promote micro financing etc.

We’ve traveled extensively and even did home exchanges abroad. Highly recommended. We love visiting grandkids, youngest is 1, oldest is 20. Recently relocated to San Francisco, where the youngest grandchildren live.

Hubby loves to cook, go fishing, etc. I’m an artist, we stay busy. Life is good.

[flotsam]

8. I'll hit 20 years in January

Mine started early due to an industrial accident and physically I am pretty restricted. That said I am reminded of the Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith as the survivor of an atomic attack-but now the NYC library is the internet and my glasses are just fine...

[wasupaloopa]

9. I like going to the beach in the middle of the week.

Sometimes the tide and temperature are right on Tues or Wed.

I go to a beach where I have a mile of sand and surf all to my self.

[mercuryblues]

31. I think that sums up us.

We can do things during the week that we could only do on weekends. Less crowds and cheaper hotel rates.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

10. Doing all errands or visiting places I want to see on weekdays

Getting my haircut on Thursday morning.
Hiking on Wednesday.
Favorite restaurant on Tuesday.

Lately, we’ve gone to a few BBC Philharmonic radio recordings and have been in the studio audience. It’s free and fun, but takes a long time. Which I have now.

Weekends are now for staying home.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. I am lucky to be retired....and I got even luckier when I took an early retirement.

I was working for the Red Cross Blood Services, working on blood drives, taking care of donors who were giving their platelets and like that. I enjoyed my job, but two things happened nearly simultaneously to change that.

There were changes coming to my job and I didn't like the sound of them, and the Red Cross management was offering early retirement.

So I called them and I was eligible! 6 weeks later, I was gone!

Some of my favorite things: Being here on DU; getting up whenever I feel like it, and staying up as late as I want; taking photos, and writing poetry!

Life is good.

[elocs]

25. I used to regularly donate platelets at the Red Cross after I retired.

"Used to" until a few years ago.
This was a small place and it always had the same 2 women working there and we got to know each other well.
Then one day they were both gone. I asked about them and was told that one had found another job and the other was on vacation.
The trouble is that the one on vacation who had worked at the Red Cross for years did not come back. Then there was a time while I was donating and the needle came out of my arm and the woman accused me of pumping too hard. That was it for me and I never went back.
Just last year I happened to see the Red Cross worker who was "on vacation" and she told me that the Red Cross had dumped both her and the other woman because they had been employees for so long that they were making too much money.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

40. I am so sorry to hear this. They treated you badly and those employees you liked as well.

Employee abuse happens. It had happened at my Red Cross too, before I worked there, and then the nurses organized and got a union in place. It helped a lot.

I am really sorry you experienced this awful situation. It should never have happened. And the bit about squeezing too hard? BS. The needle had most likely been placed too shallow or not secured well.

[ooky]

12. Never having to set the alarm.

Sleeping as long as I want to.

Staying up as late as I want to.

Staying home

Putting things off that I don't feel like doing today.

Wasting half my day on the internet and not feeling guilty about it.

Doing stuff with my grandkids

Not having to leave my dog by himself

TV binging when I want to. Being able to watch 10 episodes in a row if I can't pull away.

Reading and watching political stuff

Inpromptu rendezvous with my retired neighbors and friends for adult beverages all afternoon on my back patio.

Yeah, life is good.

[LakeArenal]

44. Yeah. The dog thing.

We always said the luckiest dog will be the retirement dog.

We just moved to Costa Rica. Found a cabina on a mountain that will allow us a twenty pound dog when we move there in October. So psyched. el perro here I come.

[Hortensis]

59. How exciting for you, and what a lovely area.

My husband's not up for it, but being able to use the freedom of retirement to try some really big changes definitely makes a "favorite things" list for me anyway. Enjoy your new home.

[LakeArenal]

64. Thanks. It is a dream come true!!

Many couples have said the same. One in one can’t or won’t
We so lucky we are healthy enough and on the same page. It’s really....
everything.

[ooky]

65. My dog would agree.

He's enjoyed 5 years of non-stop attention now.

Your retirement plans sound incredible. May they be long and enjoyable for you.

[LakeArenal]

67. Gracias!

[Greybnk48]

13. Sleeping until I want to get up.

No meetings. Not worrying about my job. Weekends mean nothing. I can do what I want any day or night of the week!

I LOVE it!

[customerserviceguy]

14. I do genealogy

I was adopted, and I enjoy building pedigree trees for people who match me on DNA websites, 23andMe in particular.

Sometimes, I need some help for a matching person, in that case, if they give me a few clues, I will always share my research with them.

[marlakay]

18. I love not having to get dressed right away in the morning

And slowly drinking a cup of tea. Being able to have breakfast late.

Not dealing with office drama, not having to dress up.

I love my senior classes, one of mine this fall is wine tasting at a bunch of local places and learning all about how they make the wine.

I can take off at any time to travel for weeks or months and no one to stop me.

I can be as busy as I want or have a few months of doing nothing but reading and watching tv. Love to do that and sit by fire in the winter.

I drive slower, more relaxed in lines. Let people go ahead.

[wryter2000]

21. Travel

On thing I didn't anticipate...I can fly whenever I feel like it. Costs less and lowers stress.

[LakeArenal]

45. Well as a woman....

Bra no longer a necessity. Ahhhh.

[marlakay]

48. Me to at home

In the summer tshirt only with all windows covered.

[wryter2000]

20. All the things you mention

Plus, I joined my church choir. I haven't sung since high school. Loving it!

[lunatica]

22. I read through all the responses and

I can truthfully say “All of the above”.

I made myself a promise that I would only do exactly what I want to do. That includes simply not doing what I don’t want to do. I don’t have to put up with the whole idiotic hierarchical boss thing. Most are in it just for the power trip because in my experience those were the assholes who could have never done my job. I had some great bosses too, so it isn’t some problem I have with authority. I just hate playing the lets pretend the boss is superior to me in every way game.

I am an artist so now I can paint whenever I want, and whatever I want. Now that’s freedom!

I like spending the morning, or even the entire day in my pajamas, sans a bra if I feel like it. My cat is pretty happy about my retirement too. He likes the company. We have a great routine, centered around feeding him times, opening the patio door so he can make his rounds, making sure his five or six favorite nap spots are in working order, brushing him and cuddling time. It’s a great life.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

23. Been retired for 20 years,

the trouble with not doing anything is, you don't know when you're finished.

[teamster633]

24. What a great topic.

So many things already mentioned would be on my list, but I would add the discovery that Monday is actually a delightful day...frequently my favorite day of the week.

[elocs]

26. As many have said, I enjoy sleeping when I please and for as long as I please.

I suppose the irony is that I really don't sleep any longer than I ever did but it's more the point that I don't "have" to get up or that I "can't" sleep because I'm working.
My bladder alarm tends to wake me up around 2 a.m. and so I get up and go for an 8 mile bike ride around the fringes of my side of my city. When I get back I have breakfast, surf the web for an hour or so, and then go back to bed again for as long as I like or until my cats scream to be fed.

A great thing for me about being retired is that I can avoid people as much as I choose rather than being forced to interact with them at work which is a big deal for me since I am schizoid which at its most basic means I am not a people person. I can do the social sprint but the social marathon is wearying to me. Also as a schizoid, the thing I enjoy doing most often is...nothing. I don't enjoy travelling, there's no place I want to go and there's really nothing I want to do. But I am content and for me that's what being retired is all about.

[Hortensis]

60. Content. Yes. Definitely a favorite thing for me also.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

27. Naps. Weekday tee times.

Ignoring gas prices - I'm filling the tank once a month, instead of twice a week.

"Qualified Charitable Distributions" from the IRA - being over 70.5 yrs old, all my charitable giving is tax deductible, don't have to exceed standard deduction. (Thanks, BHO).

Fitness activities. All the usual, plus sitting in the gym's lounge, drinking tea or coffee with other white-haired fitness "enthusiasts"

Dreaming about work, then waking up and realizing it was only a dream, whew!

[empedocles]

28. Having the time to enjoy the benefits of the Information Age more.

One very tangible benefit, is access to net facilitated cutting edge health. Intercepting mild pre-clinical symptoms, with [some] anaerobic exercise and nutrition. Literally, feeling and testing stronger.

[VOX]

29. Living life on MY time/terms. It's like playing hooky every day!

I loved my job and made some lifelong friends (not to mention meeting my wife) during my 31-year career in University Relations & Public Affairs at a major public university. It was a great place to work.

But you reach a point where you’ve pretty much done everything, and done it well, and the years are piling up. There begins a longing to live your own life, on your time.

Retired 9 years now. From then until now, these are some of my happiest years. Other than the country’s slide into out-and-out fascism.

[IADEMO2004]

30. Pawleys Island Hammock under birch trees.It's on a stand I move for stargazing.

Never napped before I had one.

My favorite thing died a year before I retired and maintaining her flower beds is my fitness program. Physical and mental just like she said it was for her.

[snowybirdie]

32. My time is mine

No deadlines and multitasking. I'm free to travel and see things I've always wanted to. Happy and thankful.

[Freedomofspeech]

33. Every night is Friday, everyday is Saturday!

[LakeArenal]

46. We never know what day of the week it is anymore.

Best is it doesn’t matter.

[Joe941]

34. Everyone's answer sounds wonderful.

I hope one day I'll be able to retire, but my 401k is in shambles. Retirement just doesnt seem to be in my future.

[Hortensis]

63. Well, for when the time comes anyway, check the prices

on the vast majority of these favorite things.

[luvs2sing]

35. I still get up early.

Morning is my favorite time of day, and now it’s MINE, ALL MINE!!!

I can be involved in as many musical projects as I want and do as much volunteer work as I want.

I can stay up late..but I usually don’t because I’m a morning person and I always wake up about 30 minutes before dawn even if I only fell asleep an hour before dawn.

I don’t have to put up with the corporate bullshit that became more and more impossible to tolerate as I got older.

I can go out to lunch and take as long as I damn well please. I can go out to lunch, period!

I can cook delicious meals from scratch for my husband and I every night and not have to rely on Stouffer’s because I didn’t get home from work in time to make anything.

[GeorgeGist]

36. It's like Summer vacation ...

all the time.

[HAB911]

37. I was ready to retire on my first day of work

45 years later, to the month, I did! I enjoy EVERYTHING. It's easier to list what I don't like: APPOINTMENTS

I can't stand having to be somewhere at an appointed time and place, LOL.
I can't stand telephone calls, after 40 years of conference calls.

However, I'm most happy!

[smirkymonkey]

38. Reading this thread, I am so envious!

I would give anything to be retired. I will never be able to retire because of this stupid student loan hanging over my head. I am ready to retire right now. I am just so tired of the monotony of going to work. I hate the whole routine of getting up in the morning, getting ready, dressed, commuting (I don't have a bad commute) and having to put up with people in the office.

I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home from time to time an even that is a blessing. I don't have to get dressed or spend any money. I can wake up later and just turn my computer on when I am ready to go "on" and can dial into a conf. call from bed.

[handmade34]

57. ...

I was "forced" into retirement last year... had to take care of dad with Dementia and now my partner needs me to be available for health concerns (my work was traveling so I couldn't continue)... I too have student loans but have them on IBR (only 15% of disposable income which is just SS right now) ...as long as I don't go into default, all is good

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/understand/plans/income-driven


I understand the frustration of still paying for student loans at our age... I chose to help my kids before myself and I am ok with that.

[captain queeg]

70. I went back thru this thread and wanted to say

I really don’t know your circumstances but I think it’s pretty common to have developed a lifestyle that matches income and then it’s hard to imagine getting by on a lot less. I have always lived within or below my means. I’d planned on working a couple more years but had some serious medical problems arise and pulled the plug at work. I’ve been real fortunate because my health has largely returned but I find I’m glad to retire when I did. I do get a small pension but social security is my main income. But I don’t have any debt, and I know you aren’t there yet. But living simply can shorten your working years

[smirkymonkey]

71. Thanks captain queeg!

I do live pretty simply, but rent is the biggest expense. After that it is my massive student loan. If I could somehow get rid of that, I would live pretty well but it is almost like paying a second rent. Without it I could look forward to retirement, but it is like this huge weight hanging over my head that I can't escape.

Anyway, thank you for your kind words, I appreciate it.

[lark]

39. So much less stess is the biggest change for me.

WEll, that and freedom from sleep worries. I love getting up every day and walking with my husband and our dog, then having breakfast and 4 days a week making my husbands' lunch. I love us having 3 days a week together to do chores and relax. I love having the time to explore new shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime and to go walking on the beach. I've had a horrible year healthwise, so am really looking forward to being able to go to my exercise classes again and to get my walking back up to 4 miles a day. Still have movement restrictions until at least Oct. 15th so trying to get healed enough to regain full movement then.

[malaise]

41. What I love most is the freedom to set

our own pace.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

42. Shaves and haircuts when I feel like it. Not driving an hour to get to my office tens miles away.

Not wearing a suit and tie daily.

Most of all, traveling for fun instead of business.

[llmart]

43. This is a terrific thread!

I retired a year and a half ago. One of the things that surprises me and delights me a lot is that I no longer need the sort of clothes you have to wear to an office job. I looked in my closet the other day and realized that I had not worn most of the clothes in there since I retired and to qualify that, I have never been much of a clothes woman. I bought when I felt I needed to for my job, not because I wanted to and I have always hated shopping with a passion. So now in the warmer months I wear short sleeved t-shirt and shorts or capris and in the cooler/colder months I wear jeans/sweats/yoga pants and long sleeved t-shirts. I can't remember the last time I bought clothes outside of underwear and socks. So much time and money saved.

Also, I have become the proverbial "little old lady who drives 6,000-7,000 miles a year. I fill up once a month. So much money saved! As someone else said, I can also cook from scratch and actually enjoy it. I put some Sinatra on and chop/dice/saute away with no sense of hurry.

I have always been a somewhat spontaneous person, so when I wake up on a beautiful fall day I can decide to jump in the car and go to a park for a leisurely stroll or a small town on Lake Huron where I sit on a bench and eat an ice cream cone and watch the freighters go by.

I volunteer at my local library and there's no sense of having to be there at a certain time or for any particular length of time. I can give them as many or as few hours as I'd like for that day. In the winter on a snowy day I go for a walk in my local park and enjoy the scenery and the deer with rarely any other people at the park. Then I go home and curl up with a good book in front of the fireplace while a delicious smelling soup is cooking on the back burner. If I happen to fall asleep while reading, oh well, scrunch down under the afghan and take a nap!

When my retired sister calls me from out of state at 8:00 PM we can blab for hours and I don't have to say, "I have to get to bed because I have to get up for work in the morning." We have talked until 1:00 AM and didn't even notice. Same goes for a friend who's also retired. We don't feel the need to cut our conversations short.

I do believe, however, that retirement is much better if you are somewhat comfortable financially. You don't need to have a ton of money, but it's nice if you don't have to spend your energies worrying about how to pay the bills. So those of you who have said you don't think you can afford to retire, if you can, don't waste your money on all the little crap people buy that they don't need. You'll only be getting rid of it when you downsize later on and you'll appreciate the fact that you have enough to live on comfortably. I got really, really serious about socking away money when I turned 50 and now that I'm 70 I am so very glad I did.

[lucca18]

47. Staying up late to watch Stephen Colbert!

I certainly don’t miss commuting, as it was exhausting just getting to work.

We travel a lot and will be leaving next week for Lisbon Portugal!

[Kaleva]

49. Sex every day!

Is not on my list.

[flibbitygiblets]

50. OK you guys are making me so jelly

I've still got 10 or so years to go, starting to think about what hobbies I'll want to get into etc. It's very interesting to hear that most love the sleeping in thing the most. I thought I was just imagining it would be that great, even after many years.

Enjoy, everyone--you earned it!

[tirebiter]

51. Surfing

And a good 8-12 ft swell

[nolabear]

53. No more bloody paperwork! And more education!

I really liked being a therapist. But the frustrations of insurance paperwork, case notes (I was lucky. I never got audited or investigated), tax filing, billing, eccch!

And I’m pursuing the MFA I didn’t get when I got the psych degree instead. Love it!

[VarryOn]

54. I love reading so many DUers have fantastic retirements...

Sounds like you all planned well! Kudos!

I'm aiming to retire at 58, and a with a couple really good stock market years, I might be able to get it to 55. Ive been putting the max in 401k for many yeqrs and Ive ised the 'catch up' payments after I turned 50 to save even more. Hopefully, I can hold off on starting social security til I'm 70 to really max my monthly payment.

My big question is what to do after retirement. I want to do something I love but with lots of flexibilty.

I hope to be as happy as so many of you seem to be!

[wasupaloopa]

55. I was lucky to land a job at a county government. We had a union and a defined benefit retirement

plan. I worked long enough to get vested and have a pension. My wife is 17 years younger than I am and still works. I get social security.

My part was not planned well. I got lucky and got hired by government. My past work qualified me but it was luck that hired me.

I retired at 70 having worked there 9 1/2 yrs. My pension is for life and the plan is managed very well. I will receive much more than I ever put in. I am healthy and active and expect to live at least 20 more years.

my advice to young people, work for a government that has a union.

[Kaleva]

58. I live on $1192 a month and I'm content and happy.

[wasupaloopa]

56. I have a saying on the wall in my bedroom. It says "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."

I have a sign that says "generosity" and another one that says "gratitude".

I am grateful for the time I can enjoy wasting and that I am able to be generous to myself and others.

I started studying Buddhism before I retired. I can meditate when ever I want.

I have a sauna and a little home gym. I also have a hot tub.

I enjoy these daily on my own time and on my own terms.

I have a private yard and in the summer I don't need to wear clothes at home. My wife and I are naturists. She still works and is 17 years younger than me. We go to the beach and hike on weekends.

I have the house to myself and the pets during the week.

I mostly live life on my own terms.

[Ohiogal]

61. Even though I only "worked" (ha ha) for 11 years,

I got married and had 3 kids and was a stay-at-home mom and then after that I was primary caregiver to my elderly and very difficult mother.

I went from working for pay 5 days a week to working for no pay 24/7. When you have kids, although you love them more than life itself, you never get a day off. Your life is not your own. They wake you up early in the AM and don't leave you alone till they go to bed. Many a time I was sick with the flu and could barely stand up and had to take care of 3 small children.....get them ready for the school bus, etc. I think being a SAHM was the most exhausting job I ever had.

So now that I don't have those responsibilities any more, I enjoy getting up when I want to, doing what I want to, and not having to be anywhere first thing in the morning. I have my coffee and play with my dog and check in on DU and I love it. I go to the community pool and swim laps twice a week and I go walking with a friend once a week. I love to read, and go in spurts with other interests as I like. I have a nice circle of good friends. Don't have much $$ but I have a roof over my head and my husband and 3 sons so life is good.

My husband (retired teacher) has friends (also retired teachers) who went and got another job the week after they retired from teaching. I remember the one guy said he would go nuts hanging around the house with nothing to do and he needed a purpose to get up in the morning. So he went to work in a grocery store stocking produce. Okay for him, but my husband always said after he retired he didn't know how he had time to work! So much to do around the house.

My cousin, who works in the same field I did (graphic design) recently told me she will never stop working because she loves to work. She is 58. Husband, no kids. Like I said, to each his own. I enjoy immensely not having a schedule, having to get out of the house when it's dark and snowy, not worrying about taking a day off when I'm sick and not getting paid, taking my time doing whatever I want .... I guess everyone is different.

[Freddie]

62. Sort-of retired here

Retired from my real job in Feb and now I’m the nanny for the grandkids. Get the 2 big ones off to school and spend the rest of the day with the almost-1 year old and my granddog. The baby is a joy and she takes naps. But I leave my house earlier and get home later than when I was working. Eventually they will all be in school and I can really retire.
The clothes thing. Jeans and a T-shirt, or a turtleneck in cold weather. I still wear something “nicer” for church but I have a closet full of stuff I will probably never wear again. Can’t give to my daughter as she is a size 4 or 6 which I don’t think I EVER wore. She is petite like my late MIL.
Not having to deal with office politics. Not having to account for every weekday - vacation, sick day, etc. Just not being dependent on your job for existing is truly liberating.

[QED]

66. I could retire in May but...

I like what I do. I envy the heck out of everyone who says sleep is the most enjoyable thing about retirement. I could always use more (I get up at 4am every.damn. day.)

If I wait 3 years, my pension will take a big jump so there's that.

[scarytomcat]

68. rain

[captain queeg]

69. Reading all the replies I was actually surprised by how many enjoyed sleeping in

I guess it’s not been long enough for me and sometimes I feel guilty. Good to know I don’t need to. Dammit I worked at least 40 years even after I subtract time going to school and 2 bouts of unemployment.