Quote Originally Posted by Dogmama View Post
I retired after 30+ years at a job that was just OK - but the benefits were really good. So, I am getting a pension that takes care of my needs and a few of my wants. I started a dog training business and did it for three years before I burned out. It was the people who wanted the 30 minute Cesar Milan fix for multi-year serious problems (usually aggression.) Now, I'm practicing being really retired and it's harder than I thought. Seems like the first thing people ask is, "what do you do?" So, I say that I'm practicing being retired (as soon as I get all of the closets cleaned out...etc.) and we'll see. I have friends who are perfectly content reading books, visiting museums, shopping and being really retired. I'm hoping I can get there someday.
I know plenty of people who love being retired because it allows them to ride their bikes almost every day. And they have other activities, like bird watching and kayaking. And some are so heavily involved with bike club activities (like running the annual century) that they are busier than I am. A few people that I know retired from government/military careers and then got jobs at bike shops.

I don't think my parents had any trouble when they retired, but they also always seem busy. There's always something to do around the house, plus they read a lot, meet friends for lunch, go to grandchildren's sporting events, travel... plus some volunteer activities. And my father continued to work a few hours here and there doing handyman stuff for two people for a long time after he retired from his full-time job.

Realistically, since I have no pension and have not seen the miracle of compound interest that I was told about when I started putting money into a 401k all those years ago, I am aiming to step down to something part-time instead of retiring completely. I've spoken to two women who work at a clothing store where I shop often. Both started to work there after they retired. One needed money to pay off her mother's medical bills and decided to continue working there after the bills were gone, and the other just wanted some extra spending money. I could see myself doing something like that, in a small store that doesn't get crazy busy. Or maybe I'll end up at an LBS. If I could afford to retired completely, I'm pretty sure I'd look for a volunteer activity for part of the time.