Retirement

[Suckrates]

 

I am newly retired as of Jan 1st this year, and therefore I am still figuring out my new life, and struggling over how to fill my days.  While I never was a planner, I was always a "goal" oriented person and tired to find "purpose" in each day.  So its been difficult, although I do work 1 day a week at my OLD company, and 1 day a week at a local supermarket (NO, I am NOT a bagboy).  

Today, I decided to tackle my pantry and freezer because recently I cooked some stuff that was in my freezer, and had to throw it out because clearly it WASNT FRESH....

I have a walk in pantry and a huge freezer, and can report after several intense hours, BOTH have had a re-birth..

In the pantry I found stuff dated back to 2003, unused, and several other years were represented too.  Needless to say, ALL of it was a toss...

In the freezer the oldest item I found was some frozen food dated 2013 (not that bad, but still not FRESH)  All of it was a toss.

I ended up with 3 garden trash bags full of stuff, and my only regret was that I couldnt send it to a food bank.....

So THIS is retirement, huh ?   Can any of you RELATE to this, and do you have any suggestions for me ?  

 

 

 

 

 

[paulsf]

Welcome to the joys of retirement.  When I retired I moved from San Francisco to Ft. lauderdale.  When it came time to pack up for the move, I suddenly realized I had enough junk to fill an 18 wheeler.  I then made a decision. If it doesn't fit in the car, it isn't going. Now I have become very much a   minimalist.  Kitchen table, pull out sofa, lounge chair.  Barely a nik nak or picture.  Now instead of spending all my time doing housework, I sit by the pool, read books, walks at the beach, go to the movies. 

I remember with the passing of my parents the time spent cleaning out the house. My mother was a saver. It took a month for my sisters and myself to pack everything up.  I decided I didn't want that with my passing.  I figure my sister can empty my place in about 2 hours.    Enjoy your retirement, don't become a slave to your home in old age. If you don't need it, get rid of it.  You worked hard to get to this point.   I've now found time to spend 6 months of the year living in Bangkok.  I won't tell you what my hobby is here  

[boiworship]

Happy retirement! 

[msclelovr]

Welcome to the ranks of the retired, Suckrates. I retired quite early and having been retired for many years, I can report that I've not been bored yet.

My suggestions assume that your finances are in good order, that you're in good health and can live comfortably. 

1. Make a list of what you want to achieve in the next 12 months. File it away so you can check it in a year's time (FWIW I found that I had a blast in my first year and happened to do none of the things I'd listed)

2. Decide on places you want to travel and see. Stay for longer than you would usually and really get to know the place. (I found longhaul airfares to be reasonable when you travel midweek and outside the holidays)

3. Make a list each day of "what you have to do" but feel free to do other things as the mood takes you. 

4. Take some exercise each day outdoors - it can be as little as walking for 30 minutes twice a day. Eat well and healthily. The goal in retirement is to stay active and enjoy life to the fullest.

5. Inject a little structure into your life if you enjoy routine. Visit a local coffeeshop daily, talk to the grocery store clerks etc. Swim daily if that's what you enjoy.

6. Before I retired (and I planned it for 12 months beforehand), I realised that the one thing I would miss from work was the company of younger men. So I joined an expensive gym that's well located and has a preponderance of members in their 20s/30s. As an older man, I stood out but I hired a personal trainer and I came to know more people. The gym helped me make some new friends, find a boyfriend and provided some hot dates.

And if I may add one last observation: as a retired man, you have to put yourself out there and be sociable; make sure you dress well when you go outdoors, and do not "let yourself go"; you will find younger people who take an interest in you.

[Suckrates]

10 hours ago, msclelovr said:

Welcome to the ranks of the retired, Suckrates. I retired quite early and having been retired for many years, I can report that I've not been bored yet.

My suggestions assume that your finances are in good order, that you're in good health and can live comfortably. 

1. Make a list of what you want to achieve in the next 12 months. File it away so you can check it in a year's time (FWIW I found that I had a blast in my first year and happened to do none of the things I'd listed)

2. Decide on places you want to travel and see. Stay for longer than you would usually and really get to know the place. (I found longhaul airfares to be reasonable when you travel midweek and outside the holidays)

3. Make a list each day of "what you have to do" but feel free to do other things as the mood takes you. 

4. Take some exercise each day outdoors - it can be as little as walking for 30 minutes twice a day. Eat well and healthily. The goal in retirement is to stay active and enjoy life to the fullest.

5. Inject a little structure into your life if you enjoy routine. Visit a local coffeeshop daily, talk to the grocery store clerks etc. Swim daily if that's what you enjoy.

6. Before I retired (and I planned it for 12 months beforehand), I realised that the one thing I would miss from work was the company of younger men. So I joined an expensive gym that's well located and has a preponderance of members in their 20s/30s. As an older man, I stood out but I hired a personal trainer and I came to know more people. The gym helped me make some new friends, find a boyfriend and provided some hot dates.

And if I may add one last observation: as a retired man, you have to put yourself out there and be sociable; make sure you dress well when you go outdoors, and do not "let yourself go"; you will find younger people who take an interest in you.

It all makes sense, and I do make a daily plan, and excercise every day.  But so far, it doesnt seem purposeful and I am considering volunteer work for LGBTQ as opposed to a gym membership as I detest working out and would only be terribly distracted if there were actually hot guys there.   I might be able to accomplish a similar end volunteering at LGBTQ.  I am not so much interested in younger, any age is OK as long as theres some commonality.  And I love the beach so once the warmer weather arrives I will start my sunbathing.    But I guess I cant expect too much in only 3 months, as I am still figuring things out.

And its a funny thing, that I scrimped and saved for my retirement, and ended up with a considerable amount of money, BUT I cant bring myself to SPEND it....  I am still saving for old age, eventhough I am IN my OLD AGE.... I someone would tell me I will die in 1 year, I probably would spend like a drunken sailor.  But with my longevity an unknown, I am still gripping those Dollars tight.  

[paulsf]

Ha..you just hit on one of my biggest retirement issues. All that money.  You can go out and spend and have lots of fun with all that retirement money.  Then you realize that there is no pay check coming on Friday.  We have no experation date. What we have has to last for the next year or 40 years, we have no idea when that final day will come. 

My first year was full of adjustments, but as I moved into my second year it became easier. I chuckle when people ask, what do you do for work?  I'm Retired.  Oh I wish I was retired . You are so lucky.  Well I put in my almost 50 years of going to the office everyday and now have earned some time for myself.  There are days I sit infront of the tv all day and think what a waste today was and I should do something more important. Then tomorrow finds itself with 50 things to do.   You have a couple of days of work to help keep you busy. Just remember that it's your time now and try not to become a slave to the clock. 

[Suckrates]

8 hours ago, paulsf said:

Ha..you just hit on one of my biggest retirement issues. All that money.  You can go out and spend and have lots of fun with all that retirement money.  Then you realize that there is no pay check coming on Friday.  We have no experation date. What we have has to last for the next year or 40 years, we have no idea when that final day will come. 

My first year was full of adjustments, but as I moved into my second year it became easier. I chuckle when people ask, what do you do for work?  I'm Retired.  Oh I wish I was retired . You are so lucky.  Well I put in my almost 50 years of going to the office everyday and now have earned some time for myself.  There are days I sit infront of the tv all day and think what a waste today was and I should do something more important. Then tomorrow finds itself with 50 things to do.   You have a couple of days of work to help keep you busy. Just remember that it's your time now and try not to become a slave to the clock. 

I'd LOVE to become a slave to a COCK....but sadly I'm a bit too OLD for that now.  2 minutes of sucking and my jaw hurts and I want to take a nap !   Ah Yes, the wonderful golden years....  

 

[MsAnn]

On 3/15/2017 at 3:16 PM, Suckrates said:

 

I am newly retired as of Jan 1st this year, and therefore I am still figuring out my new life, and struggling over how to fill my days.  While I never was a planner, I was always a "goal" oriented person and tired to find "purpose" in each day.  So its been difficult, although I do work 1 day a week at my OLD company, and 1 day a week at a local supermarket (NO, I am NOT a bagboy).  

Today, I decided to tackle my pantry and freezer because recently I cooked some stuff that was in my freezer, and had to throw it out because clearly it WASNT FRESH....

I have a walk in pantry and a huge freezer, and can report after several intense hours, BOTH have had a re-birth..

In the pantry I found stuff dated back to 2003, unused, and several other years were represented too.  Needless to say, ALL of it was a toss...

In the freezer the oldest item I found was some frozen food dated 2013 (not that bad, but still not FRESH)  All of it was a toss.

I ended up with 3 garden trash bags full of stuff, and my only regret was that I couldnt send it to a food bank.....

So THIS is retirement, huh ?   Can any of you RELATE to this, and do you have any suggestions for me ?  

 

 

 

 

 

I shop every day, and eat only what is on the daily menu. That way food is always fresh and doesn't build up to the point of things staying past their expiration date. HOWEVER...you can never have enough of "little bites"

[Suckrates]

4 hours ago, MsAnn said:

I shop every day, and eat only what is on the daily menu. That way food is always fresh and doesn't build up to the point of things staying past their expiration date. HOWEVER...you can never have enough of "little bites"

 

Annie, you know me better than that.... ALL my bites have to be BIG !!!   

[Tomcal]

Great and timely comments! 

[citylaw1]

My parents retired about 6 years ago, and my father became very cheap.  I thought this was strange, as they are comfortable, but my father is still troubled by spending money without money coming in, other than investment 4%.  The uncertainties of life these days bring on a lot of stress.  My parents moved to Naples, Fl, and are more active and social than either of them was while working.  They both thought that they would hate FL, but they love it.  And it's way cheaper than NYC, which has become unbearable on 600k per year. 

[Suckrates]

14 minutes ago, citylaw1 said:

My parents retired about 6 years ago, and my father became very cheap.  I thought this was strange, as they are comfortable, but my father is still troubled by spending money without money coming in, other than investment 4%.  The uncertainties of life these days bring on a lot of stress.  My parents moved to Naples, Fl, and are more active and social than either of them was while working.  They both thought that they would hate FL, but they love it.  And it's way cheaper than NYC, which has become unbearable on 600k per year. 

You can live comfortably for LESS than 600k a year in NYC, TRUST ME !   It all depends on your comfort level and command of the dolla.  Some people might need to drop a few escorts here and there to make ends meat ?  I have always been "cautious" about spending my money, but thought once I retired it would be different.  I guess its like anything else, you just have to "bite the bullet and DO IT" .   As for leaving NYC, its not a consideration.  It was hard enough to make friends when i was young and pretty.  I can't imagine how it would be now, in a strange place trying to befriend a bunch of bitter and cranky Old relics. And then trying to find the local bathouse and pickup alleys...I dont have the patience for NEW things. 

[AdamSmith]

On 3/23/2017 at 9:13 AM, Suckrates said:

You can live comfortably for LESS than 600k a year in NYC, TRUST ME !   It all depends on your comfort level and command of the dolla.  Some people might need to drop a few escorts here and there to make ends meat ?  I have always been "cautious" about spending my money, but thought once I retired it would be different.  I guess its like anything else, you just have to "bite the bullet and DO IT" .

YES to the above!

I lived in Hell's Kitchen for six months on literally nothing after the ex got it all, right down to the last pfennig, in the divorce. (Don't ask.  ) Except just barely enough to keep the electricity turned on.

Easiest place to do that in the entire U. of S., I found. There is always plenty of charity food, and beyond that, what else is really a necessity? Slept up in 3rd level of Port Authority and other places like that after finally getting evicted from the apt. in the dead of winter.

That physically and population-wise dense, and liberally governed, urban environment takes care of its down and out like nowhere else I know of in this country.

[Suckrates]

1 minute ago, AdamSmith said:

YES to the above!

I lived in Hell's Kitchen for six months on literally nothing after the ex got it all, right down to the last pfennig, in the divorce. (Don't ask.  )

Easiest place to do that in the entire U. of S., I found.

 

Even if sometimes you have to depend on "the kindness of Strangers".... 

[AdamSmith]

5 minutes ago, Suckrates said:

Even if sometimes you have to depend on "the kindness of Strangers".... 

Always! My little hooker boyfriends whom I had supported when I had the means were the very ones who, once I lost it all, came to the rescue, took me into their mostly homeless lives, protected me, and showed me how to do it.

It might sound odd, but that month on the street was one of the most gratifying, fufilling experiences of my life.

[Suckrates]

Just now, AdamSmith said:

Always! My little hooker boyfriends whom I had supported when I had the means were the very ones who, once I lost it all, came to the rescue, took me into their mostly homeless lives, protected me, and showed me how to do it.

Well you are lucky you found those hookers with the "hearts of Gold"...  I would have probably have to rely on the crazy Old homeless coots that keep scratching themselves and yelling at birds.  I would have to steal their shopping carts when they are pre-occupied  

[AdamSmith]

Just now, Suckrates said:

Well you are lucky you found those hookers with the "hearts of Gold"...  I would have probably have to rely on the crazy Old homeless coots that keep scratching themselves and yelling at birds.  I would have to steal their shopping carts when they are pre-occupied  

LMAO

[Suckrates]

 

"You can always Depend on me Daddy"

[Suckrates]

 

"Mi Casa es su Casa"

[AdamSmith]

38 minutes ago, Suckrates said:

 

"You can always Depend on me Daddy"

My minders were all Latino of course.

Most resourceful people on the planet I think!

And the most indestructible.