What do you want to do in retirement?

[MsMediator]

What do you want to do in retirement? What I consider retirement is that you have finally stopped working at your regular/full-time 9-5 job(s) to pursue a new life that you want. If you are already retired, what are you doing during the day?

Do you just want to sleep in everyday and take life easy? Do you want to transition to a new meaningful "career" or volunteering? Or, do you want a more busy lifestyle and check off items on the bucket list? How do you envision retirement? As Christians, the assumption here is that we will still be involved with Christian life, church, prayer, etc. regardless of what we do in retirement.

I am nowhere near retirement, but I find transitioning to a new field of work/volunteering in line with my hobbies/interests to be appealing.

 

[keepingthingsreal]

That is a good and scary (for me, anyway) question.

I am the type of person who gets stir crazy rather easily. Normally, I never have any real time off from work. Sure, I have off two days a week, but they are rarely ever consecutive days. Same thing with my vacation days. I never save them, but I always use them, one day at a time, as soon as I earn them. Right now, I am pretty much bedridden since last Saturday afternoon with a severely sprained foot, and I will not be returning to work until at least next Wednesday per the company's doctor's orders. I am not used to being stationary for any extended period of time, so I can only imagine what retirement might be like...assuming that I live to that age.

I would hope to end my days in some sort of Christian ministry, but that normally requires fellowship, and I really do not have any right now. Maybe try to write a book? I honestly do not know, and, like I said, it is kind of scary for me to even ponder. Hopefully, if I live to see that day, God will guide me to what he would have me to do. I definitely do not want to end my days just lying around and doing nothing.

 

[RodB651]

Interesting topic!

I'm planning to retire from full time factory work in about 2 1/2 years. Whether that happens or not, we shall see. I've been working in factories since 1984 and I'm tired of it. Its provided a good living, but I'm tired of wearing ear plugs and safety shoes and all that.

I would like to see if there is something interesting to do, maybe even a purpose?

My side quest is to get a van and build it out into a camper van, maybe ride around a bit and see some things or just visit some places.

Another side quest is to continue working on my cooking skills and coffee brewing techniques and minimalism.

Of course, I will continue my walk with Jesus. If I have grandchildren by then, well obviously they will be high on my priority list!

😁

 

[Seeker47]

Make all the plans you want, but God may have other ideas and your likes/dislikes don't count.

I'm not the first to learn this lesson. Prepared to glorify Him in everything.

 

[seoulsearch]

What do you want to do in retirement? What I consider retirement is that you have finally stopped working at your regular/full-time 9-5 job(s) to pursue a new life that you want. If you are already retired, what are you doing during the day?

Do you just want to sleep in everyday and take life easy? Do you want to transition to a new meaningful "career" or volunteering? Or, do you want a more busy lifestyle and check off items on the bucket list? How do you envision retirement? As Christians, the assumption here is that we will still be involved with Christian life, church, prayer, etc. regardless of what we do in retirement.

I am nowhere near retirement, but I find transitioning to a new field of work/volunteering in line with my hobbies/interests to be appealing.

Yet another great topic!

I really enjoy your thought-provoking threads asking how to live out our faith through various aspects of life.

I'm gone through a few times where God seemed to "reset" my life, and which I've seen as a primer for retired life someday. I consider retirement the point at which one is able to decide one's work schedule rather than having it dictated by someone else.

I remember years ago when I was in grad school, working a couple jobs, studying all the time, and volunteering to help doctoral students with their research projects (in order to try to qualify for future programs.) When God opened a door to walk away from all that and "just" work full-time job, I remember telling my Mom that I felt like I was retired!

In recent years, I've had a little more control over my schedule and, that's how I personally see retirement. But after watching others I knew retire, I've learned how important it is to be flexible. I've always wanted to do was to do more volunteer work, especially for my friends who own businesses. But I've discovered that I now have some limitations I didn't used to have (my hands can't handle hours of certain types of repetitive work anymore, etc.) I'm not able to help out as often as I'd like, but I'm grateful people work with me on what I can do.

I've also learned that I tend to get over-excited about a lot of projects, take on too much and burn out, so pacing has become very important to me. Coming from a workaholic family, I struggle a lot when I have free time over how productive vs. how "lazy" I'm "allowed" to be.

I'm trying very hard to follow God's direction when it comes to time, energy, and tasks, and hope to travel, work on creative hobbies, and learn new skills as He enables me. At first I had a hard time admitting I'm facing a few limitations, but I'm trying my best to either cope or learn how to work around them.

Thanks for all the wonderful threads!

 

[Eli1]

I've retired about 20 years ago and i still keep working.

Amen to what you said @Seeker47 !

 

[Lynx]

I figure I will keep working until I can't. By then I won't be much good for doing much of anything else.

For some people that would be depressing, but I'm pretty much a homebody anyway. My favorite vacation is to lock the door and not open it for a week and pretend the world doesn't exist. So working until I can't, and then not doing much of anything, will be just about right.

Of course I have no idea what the future really holds. There are many possibilities and many things that may happen between then and now. I may meet the love of my life and get married. She may have other plans for retirement. I may start preaching at different churches as an evangelist. I may get hit by a truck while I'm trying to cross the street and none of this will matter at all. No way to know.

 

[Tall_Timbers]

I've been retired now for about 22 years. The first 20 years I spent raising my kids and I was real active in the community. When we finally got an empty nest I entered what I describe as my 2nd retirement. All I want to do is rest in this retirement. I spend time on the internet, go for a jog (can't right now for medical reasons will be able to resume that in about a month), take a nap most days, tie flies, fish, read the Bible, attend church, cook good meals, and usually eat breakfast at McDonalds just to get out of the house in the morning. Life is good in Christ.

 

[MsMediator]

I've been retired now for about 22 years. The first 20 years I spent raising my kids and I was real active in the community. When we finally got an empty nest I entered what I describe as my 2nd retirement. All I want to do is rest in this retirement. I spend time on the internet, go for a jog (can't right now for medical reasons will be able to resume that in about a month), take a nap most days, tie flies, fish, read the Bible, attend church, cook good meals, and usually eat breakfast at McDonalds just to get out of the house in the morning. Life is good in Christ.

Are you an older father, hence how you raised kids during retirement?

 

[HeIsHere]

I would like to go live in the hills of Tuscany.

 

[MsMediator]

That is a good and scary (for me, anyway) question.

I am the type of person who gets stir crazy rather easily. Normally, I never have any real time off from work. Sure, I have off two days a week, but they are rarely ever consecutive days. Same thing with my vacation days. I never save them, but I always use them, one day at a time, as soon as I earn them. Right now, I am pretty much bedridden since last Saturday afternoon with a severely sprained foot, and I will not be returning to work until at least next Wednesday per the company's doctor's orders. I am not used to being stationary for any extended period of time, so I can only imagine what retirement might be like...assuming that I live to that age.

I would hope to end my days in some sort of Christian ministry, but that normally requires fellowship, and I really do not have any right now. Maybe try to write a book? I honestly do not know, and, like I said, it is kind of scary for me to even ponder. Hopefully, if I live to see that day, God will guide me to what he would have me to do. I definitely do not want to end my days just lying around and doing nothing.

I think any type of retirement is valid...ranging from just resting to more goal-oriented retirements. I believe some planning is wise, otherwise you hear that many people get to retirement and are bit lost as to what to do with all their free time.

 

[MsMediator]

Of course I have no idea what the future really holds. There are many possibilities and many things that may happen between then and now. I may meet the love of my life and get married. She may have other plans for retirement. I may start preaching at different churches as an evangelist. I may get hit by a truck while I'm trying to cross the street and none of this will matter at all. No way to know.

Make all the plans you want, but God may have other ideas and your likes/dislikes don't count.

I'm not the first to learn this lesson. Prepared to glorify Him in everything.

I agree you can definitely get a curveball, in which case what you originally planned will need to be changed. I think it is fair to say that in many cases these curveballs are health related, which is why the sooner you do the things you want the better. Retirement plans could also change if you meet someone or need to care for someone. I think it is actually more difficult to plan for retirement as a single (both financially and otherwise), because if you are partnered you always have the option of going along with what the other person wants.

 

[MsMediator]

Yet another great topic!

I really enjoy your thought-provoking threads asking how to live out our faith through various aspects of life.

I'm gone through a few times where God seemed to "reset" my life, and which I've seen as a primer for retired life someday. I consider retirement the point at which one is able to decide one's work schedule rather than having it dictated by someone else.

I remember years ago when I was in grad school, working a couple jobs, studying all the time, and volunteering to help doctoral students with their research projects (in order to try to qualify for future programs.) When God opened a door to walk away from all that and "just" work full-time job, I remember telling my Mom that I felt like I was retired!

In recent years, I've had a little more control over my schedule and, that's how I personally see retirement. But after watching others I knew retire, I've learned how important it is to be flexible. I've always wanted to do was to do more volunteer work, especially for my friends who own businesses. But I've discovered that I now have some limitations I didn't used to have (my hands can't handle hours of certain types of repetitive work anymore, etc.) I'm not able to help out as often as I'd like, but I'm grateful people work with me on what I can do.

I've also learned that I tend to get over-excited about a lot of projects, take on too much and burn out, so pacing has become very important to me. Coming from a workaholic family, I struggle a lot when I have free time over how productive vs. how "lazy" I'm "allowed" to be.

I'm trying very hard to follow God's direction when it comes to time, energy, and tasks, and hope to travel, work on creative hobbies, and learn new skills as He enables me. At first I had a hard time admitting I'm facing a few limitations, but I'm trying my best to either cope or learn how to work around them.

Thanks for all the wonderful threads!

My main goal in retirement is that is not boring or lonely, so I really must have faith that God will provide this somehow. While I would like to meet a spouse (though no desperate) and also grow my village, I am thinking about retirement as a single. For me, moving on to a second "career" that feeds the soul, that offers some flexibility and community is the natural next step.

 

[JaumeJ]

I don't know? Maybe I would like to live on the east coast of Spain. Hey! I am retired, and I do live here, duhhh. Sorry, maybe i should retire from retiring??

 

[Tall_Timbers]

Are you an older father, hence how you raised kids during retirement?

I retired at age 46 due to disabilities. But I was also an older father I guess. When I was 46 my kids were 2, 4, 6,and 8.

 

[Lynx]

I retired at age 46 due to disabilities. But I was also an older father I guess. When I was 46 my kids were 2, 4, 6,and 8.

Shoot, I'm 46 and haven't even started all that.