Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum For the retired folks

I have enjoyed it to the fullest, retired at 56 , I always have a few projects going on around the house, do a little volunteer work at the foodbank once a week and at my church when they need me. I also do a little contract work 2-3 times a year, so that's enough to keep me busy at all times.....I just stay busy enough until hunting season starts and then I know where my focus is...lol.

I think it helps if you don't like your job. I had a good job with good pay and enjoyed it for years. I picked the projects I wanted and had a lot of "free rein" However , about 3 years before I retired we went through a lot of changes. The old man who owned the company died and his Grandson took over. We went woke and then covid hit and had unnecessary restrictions along with changes in management philosophies. I just didn't like it anymore. I had myself in a position financially and was on my wife's insurance which was better than my employers. I had reservations about pulling the trigger under Biden , but came to the conclusion if I couldn't do it when the economy was bad , I didn't need to anyway. I pulled the trigger in March '22 at age 62 and haven't looked back. I retired a couple of weeks before Turkey season , so I hunted a lot and had some projects and trips lined up after season. Haven't slowed much.

Make a long story short, my advise is, have yourself in a good position financially and " get your mind right."

I left my job at 54. Im 58 now. I have had a small welding buisness for the last 4 years. Im debating on weather to retire completely at 59.5.
Its been tough finding something I can fully enjoy and relax doing until last year. I always get restless without goals. Last year I decided I was going to restore or to attempt to restore the habitat on my land, instead of just mowing and planting food plots. I want as many native species of plants as I can find. On my free time I look for plants, collect seeds, disc, burn, hack, spray, and plant. I'm having a good time and the turkeys and fawns are lov'in it too.

I'll say this, you have to look at your personality type. Some need human interaction a lot, some don't, that is something to consider.

I retired about 8-9-10 years ago, I don't know, it's been a long time. I've got stuff to do everyday, I'm not talking getting out and pulling weeds, though that is one thing to do, I'm talking working on this or that, going down to the hunting land and working or walking around (ever tried to follow a flock of turkeys all day?).

I get more than enough human interaction with my wife and grand daughter, plus the occasional friend, church, and when I have to go into town, I don't have to have a lot of interaction, nor do I want a lot.

For you fellows that don't have enough to do and just need something, send me a pm, I've got some lists you can work on for me.

That quote right there should really sum up this whole thread.

I will never retire…i will die with a shovel in my hand

I retired end of August 2 years ago at 59 had 40 years with the company. I had it made, everything I had worked for plus a great side hustle. The company changed direction during Covid, and I checked out. Now I do exactly what I want almost every day, play, travel, work, honey do’s.
Haven’t had a single day so far that wasn’t better than working!

I stopped working very young (I’m still only 48). My kids are mostly grown and out of the house. I’m now bored. About to start volunteering.

Sold J&M Tackle almost a year ago. Left the crazy coast and moved to the mountains of East Tennessee where all my wife’s family is from. Thought I was going to have a problem adjusting. Not at all.

They chose the wrong “old lady”

I was self-employed for 45 years. 2018 my health failed to a point where I felt I had to retire when I was 71. I sold my business and spent the first year trying to get in better health. I had an ablation to fix my AFIB. Stopped eating fast food 6 days a week and dropped 50 lbs. I dropped out of my hunting club. I was the last charter member. I thought I would miss it, but it was a relief. I didn't have to worry about planting 30 food plots that fall. It took some time to catch up all my projects around the house. As others have said, I don't know where I found the time to work 50 hours a week. I try to work 3or 4 hours each day doing something around the house just to stay ahead of the daily maintenance. I enjoyed my work, but I have really enjoyed being retired.

Im retiring the last day of this month. I have plenty to catch up on

Same here! Actually, my retirement date is 12/31, but I have around 2,000 hrs Sick Leave, so I'm going on Terminal Leave October 1st.

This 100%.

I have a little ways to go. Rest assured, when I hit 62 as long as I dont have to work to make ends meet I will absolutely walk out the door the second I'm eligible. RSA has a good track record taking care of retirees and I'm looking forward to doing what I want to do as opposed to what the state tells me.

Been retired 5 years now, just turned 62 and got my fourth SS check last week and I haven't missed a day of my old job! Hunt,fish, work on tractor all day keeps me happy. Wife works at home part time and can punch out any time she wants, we travel about 4 or 5 weeks out of the year. The only problem I have had is finding something to do in the July heat here in central Ms.

Those two sports are year 'round if ya include scout, hike, bike, and trail cams. It's a lot easier here with all of the public lands though.

Retired at 57... I don't miss anyone telling me what to do or when to do it. It's easy to get bored if ya don't have hobbies or projects. My biggest piece of advice is to exercise a bit. I'm just getting going again, getting old takes a toll more quickly than the younger years did.
I do silage and play with cattle when needed only to call it hunting money lol.