91–100 of 190 posts
It has been a very difficult transition for me. I have had 3 or 4 years of borderline depression despite having more money than god :-)
The loss of structure, status, social interaction, goals hits hard.
The problem is, I don’t want a job and probably lack the motivation to do another business.
I need to build hobbies and friends outside of a work context, I know.
My advice to people is to be careful what you wish for!
I'm far from retiring, but I always take a break between jobs. It used to be only 2 months, then last time it was 6 months. I'm very happy to be in tech because it allows us for that. I don't decide beforehand how much time I'm taking, instead I just reassess myself "am I still productive? Am I still enjoying doing nothing?" When the answer is no that's when I get back to work. I love DIY so I've used that time to re…
When I quit a job, I'm full of projects to do with all that time, and I am quite productive. But I also get 1% lazier every day, and after 6 months it seems like I eat breakfast, and then the day is over.
My buddy cashed out big 15 years ago. Immediately had to pick up something in another field - he chose construction. Bought lots, hired contractors to build on the condition he could be in the crew. Studied and apprenticed and became a competent carpenter. So to each his own!
Not completely retired, but work remotely and only a few hours a week at this point. Stepping back from the rat race at 30 was the greatest thing to ever happen to my life. I'd spent my entire 20s singularly focused on my career and building my skills. When I hit 30 and looked up around me, I realized I'd achieved everything I set out to do but was still miserable and alone in life. Everyone I knew was getting marrie…
I'm far from retiring, but I always take a break between jobs. It used to be only 2 months, then last time it was 6 months. I'm very happy to be in tech because it allows us for that. I don't decide beforehand how much time I'm taking, instead I just reassess myself "am I still productive? Am I still enjoying doing nothing?" When the answer is no that's when I get back to work. I love DIY so I've used that time to re…
As a counterpoint to your edit, personally work exhausts me to a level where weekends are mostly spent recuperating/doing chores and not being productive. It’s a week or two into the breaks I’ve taken from work where I start being productive in ways I rarely manage during my working periods.
Best case you keep your work habits and can continue working on your hobbies like you did work previously, but worst case it will all look like those weekends.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
the weekends are a pretty good picture of how we'd behave at retirement. Interesting, thanks for the insight. I've also heard that, your teenage hobbies are another source of where you might find your passion in retirement. What did you do for fun as a teenager, and how does that compare to what you do during your breaks?
Actually that might make sense. I started "wood working" when I was 10yo and later helping with construction stuff. This was not child labor, but I would spend a lot of time at my grandparents. Thanks to crappy tv channels and no internet, kids would be super creative to find stuff to do. My DIY face then went into sleep mode for many years and came back when I started taking breaks from work. What you said might be…
I think you have that the wrong way around. That should be:
> "Thanks" to modern distractions like binge watching and doom scrolling people lose their creativity and drive to do anything but further please their addictions.
(somewhat /s)
I'm far from retiring, but I always take a break between jobs. It used to be only 2 months, then last time it was 6 months. I'm very happy to be in tech because it allows us for that. I don't decide beforehand how much time I'm taking, instead I just reassess myself "am I still productive? Am I still enjoying doing nothing?" When the answer is no that's when I get back to work. I love DIY so I've used that time to re…
And HR depts are just fine with that? (taking 2-6 months off) I get the impression They prefer those who stay on the wheel, as they don't have to worry you will just decide you need to take a break from working again.
Dad retired in his mid 30s. It went really well for him for about 30 years, and then he started to decline into depression. I don't think it was directly related to being retired. He built a barbecue out of cinder blocks, then rebuilt it out of bricks. He learned to knot in order to make hammocks. He took up painting with acrylics -- I wouldn't say he ever became good at it, but he liked it and that's the point. The…
> text adventures about our neighborhood That sounds fascinating. Are those available online somewhere? I absolutely love text adventures, would love to try it out.
I had been so defined by work for my entire life that I didn't really know who I was outside of the crunch and the office. I don't miss the office or work but do miss the people. I am not from a wealthy background, the majority of my family and friends find it very strange and it can be a bit awquard in conversation. When I feel ashamed I browse job postings / linkedin, but am coming to realise that it was sad how much self worth I gained from having other people think I was successful or smart.
I've learnt that staying busy is paramont to my health, I've started a small bussiness to keep me busy doing one of my passions, grow a lot of my own food and walk a lot. Sometimes I miss the massive engineering challenges working with a team, I could see myself taking a job for that alone. My life doesn't have a lot of meaning right now, sometimes I dream that some great purpose or mission will be thrust on me. To be honest I feel a bit adrift!
I'm far from retiring, but I always take a break between jobs. It used to be only 2 months, then last time it was 6 months. I'm very happy to be in tech because it allows us for that. I don't decide beforehand how much time I'm taking, instead I just reassess myself "am I still productive? Am I still enjoying doing nothing?" When the answer is no that's when I get back to work. I love DIY so I've used that time to re…
And HR depts are just fine with that? (taking 2-6 months off) I get the impression They prefer those who stay on the wheel, as they don't have to worry you will just decide you need to take a break from working again.
There's also this time I had a chat with my manager and peers about whether or not to hire this guy. We wanted to hire him, but we had a feeling he wouldn't stay long with us. He was very entrepreneurial. The conclusion straight away was "it's fine, if he stays with us just 1 year, we already benefit from it". I'm not saying I'm this guy, but it sounds acceptable nowadays.