When I retired in early 2017 I knew I didn't want to keep doing what I'd been doing. But I wasn't sure I was ready to retire. If I retired, what would I do? Would I get bored? I knew I could be busy and happy for a few months. But the long term outlook was less clear to me.
On the first day of retirement we were literally in the middle of a kitchen remodel. (Professionals were doing the work for reasons described here.) There was a lot for us to do, and before I knew it, four months had gone by. I settled into other activities after that (hobbies, volunteer work, etc.) and time went merrily by. I continued to worry if I'd get bored at some point - but I wasn't bored yet. Interestingly, I relished doing things that I considered burdens while I was working. For example, one summer day I was cleaning out the car. When I was ready to vacuum, I discovered the shop-vac wasn't working very well. I spent 20 minutes emptying and cleaning it out so it worked like a charm. When I was working I'd have realized the shop vac was full while preparing the car at midnight for a family outing the next morning. I wouldn't have had the time or energy to empty and clean the vac. Now, having time available to do something as simple as cleaning a vacuum, feels glorious! As time has gone by (almost four years at this point), I've found I'm engaged in various activities. One volunteer effort mushroomed to the point that I needed to step back a bit. It was taking a lot of time. Don't get me wrong, it is (literally) the most satisfying work I've ever done. But since I want to stay with it for the long haul I know I need to pace myself. Interestingly and very satisfyingly, the new leadership that has come in after my tenure has taken the organization to levels I never could have imagined. Two years into retirement I decided I was no longer worried about getting bored. I'm not saying I'm busy. I'm saying I always have something to do ... and the beauty of retirement is that one can pursue things at any pace they wish. -- Jim
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