Velo Dog

I retired about five months ago (reluctantly took an early buyout from my newspaper, figuring it was better than hanging on and getting laid off anyway), and lived the life of an idle geezer until recently, when I started doing a talk show on a local radio station.
When I was hanging with the old folks, though, I noticed that most retirees still plan their activities on the weekends. My wife is self-employed, and as soon as I didn't have to be in every morning, we moved our "weekends" to the middle of the week. If you travel or go out Tues-Wed-Thurs or whatever instead of Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, you miss a lot of the crowds, often get rates on rooms, etc. But even our retired friends can't seem to shake that weekend habit--they'll sit around the house all week, then go out to dinner on Friday night or take day trips on Saturday with all the peons. Is this something that happens to retired people, and I just haven't got it yet, or what?

Louis

When I retired I began staying home on weekends, it was an easy transition. It's a madhouse out there from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening. I think your friends have it bass-ackwards.

However, if I were to join another cycling club I might be tempted to ride sometimes on weekends.

cranky old dude

I've worked rotating shifts with rotating weekends in 24/7 operations
my entire life. I learned early on about the relative tranquility of Mon -Thu
and try not to do anything on Fri, Sat or Sun. I assume I'll carry on
the same if I ever retire.

Mojo Slim

Ms. Slim and I have learned the value of mid-week fun, especially now that we live in a more urban area with all the traffic etc. But we stilll have to do some travel on weekends to meet with the kids' schedules. I enjoy going to little rock/blues shows in clubs around the area. I have found many of them to be on weeknights, which is great.

I think most (many?) in our "active adult community" wherein we reside have found alternative ways to spend weekends.

But overall, Velo Dog, I think your observation is correct. Maybe old habits die hard in old die hards?

ad6mj

I don't understand it either. I live in a town that has a lot of retirees. Until I started working a Sun-Wed shift I used to get mildly frustrated. The Doc would send me for some lab work, so I hit the lab at 6:00 am when they opened so I could get it done and then go to work. Well there would be a line a mile long of obviously retired folks. If I wanted to get to work on time, I needed to get there at 5:00 am to be in line. By 8:00 am there would be no wait at all. Go to the store on a Saturday or Sunday and it's very crowded and many are retirees. Go on a weekday during the day and there's no crowd.

stapfam

Have a few years before I retire- but same problem over here. Phone the Doc at 8am when they open for an urgent appointment and I can't get one till tuesday week. Turn up at the surgery at 8 and I am 10th in line after the retirees. 7.45 and I am probably first.

Local Bike group has an Active retired riders section. They ride tuesdays- thursdays and saturdays. Saturday rides are empty due to the members going to do the shopping- Or wait for the plumber.

Have already made up my mind for when I retire- Every fine day will be the same- Bike ride day. The mundane things like shopping or doctors can wait till later in the day on wednesday- and that is only if I can't find something better to do.

Metric Man

Hemet?? Lots of retirees?? No offense ad6mj, but I loathe that town. We had to live with some family for a couple of months while our house was being built and I was commuting to Redlands at the time. We were living over by the Ramona Bowl and it would take 30 minutes just to get to the other side of Hemet! The young folks all driving like maniacs trying to get around all the old folks driving like...well, old folks! I avoid that place like the plague now...it's maddening. We still have family there but I've only been there 3 times in the last five years!

ad6mj

Metric, I can make it from one end of town to the other in 10 minutes, 15 tops. Just have to know which streets at what time. I almost never drive Florida Ave. Commuting to Redlands would be maddening to me. Anything west of Yucaipa is stressful. I commute to Indio, but there' no traffic to speak of, I set the cruise control listen to my MP3 player, enjoy a cup of coffee. In 30 minutes, I can be past Cabazon.

Metric Man

I figured after almost 3 months I had tried every different way possible out of town. I'll keep my commute...Beaumont to Cabazon. I work at Robertson's across from the casino. What are you doing in Indio? I didn't think anyone worked there.

ad6mj

I work for the cable company. I actually work from Thermal to Cherry Valley, but the shop is in Indio. You drive truck? BTW, Robertson is my last name, no relation.

zonatandem

Been retired 13 years; we do enjoy our 7-day weekends!

Metric Man

I haven't driven a mixer in years. I've been a plant manager for the last 8 or 9 years.