Hi Pam. Been retired three years and worked part time for four years before--since moving to South Florida.

For me biking is a primary activity doing 6,000 miles plus per year. Nice morning activity with a friend or great group five days or so per week.

Besides passions of photography, classical piano and lots of travel, began donating time to local Village and a local non-profit. After a few years of getting acquainted (as moved to Florida 7 years ago), finally put on two Advisory Boards and a Board of Directors. One Advisory Board is for our local Community Center. Nice way to do something good and to meet others.

The point is to keep as busy as you were when working but doing something different, preferably something you enjoy and feel good about.

So suggest you look around at local nonprofits to see if any appeal to you. Then make sure the people are nice and you'd enjoy spending time with them. Or get involved with some passions you have, or take courses at local University. Feeding the brain is good.

Lots of things to do. Staying fit is important along with social activities. No lack of things to do.

That's a very, very good observation. And your last paragraph describes me well. For decades I was a professional extrovert, in later years quite high profile. I found it exhausting, particularly so toward the end. Especially with no financial concerns I find retirement, "I make what is close to an unencumbered choice about how to use each day", incredibly rewarding.

All day bike rides. Literally.

I've been retired for a year and a half and I must say filling a day has not been an issue. I realized how sleep deprived I had been. I sleep in until 6 instead of getting up at 4 to get my strength workout in before work. I would ride after work so this time of year all my rides during the week would be on the trainer since it would be dark by the time I got home. Now I get up workout have something to eat and decide when I want to ride. I can go out the warmest time of day and if it's raining wait for a window of opportunity by watching the radar.
I no longer feel like I'm under the gun to get everything done that I wanted to accomplish in a day. Feels great to exhale and smell the coffee. We plan on relocating to the southwest within the coming year. We had been waiting until I resolved some health issues and had extensive dental work done. All that's just about completed so we should be free to go within the next couple of months.
I never felt that what I did for a living defined who I was as a person so closing the book on that chapter of my life was a cause for celebration not a source of dread. My wife strongly suggested that I reward myself when I retired by purchasing my dream bike. At her behest I acquired a Pinarello Dogma F8 and have been riding the bejesus out of it. Retirement agrees with me.

" ..so far, seems like a long vacation."

Ain't it great.

I liken retirement to the years between the 11th and 12th grade summers. No real responsibility to anyone except the wife. You are free to do pretty much anything you want to, just like that teenager. It is an exceptional relief to me, since as a computer tech spec, I was on call 24/7/365. Even if it was 2 in the morning in Jan during a blizzard, I was expected to go.

What do I do now? Im in the snow belt, so I only cycle in the summer. I am on the church property comm. so I do some work at the church. Then------------the big thing is since I am retired friends and family ask me to run hither and yon to do small jobs for them. You will soon find you are kept as busy as you want to be. Warning------------keep busy, bike, or what ever, dont be caught up into just setting in your easy chair, you will quickly rust out.

I'm 59 and I've been retired for four years. I play guitar, banjo and poker. Learned how to cook. I'll never work again.

I'm 61.5 but have an interesting job I like. It pays OK.
I'm going to work until I'm 65 or sick of work (things do change) or get sick (things do change). I like going there, my job is helping a large segment of society and I like my coworkers.

On the side, I do play guitar, and intend to begin riding again (I slacked off when my wife's health tanked). I have other interests as well. I plan to be that old guy with a perfect yard.

I also have finally gotten onto a diabetic diet and am doing well. This time I feel like the time when I finally quit smoking. I have real feeling of determination, not just that I'll behave but enjoy one now and then, but that never again, new point in my life feeling. I plan on living long and not quite as large.

I had a lot more free time when I was working

i've been retired since I was 61. Do a lot of riding usually averaging 150 miles a week. i take 2 of our grandkids to school, the rest of the day is filled with yard work, house work as my wife still works and enjoying my life. I missed work at first,however I didn't miss all of the stress and flying i had to do through out the U.S as my job required me to travel for days or week at a time.. I do get bored at times, but I'm quite happy enjoying my life as all I have ever done is work.

My 1st summer retired I built a backyard rover robot. It's purpose was to chase deer from the yard. It was something I had wanted to build for years. Any decent sized project would be good for starting a retirement.... IMHO.

I ride a lot. I found I really enjoy wrenching on bicycles too. I do project bikes mostly for fun... some for profit. Local theaters have "seniors day". A movie can be a nice thing to plan a day around.

I sometimes say I had life figured out as a child. I'd ride my bike, hang with friends, and do chores and yard work around the house. Then I wasted more than half a century working and earning a living... just so I could live like a kid again.

At age 83 been retired for 21 years; spouse is just a kid at only 80.
First 3 years did part time work for a publishing company (used to be a printer). Worked mornings only and NO overtime.
Did some free lance writing projects and did my usual 6 days-a-week cycling. Some on our tandem and some on my single bike. We also do a bit of traveling for a change of scenery.
We still tandem TWOgether; not as far, not as fast.
Between tandem and my single bike managed to get in 4,500 miles this year.
Bored? Not yet!

Not retired yet, but have been planning for it for years by investing a little each year, and I'll also have a pension from an employer. What really got me to thinking about how close that "65" mark is was a management level job opening at work last year that I was well qualified for; I just decided it wasn't worth the headaches and longer hours, and I'd rather spend time planning for and ramping up things I want to do in retirement. I got back into playing a few musical instruments (guitar and similar instruments), I'm planning a cross country bicycle trip (just researching right now), and I need to remodel my house before I retire (it needs it). Also like doing gardening, so I think I'll have things set up pretty well by the time I turn 65.

There was a time when I had to work weekends. I would cringe every time one of these commercials came on and they finally did me in; I found a Monday-Friday job. I imagine with 33 years of working weekends, these are unbearable. I am sorry to resurrect the pain...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnvpi91VBr0

John

I think you nailed it for me... I am an introvert... have always preferred alone time so its difficult for me to seek outside "stimulus". I do volunteer work and have stepped it up - now participating in weekday events (which is awesome). I do have a great (but small) group of friends which I spend time with but they are all still working so time is limited to weekends and weeknights.

Right now I am still down and struggling with a fractured wrist (suffered about 8 weeks ago but didn't know the first 4 weeks it was broken) so my riding is limited and my walking (due to the injury sustained last April) is still a work in process. Once I get healthy I suspect will be getting out more than now. Actually it's kindof nice to sleep in; take time to clean house; plan meals and organizing things. Once the wrist heals, will plan on traveling (can't wait).

Hi Pam, Let me know when you can go mountain biking again. I want you to show me some of those non-technical trails you were telling me about when we were up at Big Bear. I can bring my mountain bike down from BB or maybe borrow a bike from Lois.

Rick / OCRR

About spring time, when the snow melts, I should be ready... both Kathy and I will take you out and about!

Sounds good to me but remember I am not the experienced mountain bike rider like you two so take it easy on me!

Rick / OCRR

How did the robot work out? There's probably a lot of money to be made for something that works - could be a whole second career! Which leads to the next ....

I laughed reading this. If only we could figure out a way to skip the 50 years in between. Although I don't think we'd have the same appreciation for the joy of riding our bikes and hanging with friends. For me, I'm still waiting for my turn. Someday ... I promise myself.
[MENTION=57577]Pamestique[/MENTION], great thread. It's been very interesting to read all the posts. Also looking forward to photos of Rick on his mountain bike!

How 'bout a photo of Rick with (not on) my mountain bike?

I'm not retired yet. I spend my free time figuring out how to retire asap.

Take up genealogy as a hobby. Trust me on this, you can spend decades at it...LOL A plus as a bicyclist, you will never pass a cometary without at least mentally pausing at the potential. : )

Seriously, just calculate days till your dirt nap and look at it as elapsed days. How many do you want to waste not doing things that bring value to your life?

I have so may rewarding hobbies and interests, for decades I have said everyone should be me in my private life, there is never a dull moment. I am so looking forward to retirement, when I can take more time and selfishly indulge myself in my hobbies and interests. Oh man, I love being alive.