I've been officially retired one year..............

[K2C Sooner]

I'm going nuts. I've worked all my life and all I do is surf the net, read and gain weight. What do you retirees do with your spare time? I don't golf and I'm not active do to a disability.

Give me some interweb sites that I might want to visit as I get older..............


BTW, my first job at the coal mine after the first shift................

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

Do you like old cars? Great hobby. Fix'em up, drive'em etc. Lots of Club activities etc.

 

[PryorFan]

God has truly blessed my wife and I. We were fortunate to retire early and it's been a hectic 10+ years. Church work, travel (including many rv trips with our grandchildren all over the US and even to Alaska), fishing (my favorite sport) and hunting dominate our time and yes, we attend as many OU Sooner football and basketball games as possible. I've jokingly told my wife on numerous occasions that I'm considering hiring staff!

Stay active my friend!

Boomer Sooner!

 

[CTOkie]

Join a gym....and go 4-5 times a week. This takes some discipline, but it pays off big time.
Get a Beagle....and do a lot of dog walking. You will get some exercise and meet new neighbors and you will be doing so with a very good friend.
Get a walk behind mower....again, more good exercise.
Avoid daytime television. If your I.Q. exceeds 40, this should be no problem.
Stay home to watch ball games.....that way you avoid long lines, expensive concessions, obnoxious fans, screaming kids whose parents can't (or won't) control them. Plus, you're less than 40 feet from the kitchen and a toilet......and can watch replays.
Take in a matinee movie....bring your own water bottle and a granola/breakfast bar.
Organize your stuff in the garage, attic or basement. You'll find items you had forgotten owning.
Do laundry twice a week. It doesn't build up that way.
Travel....even if it's to a nearby destination, say within 500 miles. Here in Connecticut, I'm halfway between NYC and Boston, 220 miles from Cooperstown, 340 miles to Gettysburg (where I go almost annually), and close to Newport, Mystic Seaport, Washington DC, West Point (which is where all college football games should be played), Annapolis and my favorite place on earth, Bar Harbor Maine.
If you have to go to a mall, go at 10 am during the week only.
In general, don't do anything you really don't want to do. You've earned that right.
Finally, spend as much time with you wife as possible. If you marriage has been a good one, then she's obviously your best friend as well.

***** KC, my error in overlooking your being with a disability. Hope you can use some of this advise just the same.*****


This post was edited on 3/1 7:02 AM by CTOkie

 

[soonermade]

You say you can't exercise due to a disability? Are you able to do anything? You said you're gaining weight so your number one priority for a happy retirement should be to "try" and get "some" exercise. Can you go for walks? Can you ride a bike?

Get a treadmill and/or stationery bike and use them at least 3-5 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Another great activity is vacuuming the house, especially if you have a two-story house that takes 25-30 minutes to vacuum.

You really should try and do some resistance training, even if it's just pushups and working with light dumbbells. This will help not just your muscles but also your bones as you age.

You will be amazed by how exercising can greatly reduce boredom in your life and after just a short time, it no longer becomes a chore, but something you look forward to doing. Try setting schedules so almost every hour of the day you're doing something.

Eat breakfast the same time every morning, exercise the same time, eat lunch and dinner the same time, read, go for a walk, housework, cook, fun activities you enjoy like fishing, bowling, etc.... all at the same time. At least try to schedule your day and by nightfall, you can relax and have some "free" time to do nothing or something.

If you don't set schedules for yourself and include some form of exercise, I'm afraid you will continue to remain bored with life (too much free time because you don't know what to do and when to do it) and each year that passes, become more and more unhealthy, creating a very negative experience of retirement.
This post was edited on 3/1 6:50 AM by soonermade

 

[Texjef84]

First, congratulations on being able to retire. Your going through something that tons of retirees go through and the answer isn't easy. I would get out of the house and try to volunteer at a few places. Schools need crossing guards, libraries always need people, local charities need help as well. Again, congrats and let us know what you find.

 

[SoonerMikee05]

I would say go back to work. Find a job that you enjoy doing.

 

[roygbell]

Originally posted by K2C Sooner:

I'm going nuts. I've worked all my life and all I do is surf the net, read and gain weight. What do you retirees do with your spare time? I don't golf and I'm not active do to a disability.

Give me some interweb sites that I might want to visit as I get older..............


BTW, my first job at the coal mine after the first shift................

The secret is to focus on something that you like to do. I haven't drawn a regular pay check since the late 90s. I am as busy today as I was when I quit working. If I didn't have something to keep my mind occupied I would go nuts. I always have a bunch of projects that keep me going. I have an office and work shop that I go to every day of the week, except for a Saturday and Sunday every once in a while.

It is my thought that retiring with the intent to sit on your butt all day is a formula for an unhappy life after you quit working. It is also a formula for falling into bad habits which are very likely to shorten your life. Sitting on your butt with nothing to do isn't normal for most of us and our minds and bodies don't accept that kind of life.

There are lots of things out there just for the taking. Volunteer at a hospital or at a school do anything but sitting at home watching TV.

 

[Oklabama]

I'm taking all this in as my time is rapidly approaching and I haven't stopped to really consider what will consume my time.

 

[Sunburnt Indian]

I paint and prep 80 some odd duplexes between leases my older daughter owns. I paint Baylor housing in the summer when students are away.

I visit the docile and lovable Choctaw brothers about three times per year. I sit at the Kiowa Medicine Lodge after football season starts and at least one other time.

Card carrying Choctaw granddaughter just accepted regional sales manager in Fargo, ND with General Motors. I must visit Fargo after this summer's Baylor project. I visit younger daughter in Fort Collins thrice annually.

I stay snowed under and I love it.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

Doing nothing is hard. You never know when your done.

 

[HighStickHarry]

Prostitute on retainer. You are welcome.

 

[K2C Sooner]

Originally posted by HighStickHarry:
Prostitute on retainer. You are welcome.

No male sheep on this board, Harry.................


BTW, what happened to your great old time cowboy sig pictures?

 

[BillyRay]

I would suggest first and foremost is work on staying in shape and keeping extra weight off. Join a gym, and start working out and staying physically fit and active. I know you say you are disabled, but unless you are wheelchair bound, there is always something you can do to improve your physical condition. Even if it's simply doing some cardio and working out on machines, the extra energy and motivation you will get from improving your physical condition will spill over into the rest of your time and get you to doing other things. Then it's up to you to decide what you enjoy doing. Hobbies or activities you enjoy doing. Or like another person mentioned, look for a part-time job doing something you enjoy. Don't do it for the money, do it for the enjoyment of the time spent doing it.

I know I'm not retired, so take my advice with a grain of salt. But I've known plenty of people that run into the same roadblock as you after they retire. Most of them are full of excitement at the thought of retiring and never having to work again, but usually 6 months to a year after they retire they are absolutely bored out of their minds, and most generally end up getting a little job just for something to do.

 

[HighStickHarry]

The fascists at rivals decided if you didn't have a paid membership you couldn't have a fanpage therefore never having access to changing your sig pic. I'm stuck with JR forever.

 

[humblesooner]

Get you a job. Mine keeps me pretty busy all the time.

 

[Soonersincefitty]

Eh, I like following Clint Eastwoods sage advise.

Do something physical for 30 minutes everyday.
Depending on several variables, woodcutting, biking, or stationary bike.
Weight lifting, tennis, racketball...whatever.
Sex too, if you have the pluck to go 30 minutes...good for you. You're far ahead of the curve.
It really doesn't matter.
If you can get your heart rate up to 110-120 for a half an hour, that's the ticket.

Also, I believe that if we, that are over 60 extend ourselves at every chance, that is doing that which on its face seems daunting and impossible, will add five or ten quality years to the old bottom line. IMO.

Don't let the bastard win...LIVE!

(the thrust of this is...do this and all the other will fall into place)

 

[Sooners83]

Originally posted by Soonersincefitty:
Eh, I like following Clint Eastwoods sage advise.

Do something physical for 30 minutes everyday.
Depending on several variables, woodcutting, biking, or stationary bike.
Weight lifting, tennis, racketball...whatever.
Sex too, if you have the pluck to go 30 minutes...good for you. You're far ahead of the curve.
It really doesn't matter.
If you can get your heart rate up to 110-120 for a half an hour, that's the ticket.

Also, I believe that if we, that are over 60 extend ourselves at every chance, that is doing that which on its face seems daunting and impossible, will add five or ten quality years to the old bottom line. IMO.

Don't let the bastard win...LIVE!

(the thrust of this is...do this and all the other will fall into place)

fitty...you retire now?..not sure where you are as far as that is concerned?.

 

[Soonersincefitty]

Yeah, I am, for now.

This sucks though.
I'm going back to work by July or so. This not knowing what day it is...it's a bitch.

I can retire, but I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be.

I'd rather do something that is a bit under my education and capacity than to lay around wishing for death to take me.

But, to each his own...

(I got to admit...it's pretty rad to play guitar for 4 to 6 hours a day and no one to bitch about it...that rocks...

)

 

[gratefulRed]

I cannot quite empathize yet...because I'm still about 20 years from retiring but I've seen people I know have similar issues upon leaving the work force. I think giving your time and talent to worthy organizations is a great start, even if it's for free. Helping others does wonders for the helper. Oh...and quit watching OU basketball. That will put years back onto your life, lol.

 

[bcsoonerfan]

Train cougars.

 

[Medic007]

Two birds, one stone. Make meth and use it. Keeps you busy which in turn keeps you busy.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[Scottsdale.Sooner]

I just turned 64 and have absolutely no plans to retire anytime soon. I'll give it another 10 years for sure. I will admit, for the most part my job is very enjoyable.

 

[rutgersdave]

I have been retired for 4-5 years or forced retirement to layoff at 54 years old. The first 1-2 years are the hardest since you have to find out what you want to do. I work out 7 days a week walk-jog 1.5 miles a day and some weights. I enjoy afternoon movies and also play with my nephews kids. Take a nap whenever I feel like it and trade stocks. Thinking about some part time work since I don't have any income coming in but my investment income but too lazy now.
This post was edited on 3/9 11:19 AM by rutgersdave