Report after first week of retirement (53F)
It’s only been a week and I’m sure it’s too soon to draw any conclusions, but here I go sharing anyway. 😂
Situation: USA, 53 but 54 in a few days, about 2m retirement accounts, 200k liquid, future small pension, ss and family trust fund as additional. Own a 500k house with no mortgage. Health care covered by old government pension plan. Partnered but living apart together. Have been ramping down but just quit my remote part time job. Living on savings for six months then switching to a 401k with the Rule of 55 - still teaching one class a quarter online until January. Able to withdraw about $80k a year until 59.5
It is the strangest feeling not to need to set an alarm. Not to have work emails piling up. As a teacher I’ve had some practice with summer breaks, but then it dawns on me that this is real and permanent - my actual life. I’m still waking up at 6 am but have mostly been able to fall back asleep. My partner gets up early when he stays over and that’s a factor. Today I’m going to try to take a nap!
I made myself a to-do list and noticed it’s mostly hobbies and exercise. I’m really organized and driven so I’m needing to adjust. Yesterday went on a 4 hour forest hike by myself and it was wonderful. But I do notice that sometimes I’m not sure what to do with myself. If s also a holiday weekend now so most people are off work. During the week it’s more noticeable.
I have flashes of both happiness and boredom. I wish my partner could spend more time with me but also, he’s 45 and in the middle of working and saving. I worry that he will resent me but so far he’s been amazing, tells me that I’ve earned it and to enjoy. I do have a few retired friends but they are mostly older and seem older - they want to move to Palm Springs to play golf and pickleball and the ukulele. And I’m going tomorrow to take a pole exercise class, am training for a half marathon, live downtown in a midsized city and enjoy going to clubs and events.
I have upcoming travel plans with my partner, both backpacking and a couple of international trips. Beyond that, I’m just taking it day by day.
Thanks for reading/listening! Ask me anything.