That's what I'm hoping for. This has been an extremely high stress career and in 14 months I'm done and hoping for a new outlook on everyday stress...like not having any.

You will be amazed. My wife said I looked ten years younger after I finally relaxed.

I feel as if I'm the luckiest man in the world.

I'm jealous - figure I have 5 more years or so, then going to try and step back. I may still do some contract work, but will have much more control of my schedule. My job is pretty stressful, and just knowing that I am approaching a time when I can relax is calming.

Funny - when I was in my 20s and 30s I thought I would need millions of dollars in reserve for retirement. As I've gotten closer, that number has fallen considerably. Yes, still need to be able to live comfortably, but when the bills and debt are gone, not as much needed from month to month. Insurance and utilities, plus a little fun money and I think I will be content - health being what it is.

When people ask me how retirement is, my response is "better than you think it will be".

Well articulated.

Hmmmm....

When people ask me how retirement is, my response is "Retirement is not for sissy's." It can be tough & I have friends that retired & then returned to work after a year or two. It's like jumping off a speeding merry-go-round, then getting back up, dusting yourself off & then asking "Now what?"

I guess it's different for everyone.

I retired at 55 with the plan to work as fun or interesting opportunities came about. I've worked about 2 1/2 yrs of my almost 5 years since, and spent a year remodeling my home after Harvey. So far my plan is working. Come 62, 2 years from now, I figure I'll be ready to fully retire or ......if a fun or interesting job..... I have been blessed!!

Papalote

I retired 6 weeks ago at 68 and still feel in transition. I worked in aviation, and at night watching the weather I don�t think which way to route the flight.....I now think I�ll go get a beer, but on the other hand I keep thinking it�s time to back to the airport and go to work. The last few years before retiring and had the income I bought a lot of things I thought would use, other than some reloading items, not sure how much I will use. After 26 years in the Air Force and 21 years with FedEx I now look forward to catching up on my hunting

Said no one ever.

I am 66 and still working. Lucky to be self employed so I get to come and go when I like. I am set financially for retirement but not sure how much I will like it once I do it.

I am a hyper/busy person so I wonder if I will be able to keep myself busy all day. once I retire. I have lots of hobbies but still worry I will get bored. For now I plan to keep working because I enjoy it.

Most people i meet on the golfcourse on saturday (besides my retired drunk stalker) are overworked, all stressed up.

They have great paying jobs constantly buying toys.

They drink on saturday like fish to ease up their pain.

On sunday they are all hung over and moody, cause they know the ratrace is coming following the next day.

Come retirement, they end up pilled up or alcoholics.

My doctor tells me he sees them every day.

What a sad life.

No thank you.

Well THAT was uplifting!

More like a backdoor one upper....

My favorite was that I could hunt and fish on the weekdays.

Yes! Cause " somebody is going to get your stuff" and it doesn't matter how much or how little you have.

Once I retired, I learned that if I needed to go into the city to do it on Tuesday or Wednesday. There is less traffic during the day on those two days. Also, it took me two years to mentally transition into retirement.

I realized that every day was like a Saturday.