# Well, guess I’m gonna retire now... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 27, 2020, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-guess-i-m-gonna-retire-now/852660 "2020-04-27T09:59:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-guess-i-m-gonna-retire-now/852660/41 "2020-06-07T04:55:13Z")
> [@singular1](#): > > I’m scared of not having a job to get up for every day… I got the “scared” part over with before I retired… had a few panic attacks where I kept thinking “I was raised by Puritans with that Puritan Work Ethic. I’ll be useless without meaningful work.” But damn, I’m much better at Doing Nothing than I thought. Apparently I actually do believe all that “your value lies in who you are, not just what you do” stuff. But if I really need a task, it’s easy to find a wall to paint, a sketchbook to doodle in, tools to organize (well, in my case, it’s comic books). I might do some freelance work eventually. Thought I’d have to supplement my pension, but I’m surprised by how little money I need these days. It’s also easy to veg out in front of the TV. But now I can do it guiltlessly. I’m staying up late right now, watching whatever stupid sitcom’s on… _huh, never knew there was a Paul Lynde Show while I was in high school…_ But, hey, if I don’t have a job to get up early for, who cares? I can grab a nap tomorrow if I need it. > [@singular1](#): > > I hope that doesn’t come across as condescending- there is a cliche of engineers dragging boxes of their personal stuff from job to job… Another thing about retirement that I’ve discovered: not only do I need less money, I don’t need much in the way of Stuff. The boxes of “professional” stuff I diligently sorted and lugged home from work before I left? I haven’t even opened a single box. They’re sitting on shelves in my workshop. Next to… a couple of boxes from my previous job that I also haven’t opened. And that was almost THIRTY years ago… ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-guess-i-m-gonna-retire-now/852660/42 "2020-06-07T04:57:55Z")
I retired at the end of last year at 56, and while all the crazy shit happening makes it hard to focus sometimes, I’m still really, really glad I did it. There were a million things I wanted to get done around the house, and while I’ve only scratched them so far, things are definitely getting done. Here’s a [retirement](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=872506) thread I started, it’s not only full of other happy people, but some useful advice. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-guess-i-m-gonna-retire-now/852660/43 "2020-06-07T05:14:05Z")
As I talked about upthread, I retired on May 1st at 56 after a nearly 30 year engineering career. I had no need for any of the stuff from the career. It didn’t occur to me to take anything nor did I want anything with the exception of a lava lamp. It was a peer award plus lava lamps are cool. I am not getting to go to live music or out to good restaurants which are the things that I love to do but that’s ok. I miss my friends from work but I don’t miss anything about being a worker with the associated stress. The first two weeks were a little weird but I am settled in just fine. I am loving being retired. I hope that you find peace and satisfaction soon **singular1** ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-guess-i-m-gonna-retire-now/852660/44 "2020-06-07T15:40:16Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I retired at the end of last year at 56, and while all the crazy shit happening makes it hard to focus sometimes, I’m still really, really glad I did it. There were a million things I wanted to get done around the house, and while I’ve only scratched them so far, things are definitely getting done. > > Here’s a [retirement](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=872506) thread I started, it’s not only full of other happy people, but some useful advice. [Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=887939) is my retirement thread from January for more perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-guess-i-m-gonna-retire-now/852660/45 "2020-06-07T15:59:59Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I retired a month shy of my 63rd birthday (…) > > And what have I done since then? The main thing I did before, mathematical research with 27 published papers since then. Yes, but you’re one of those people whose profession happens to also be their hobby and is done mainly in the head. :mad:Lucky bastard…:mad: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![maljunulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@maljunulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maljunulo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-guess-i-m-gonna-retire-now/852660/46 "2020-06-07T17:22:24Z")
Long time lurker, first post! Had to register just to reply to @singular1 I retired about a year and a half ago - I was 67. There were many reasons, personal and financial and I’m glad I did it. Even though I loved the last job I had. I remember I had about one afternoon of panic. I woke up the day after my last day and went to a haircut appointment that morning. Got back home and had a minor panic attack. OMFG I DON’T HAVE A JOB!! QUICK, DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING! I started pacing around the house. I had flashbacks to the two times I really did lose my job. It was rather weird. I got better 🙂 You will too. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2020, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-guess-i-m-gonna-retire-now/852660/47 "2020-06-08T05:20:52Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > [Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=887939) is my retirement thread from January for more perspective. Hey, I missed that thread, a belated congratulations! Based on all these different threads, it looks like the ”56 club“ is in full session. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2020, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-guess-i-m-gonna-retire-now/852660/48 "2020-06-08T10:07:35Z")
> [@singular1](#): > > I know it’s only been a day, but I need to know - anybody have any idea when I’ll stop crying? Don’t feel bad. Those of us who hated work spent 40 years crying. You’ll only have a couple of days of it. Good for you! Congratulations, btw. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-guess-i-m-gonna-retire-now/852660.md?page=2)