What to Do if You’re Retired and Don’t Like Not Working

Copyright (c) 2009 Mary Lloyd

A few days ago, I saw in someone else’s eyes what used to haunt me every time I looked in the mirror—the quiet hell of being retired but wanting to work. The emptiness that develops for people who need work for their own well-being but who’ve retired for whatever reason can be hard to explain and painful to endure.

Being rid of the demands of work is only enjoyable for a while. Then we need more to be happy about getting up in the morning. When you voice that to someone who’s still working, they have no sympathy. Or suggest antidepressants.

Don’t be fooled. What you’re feeling is not a problem with brain chemistry. It’s a very reasonable reaction. Living life without a purpose is very hard to do. But it remains the cultural expectation of how we are SUPPOSED to live retirement.

Those who were pushed into retirement or jumped on a spontaneous basis might feel this more quickly. But even those who had plenty of time to get used to the idea before they retired typically end up saying “There has to be more than this.” On average, it comes about a year after you stop going to work.

Leisure should be part if your life, but you’re not crazy if you can’t make it be enough by itself. There’s no easy path to that “more” though–no established procedure for claiming it. Each of us whacks our way through this confusing jungle solo and hit-or-miss. So let me at least share what I have learned.

First, a few things you DON’T want to do:

DON’T JUMP RIGHT BACK INTO A REGULAR JOB JUST TO FILL THE EMPTINESS. Retirement offers the advantage of maximum flexibility. Be sure you really WANT to let go of that before you start highlighting full-time help wanted ads. There are a lot of ways to work and “all day every day five days a week” is only one of them.

DON’T ASSUME WHAT YOU WERE DOING IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW. Even if you were the ace at the office, there may be something you’re even better at—and will enjoy more—if you take the time to figure out what it is.

DON’T JUST KEEP DOING NOTHING. You already know that doesn’t work, no matter how many people tell you how lucky you are to be able to do it. People do die from not having enough to challenge them. Don’t just endure it if it isn’t working for you.

DON’T GET DOWN ON YOURSELF. You’re not a failure because you “flunked retirement.” A lot of people do.

So what DO you do? In a nutshell? Do the work to establish what you really WANT to do and then to figure out how to do it in a way that keeps your life balanced. More specifically:

DISCOVER YOUR PASSION. What’s worth doing at this stage of your life? What gets you excited? Listen to your heart. Is there something you want to improve in the world, your community, or your neighborhood? The only reliable foundation on which to build your retirement is what you truly value deep down. Eventually, virtually everything else is likely to change.

LIST WHAT YOU’RE GOOD AT. By the time we retire, we’ve amassed an incredible breadth and depth of skills and knowledge. Just writing it all down will make you feel good about yourself. But knowing all that you can do is also key to kindling a fresh flame. Be sure to include the stuff you learned at non-business pursuits too, whether it’s leading a Brownie troop or officiating high school lacrosse.

DEFINE YOUR PURPOSE. When you mesh what you’re good at with what you believe in, amazing things happen. You don’t have to save the world. You don’t even have to save the day. You do have to save yourself. Discover what gets you jazzed and learn all you can about it.

SHAPE YOUR WORK CONSCIOUSLY. There’s project work, piece work, seasonal work, or contract work. Creative work (that you might never make a dime from). Volunteer work. You can work noon to 4:30 on alternate Tuesdays or just the month of February. Once YOU know when and how you want to work, you’ll be far more likely to find, create, or negotiate it.

GIVE IT TIME. A bizarre thing happens when you retire. All of your time is your own, yet you tell yourself you don’t have enough. You can’t learn that new thing or build a reputation in that new area of expertise because, you …well… might die. Think about it. That’s been true since the day you were born.

There are a lot of folks still going strong at 90. Be one of them. When it is time to take that last breath, take it full of satisfaction with what you’ve been so engaged in. THAT is how we should all retire.

Things to do after you are retired

For years you’ve lived in that sprawling house where you raised your children . . . it’s home. But now you don’t need all the space and the upkeep is becoming more difficult every year.

You now have to consider things that weren’t issues before. When you were younger, you never thought about how many times a day you went up and down the stairs. You didn’t mind having the bedroom upstairs and the laundry facilities in the basement. Now, all those steps are taking their toll.

Washing windows isn’t as easy as it was before either, is it? Climbing an extension ladder to reach the second story becomes a bit scarier with each passing year. As you age, you become more concerned about falling.

You may be thinking it’s finally time to move into a home that’s a bit more senior-friendly, but what are your options?

•    Smaller, single level houses

•    Condominiums

•    Apartments

•    Retirement communities

•    Assisted living facilities

Let’s take a more detailed look at these options:

Smaller homes built on one level with convenient laundry facilities may be what you need.

Look for a house that requires little outside maintenance. A brick or vinyl-sided house won’t require painting. An open floor plan may be helpful if you’re ever confined to a wheelchair. A smaller yard allows you to garden but still keeps the yard work to a minimum. An attached garage is a helpful feature, especially in the winter when icy sidewalks can cause falls. Of course, finding a location that’s close to shopping, public transportation and medical facilities is also important.

Condominiums provide privacy without a lot of maintenance.

Like individual houses, there are many different types of condominiums from which to choose. The main advantage of a condo is that outside maintenance of both the structure and the yard is usually provided. Most condos include a small area where you can plant flowers but the lawn and other common areas are maintained by the association. There are additional fees for this mandatory service so be sure to find out if they will fit into your budget.
Apartments require no maintenance.

One of the main advantages of apartment living is that you aren’t responsible for any maintenance. You don’t have to worry about painting, replacing major appliances or yard work. Apartments also give you a certain degree of freedom because you don’t have to worry about them if you travel a lot. It’s important for laundry facilities to be easily accessible and that there is an elevator if your apartment is to be on a higher floor. You won’t have as much privacy and your only personal outdoor space may be limited to a small patio or balcony, if that. Rent is likely to increase and is not tax deductible on your Federal returns.

Retirement communities or assisted living facilities give you the highest level of security.

Both of these options are specifically designed for seniors and offer many safety features not found in regular housing. The amount of privacy you have depends on which community you choose. Your medical condition will usually dictate whether a retirement community or assisted living facility is your best choice. Some retirement communities offer private living space, much like individual homes, as long as you’re healthy and then provides assisted living if your health deteriorates.

Giving up the home where you’ve lived for many, many years may seem a little scary. But, often a new home that brings less responsibility and greater peace of mind will make you feel years younger.

Retired and Still Need to Work?

With rents and property taxes increasing, along with medical costs and gas prices, many retirees are reentering the work force to make ends meet.
More senior citizens are searching for jobs because they can no longer afford not to work.
Retirees used to dream of settling back and living off nest eggs. For some, that’s no longer enough, I found that I could stay at home and make a few extra bucks.

If you want to keep your home, pay for your medication or have any type of life, you have to work.Take a look at online work,work from home.The playing field is level.

Some return to work because they miss their jobs or want to stay physically and socially active.
what we do know is that older workers are staying in their current jobs longer as a result of financial uncertainty,

The U.S. Labor Department reports that more than 5 million adults age 65 and older worked last year, or about 15 percent of all senior citizens.

There are people who are still hurting who are middle class.

When I thought of my retirement years, I envisioned leisurely trips to Florida and California. Those plans changed after I was the victim of a violent crime.Finding myself at home and unable to work,I looked for something I could do from home ,I still love to work and I needed the extra income.
you don’t get to go to the grocery store like you want to, you wait until peanut butter goes on sale, and the same thing with milk.
I never thought the cost of living would go up as much as it has. I really don’t know how some adults are making it.
More employers are recognizing the value of hiring senior citizens.
They’re reliable, and they have a work ethic. As you get older, you may get aches and pains, but that’s expected and you know you still go to work every day.

Still, for some who retire early, going back to work can reduce Social Security benefits, depending on earnings.

I once thought I could live off my retirement, The hard cold fact is its just not enough.I love that I can work from home and if I can do it any one can.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me,I may not have all the answers but I know I can help.

Retired Travel – The Opportunities are Endless

When you are retired, travel can be more than just an occasional past-time – it can become a way of life. Many seniors have a long list of the cities they’d like to visit and have been looking forward to putting their travel plans into action. You may be enjoying all the benefits and joys of Florida retirement living, but chances are, you too will find the lure of retired travel very appealing. With all of the options available to you for ways to travel and places to see, you literally have the entire world of destinations to consider. You might decide to stay in the United States and explore the nooks and crannies of this country or you can broaden your horizons by experiencing the culture and excitement of international travel.   

If you are over 55 in Florida, you have undoubtedly discovered the wide array of activities and amenities that are designed specifically for the retiree. The same can be said of retired travel options. The demand that drives the popularity of retirement communities in Florida also drives the availability of travel packages, tours, discount programs and other enticements for the traveling retiree. The 55 and over age group is not only the largest population, but it is also the population that statistically has the most wealth. Since locations compete with each other to get a share of the retired travel market, you can benefit from incredible travel discounts and deals if you know where to look. Some companies that include senior travel options are:  

·         Elderhostel- this company focuses on providing cultural and historical perspectives on the destination. They offer packages both domestically and internationally.  

·         Travelearn – luxury cruises, cruise-land packages, and other tours that cater mostly to people over 50.  

·         Eldertrek – adventure travel tours for people 50 and over. The company offers trips such as African safaris, Mongolia by camel, or even tours of Antarctica.  

No matter what type of retired travel you are considering, there are a few ways to make sure you get the best deals. First, check the American Association of Retired Persons website to see if there are any travel specials for the destinations that you are considering. You can, at a minimum, take advantage of the American Association of Retired Persons membership discount that many hotels offer. However, there are also often trips with special itineraries offered through American Association of Retired Persons, along with discounts for air travel, car rental, or admission tickets to certain sites. Other discounts are available through other member based organizations.  

Even if you are not a member of any organization that specializes in retired travel, you can still find extraordinary deals on travel if you know where to look. The most varied options will be found through travel agents or travel websites. In fact, you can find many of the same deals that a travel agent would offer you if you do a bit of research on travel websites, and you actually may save more this way by avoiding surcharges and fees.  

So how do you know which websites to use? You can start with the popular travel sites like Cheap tickets, Expedia or Orbitz. Many of the same deals will appear on each of the sites, and you can sign up for email updates when new travel deals arise. If you don’t want to have to keep checking a variety of websites for the best deals, try registering for updates from a company like travelzoo.com. This company monitors the travel deals offered around the web and summarizes the best ones on their webpage and through emails.  

With all the options out there, it can seem overwhelming at first. But with a little research, you’ll find the retired travel opportunities that sound inspiring to you. No matter where you go, don’t let anything stop you from making your retired travel experiences the best of your life.

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