The great guest post today (do we know who the author is? even a pseudonym?) reminded me of my plans for retirement. I think I tend to lean towards the lazy side of people here. In other words, I think I would devote only 2-4 hours per day* to "productive" activities like volunteering, chores/repairs, moving personal projects forward. My "non-productive" time would be spent sleeping more, exercising and socializing more, and leisure reading (most of this is geared towards extending my health). What is your ideal mix?
*I presume this might increase over time after the novelty of having absolutely nothing (required) to do wears off.
How much will you "work" in retirement?
"When you rest-you rust".
That is an old saying from my generation. When I first heard that saying, I thought little about it. Now I see the truth in it. When you "couch it" but not out of idleness, and instead out of needing some rest, it does not apply. When you don't have anything to do, don't do it. We also had a saying that "if you don't have anything to do, don't do it here". More wisdom. Everyone has something to do. If not, your not needed, and as the elite say, "your a useless eater". I am firmly established with the fact that if your mentally and physically able, you should have projects. thoughts, ambitions, desires, and productivity at all times. Wait until the diseases set in before you stare out the window, your wasting abilities.
People have trouble with retirement who have never learned the fine art of relaxation. Actually relaxation is healthful. Anything (and especially in this maddening world) that relieves stress is healthful. Stress is the silent and unknown killer. We should have been born with stress meters that peg red when we are driving on the six lane deathtraps we call highways. Anger also needs to peg on the meter, and there should be a red button on us to kick us back on when we peg.
Meaningful activities are the bread of life. I don't care whether you use them to earn a dime or not. Doing it for the dime is one thing, but doing it for your well being is the best of the best. I had a plumber friend for coffee the other day. He told me, "it won't be much longer that I can crawl under houses and do this stuff". My answer is if that is the case quit now. Or get a young man to do the crawling, and you do the telling. Knees and elbows and backs are commodities we need for a lifetime of happiness. Try and not have to get these items in metal joints and parts. Don't have a lifetime of physical exertion and then just suddenly stop functioning.
After all, "If you rest--you rust".
That is an old saying from my generation. When I first heard that saying, I thought little about it. Now I see the truth in it. When you "couch it" but not out of idleness, and instead out of needing some rest, it does not apply. When you don't have anything to do, don't do it. We also had a saying that "if you don't have anything to do, don't do it here". More wisdom. Everyone has something to do. If not, your not needed, and as the elite say, "your a useless eater". I am firmly established with the fact that if your mentally and physically able, you should have projects. thoughts, ambitions, desires, and productivity at all times. Wait until the diseases set in before you stare out the window, your wasting abilities.
People have trouble with retirement who have never learned the fine art of relaxation. Actually relaxation is healthful. Anything (and especially in this maddening world) that relieves stress is healthful. Stress is the silent and unknown killer. We should have been born with stress meters that peg red when we are driving on the six lane deathtraps we call highways. Anger also needs to peg on the meter, and there should be a red button on us to kick us back on when we peg.
Meaningful activities are the bread of life. I don't care whether you use them to earn a dime or not. Doing it for the dime is one thing, but doing it for your well being is the best of the best. I had a plumber friend for coffee the other day. He told me, "it won't be much longer that I can crawl under houses and do this stuff". My answer is if that is the case quit now. Or get a young man to do the crawling, and you do the telling. Knees and elbows and backs are commodities we need for a lifetime of happiness. Try and not have to get these items in metal joints and parts. Don't have a lifetime of physical exertion and then just suddenly stop functioning.
After all, "If you rest--you rust".
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shanermack
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My ideal for ERE is likely going to involve a certain amount of ingenuity in order to maintain itself. I am planning on doing the whole liveaboard thing with a sizable craft which will in and of itself create plenty of chores to do and expenditures to meet as well as providing me with a means of self employment and income. I also intend to do a fair amount of foraging just to keep myself well fed.
The way I see it, being in a position where I have no choice but to adapt to survive after ERE will be beneficial. I will have to stay active and fit in order to make it all work which will in turn automatically help to extend the best time of my life into older age. Like HSpencer said, "if you rest-you rust". I intend to avoid too much rest by simply not being able to rely at all on anyone or any institution aside from myself to make it work.
The trick will be to never stress out over the little things and learn to roll with the punches.
The way I see it, being in a position where I have no choice but to adapt to survive after ERE will be beneficial. I will have to stay active and fit in order to make it all work which will in turn automatically help to extend the best time of my life into older age. Like HSpencer said, "if you rest-you rust". I intend to avoid too much rest by simply not being able to rely at all on anyone or any institution aside from myself to make it work.
The trick will be to never stress out over the little things and learn to roll with the punches.
I think I'll have quite a bit of chores to do. - Chopping wood, harvesting/preserving food, keeping the house in order.
I like to think I'll probably, mostly for lack of anything else to do, spend 4-5 hours a day programming or building things. But hopefully that will just be by my own volition because I'm excited about a project, not because I had to set a goal to be productive for a certain percentage of the day.
But if friends are visiting, and there's booze and food around, forget it, nothing's getting done. And I'm fine with that
I like to think I'll probably, mostly for lack of anything else to do, spend 4-5 hours a day programming or building things. But hopefully that will just be by my own volition because I'm excited about a project, not because I had to set a goal to be productive for a certain percentage of the day.
But if friends are visiting, and there's booze and food around, forget it, nothing's getting done. And I'm fine with that
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irononmaiden
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jacob
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0 hours.
I'll use the "I know it when I see it" definition of work. My aim is to not have anyone be able to point at something I'm doing and call it "work".
Admittedly, I'll probably have a hard time reaching that goal. About the only thing I have yet to see ERE-antagonists not define as work ("You're not retired, you still work because you ... ") is chewing my own food. Okay.
I'll use the "I know it when I see it" definition of work. My aim is to not have anyone be able to point at something I'm doing and call it "work".
Admittedly, I'll probably have a hard time reaching that goal. About the only thing I have yet to see ERE-antagonists not define as work ("You're not retired, you still work because you ... ") is chewing my own food. Okay.
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DividendGuy
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I'll know this when I'm actually "retired", but I align myself with the OP on this one, when he mentions being "lazy". I think that's an accurate description for myself, for lack of a better term. I enjoy relaxation.
I would suspect that if I absolutely had my choice and didn't have to work at all I would probably say 0 hours.
If I fall slightly short on passive income, or my expenses are higher than I predict, I would be ok with 10-15 hours a week of easy "work" like being a cabana boy at the local Hilton.
I would suspect that if I absolutely had my choice and didn't have to work at all I would probably say 0 hours.
If I fall slightly short on passive income, or my expenses are higher than I predict, I would be ok with 10-15 hours a week of easy "work" like being a cabana boy at the local Hilton.
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irononmaiden
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Thanks HSpencer, After days of shovelling silt, picking up books etc for the third time (aftershocks), I hit the wall. On reading your post my self pitying inertia fell away, The cupboards are now stocked, the freezer has home made meals the house is more quake proofed, and I'm ready for the next one. After which I'll be rereading your post. When you rest you rust
At the moment, I can't really imagine doing much work at all during retirement. I'm really burnt out with work now. I'm sure that would change after a while. I do plan to volunteer some unknown amount so that I can feel I am doing something purposeful. I would like to avoid alarm clocks and schedules that I have no say in.
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jacob
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@irononmaiden - It is usually money making activities. I can accept that even though this results in the funny situation where my activity on this forum is work (because I make $36/month from the four ads you see to the right of here) whereas your activity on this forum is not work.
However, sometimes activities like growing food, cooking, changing a flat tire, fixing an appliance, or putting a patch on a pair of pants is also referred to as work.
(In most cases, it seems to me that the point is to 'prove' that I'm not retired and still work.]
However, sometimes activities like growing food, cooking, changing a flat tire, fixing an appliance, or putting a patch on a pair of pants is also referred to as work.
(In most cases, it seems to me that the point is to 'prove' that I'm not retired and still work.]
This is why I put "work" in quotes... I just meant productive activities, which includes growing food, changing a flat tire, and anything else you wouldn't do if a magic genie came along and offered to do it for you (results may vary -- I understand some people get a lot of satisfaction out of gardening, but I suspect that after you learn how to change a flat the first time, you've gotten everything you need from the activity).
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irononmaiden
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@dragoncar: Oop, I wasn't calling you weird. Just whoever it was that felt the need to judge whether Jacob is actually retired.
Come to think of it, I'll probably have more chores to do in ERE than most people because of my 90-year-old house and yard. Definitely the kind of thing I'd hand over to a genie if I could, but I do enjoy the sense of satisfaction I get when it's done.
Come to think of it, I'll probably have more chores to do in ERE than most people because of my 90-year-old house and yard. Definitely the kind of thing I'd hand over to a genie if I could, but I do enjoy the sense of satisfaction I get when it's done.