Did not see this coming

by Steve
(Northern Virginia)

I retired, along with my wife of 35 years, after 45 years of working. Some time in the military during the Vietnam War and the rest as the CEO of a major trade association in the Washington, DC area.

Did not expect this much disassociation or being cut off from the rest of the world or this much anxiety/depression.

Of course sitting around the house in the dead of winter watching TV is awful.

I would like to hear stories from others who have made the transition and went through this which was unexpected. Most of my career was in the military/security. law enforcement areas.

Comments for Did not see this coming

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Retired in Feb. 2016
by: Sherry Wilmington, NC

Go help someone. It will make you feel good!!!
Go to your senior center or the Salvation Army.

Join a YMCA, they have lots of programs and you can excerise there and get your endorphins going and this will get you out of the house!!

Take good care because people need you!!
Retirement
by: PV

My husband is 10 years younger than me so, I am the first to semi-retire, I work 2 days a week.

I have always suffered from depression and anxiety and retirement has I tensified. I thought this would be a time of getting those undone projects finished. WOW was I ever wrong. I feel left out of life.

Sometimes I can't go to work because of my blues.

My husband is very understanding however, just about the time retired. My husband has more responsibility and less time for home thinking. So, now I really out here by myself. I feel too blue to go off volunteering.

HELP. I need a new focus.
Patience
by: Sue in Colorado

It WILL get better. Took us a while, but now being together and doing what we want is fun.

Today we decided "Let's go to lunch." Jumped in the car and tried a new restaurant.

Just the FREEDOM of going and doing what we want is super fun. So be patient with yourselves and soon you'll be seeing all of the advances of your freedom, with no work restrictions!
Reply to Steve
by: Carolyn

Just wanted Steve to know that I did not "this" coming either.

I have been in a clinical depression for 9 months. For the first 7 months I loved retirement and was out and about almost every day, volunteering, meeting friends for lunch, going to spas and bookstores, etc.

Then my sister got ill which left me shocked and worried - but after she recovered I realized that I was in a deep depression - I always had work to take my mind off things and to have people around me every day - since I live alone this was important - I made a huge mistake but am too depressed to commit to anything like going back to volunteering, etc.

I am trying a 2nd antidepressant and hoping it will get me out of this nightmare. I wake up every day and don't want to be here and have lot my interest in life - it feels I will be like this forever.

Almost 90% of my friends are retired and they love it. I don't know why I can't be like them :(
dealing with life after retirement
by: mark cooke

just finished reading Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy-Until You're 80 and Beyond

Very good book on how to age well. it's about the importance of diet, exercise and the psychology of getting older. very informative and shows how being in great shape will make the years go by really well.

worth looking at and following their advice. basically your job is to be as healthy as possible!
It will get better...
by: Wendy

Like many of us, this is quite a transition... not like graduating from college or marriage where you have great expectations. This is retirement -- which some think means "the end".

Yes, you are aging, but this is your Bonus Time of Life. With your work history, its probably not about financial issues at all. It's simply:

Who the HECK am I now?
What Do I do ALL DAY and EVERY DAY now?

That's where you have to make retirement choices. You can retire-retire or you can retire from your former position and full-time work -- but UNretire to do volunteer work, start a small home business, home business, anything to get you up and moving and out of the house!

I really do think winter is the worst time to retire. You might even be suffering from SAD (being cooped up all day, no sunshine), that many are hit with in the winter.

Hit the CONTACT ME (bottom left) if you'd like to brainstorm about ideas you could work on. You probably have untapped interests lying dormant inside you that you haven't even considered using -- which could totally change your life!

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