Recently Retired: Two years to be able to say I love being retired!

by Joan/Massachusetts

I’ve been retired for two years after working at a job I loved for 20 years. I worked in a grocery store and used to wait on as many as 1500 people in a week! I had a lot of problems with my right shoulder and elbow and I get a fantastic retirement package from my husband’s company (more than I made working) so it made sense to leave.

At first it was great not being exhausted and sore all the time but after a few months I knew I needed more so I joined a gym and started volunteering at the library.

My son and daughter got married within 7 months of each other and are now each expecting babies in January and March. I had a touch of cancer which I’ve survived and have discovered the world of gardening!

I also go to the local senior center and learned to play mah jong and I work as a clerk for the town at the polls and town meeting. There are so many things to do and I just had to try different things. I didn’t like the gym so I stopped that and it may be time to stop the library soon as I will be watching my new little grandson 2 days a week plus continuing to watch my grand twins a half day on Fridays. It took me a full two years to be able to say I love being retired (November 13).

Do I miss seeing all those people every day? Absolutely! Would I want to go back to work? Not right now but the beauty of it is I can always get a little part time job and so can you if you want to.

You’re retired! Do whatever you want! You just have to try different things to see what appeals to you. Hang in there. Life is wonderful and so is retirement. Just give it a chance.

SIGN UP: Retirement Insider