One year of retirement

A couple days ago I hit a big milestone. At the moment I wondered why I was not celebrating it like a birthday or other major life event. Unfortunately celebrating something like that feels odd as most of folks I meet cock their heads and look at me weird when they hear I don't have a job or a business anymore. On August 1 of 2024 I officially left my job with a company I had been with for 28 years. 

When I left it was a scary moment. I had all of our expenses tracked down to how much toothpaste cost us per year and decided I had to trust the math. It all added up saying we should be able to do this thing. I had even taken a year's leave of absence when we did the Great Loop a couple years prior partly to test our spending plans ensuring they actually worked as we thought they should. To say it was scary would be an understatement.

I'm happy to report I've really enjoyed this year and have no regrets leaving when I did. Even though I had been reading and watching YouTube videos on the subject for the last few years on what to expect and how to be "successful" in retirement. I almost found myself falling into the working one more year category but thankfully got a buyout offer at the right time. 

I will say there were a few surprises. I really thought I would have more time to do things I wanted to do. I had a list of items to address around the house, I thought I would work on our landscaping, I thought I would get into a workout routine, I thought I would play more video games. At this point looking back I can safely say that I have not got many projects done around the house. Much to my wife's concern the fan in the sunroom still does not work, the old water pump from the Tug still has not been rebuilt, and a long list of other items are still being neglected. The landscaping around our home looks worse then ever, I did start walking about an hour every day with the dogs but would not call that a workout. Unfortunately I have also played less video games this year.

What I did learn is that I now have the time to say yes anytime my kids want to do something with me. While I did spend a lot of time with my kids while they were growing up it didn't really hit home until my daughter moved out two years ago for college that I would not be getting that same kind of time with them again. So I have really been trying to make the most of my limited time left with our son at home. I have learned to slow down and appreciate the little things more. When we go places I like to think I'm walking a little slower taking everything in rather than being focused on rushing to the next thing. I've also started talking with people more. Historically I was not good at making time to get to know new people. As I'm starting to slow down and creating new routines I'm also taking the time to make more then just passing acquaintance type relationships with a number of new people.

It's been a fun year and it's gone by fast. With that said I'm really looking forward to what's next. This year will be my son's senior year. After that he will be off to college and hopefully soon after that we will get to start our sailing adventure around the world.