Retirement

[drobbjr]

We are into our second summer of Air streaming. Most of our trips are 4 or 5 day trips, locally. We both have been working full-time/part time but I have given my notice and my wife continues to work. My wife is a mental health counsellor in a doctor's office and enjoys the mental challenges of work. The dilemma is if we retire fully and start to travel more [at most two week trips], what can we do to keep our minds active and challenged. We are both physically active in that we walk, golf and bicycle regularly so that part is not a problem. I like golf but not that much and I have seen enough museums and churches.
I am seeking advice/suggestions what could we do to keep us mentally strong but still enjoy retirement. We are both in our early 60's.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by drobbjr

We are into our second summer of Air streaming. Most of our trips are 4 or 5 day trips, locally. We both have been working full-time/part time but I have given my notice and my wife continues to work. My wife is a mental health counsellor in a doctor's office and enjoys the mental challenges of work. The dilemma is if we retire fully and start to travel more [at most two week trips], what can we do to keep our minds active and challenged. We are both physically active in that we walk, golf and bicycle regularly so that part is not a problem. I like golf but not that much and I have seen enough museums and churches.
I am seeking advice/suggestions what could we do to keep us mentally strong but still enjoy retirement. We are both in our early 60's.

You can always volunteer at your local hospital a couple of days a week. It will give you some interaction with others, and help keep you mentally active.

[SteveSueMac]

Guest lecture at local colleges along your travels.

Consult.

Hold seminars at campgrounds.

Learn instruments and jam together.

Start a virtual book club.


Just spit balling here [emoji3]

[Wayne&Sam]

Remembering why I went upstairs or where I left my glasses are just two the mental challenges I face on a regular basis.

[Hans627]

I'm not familiar with your background but perhaps serving as a director on some boards, either for profit or non profit organization.

I found that to be interesting and as challenging as I wanted it to be.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

Remembering why I went upstairs or where I left my glasses are just two the mental challenges I face on a regular basis.

Usually I look for my glasses while I'm wearing them...

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

Remembering why I went upstairs or where I left my glasses are just two the mental challenges I face on a regular basis.

I never go upstairs without a written plan.

Too hard on these old knees.

[Acheron2010]

Invest in an Amazon Kindle.
Set some goals. Have a 5 year plan, and one year plans to support the 5. Define what you want to do in retirement. Visit all the National Parks? the 50 states? all the big city zoos (mine)? Fly fish in the best streams? Photograph sunsets from the western beaches? Attend all the NASCAR races? All the ballets? All the orchestras?
Go back to school. Take a course, or get a whole degree.
I've been retired five years. I am more mentally challenged than I have ever been. Including figuring out where my glasses are.
Live life. You never get out of it alive.

[runswithdogs]

I think a better question will be what CAN'T you do to keep your mind active. You'll have all the time you need to tackle those things that over the years you just couldn't commit to. Here's a few random ideas:
Read more

Plant and actually have time to care for a garden.

Fix stuff.
Make stuff.
Research your next trip.
Research the socio economic demographics of all the places you're going on said next trip. (seriously, I love this stuff!)
Research the geology of all those places. And the history; maybe prehistory, too.

Let's not forget researching the VERY BEST restaurants in all those places.
Obsess over the camping choices or lack thereof (that will take waayyyyy too much free time).

Learn about music, art, food, MB repair (yes, I've owned several) and (you know you're gonna need it!) Airstream repair.
A musical instrument? Totally doable. A(nother) language? More work, but progress can be made.

How about a new sport? As you travel, those opportunities will present themselves.

Board service? Very demanding. Not very travel-friendly either but YMMV. At this point in my 50's, after several boards, I feel I've done enough.



Congrats on retirement!!

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by markdoane

I never go upstairs without a written plan.

Too hard on these old knees.

That is why I live in a one-story house.


As to the OP's question, you can find plenty of challenges by pushing yourself a bit on the road. For instance:

> Get a fitbit or simple pedometer and try to get in 10,000 steps a day for fitness. You can do this on regular tourist trails in parks, or, you can take the more challenging nature trails. Just bring the proper gear, water, clothing, bug spray, etc. if needed.

> Read books that will teach you something like RV repair since runswithdogs makes a good point (probably will need a kindle or something similar).

> Travel to places away from the standard tourist destinations.

> Do something you used to do together when dating. Old school date nights are great for re-kindling memories of the good times.

> Try to keep up grand kids. It is both physically and mentally challenging.

> Mainly, just do the things you'd do at home in retirement. They just will be in a different spot each night.

And finally, don't worry how you're going to fill all that spare time you're going to have in retirement. Those of us who've done it can tell you that is the easy part.

[rmkrum]

Heh, I allegedly semi-retired in 2013. Traveled a lot with the AS. Wife still working, so she told me to go take a class or something (I got underfoot too much). So I got a computer security certificate just to prove I could be smarter that the whipper snappers. Done in one try.

Made the unfortunate error of letting too many in the world know I had the experience and could prove it. Dragged back working full-time. 🤤 I guess it’s a shortage skill or something.

Now waiting for DW to retire. Then we’ll try this full retirement thing again. And quit advertising so much!!!!

[PKI]

Retirement - first there is the deep breath - then there is the what do I do question. And the answer is whatever you want to do.

Volunteer - WBCCI, local charities .............. your neighbor who can't make it.
Golf, fishing, sailing, biking .............. kids sports ......
Writing ........ did you always want to write a book .....
Artistic activities ...... painting, gardening, pottery ..... iron working .....
Make something ...... a house, car, boat, airplane .............. models ....
Photography ...........
Wine making .......... beer brewing ...... cooking ..... baking ....
Racing ........ old guys can go fast too .....

Traveling ...... worked with a guy - he and his wife flew somewhere every other weekend on the $99 fair programs ..... costs a bit more now, but ...

So, lots of things .........

Just stay healthy and stay at it! Pat

[66Overlander]

My advice is to not retire away from something. Retire to something. Or to several things. Find something you are passionate about.

In my case, I retired early, but have not been bored one second. Too much to do. A mix of several things that I did not have enough time for while working:

1. Becoming Historian for the Airstream Club.

2. Finishing the restoration of our 1962 Airstream.

3. More Airstream travel. Our longest trip to date was about 3 months, and we loved every second of it.

4. Projects around the house, etc.

[Wrangler]

I “changed careers “ ten years ago. When I left my office job, I started building furniture. I also started a drafting business that I have limited to one customer. Lastly, we volunteer three weeks per year with Habitat for Humanity. Two of those weeks are as part of their Care-A-Vanner’s program where we stay in our trailer at night and pound nails during the day.

[bganso]

My wife and I built our retirement home over 30 years ago and I planned on retiring at 65-66. At 59 1/2, in 2011 and due to a company merger, I chose to retire. We bought our AS and traveled with friends, logging 12,000 miles in 2 years. My neighbor, a retired surgeon, and I skied all winter and golfed during the non-winter months. I enjoyed his intellect and our great times together. Did I mention he owned an airplane? Angel flights (volunteer) in the plane were additional stimuli.

Sounds great right?

I was a career banker and my wife noticed that every time I talked about financing a project or providing other financial advice, I became A different person...I was alive.

I went back to work and achieved some career aspirations. I'm now planning my second retirement. This time, on my terms. The years I was "retired" I've added to my original timeline.

My 2 cents: 1) Retire when you're ready, not on someone else's timeline
2) Don't retire before you're eligible for Medi-care (I know you're in Canada). Healthcare is very expensive in the US. 3) Work on a paid Board position, develop a consulting business, join a service club (Rotary) 3) Volunteer with the Chamber of Commerce, SCORE, or other organization that can utilize the skills you learned during your career.

Keeping your mind active is crucial to a long and happy life. Why not employ your life long skill set in the process?

[thiel]

In retirement I plan to own a pleasant business that I can leave for months at a time and which will lose money very slowly. Identifying this particular category of business is how I'm spending my mental energy during mid-life. (Current top candidate is a gentleman's farm that has an event space suitable for weddings and corporate meetings.)

[urnmor]

When one should retire is a very interesting question and IMO a very personal decision. I can only tell you my experience. I retired at 62 (I am now 74) and have no reqrets. However before I made the decision I looked at our finances to ensure we could afford it. My recommendation here is to look at the minimum and max that you think you will need and the real amount will be somewhere in between. Then ask yourself why you want to retire. IMO I strongly recommend that you do not retire just because you think you can. There can be many reasons: new management, the commute, burnt out at what you are doing etc. In my case I was tired of the hour long commute, new management and best of all my wife was offered a position at the ocean where we had a summer home. So for me it was an easy decision. Move to the beach an retire.

However as my Dad told me many year ago that you must have a reason to get in the morning. As my wife was working I took on the cooking and the baking which I found I had a passion. I began making her lattes and breakfast and cooked for her office. I often joked that i was a kept man and gave her the bill when we went out to eat. I also became active in the community for about five years in the form of serving on Boards.
That said I also strongly believe in doing physical activity four to five times a week. I row my skiff, hit the speed bag ride a bike and also lift weights.

Other folks advice about medical will also play a major role and just remember life is to short not to have fun