This is my first day that I can say I'm retired. Even though the first day that I did not go into work was... what do ya know?: The First Day of Spring!
So, I saw a couple of my good friends here- TriciaJ and Daisy4RN- and thought I'd come hang out in this forum a bit, relate, stir things up, cause some trouble, and whatnot.
So: When did you really feel like you were retired? Nursing has been a very big part of our lives for decades and now we have to kind of let it go; a transition, a grieving process, if you will.
I haven't received my first SS check yet and I've still got a paycheck coming from Wrongway of time worked, accrued vacation, and PTO. I'm thinking when I receive my first SS check, I'll feel retired.
Probably an oft asked question on this forum, but: When did you finally feel truly retired from the nursing profession?
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
On 1/23/2021 at 2:29 PM, Leader25 said:
Too much death around us now to feel retired.
Not this "us".
I am a virtual recluse and I leave my rural home in the woods only when absolutely necessary. This whole Covid thing has merely minutely changed my retirement.
It may sound rather apathetic, but, hey, somebody has to live as I do, and it may as well be me.
Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.
We have NoMoRobo and RoboKiller on our phones (landline and cell). Our robocalls have decreased precipitously and we just call back the people who leave us voicemail. In happy news, both NoMoRobo and RoboKiller screen out calls that won't leave messages, so we never miss a call from a friend. Great services.
Specializes in Case management, rehabilitation, newborn nursery.
So, I recently retired in Oct. I’ve been an RN for 44 yrs. I didn’t think I really could retire until I met with my financial guy and found out that it would work. So far, for me, I would say that I am still adjusting. My brother told me that every day will feel like Sat, but it doesn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t miss my work, but I wake up feeling like there is something I’m supposed to be doing.
I still get up pretty early, walk the dog, drink coffee, and read a couple of newspapers. I’ve committed to working out for an hour a day, reading books for an hour or two, and completing one chore or task that I’ve been putting off. So far, it’s working. I figure that it will take a little time to get it together. I have one friend who has every retirement minute scheduled and another that just floats along without a care in the world. I plan on enjoying the holidays and I’ll regroup in the New Year.
Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.
Loads of basement workshops are full of woodworking tools that got used once. There are lots of motor homes for sale with ~12K miles on them, I.e., from coast to coast, and then back to the driveway. There are lots of sewing rooms, ateliers, and home gyms languishing. Plenty of wives who said after six months their spouses were driving them crazy.
The ones who aren't have spouses who retired TO something, not just AWAY from something. A satisfying volunteer gig a few hours a week; a committment to singing in a group; a stitch-and-biotch that makes warm things for newborns, refugees, or homeless; a book club in a totally new topic; engagement in a college alumni association; helping socialize kittens and puppies in shelters so they can be adopted; a cooking school --- the list is endless. Take a few weeks off to decompress and vacation (or staycation), and then look around for something new to DO.
If I had thought about it at the time, I would liked to have learned a foreign language, like French, then Spanish. Using Rosetta Stone or Babel. Then 2 yrs later, pick another language. Just that my computer skills may have been a problem. A few other languages come to mind also.
I used to use a travel audio tape for my car when driving home. I would just respond to the Spanish lessons - good for extra vocabulary. Funny because I do have an itty-bitty fluency/comprehension with French, so my French sneaks out in the middle of the Spanish. The car lessons were helpful.
Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN
1,348 Posts
Too much death around us now to feel retired.