HELLLLLLLOOOOO, Retirement !

Nurses Retired

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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 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.

Have fun!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

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.

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Specializes in Case management, rehabilitation, newborn nursery.

I’ve been trying to brush up on my French from High School over 40 yrs ago. LOL. I listen while walking or running. 

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Specializes in retired LTC.

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.

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

And I retired Friday!  This is my first retired weekend, and Monday I will wake up and just roll over and go back to sleep (if I can).  Dh has been retired X2 years. 

It will take some getting used to, as I am basically lazy.  I will be able to read more (I limited myself to reading at lunch, at work -- to help the book "last longer").  I need to schedule regular exercise, and dh and I have things in the area we want to visit -- to play tourist, so to speak.    We have kayaks we haven't used for a long time, that hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, maybe we can get them out???  There are lots of household projects that have been put off through the years, that need attention too.

Anyway, greetings to you all!

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

YAAAAAY, dianah! You did it! Welcome to the Club!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Wow!  Congratulations Diana!!!

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Specializes in Gerontology.

Retired 2 weeks ago. Feeling a little list right now. I have worked full time for the past 36 years. Right now spending way too much time on junk TV and surfing the Internet. Very easy to get lost in some websites.

the cat however is loving sleeping on my lap all day. Which gives me the perfect excuse to not get up and do things because you know, we can’t disturb the cat!

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.
13 hours ago, Pepper The Cat said:

Retired 2 weeks ago. Feeling a little list right now. I have worked full time for the past 36 years. Right now spending way too much time on junk TV and surfing the Internet. Very easy to get lost in some websites.

 

Retired folks (who have been retired for awhile) tell me this will get better, that "you will find things to do."  The cat, on the other hand --  well, that is a winsome thing!

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Specializes in Case management, rehabilitation, newborn nursery.

True. I retired last Oct. Initially, I would wake up with this weird feeling that I was supposed to be doing something, but not sure what. One of my retired friends is so busy! Every day is scheduled with tennis, lunches out, volunteer work, but she was always very social. Thats not me. For me, I get up when the dog does (early), read several online newspapers with coffee, then work out doing something for 45- 60 min. After that, it’s whatever I feel like doing. Sometimes gardening (love to be outside), sometimes household tasks, sometimes a little project that I’d put off, sometimes reading or nothing. I am lucky to have my kids and grandkids very close, so I often see them. So, my advice would be just relax and enjoy being retired! Don’t rush into any commitments. Congratulations!

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Specializes in oncology.
On 12/1/2021 at 3:21 PM, Hannahbanana said:

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.

 I met my husband when I was selling antiques, he was too. We got too busy together so we withdrew from the brick and mortar store and went on eBay in 1997. 

I retired after 25 years of marriage with him. One day I went to an antique mall where I knew the owner from way back. I started selling, husband decided to also sell again. We sell books for the most part. Getting through the Covid closing was difficult in terms of $$ returned but we have survived.  We were not conscientious in going out there during the first months but I said "let's make a point of going out Monday". We added Thursday or Friday to make sure things look good for the weekend.  These days get us ready for pricing and getting out there at least 2 days a week.  We are doing well with selling, see all our old friends (when did they get old?) and really enjoy our invested time and $$ realized. 

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Specializes in taking a break from inpatient psychiatric nursing.

About a year has passed since the last comment on this thread, but it feels very much alive to me today. I wonder how you and your friends and fans (fanatics, perhaps?) are doing this Spring in 2023?

I'm 61, physically well but emotionally burned out. I keep thinking, "I'll get a nursing job online. No, relax. I'll apply at a local outpatient clinic. Not yet, just chill and feel proud of what you've done. After all, you worked full-time inpatient and risked exposure to COVID for 2.5 years."

It was draining. It was hard. I am not alone, and admire nurses who have the resilience to carry on. But now I am wondering about what to do next, because this Summer I could take the plunge and register with Social Security to start claiming at 62. Should I? 

I quit my RN inpatient psych job in the city last Thanksgiving and moved to a house with some land around it in a rural county. I tried out a local job at half the pay and the same challenging working conditions. Quit. Will I every be a full-time nurse again?

Just reading about your steps to embrace retirement, Davey, and laugh at your cartoons just to read them again and feel them resonate, has been so good for me. Thanks.

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