So I have been retired for a short while (as of this date, about 3 weeks), and I have a few perspectives to share.
I am on Vacation
Three weeks into my retirement, I am on vacation. I currently have no retirement rhythm or plan. My life currently feels like vacation, which is fine for now.
No One Ever Says
I wish I’d stayed at work longer
No one with any common sense said this one
After reading about the Wealthy Barber’s retirement, my epiphany is that no one ever says, “I wish I’d stayed working longer.” Yes, some folks have to go back for financial reasons. I am not talking about that. There are some folks who will never retire. I have no idea why anyone thinks this, but that is just me.
I have enjoyed work; I have hated work, but lately it has just been work. People were great, and the job was a job.
Most of the retirees I have chatted with do say, “I wish I’d done this sooner”, which rings true to me. I would have retired 5 years ago, but financially it would not have been viable.
I wish I retired sooner
Most retirees I have spoken with
Time
Time is the one thing that you never can control. Better to give yourself more time to enjoy your retirement. Use the time when you are young to get out of debt and build wealth so you can retire early.
For those in a position to “buy more time” in a pension, for the love of God, do it! The reason I can retire is that I was able to buy back time (18 years and 3 months from Nortel), thus my retirement is in a good place.
For Those Who Love Their Job
Good on you. Thanks to a layoff and a few other things in my life, my job has been a paycheck with some nice people. If you love your job and can’t ever think of retiring, good on you. I don’t understand it, and in a way, I am envious of you. I am glad to be done with working 9 to 5 ( in my case, 5:30 AM to 2:30 PM), just need to figure out what to do next.
FIRE
I think I understand more about the FIRE folks (Financial Independence, Retire Early). I have poo-poo’d them before, and I would like to officially retract that statement now.
FIRE is something to aspire to, I was wrong
Big Cajun Man June 23rd, 2026
Retire as early as you can financially, so you can enjoy things more.
🎯 Final Thoughts
Retirement isn’t about stopping. It is about choosing. Three weeks in, I am still figuring out what comes next. The good news? I hopefully have the time to figure it out.
Other Retirement Thoughts
- I am retired, leave me alone please, on the day I retired, no less.
- Leonard Cohen a Cautionary Retirement Story a sad one, about trust betrayed.
- How Long Are You Going to Live? Retirement Planning, not passing away, is an important part of your plan.
- Going to the Gym to Work on my Retirement start now, you want to be in good shape when you retire. Remember a milkbag held at one corner, is also a shape.
