Baby Steps
While my last day of work is May 11, I am being allowed to transition my work to other people so I can start to spend more time at home. Sort of baby steps to retirement. It is making me feel more comfortable about the whole idea.
I am spending time working around the house on my landscaping. Things got out of hand last year with the terrible heat in summer and I never kept up with the weeds. I just gave up. It is fun tackling a bed and seeing the goodness of nature under all the dead weeds. It is nice to know I can pace myself because I always have tomorrow. I no longer have to try and get everything done at night and on the weekends.
I am also practicing frugality. It is a different mindset to know that my earning capabilities have changed from a regular paycheck to living off my savings. I may go back to work at some time but I want to go through the thought process of working from a limited income to see how it goes. JT and I are now looking a every expense much closer. Actually, it is an enlightening experience. No more blowing money on work lunches. Planning any drive time so we get more done when we are out and about. Stuff like that.
My other short term project is to take back the finance control from JT. He has been handling all finances for the last couple of years due to my stress at work. Handling our personal finances was just too much for me. I want to take that burden off of him. I know he stresses about it.
And finally, I want to help JT around the house so he gets some relief from battling to keep his head above water. Then he can focus on bigger projects.
I want to bring a little of my work life control to my retirement life, but I am very aware of having to make a real effort to chill out and relax.
It is a process. Again, baby steps.
Living frugally can be a lot of fun, but it means a lot of change, and some isolation. It’s an opportunity to change to a healthier diet with less processed food, too.
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Retirement has been great for me and it really is possible to live on less. You will be very happy.
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I’ve cut back some at work since my daughter is practicing law with me now, and I have a more frugal and simple mind-set about finances—amazing how there’s a certain enriching thing of mental simplicity—best to you this Easter…
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You’ll find that some things you thought were important, really aren’t all that important to you as other, simpler things are. Keep us informed about the transition. I’m hoping to learn as I’m planning my own retirement in 6 years and every little bit of knowledge about how to make the transition and aftermath good is valuable to me.
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Retirement is wonderful.. the freedom to be able to do anything at the “drop of a hat” is what I relish the most. Having always lived frugally, I now have the “problem” of now spending some of that money..
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Wow, so it’s finally happening. Retirement. My friends and I often talk about retirement. Two of my friends are on the brink of retirement and already one of them is showing signs of the boredom that may come from it. On the other spectrum, I’ve indicated that there are so many things one could do on retirement that keeping busy with so called “fun” activities around the house or outside (socially) is the way to do it. Also finding that space of certain creativity is also one way. It’s not always an easy transition but most people transit into it very well. Sounds like you are! Well done. G~
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I will never regret my early retirement. Be well.
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May Day is the day for you then. Well may it start the best period of your life.
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