Looking for the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Retirement. Update/ GOOD NEWS!!!!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Since Dk has been a big part of my life for the past 6 years, I've decided to reach out to all you dear people who are living the retired life to share some insight into what retirement looks like to you now.
I just turned 60, have a fabulous job, work 3 days, 11 hours per day, work with wonderful staff and new mommies and babies. I make what many would consider very good income. My work days are long and demanding and challenging, both mentally and physically as I probably walk an average of 5-6 miles a day throughout the unit, and am standing a good part of the day as well.

BUT, I am just tired. Tired of the committment, tired of the responsiblity, tired of all the requirements of hospital employment. Tired of being gone 3 whole long days a week. I leave at 6:30am and not home til 6:30 pm and just come home and go to bed because it's such a long mentally draining day. (I am also up everymorning at 4:20 to go to Crossfit at 5:00 before work)
I love, love , love staying home. I have always been a home body and have many hobbies and activities to be as busy as I want to be. First and foremost, I have two amazing grandchildren that I see and have hours and hours of playtime with at least 1-2 times a week, However, I just feel like I am missing out on more with them.
And the finanical loss would be considerate, but it would certainly not send us to the Food Stamp line or buying Purina.
When is it enough? When did you decide and what helped you make up your mind? Does anyone have any regrets or wish they had stayed employed longer? I would very much appreciate your thoughts and feelings about this, as I am just making myself miserable with indecision. Thanks in advance.

update:
After so much great input from everyone here and discussing this with DH and family, we have our sights set for this Oct. I feel such a sense of relief and that sense of dread on the mornings of work is greatly lessened. Still there tho. Find myself wishing it was Oct already. We are preparing financially and it's looking very do-able with some minor adjustments, but nothing earth shattering. I am as frugal as they come, so my spending habits won't change. I always said I'd still be looking for coupons and sales even if I won a HUGE lottery. Just in my blood I guess. Thank you to everyone who replied as your input was valuable and all taken into consideration in this decision. You are all just such a kind and generous group of friends.

GOOD NEWS!!!!! I will be very busy in retirement. We have grandbaby #3 on the way!!!!! Due in Feb. Wanted to share that with my Dk family. thanks

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I will be following this post!  I am still working full time-not an option to stop just yet, but I am still interested in the responses to this.  

Sue- have you/can you consider part time?  I can't in my present situation, but I would love to work less days.  

[Donna K & Quincy]

No, bad or ugly, it's all good. When I couldn't give it my best anymore it was time to go and I was just tired after 35 years of doing shift work. I do have a pension and I'll really don't miss the extra that I would have made if I was working. At this point in our lives our finances are not as demanding.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

"When I couldn't give it my best anymore, it was time to go". Food for thought.....thank you.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I've played this over and over in my mind Donna. I really just don't want to "give my best" anymore. My best is exhausting! Thank you.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Part time may be an option Lori. But it's still the same responsibilities, commitments, mental and physical drain even 2 days a week. Still, yes, that is better than 3.
Donna, that is what I have been really looking into lately, is our finances not being all that demanding anymore. It seems like it would be nice to have the extra money for another year, but how big a deal is one more year of making money if we aren't spending much anyway. We have a handsome pension from DH fire dept. and soc. Sec is right around the corner. So you don't miss the extra $$$? Have you made any real sacrifices in your standard of living?

[Donna K & Quincy]

Sue, nothing has changed. We always lived within our means so we have no debt other than our daily living expenses. We do have a contingency fund for any unexpected expenses. I thought it would be a big adjustment, but from the day I finished work I have never looked back except to say how thankful I am that I don't have to do that anymore. Like Linda, I'm not sure how I managed to work and stay on top of everything. It's no wonder I was tired. :>)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

That is so true! I actually get up earlier on my days off just to get every thing in that I want to do. And sometimes it can mean doing nothing, or reading, or sewing or taking a nap, and I'm just fine with that.

[Gail and Bailey]

My husband and I retired early and have never regretted it for a moment!  We love being out of the "rat race"!  It is all good!

[Lynda Kamrath]

I retired as soon as possible at age 62 (from teaching).  My husband retired even earlier (at 57) and we have never been sad about that decision.  We now say we don't know how we ever had time to work.  I do a lot of volunteering and take classes at the local junior college so am gone several days a week.  Charlie has a beautiful workshop for doing woodworking and he keeps quite busy at home besides working at a gallery in Monterey.  We both keep plenty busy.  Go for it.  For me it is gardening, computers, swimming, and arts and crafts.  I did some substitute teaching for a few years, but don't have time for that any more.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

IT IS ENOUGH!!!!!  My dh and I both felt that we could not fully support the direction education in California was moving, so we felt that while our philosophies for teaching were sound, the new guard didn't appreciate our 'wisdom.'  It was time to go so we retired from teaching 3 years ago and LOVE it.  The downside is that I seem to have  retired from my organizational skills and housekeeping too.  Everything is put off until 'tomorrow' which is both good and bad.  Our philosophy is that we worked for decades and our retirement is good enough to enjoy ourselves with our hobbies. We have not regretted this decision for one minute.

I recently was asked to come back for a couple of hours a day 3 days a week and, while I really like having my brain back, I really don't like the demands on my leisure time!  I am only doing this until the end of this month and if I am invited to do this next year, I would only agree to do those hours in one day.  My dh and I have gotten much more involved in doodle rescue with the DRC and because we are retired, we have the time to pull dogs from shelters and transport.  We also motorcycle tour with other retired people and we love that also. Both are activities that we could only do on a limited basis before. We can watch our granddaughter most any time - win/win situation.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

My DH would think he was in heaven if I accompanied him on his little motorcycle adventures with his group! I never have time now. He goes for 2-3 days and it's never when I'm off normally.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Motorcycle touring was on my dh's bucket list and I thought I would NEVER go - working was a good excuse.  I found that I really enjoy it.  You smell and feel your surroundings as well as see them.  I take pictures as we go so that my dh can see what he missed while paying attention to the road.