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

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yep, yep, yep.  Last month, I had two doodle rescues (as you so well know) and only got in 1/2 day subbing, but that was plenty.  This month, I have not subbed at all, but have been busy every day with things I want to do.  Still have been planning some art projects with the kids in my favorite classes and will volunteer after the testing is over. Took our three dogs to the beach yesterday and had a great romp.  Copper was so tired chasing "bird shadows" that his tail was even down.  Then we all had to come home and have baths.  All that before my mom and brother came over for Mother's Day dinner.  It was a great day!

[Pam Thomas]

II am in the same place. An RN for 38 years, always full time, although 8-5 now, I find myself too tired on the weekend to have fun. But my social life is work. Daughter grown, grandchildren getting older. Financially I will take a hit. But I too am worn out-I am a few years older than you. I have had 2 hip replacements and having second shoulder done this month.I am getting my first doodle in July-that is my retirement plan-to keep me busy and "socialized"  it is a hard decision, but this profession has worn me out. Hope you make the right decision for you, and hope I can too. Good Luck

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

Yes, nursing just sucks the life out of you. I feel like I just don't want to take care of everybody else any more. Just my family. I don't want to have to make these decisions anymore, be the middle man between patients and doctors, educate and explain the same things over and over and over again. And then have the responsibility on me to be sure they understood all the teaching so that can't say we didn't tell them, or the burden of worrying whether or not my plan of care was appropriate enough for this mother and baby if it doesn't work out well.

My social life is not at all attached to my work. Yes I have many nice friendly acquaintances and many within the profession outside of work that I would stay involved with regardless. But I could walk away tomorrow and my social life wouldn't change a bit. I might even have time to do more with some of these great people from work, if I wasn't working!
I think it comes down to the money and how important is 18 more months of pay? And feeling like Im so close, don't quit now, just suck it up and keep pushing through these feelings. Yes it is a hard decision.

[Lynda Kamrath]

After two hip replacements and a second shoulder replacement, I think it is time for you to retire!  You will have plenty to do after you get that first doodle this summer.  Get the medical stuff done, and get out of there.  Socializing will come with the dog.  You can get him trained as a therapy dog and return to the hospital in a much more meaningful way.  Doodle romps, dog classes, hospital visits, and time to do all the things you have been meaning to do for all those years you had to get up and go to work.  BTW, swimming is great for those replacement joints.  Maybe take some water jogging classes and learn what is the best way to exercise those joints.  I water jog for 40 minutes (before computer classes) three days a week.  Believe me, you will wonder how you ever had time to work.

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

Oh Thank you Lynda for your thoughtful reply, but the joint replacements weren't me. Im as healthy as a horse and all joints intact, as of today. :)

[Lynda Kamrath]

Oh, that is right, it was Pam who had the replacements.  Well, we can be thankful that you still have your health.  Keep it up.

[Carol and Banjo]

My "retirement" actually came gradually, due to the slowing economy.    My hours went from 40 to 30 to 20 to currently working one day a week for 5 hours.    I've continued to work that one day because my employer covers our Dental Insurance 100%.   We have our health insurance through DH's retirement.    So, essentially, I am retired.   The loss of money came so gradually it really didn't impact us.      So, I don't buy shoes, clothes and/or toys on a whim.    My purchases are more planned and thought out.   Who needs clothes and shoes when you're home most of the time anyways?!    Somehow living on less has not had much of an impact on the quality of my life.    I love being home....some days I'm more productive than other days.    I seem to go in spurts and it works for me.     The biggest adjustment for me was when DH decided to call it quits (from his part-time job).....having him around 24/7 took some getting used to.   But we seem to have worked out the "kinks" and it's been a lot of fun.

[Pam Thomas]

I remember when my uncle retired and my aunt went to work for the first time because he was driving her crazy

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Absolutely adore the Retirement Life! We often wonder how we managed to do anything else!
The one big adjustment was spending basically 24/7 together. We have always been each other's best friend and that surely does help. But......so does having a quiet space, one can escape to once in awhile . For my DH, it is his man cave garage, working on his many cars. For me anyplace is quiet time if I can curl up with a good book. I can honestly say, neither one of us has ever looked back and thought we had made a mistake. LOL...like NAncy, my DH was asked back, to do some contract work.....we both agreed we thought it would make too much of a dent into our time and would feel almost " cheated" of our everyday activities together.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Health insurance would be my only concern. I always paid for individual coverage anyway, so that didn't change for me in retirement, but group rates are a lot less than individual coverage and that could be problem for some people. 

Otherwise, I say go for it! Like Nancy, I seem to have lost my organizational skills and gained a talent for procrastination. I've always been the kind of person who accomplished things best under pressure, and now I have no pressure. :)

As some of the others have said, I spend less on clothes and "incidentals" now. I also save a lot of money on food, since I have a lot more time to shop for food and plan meals. Lunches at home with JD cost a third of what they did when I was working and are a lot more fun, too. I'm never bored and never at a loss for something to do. 

So yes, Donna is right. No bad or ugly, all good! Follow your heart. :) 

[Pam Thomas]

Health insurance is a big stepping stone, none if I retire until medicare at 65 and very expensive to cobra on work insurance, although medicare is getting close, lol

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You may be able to get cheaper coverage by just getting your own policy rather than using COBRA. Now with the ACA, anyone can get health insurance coverage. They cannot charge you more because you're female, they cannot turn you down or charge you more because of pre-existing conditions. No health questions. You just choose a plan and bingo, you're insured. Look into it, it may be less expensive than staying on the work insurance under COBRA.