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

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

Thank you for that validation Charlotte. I am not to the point of being depressed about going to work, but do find myself waking up and feeling a bout of "dread", like Oh s--t, I have to go to work today. So it is starting. I'd like to leave before depression sets in/

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Sue, I retired at fifty five when our second granddaughter was born!  They were in day care and I wanted to watch them for our daughter.  I gave up a very nice insurance package because I retired three years before it vested, but it was the BEST thing I have ever done.  Since that time four more granddaughters were born and the relationships I have made with them and the precious moments we share cannot compare to working those three more years.  I love being home, like you I am a major homebody and I NEVER get bored.  Sometimes I wish I did!  LOL  You will see, you are actually almost busier and I do not know how that happens, but it does.  Sometimes I say, how did I do all this when I worked too!  I do not baby sit any of the girls now but my husband and I share so many special moments with them that we could not have done if we were both employed.  We LOVE retirement and getting Libby was part of our retirement too and need I say more!  I think you will be very happy and so will you grandchildren.  

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

Such an upbeat and positive reply, thank you.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Sue,
Sounds like insurance is one of your main stumbling blocks as it is ours as well.. Unfortunately neither my DH or myself have health insurance we will be able to take with us into retirement. That's awesome if your DH does. Grab it and go. I'd be on the road by now if either of us did. Health insurance is a huge hurdle.
I'm not sure of you or your husband's health situation, but my DH has diabetes and several of the problems that go with it, so I don't see him living much past 72, for me personally that's another reason not to waste time. Our plan is to sell out everything, buy a fifth wheel and big diesel dually truck and travel the country for 7-10 years god willing.
All that said, just go with your gut. You know what to do ;-). Try 2 days a week, (less stress and less income), maybe that will make the decision clearer.

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

Leslie, thank you for your candor and that is sad about your DH. We did travel for 18 months in an awesome RV towing a Jeep Rubicon and went from Fla to Alaska and it was a life long dream that we wanted to do while we could still climb mountains and glaciers and ski and hike and fish and enjoy it. Dh would go back to that lifestyle again in a minute. I need a home, so not sure we would ever do it on such a permanent basis again. But it was the most amazing adventure a couple could ever think of doing together. I hope it happens for you soon.
As far as part time, Im more in the "All or nothing at all" frame of mind.

[Sally S Miles]

I had a convoluted pathway, but retired and it has not been all sweetness.   I will repeat, it's been very convoluted. 

We relocated at the time of my retirement, thus closing social doors.  The new location has come with a high price to many things.  Most have been surprising. Some have been overwhelming.  I was in the management corner, lots of pressure, long hours and lots of juggling.  I loved it, I do miss it and still can't imagine putting in such hours again.  One size does not fit all.

I have to agree with the comment, 'when you feel you can no longer offer your best, it's time to move on'.  There are days when I do wish I still had that focus, drive, and stimulation. There are days when I consider myself truly blessed to have this time. There are days when nothing fits - feel too young for retirement, too old to play - (I will be sixty  very soon).  There are days when I feel like a kid and only want to play all day long.

I had time to help with oldest grandchildren, wonderful time. I had time to let hubby explore and expand his career. I had time to rescue dogs and cats. I had time to get in shape and take on some things I had always wanted to do. I had time to tackle some life long goals.  I do absolutely know that if I had waited, a lot of the past few years would have been missed. I don't know how I would feel about that, but I still have days when I miss the buzz of work and the camaraderie, the accomplishment. 

No wrong or right - what works for you is what is right.  My aunt is in her seventies - she went back to work and added more initials to her degree after 55 - she busts her backside, nursing, but she missed it badly during her first 'retirement' and dove into the deeper end of the pool. She loves it.  

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

You went through 2 very major life events at once, retirement AND moving away from familiarity. So i can see where you are coming from. I think at best I would miss the feeling of knowing I am making a difference in someones life. That is The very reason I went into nursing and am reminded every day when a mom tearfully thanks me for helping her feed her baby and reassure her that she can do this and I am here to help her. But, I have done this for over 34 years, either on a volunteer or professional basis. My DH and I have always been major players in the "give back" philosophy of life and he can not count the amount of lives he has saved as a paramedic anymore than I can count the moms and babies I have had the pleasure of bringing into the world and help nurture as an L&D Rn and now a Lactation Consultant. Our work does define us. But when he was done, he never looked back, but I wonder if I will feel as you do, missing the accomplishment?

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is one of the gratifying parts I wonder about. Sometimes one can make a big difference to someone. I am trying to think of a volunteer function that will give me that feeling yet not be too depressing, and not impinge upon my life more than the hours that I allot to it.i would like to do something good for the planet.

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

It would seem you'd be comfortable doing volunteer work at a hospital being as you are a medical professional. The area I would consider is being a Rocker in the NICU. Just come in a rock a baby that needs some TLC while mommy is away. Maybe feed them if needed. Not depressing, and for the most part these babies do well and grow and go home.
Pediatrics can be depressing to me anyway. And of course there is the DRC. Or a shelter. I have a feeling you have done a whole lifetime of good for the planet already F. So this would be more for your satisfaction, and I get that.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks Sue, I have considered that NiCU work and I may look into it. And I appreciate your kind thoughts.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I always wanted to be a Rocker.  I did apply once.  My immunizations were flawed along the way and I had to get an MMR as an adult when they suddenly found I was not immune.  How does one get this far in life and never be notified I needed more?  That shot did me in for weeks with aches. 

They wanted more immunizations after that but I was so sick from the MMR, I thought it was not worth grief for more than the basic immunizations.  

F.,  you would make a great rocker.  We all would.  They just need a little human touch. Our children's hospital needs rockers and sitters in many areas other than NICU  

[patti]

I am your same age and my husband is turning 65 yo this year. We have targeted 2 years from now for our retirement, with some goals meanwhile, one of which is downsizing our home and waiting for our most recent boomerang to get her feet on the ground with a new life. Our target is purely a financial decision. There are days I feel just like you (I am also a nurse), but in administration. I don't have the bedside demands, but I do have 24/7 responsibility and respond to all the issues daily. The worst is the stress of being the monkey in the middle - physician, families and staffing. But I also have days that I love what I am doing and I love the nurses who work with me.  If you have more days of unhappiness than joy, it is time for a change. Is there another area of nursing that would be an easy transition for you, which you could consider even P/T? Something like QA, chart audits, infection surveillance, coding, physician office, assisted living, community college teaching and or camp nursing. Semi retirement may be an option - using your talents and experience but in a new and exciting way.