Retirement

[Dr Ray]

Only for those that do not enjoy it to start with but for those of us who do it does not "wear thin"

But your woodwork is a business rather than just turned out wooden vases,

 

[Hogpatrol]

Men die when they retire.

In my experience, those that die when they retire had no other interests than their jobs. In my case, I don't know how I had time to work.

 

[Dr Ray]

In my experience, those that die when they retire had no other interests than their jobs. In my case, I don't know how I had time to work.

Keep hunting!

 

[Hogpatrol]

Keep hunting!

I am! Three days last week, this week's looking more like four or five. Need a couple more for the food bank and the freezer.

 

[nztimb]

But your woodwork is a business rather than just turned out wooden vases,

Can an obsession be a business???

 

[Dr Ray]

I know lol

 

[Hogpatrol]

Can an obsession be a business???

Yes and it can work the other way around.

 

[1dirthawker]

pretty interesting thread to read.

I'm 59, gonna retire in june at age 60. i did 21 years in the air force, retired at age 39. was noooo way i was gonna be able to live on my retirement as a master sergeant, so got a job as a fireman, will have 20 years on in march, bailing out after i turn 60.

i've got grandkids (6) and all kinds of bad habits that should keep me busy. if not, ehhh, i'll get another job, but don't find that a likely scenario. there is a country song that says, "live like you were dying" a good way to live i think.

oh, and I've been to Africa, twice, i still need to get back and hunt an eland and i wanna shoot another bush pig.

you guys have given me some good ideas on how to continue to fill up my time after i cut and run. thanks!

 

[David AK 53]

After graduating from West Point in 1975 I spent 24 years as an Engineer Officer. Retired in 1999 for 4 days and went to work for the Municipality of Anchorage as the Director of Building Safety. Left that job in 2ooo to go back to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District as a DA Civilian. Deciding three times is a charm, I retired for good in Oct. 2016 at the age of 63. I was able to return to my home in Anchorage in 1997 for my final assignment in the Army and was thus able to hunt and fish with my Dad until he died in 2017 at the age of 89. Now my time is occupied by my boat in Prince William Sound in the summer and chasing waterfowl during the winter with some travel thrown in to keep my Queen happy! I plan on going to Africa in the next couple of years. I acquired a granddaughter to train last March so she keeps me excited thinking about the adventures we will have together!

 

[BWH]

After graduating from West Point in 1975 I spent 24 years as an Engineer Officer. Retired in 1999 for 4 days and went to work for the Municipality of Anchorage as the Director of Building Safety. Left that job in 2ooo to go back to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District as a DA Civilian. Deciding three times is a charm, I retired for good in Oct. 2016 at the age of 63. I was able to return to my home in Anchorage in 1997 for my final assignment in the Army and was thus able to hunt and fish with my Dad until he died in 2017 at the age of 89. Now my time is occupied by my boat in Prince William Sound in the summer and chasing waterfowl during the winter with some travel thrown in to keep my Queen happy! I plan on going to Africa in the next couple of years. I acquired a granddaughter to train last March so she keeps me excited thinking about the adventures we will have together!

Congrats.... living well my man! Good for you sir & thank you!

 

[WAB]

Congrats and enjoy! Do you run out of Whittier? I ran out of Valdez for quite a few years.

 

[sierraone]

I acquired a granddaughter to train last March so she keeps me excited thinking about the adventures we will have together!

This will be an entirely additional chapter in your life! Good Luck!

 

[Mike Van Horn]

Retired 9-28-19 age 62
Went in to the doctor in January with a knee issue. He put me in a hinged knee brace. Told me to slow down a little at l am not 20 anymore . The pheasant hunting 3-4 days a week was a little rough on the legs, with the heavy grass and cover. Of coarse that was after elk hunting Colorado. Deer and Antelope hunting in Wyoming. Than pheasants

 

[David AK 53]

Congrats and enjoy! Do you run out of Whittier? I ran out of Valdez for quite a few years.

Yes, for the most part. Boat is a 26-foot Wooldridge. Tows very easily. I can be at the Whittier Tunnel in less than 60 min. from my house. We tend to stay pretty much in western Prince William Sound.

 

[WAB]

Yes, for the most part. Boat is a 26-foot Wooldridge. Tows very easily. I can be at the Whittier Tunnel in less than 60 min. from my house. We tend to stay pretty much in western Prince William Sound.

I ran mostly the eastern side, Port Fidalgo, Beartrap, the odd run out to Hinchenbrook. Seemed less busy and easy access from Valdez.

 

[sestoppelman]

Thought I had already posted on this thread but don't see one. I retired from all paying endeavors (marine carpentry, tugboating, a stint of free lance gun writing and other less worthy pursuits) about age 55 I think. Have a smallish union pension and SSI, plus some leftover family monies. Wife has her own retirement fund, and more SSI than I get. We got our two kids thru college with no debt.
I keep busy with the hobbies, shooting, boating etc.
I wouldn't go back to work if they paid me!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I was forced to retire at 60 due to a shoulder injury. Since then I have w wondered how I fitted in work. I would have loved to have kept working until retirement age of 67.
Fortunately works insurance is going to pay for my shoulder surgery in January next year as well as pay my wage during my 12 month rehabilitation. If my doctors prognosis turns out correct that I C ant ever work again I may be in for a payout as well.
Fortunately I will still be able to take my son hunting and enjoy the bush until recovered. I'm also very privileged to have a wife that is also my best friend. She also lives to travel and has enjoyed many hunting trips together. Our secret is simple. Plan holidays so everyone gets to enjoy it. Combine a few things together like hunting for my son and I as well as incorporating things she likes and genuinely enjoying the things she does as well. This make for a great relationship as we get to know more about what each enjoys. Even after almost 20 years of marriage we still learn a little something about each other each day. When my son leaves home in a few years, he's only 16 I will have to try and find a new hunting mate. Shouldn't be to hard so I will enjoy every hunt with him until I take a long walk in a short paddock.
Yes there are some shit times to retirement especially at the start when you seem to have no purpose and no interpersonal interaction from colleagues and have those woah is me moments. You just have to figure what is important in your life now you don't for paid work. Take stock and start planning the rest of your life and fulfilling the dreams you had in your younger years. Life is to short to be miserable and never say one day I will do it. Get off your arse and do it while you can or regret it for the rest of your life.
I will leave you w ith my favorite saying.
I'm not afraid of dying it's not living that scares the shit out of me.
Live life to the full while you can and
Regret nothing you have enjoyed.
Bob

 

[matt vejar]

I retired last year 2019 at 62 after 31 years teaching. Fly fished in Oregon the first 10 years of work for a month and then Montana/Idaho the last 21 with a boat and camper for the summer-10 weeks. Been to Africa 9 times 3 buff and a leopard. Most PG from Sable to Steenbuck. Lots of Rowland Ward in that mix. My dad died at 45 and loved fly fishing and hunting - My Motivation to do it while your young. Have no problem going alone-will meet people when I get their. If I don’t no boggy. Ducks, pigs, and fishing occupy all my free time now. My wife still lets me run free {99% of time). If I was only rich!!! Going back to Argentina Big-game, duck and pigeon hunting and New Zealand again for another Tahr and fly fishing soon. Africa awaits for a few more safaris. My friends all say how do ya do it. I say “where there’s a will there’s a way”. If you wait you may not make it. No regrets. Like Jack Atcheson Sr. Said, “Life is short, hunt while your able” no truer words ever spoken.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Graduated in as an engineer in 1981 and worked as an employee for 4 years paying off the bursary. Started a company and have run it and its successors ever since. We lost everything twice, the first time in 1990 when the interest rates were hiked overnight to 46%. Built it all back up again and then the land invasions and the subsequent hyper inflation wiped us out in
2006. Built it all up again and somehow managed to put the four daughters through university. Now at 66 I couldn't handle another wipe out. So the plan is to sell the company while the going is good, grease the wheels and go and have fun - travel to safari camps, hunt, stay in Scotland for their summer perhaps. I dont need expensive toys, my Series 1 Land Rover is great transport, and the wife has a Landcruiser. My Ruger No1 and the Verney double are enough, they just need more use! I have invented things all my life, the business then makes and sells the machines to the mining industry. Ill keep inventing, thats fun, but someone else can do all the hard work from there.

 

[fourfive8]

Retired a long time ago. Don’t miss the job but do miss many of the people I worked with. For a few years after retiring worked really hard on my place. Never bored. After getting the house and property squared away in between 18 trips to Alaska (friends and relatives there) concentrated on Africa and SE Asia travel. 12 trips later looking forward optimistically to the next - Africa April 2021. No matter where I’ve lived... I have always tried to shoot regularly, the last few years about 2-4 times a week- weather permitting.

Over all been a good ride, including retirement, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to hide in my house fearful of catching a virus that can’t be hidden from. I’d much rather go out kicking than quivering like a snowflake!