I know a guy that's been retired for six years .
Four of those he donated to a local cemetery that was in disrepair.

Two years in, the cemetery care taker got killed by a drunk driver.

The guy took his job.

Since he came on board he made an on line website telling you how to find graves, he's raised two buildings and built two in their place.
Sold hundreds of plots.
Cut down dozens of old growth trees.

He gets much gratification from making the place look great.

quote:

Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
If you don't need the money, you're doing the job for another reason.

And I am curious about the reason(s), i.e., the “why,” but primarily what people work at when they don’t have to work, and there have been many responsive examples posted.

As for what “retired” means, the question was “could” retire, i.e., they could sit in front of the teevee all day watching Simpsons reruns and not go hungry or be evicted from their homes. My question was prompted by wanting to know what people who could watch teevee all day do instead, and which would normally be considered paid employment, even if they’re not paid. The latter could be something like volunteering at a homeless shelter, but it doesn’t mean building model airplanes in one’s basement (for fun) or keeping up with the news by watching CNN or Fox.

As is true of any thread here, there’s nothing to keep anyone from answering and referring to anything: “I consider spending the afternoon fishing from my bass boat to be work, so that’s what I do,” for example. That doesn’t meet the criteria I have in mind, but many comments posted on the forum have nothing to do with the original questions, and so I just ignore them.

I am not retired yet, but hopefully in 4 years I can retire and I will be “volunteering” as a Pastor in my church. I am getting my financials prepared right now so that I am able to do that in retirement.

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:
I will be “volunteering” as a Pastor in my church.

That’s the sort of thing I’m interested in.

My question was prompted by another thread whose responses were mostly about how great it is to no longer have a job to do. There is of course “nothing wrong” with that focus, but I wonder what sorts of things people could do that provide feelings of worth and accomplishment, especially when it’s something they’re not required to do. If we don’t sit in front of the teevee all day, that reduces the stupidity load we’re saddled with and must complain about.

I had to open this one.
Today was my last day following 42+ years with he same employer. I've held many positions in that time and at 67 it was time to go. In passing I stated that I would be doing something else because I am a morning person and watching grass grow was not in my DNA. Perhaps even a non-paid role with a non-profit. I gave about 12 weeks notice and last week they asked if I would work in a nonexistent part-time role for our more complex clients. Straight commission with no base, auto, benefits working as much or as little as I want. Perfect fit for both of us. Too soon to say how it will work out but I am looking forward to it.

I retired in 07. I was selling cars for an insurance company that also owned a leasing company. I did nothing for a couple of years until my former boss was gone. I delivered and picked up cars all over the state. They closed my area 2 years after I retired and the pt work went away.

I then started working for a couple of local dealers. I am now down to a GMC dealer and I do dealer trades and other stuff. I like to work 2-3 days weekly. Some weeks I do, and some I don't do anything. I refuse to take the 12 and 15 hour trips to Detroit. I don't need the money, I do it for fun.

I left a 30 year school district job and started a state retirement pension, social security and a small union payment a little over a year ago.
I’m making a little more than I was when I was working. My wife is just drawing social security after she left a 35 year job at the Marriot and she has 401k money.
We’re ok but of course we wish this tax happy state would leave us alone.
I’m working part time at my friends little gunshop down the street just because I like it. For now talking guns all day is fun.

I'm 67. currently work 6 days a week at the retail store I've owned for 41 years. This will be my last term as a county commissioner. I have to agree with my wife, it's time.

So when I turn 70, I'll file for my SS. I plan to continue to stay on my FD and run rescue calls, do special events with the EMS agency i currently work for. About 3 years ago, I became an EMS educator which also grants me authorization to teach Firefighter I and II. I plan on teaching a few classes every year.

I ask myself that daily.

Hope the answer reveals itself sooner than later.

I retired at 65 after working in auto dealership parts departments a bit over 47 years, counter to management and back to counter. Took SS a bit early, lost 48 dollars per month but I got to the point that I despised going to work every day, it was time.

In ‘99 along with the auto parts I started part time in Harley Davidson dealers, hey, gotta get discounts where you can.

When I retired in 2017 I still worked part time in Harley. During the winter months I was “supposed” to be laid off, that never happened.

Small local gun shop asked me if I was interested in helping him out “occasionally”, he had some severe mobility problems. That ended up one to two days a week. So combined with H-D, it was 4-5 days a week.

Fast forward to 2022. LGS owner passed away in February, shop closed. Harley dealer changed ownership in the prior year. While I wasn’t working there for the money that became an issue.
Previous owner was owned the dealership prior to my joining in 99. When the new owners came in, one of their early statements were “nothing is going to change here” which translates to “here it comes.”

I was told that as a part timer due to company policy I was already at the top pay for P/T and if I wanted more money I could work more hours. Add 65 mile R/T commute, five dollars plus per gallon gasoline, they received two weeks notice. Not to mention if it was about money, I would have gone back to automotive as I made a lot more doing that.

So summer off that year, my wife said “you’ve got to find something to do”. A greeter at Meijer or Wal-Mart wasn’t on the horizon. Neither was being a clerk at the local stop and rob. Three other H-D dealers, had open ended offers “let’s talk” but I didn’t want commutes (each one was 35-40 miles one way) and while I thought about volunteering at the local animal control in reality that wouldn’t have been a smart idea, you can guess why.

Applied at a local chain sporting goods store and the other local gun shop in town. Both called, s/g store offered a bit more money. LGS just felt better up during the interview, took the LGS instead.

Been there going on three years now.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
By “working,” that also includes something like unpaid, but regular volunteer service.

Anything to keep busy and have a purpose. We "volunteer" our time and help our neighbors out as much as possible, family, as well as the community, on a regular basis.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: xanth,

To help keep the discussion on track:

quote:

If you could retire comfortably, but are still working, what do you do?

And there is another thread with many posts by people who are happily unemployed retired:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/3860086615

The wife and I just booked a condo in Maui for 30 days after I retire on 12/31. We'll make a decision during that time. I want to get more involved with graphite drawing.

It’s all about priorities. I’m enjoying retirement immensely even if it means spending a little less without a “retirement job”. Never understood that figure of speech; if you take a job after retirement, is it a “retirement job” or just a job?

Locked at the P's request