This is inspired by LagunaLauren's "Bucket List" thread, but with a different spin. Once you make it to point where you no longer have to work and every hour of every day belongs to you, what would you do?
I originally started thinking about this last year in regards to retirement, though now I've decided I'll be retiring much sooner :smug2:. I've known of retirees who went stir crazy and had to go back to work or find some volunteer work because they got bored. I wondered if this would be the case for me, but I got my answer when my wife and I decided to take a "staycation" for our anniversary last fall, and just spend the week with each other relaxing. I found that I have no trouble finding ways to keep myself busy without going to work! So here's what I'd do:
In essence, I'd basically be living every day like I live on Saturdays now. I tend to wake up naturally between 9 and 10, so that's when I'd be waking, no more alarm clocks! I'd spend the first hour or so of the day snuggling in bed with the wife and having breakfast.
After getting up and checking the news and things on the computer, I'd head to my home gym. Right now I'm in and out of the gym in about 30 minutes since I go after work and by that time of the day I'm already burned out. I'd definitely spend more time in the gym, especially since it'd be my own and I'd have all the equipment I want.
After my workout I'd have lunch on the patio with my wife, and play with the dogs for a while. I love my pets, and their lives are short enough already, so I'd definitely spend more time with them than I can now.
After that I'd probably go and take a quick power nap for half an hour, around 3 or 4 PM. In the afternoon I'd work on something I enjoy, maybe tinker with a muscle car I'd be restoring or read for a while. I'd really like to volunteer at an animal shelter a few times a week, too.
In the evening I'd cook dinner. I know a lot of people say that with more money they'd eat out more or hire a chef. I actually love preparing a complicated meal, but I usually don't have the time or energy to devote two or three hours to it, so if I had the time, I'd definitely do it way more often. After dinner I'd watch a movie or play a video game, or maybe go for a hike if the weather is nice. Right before dusk is my favorite time for a hike, it's starting to cool off and you tend to see a lot more wildlife.
I'd spend the last hour or two of the day relaxing and winding down. This is another one I don't get to do now, my evenings usually involve speeding along making dinner, cleaning up the house, and working on my web project before I go drop into bed. I'd love having the time to ease into it more, maybe put on some relaxing music, have some tea. Then I'd finish the day off watching Conan or Family Guy in bed and falling asleep.
How about you? How would you spend a typical day, or if you've already realized this dream, how DO you spend a typical day?
I originally started thinking about this last year in regards to retirement, though now I've decided I'll be retiring much sooner :smug2:. I've known of retirees who went stir crazy and had to go back to work or find some volunteer work because they got bored. I wondered if this would be the case for me, but I got my answer when my wife and I decided to take a "staycation" for our anniversary last fall, and just spend the week with each other relaxing. I found that I have no trouble finding ways to keep myself busy without going to work! So here's what I'd do:
In essence, I'd basically be living every day like I live on Saturdays now. I tend to wake up naturally between 9 and 10, so that's when I'd be waking, no more alarm clocks! I'd spend the first hour or so of the day snuggling in bed with the wife and having breakfast.
After getting up and checking the news and things on the computer, I'd head to my home gym. Right now I'm in and out of the gym in about 30 minutes since I go after work and by that time of the day I'm already burned out. I'd definitely spend more time in the gym, especially since it'd be my own and I'd have all the equipment I want.
After my workout I'd have lunch on the patio with my wife, and play with the dogs for a while. I love my pets, and their lives are short enough already, so I'd definitely spend more time with them than I can now.
After that I'd probably go and take a quick power nap for half an hour, around 3 or 4 PM. In the afternoon I'd work on something I enjoy, maybe tinker with a muscle car I'd be restoring or read for a while. I'd really like to volunteer at an animal shelter a few times a week, too.
In the evening I'd cook dinner. I know a lot of people say that with more money they'd eat out more or hire a chef. I actually love preparing a complicated meal, but I usually don't have the time or energy to devote two or three hours to it, so if I had the time, I'd definitely do it way more often. After dinner I'd watch a movie or play a video game, or maybe go for a hike if the weather is nice. Right before dusk is my favorite time for a hike, it's starting to cool off and you tend to see a lot more wildlife.
I'd spend the last hour or two of the day relaxing and winding down. This is another one I don't get to do now, my evenings usually involve speeding along making dinner, cleaning up the house, and working on my web project before I go drop into bed. I'd love having the time to ease into it more, maybe put on some relaxing music, have some tea. Then I'd finish the day off watching Conan or Family Guy in bed and falling asleep.
How about you? How would you spend a typical day, or if you've already realized this dream, how DO you spend a typical day?
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