Young (54) ANXIOUS.....and retired! !!!

by Linda Byrge
(Huntsville Tennessee)

Hello everyone! My husband and I just retired 3 weeks ago.. the day after he retired from 25 years as a police officer, we left Detroit and moved to a small town in Tennessee which we had been planning for a while..

We already had our house here and lots of work to be done around here... I am just feeling a little closed in... it us beautiful here.. lots different than Michigan... our money situation is great and I should be happier than a pig in a poke..bur I am not.

it's really rural around here and the nearest big city is Knoxville..65 miles away... I am not accustomed to driving in hilly areas either so that's another problem in itself... I retired in 2006 after 20 years and then cleaned houses for 8.... made a lot of friends that started out as clients... and because if Facebook can still keep in touch.

I am sure it will get better and I will get used to it all on due time!!!!

I just want to be happy especially since we are very lucky at 54 and 56 not to have to work!!!

Comments for Young (54) ANXIOUS.....and retired! !!!

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Have a conversation
by: Anonymous

Please sit your husband down and have a conversation. Tell him exactly how you feel. Any husband who loves his wife will want her to be happy.

Perhaps you can come to a compromise and move closer to civilization or move to the suburbs of the city with a very large, private yard. Good Luck.
To Linda
by: Susan

Hi Linda, I feel your angst, I retired last year at 56..I thought I would be moving to the beach, where I grew up, and my best friend is..and my parents who need me.

I have given this a year. And have fallen more in love with my city.. and only visit the beach now, maybe 1/3 of the time. I am happy I didn't move...as I have discovered things here in my city, that I wasnt doing when working. I still might move.. but I am taking my time to make that decision.

I should find a part time job, but my days are filled with clubs and volunteer jobs. I am hoping the perfect, flexible part time job will come up. So...I am not telling you anything..just sharing my own experience.

But YES I do still freak out sometimes, at retiring so young. But I couldn't juggle stress of elderly parents..2 hours away and my stressful job. I get lonely sometimes. You have each other. But I have a whole city of things and people. Good luck!
You are LUCKY if you know it or not!
by: PLP

HONESTLY, YOU HAVE NO MONEY WORRIES - AND YOU REALLY DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE HAPPY OR NOT?

THAT IS VERY HARD FOR MANY OF US TO EVEN COMPREHEND. NOT TO DIMINISH YOU NOTES, YET I HAVE, BUT PLEASE REALIZE HOW LUCKY YOU ARE...VERY LUCKY. YES, YOU DID EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT SO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE AND THINGS STILL DID NOT TURN OUT AS THEY HAD HOPED.

I RETIRED AT 64 1/2, AND STILL WORK AT PART-TIME JOB TO MAKES ENDS MEET. AND I MEET PEOPLE THAT ARE OLDER THAN ME, WORK PART-TIME, EVEN FULL-TIME YET AT JOBS AT 9 OR 10 DOLLARS AN HOUR; ON THEIR FEET ALL DAY.

GOOD LUCK; FIND YOUR HAPPINESS AND BE SO EVER GREATFUL THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE MONEY WORRIES AS IN AMERICA, MONEY WORRIES ARE NOT FUN.
Anxious
by: Nancy

I agree with everything Linda said. I couldn't have said it better.
Your area of the country is one of my favorites in the world. We go to the Smokies on vacation a lot.
For me, retirement was a huge adjustment and there was a lot of angst.
I wish you the best.
Idelness not normal
by: Joe W.

There was a time not many years ago when retirees thought that achieving a retirement of 100% leisure as early as possible was the thing to do. What could be more fun than getting up late, going to the lake or playing golf all day. then heading out to the local casino and playing back jack into the night.

Today, I hear the cries from many seniors near or in retirement that what's missing in their lives is having the opportunity of giving back to society, in some form of meaningful work or even starting up a small business or a new hobby.

I'm betting that you your abundant resources it's only a matter of time before you will be presented with many opportunities to live a more fruitful retirement life.

Joe W.
Retirement Move
by: Lynn

I'd move. I'm a city girl - no way would I want to live in the "Boonies". Was this your husband's decision that you just "went along with"?
Anxiety is Normal... You are in Transition.
by: Wendy

Linda,

First, the good thing is you realize you are both very lucky, blessed to be retired as early as you are. Blessed also to be financially well off.

I would almost promise you that you'd be unhappy if you were back here in Detroit where friends are. I would bet it's simply the transition that is bothering you. On top of the normal anxious feelings: Who am I now and What do I do with the rest of my life? -- you moved.

Yikes! You moved. New people, new home, new town, new hills... it's all new to you and that alone would create anxiety for many

Take a deep breath... and Give yourselves a break.

You now have to figure out a new lifestyle, find new friends, figure out if you'll be active in the community or not, whether you want to work (or not). You have many many options... just take your time and the answers will come to you.

Best Wishes! You are really blessed!

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