One of my friends asked if I had any regrets about retiring 18 months ago given all the high prices, inflation and market instability we’ve experienced since May 2022. No regrets. We’ve always been fairly frugal, so any adjustments have had minimal impact on our lifestyle.
What I have missed are the routines and daily interactions with people that came with the day job. (Reasonably priced benefits is another one, but that’s a topic for a separate post of its own!) This falls in line with what was discussed on this week’s Retire Sooner podcast hosted by Wes Moss. The topic was Un-retirement. Wes and his guest talked at length about how the happiest retirees have a purpose (your one thing or core pursuits) and regular social interactions. Purpose with a paycheck or a part-time job in today’s tight labor market was something the guest recommended to help provide purpose, social interaction and a bit of a financial buffer. The job doesn’t have to be in your former career field, but could be something you enjoy as a hobby.
Most of my friends associate 3 things with me: sewing, books and dogs (not necessarily in that order). All of my part-time endeavors in retirement (paid and volunteer) involve at least one of those three things. Teaching private lessons out of my home and my Monday arts & crafts enrichment classes combine all three. Definitely purpose with a paycheck. BTW – being retired certainly doesn’t lessen my ability to appreciate a paycheck!
If you are a retiree looking for something to do, why not explore part-time job opportunities? Many employers have discovered how valuable hiring a “seasoned professional” can be!
Come Stitch With Me 