Need a plan !

[Dave Richardson]

I turned 64 this labor day, I retired from the railroad 2 years ago this October. Thought I would have all day everyday to carve, go fishing, shoot holes in unsuspecting pieces of paper all those things I never had time to do while working. Truth is I dont do any of those things. I have to force myself to even start a carving project not less finish one. Thinking at this point of going back to work...maybe part time. Is this normal ???? Anyone else experience this ?

[Nebraska]

I retired at 50 so been at it about 14 years now. I don’t have that problem I think the trick is going enjoying and doing vs thinking about it. It can be a big transition and I think some get depressed you may want to consider professional help. Also important to exercise daily. And find activities with other people.

[Brian T]

I went over the wall at 60. Very good job, very nice people and I don't miss a minute of it.
I did have a mental list (short like my memory) of the things I wanted to get back into when I retired.
Stuff like large format photography, watercolor and airbrush painting, print making and so on.

I have done none of those things in the last 15+ years to think about them. I sleep well.

I make my own bread and pasta. I grow and sell grapes and new vine cuttings, I can spent all day and half the nights in winter, wood carving. My apples are being picked today and tomorrow, too many bears in the village and I don't need broken fences. The grape pickers are lined up, maybe another month?

Don't feel bad. I was shocked at how little I cared about my sacred list of "fun things to do."

I miss the painting. I have come around with the notion that I might dabble a little this winter.
I've got enough supplies to open a small art store. Three air brushes and a tool box of rock-hard paint. When I hear of the right high school student, they just might get a surprise for Christmas.

[Dave Richardson]

That is a great perspective Brian !

[grandpajim]

Retirement, the time we all look forward too, make plans for and hope to enjoy. I'm 8yrs into retirement after 40yrs as an engineer of sorts. I have a 50yr old moto guzzi that i planned to restore, another motorcycle (Valkyrie) that we were going to see the country on, and a sports car (cheap one) that was going to be my daily driver.

8yrs into retirement and i haven't driven the sports car in 2yrs, the motorcycle was sold because the wife and i lost interest and restoring the guzzi doesn't interest me.

Plans are alright, but the important thing for me is keeping the mind and body busy. Now I occupy my time with projects for my kids, grandkids and of course the wife (she who must be obeyed). I carve, work on the lathe and normal activities around the house and shop.

40yrs as an engineer, traveling to many places in the world, I honestly don't miss the daily grind at all (never have). After 8yrs away i don't think i could reenter the work force even if i wanted to.

My only advice would be to find something you like to do, even if it's not something you planned for your retirement and go for it.

[pallin]

I retired in 1996 after 40 years with JPL (NASA's lab for planetary exploration). Fortunately, I was still able to do active things. I climbed 21 of the over a hundred mountains, including 10 Colorado "14ers," after retirement. My wife & I paddled 3000 miles of kayak touring. And I continued carving, but I expect to "slow down." Just like my retirement from JPL, I accept the reality of giving up activities that are inappropriate or dangerous for someone my age. I will be 90 in December.

[NoDNA]

I had worked at so many different jobs, always thought that putting handle's on coffee cups wasn't for me. So I would quit one job and start another. Mostly self-employed ~(8=)

We traveled to Mexico for 3 years winter and other times too. Then thought we knew more of the West coast of Mexico, than we did the east coast of the US.
We jumped right in to Volunteering, as we did before giving up the Ghost of "work", bad 4 letter word. And traveled the US and Alaska as volunteers in State and Federal parks.. I finally quit in 2008 started carving and traveling too was great. In-between times, I have over hauled 2 vintage cars, still have an 83 'El Camino to fiddle with.

I would say STAY Active at most. Keep carving an make the best mess you can.
Most of all Welcome to the group and take care.
Chuck

[Merle Rice]

Hi Dave, Good to see you back here again . I got into this Hobby about 3 Years before you and feel that has made a Big Difference in my Life. I've Enjoyed it and Still do, but like you I'm having a Hard time getting Started. It's so Comfortable sitting in your Soft Chair and wanting to do something but not Satisfying . I force myself to get up and work on my Project, finding after I get started I'm in my Happy Place again. You are a Good Carver and feel you Enjoyed it . Their are things in Life that you don't like but Force yourself to do , ( like work ) , now Force yourself to do Something that you like, ( Carving ). I tell myself sometimes ( Do Something Even Though It's Wrong ). Ha,Ha. Just Do It, Don't Think About It. Merle

[Dave Richardson]

Hi Dave, Good to see you back here again . I got into this Hobby about 3 Years before you and feel that has made a Big Difference in my Life. I've Enjoyed it and Still do, but like you I'm having a Hard time getting Started. It's so Comfortable sitting in your Soft Chair and wanting to do something but not Satisfying . I force myself to get up and work on my Project, finding after I get started I'm in my Happy Place again. You are a Good Carver and feel you Enjoyed it . Their are things in Life that you don't like but Force yourself to do , ( like work ) , now Force yourself to do Something that you like, ( Carving ). I tell myself sometimes ( Do Something Even Though It's Wrong ). Ha,Ha. Just Do It, Don't Think About It. Merle

Awesome reply and you are right. Thanks Merle !

[joepaulbutler]

I was a Sr. Designer/Cad tech for Civil Engineering firms. I enjoy the work so much that I put in ±10 hrs a day for 8 hrs pay. I had p[lanned on working until I was 75, but in '09 when the economy went sour, I made it through 3 layoffs, in the fourth one, they had no choice between me and younger people. I came home and for 6 months set like an old wet setting hen watching TV I knew this wasn't good and remember that I use to carve, rummaged around in of my stuff and found an old
X-acto knives set I had had since I was in Cub Scouts, been busy ever since, thank goodness!

[Just Carving]

I am still working at my land survey cad tech job here in NJ. I'll have 40 years in 2025 if I make it. The bonus I'd get if I do is the only thing keeping me working. I turn 65 next July. I figure any work I do is all gravy after that. I don't have any plans for retirement other than to keep doing what I do now. The wife and I don't travel other than day trips. She has her sewing, knitting and crocheting. I have my woodcarving. I could draw but I just stick to sketching on wood as part of the woodcarving process. IN the spring and summer we garden. After this year, I'm not so sure it's worth it. The critters got more than we did and what we got barely filled a salad bowl. The heat and drought was horrible to the garden. Probably the worst I have seen it since my Dad started growing the garden in the early 1980's.

I don't have much to offer as I am not retired. But I just figure live one day to the next and enjoy what you worked so hard for your retirement. and above all, be happy.

BobL

[Scott78]

"Thinking at this point of going back to work...maybe part time. Is this normal ???? Anyone else experience this ?"

I've read that this is fairly normal for some. I am semi-retired and we really like the schedule. Every weekend is 4.5 days long, and I take a week off every quarter. So it's the best of both worlds.

My advice for carving is to start with really short term projects. Like the 5 minute Santa or refrigerator magnets. Have multiple carvings going at the same time. When you get stuck on one, go to another. Give them away.

Or, do small carvings that have step by step directions so you have something to gauge your progress. That's how I started.

Now I have 5 going so there is always something to practice on. My 2 cents.

[Dark Lightning]

I knew what I wanted to get into when I retired (carving was one thing) and bought tools for years before I did retire. I'd recommend figuring out what you really want to do. Did you buy carving tools with an eye on retirement, as something to do, when you were still working?

[Claude]

I spent my last 18+ years working as an engineer at NASA Headquarters in DC. Best job in the world, as I got to see all the latest technology and science. Did a fair amount of traveling to the various NASA centers, with a few trips to Europe to the European Space Agency sites. Retired at 67, so I could move to Louisiana and see my youngest granddaughter grow up. I started selling some little Santas to a Shoppe in VA near where we lived, only because my wife had shown some to the proprietor and she wanted some. When I retired and moved to LA, my shelves quickly filled and I didn't have any more places to put carvings, so I opened a shop on ETSY in November 2012 and started selling them.. As of today, I've sold 643 carvings. The amount I make is just enough that I have to pay taxes on it, and it pays for my wood, some tools, and helps cover my retirement income tax.

Selling is not for everyone, but for me it's been good. I do some commission work (small carvings only), but only things I think will be fun/interesting/challenging. It also keeps the shelves from being piled 3 deep in carvings and I don't have to store them in a box somewhere. All my relatives and friends have received multiple carvings as gifts, and I've donated several over the years to charitable events.

Some of my best experiences have been attending the Renegade Woodcarving Rendezvous in Tennessee. I did the Spring sessions for 6 years, and only quit because my wife has health problems and I could no longer leave her alone for a week. The sessions are not expensive, and you get to carve with 5 different CCA members during the week. I met Mark Akers, Mike Pounders, and others there. Learned as much from watching/talking with other students as the instructors.

Carving puts me in my quiet zone, and is very relaxing to me. I carve because of this. The selling is by-product of the mental relaxation.

Claude

[arfabuck]

Ha! Best laid plans of mice and..... I retired at 50 - because I could, - with a big fat redundancy, and no debts. Bought up good quality tools and machinery second hand and leased a workshop. 3 months later and back to work for another 20 years. Got bored with my own company, as in self. 2 marriages and 2 divorces later, on the skids and need an income to survive. Never been happier. Doing what I love doing, when I feel like it, how I like doing it, and getting paid for it ! Beats working to the clock any day.