are you retired? do you fish ALL the time?

[Catt]

Another thing I love about being retired!

 

[MN Fisher]

I'm stealing that, Tommy...

[Columbia Craw]

I retired six years ago on June 8th.  I was glad I made it as long as I did but my profession required more than I could provide and I felt I couldn’t perform to the standards I set for myself any longer.  If I could have, I would have stayed longer.  The relationships I was apart of were my greatest loss.  Once you leave a career those others continue on.  
 

like Catt, my family occupies a great deal of my time.  My mother has also required more time than I ever imagined. As much as I enjoy fishing, it has to be placed low on the list of priorities. Don’t be in any hurry to retire. Choose the timing and try not to let the timing choose you.  As far as fishing goes, quantity might not mean quality.  Just some thoughts.......

[Swamp Girl]

^Unflinching, frank, and bittersweet^ I admire every word of it.

[N Florida Mike]

I will probably never retire unless I physically have to. If I did , I wouldn’t fish all the time… i’d just fish MORE.

[Alex from GA]

I've been retired for a long time and fish several times a week usually for less than 1/2 day.  I have a boat in the water when I'm in GA.  In winter we're usually in central FL and I have to launch my boat which I'm able to do, again, several times a week.  This winter I'm having health issues, for the first time, and didn't go to FL.  Next year, when we're in FL, I'm going to contact Capt Phil and ask to join him for a day or so.  I've done the GA Bass Slam every year since it's inception, usually in a kayak.

[Functional]

This might be a generational thing but for me the minute I can retire with the financial goals I set I'm gone. I'll give my best while I'm there but that's all, I'll be replaced in weeks and life will move on. Losing any more time spending it with family and doing the things I enjoy are top priority and while I enjoy work I do it to be able to enjoy the time I do have off the best I can. 

 

Fortunately I've put myself in position when I turn 60 my house is paid off and I get full retirement/health benefits from the state. That will be it for me. 

[Big Hands]

On 4/7/2023 at 7:39 AM, PaulVE64 said:

Retired you will look back and wonder how you had any time to go do a job everyday.

 

My father used to say that he got up in the morning with nothing to do, but when he went to bed he was only half finished.

[Tom Orr]

I semi-retired 7 years ago at 62 so I only work part time for the same company I retired from. Like what I do and truly love the people I work with. But - don't have near as much free time as I thought I would so I really don't fish more than I did before. And the days, weeks, months seem to go by so much faster now.

[padlin]

Retired yes, fish every day no. I don’t care for ice fishing so that cuts t down to 7 months of maybe twice a week. Too much going on for everyday, have 6 grand kids, half in sports everyday so just going to games sucks up weekends, add in dr visits, kid sitting, and yard/garden work, which I enjoy, and 2 days is about the limit.

[JacobB006]

I'm kind of on the opposite side of the spectrum from you @Darth-Baiter. I'm 20, so nowhere near retirement, but I saved up my money over the past couple years and my friend and I bummed it last year and fished all summer break between our spring and fall semesters. I'd have to check out the spreadsheet we kept, but I believe we fished around 75 of the 90 days we had off during our summer break. We hit the creeks and rivers hard and my friend ended up with 805 smallies and I ended with 846 smallies. Not the best ratio of fish to days fished, but it was an absolute blast. I know what you mean by being bored of fishing the same waters though. That is one good thing about fishing moving waters in creeks and rivers though is that there is always something new around the corner, even spots you've fished dozens of times. When you do retire, good luck with your newfound fishing time.

[Darth-Baiter]

To b honest, I’d rather be in my 20’s. Haha. 

[Spankey]

I retired this past June. Slightly early but I jumped on it. Am I fishing, hunting and shooting clays ALL THE TIME? No because I have other things to do like work around the house and help others (kids & friends) if they need a hand. 

 

But I am fishing when I want to. Not trying to squeeze it in in a window on the weekend or go a night after work when I wasn’t really prepaired for. 
 

I’m loving this being on trout water at sunup and fishing till 8:30 am, the same will be smallie fishing on the river. Back to back to back mornings at dark waiting for sunup and pulling the plug by 9:30 or 10:00 am. I never even unhook my trailer when I get home. Work around the house some. Sleep some. Head back to the river. That was the life last summer. Gonna be the same this summer. 

[J._Bricker]

I’ve been retired awhile now and I get to fish if and when I want on any given day. The other days are occupied with various tasks that I get to pace myself in completing. Retirement was everything that everyone said it would be, but what I haven’t shared is I didn’t expect to bury both my parents within 2 years of my retiring from the job. Family is important and I hope everyone enjoys their time together before and after their retirement. 
And for those who have recently retired or are about to…. Congratulations, you’ve earned it.

[thomas15]

I'm starting to think about the day. I could retire now, I would really like my wife to retire this year and I think she is going to but I'm hesitant for both of us to go out the same year. My company would allow me to work PT and I might do that but I stay for all the reasons the OP gives as my company and co-workers are great. Also I can put off collecting SS and put more dollars in the bunker and as a bonus would have less time to spend it the longer i put it off!

 

Part of my hesitation is due to the fact that we spent a few years really mismanaging our personal finances. While through diligence, sacrifice and the grace of God we have corrected our mistakes but the damage to our financial security has left a scar that I think we are now probably over-reacting to. 

 

But as I mention we are thinking about it. As of now I would divide my time between doing things around the house (a few upgrades and a garden), spending time with the spouse and hobbies like fishing. One of the big questions in my mind is do we stay where we are or do we sell and relocate? The longer I work the longer I can put off making a decision on this.

[Darth-Baiter]

my friend and coworker inherited well.  San Fran real estate magitude stuff.  he wants to retire this year.  at 55.  but he is worried.  all of us will still need to work and he expect he will be lonely.  he has wife and kids, but she wont retire and his kid is in school.  we wont be able to hang out with him.  hahahha..  we wants to drive to Alaska with me, but i gotta work, dude!!

 

you all have given me a wide spectrum of perspectives.  i appreciate every word.  thanks.

 

right now, i think i will focus on vacationing well.  i wont retire with a huge vacation balance that needs a cash payout.  i am not dying without seeing and experiencing the world more.  

[the reel ess]

I'm 4-5 years away. My daughter starts college in the fall and I want to hang on until she's out. I have every idea my boss will try to keep me working at least part time as I'll only be 56-57 and I'm the best at my job that he has. I want to buy myself a jon boat and start a backwoods bass boat project on it. I think at some point the kayak is going to be a bit too much for an old man. I'd like to be able to fish 3-4 days a week or whenever I feel like it.

[Woody B]

If I were retired I suspect I'd fish quite a bit.   The biggest hurdle to me retiring is healthcare.   I'm 59 and blessed so far with good health.  (Since birth) I've never spent a night in a hospital as a patient.  I've never met the deductible for my health insurance.   However, insurance prices for people my age scare me.   My insurance through my employer is ~$60 per month.  Mrs B and myself are debt free, and we've got quite a bit of savings.  The thought of leaving a 6 figure job, and taking on ~$1K a month or more for health insurance is scary.  My Wife's pension includes her health coverage but I can't get included on hers.   

 

My Daughter and Grandsons are great people.  The thought of working way too long, then leaving them a bunch of money when I pass away is OK with me.   I certainly wouldn't want to leave them with any bills.  

[SC53]

Semi retired 9 years ago.  Started my own LLC back then and did part time work, consulting and training for the industry I’ve been in for almost 50 years. I’m still going some cad design for a couple of companies but that’s about it.  My wife got laid off from her job about 2 years after I started the business and couldn’t find anyone that wanted to hire her at her age so she helped me with the business.
She is my #1 fishing partner so we go a couple times a week during the week, weather permitting. I’m about 3 minutes from one ramp and 12 minutes from another on the St. John’s river in central Florida.  Plus I’m only about 45-50 minutes from the Harris Chain. 
 

[whitwolf]

Retirement..... I've worked in the same field for 35 years. Tresa(wife) and me had it figured out that I would retire at 63. We would move to the swamps of Eastern North Carolina bringing along my mother in law.

 

Best laid plans...lol I had a stroke in September of 2022. I have worked hard and hope to be walking unassisted soon. It has been a Crappy experience trying to get a little help while going through this. I finally had enough and decided to retire in May. We have Bern smart with money of I couldn't have considered this.

 

A month ago my brother started feeling bad after being cancer free for 3 years. It metastasized to his spleen,  lungs, and we found out the other day it is in his brain. So 6 months is optimistic.  

 

The above said, it solidified my plans to retire. Family will always come before all else. Eventually I will be back in the boat and fish when I want.... for now my mother in law and brother will live with us and Tresa and myself will cherish each moment.

[Bigassbass]

I've been retired 10 years, I stay busy and I do fish a lot because I love to fish.  So, I really do fish more now then I did when I worked.  Do what you love, cause life is really shorter than you think.  I'm getting a new reel for Mother's Day!

[Micaiah Lindquist]

I think there a lot of things you could do socially outside of work. Get involved in a local fishing club or tournament trail or something in whatever other hobbies you might have.

[Motoboss]

My job(s) are now golf and fishing………..
 

…….I’m retired three years now and my goal is to wake up every morning with nothing to do, and go to bed with half of it done.

[Captain Phil]

Amen brother!  When I wake up I have great ideas of what I will do that day.   Will I go fishing?  Fix or paint something around the house?   Take my wife somewhere new for lunch or visit a friend?  After coffee I hang around, spend some time on the computer, clean myself up and walk down to get the mail at the end of my driveway.  By the time I decide to act on my plans, it's lunch time.  After lunch, it's time for a nap.  By that time, it's mid afternoon and too late to do anything.  I sit down with my wife at 5 PM and listen to her talk.  She makes supper, we watch old football games on the NFL channel and then it's time to go to bed at 9 PM.  Isn't retirement great?  ?

[gim]

On 4/14/2023 at 2:24 PM, Woody B said:

My insurance through my employer is ~$60 per month. 

That is some ridiculously low premiums for health care. And I thought I had good health care benefits.