are you retired? do you fish ALL the time?

[ironbjorn]

For over a week I've weighed whether or not to share this and have decided that I will.

 

I'm not retired, but I'm newly disabled (I'm in my 30s). I've struggled since 2014 with severe mental illness, but I refused help until I couldn't any longer (summer of last year). It crept up on me slowly over time, each time worse than the last, until I lost my ability to function "normally." I turned out to have Schizoaffective Disorder. This illness is a mixture of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. I hardly know my dad and his side of the family, but I've since learned that Schizophrenic Spectrum illnesses run on his side of the family. I couldn't make sense of why I was seeing and hearing things others weren't, or why for some weeks I couldn't get out of bed but then over the course of some other weeks I would be wild and reckless, bordering on ruining my life, or why I would believe I was being followed, poisoned, stalked, plotted against, leading me down paths of extreme delusional thinking. I lost a lot of people during these years. I refused help because for awhile I thought everyone else was crazy and I was absolutely correct, and then as the years went by the slow realization that something is wrong with me made me too scared to get help. It was the delusions that finally became so extreme that I let my fiancee start the process of seeking help for me. Unfortunately therapy and medications only do so much to help and to some level I'll continue to cycle in and out of rationality. Working is now behind me and mental health care is now my reality. Since I've received help I haven't fished a lot. Last fall I used the excuse that the fishing was sucking so I'll hang it up for the year, but deep down I know learning that my brain is sick and that there is no cure put me in dark place. I've fished this (early) spring on some of the nice days we've had (when the wind isn't howling at 20-30mph like it seems to be most days). I'm doing a lot better now and look forward to fishing as much as I can this summer. I actually feel happiness and giddiness thinking about the season blasting into full gear soon. I bought a couple new rods I'm excited to put to the test (an Expride and a Zodias). We'll see what happens. 

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

For over a week I've weighed whether or not to share this and have decided that I will.

 

I'm not retired, but I'm newly disabled (I'm in my 30s). I've struggled since 2014 with severe mental illness,

I can sympathize - general depression (medicated), moderate ADHD and Anxiety disorder here myself. Been off-and-on meds since the mid 90s - mainly off because of undesirable side-effects...finally got on one that the side-effects can be controlled.

 

Mental illness is a b*tch...just know you're not alone, man.

[oncewas]

Had to retire a little early due to cancer. Now that as my doctor tells me; we kicked its tail, I am able to do more every day. I play golf or fish Monday thru Friday. If I fish with the boy on Saturday or Sunday we either fish the creeks or river. If he wants to fish on the busy lakes we usually fish at night. I sometimes wonder how I had time to work. Last month I bought a place on a lake with a dock 40 feet from my back deck. It will now be easier not launching the boat every day going fishing. I should be able to fish and golf the same day. I was blessed to be able to do this before my original planned retirement.  After what I went thru I am just glad to be enjoying life again.

[Junk Fisherman]

 

Hope you're better.  Hang in there.

[Junk Fisherman]

I'm am 11 years out from retiring at 60.  I anticipate fishing in retirement how I do in my summers now which I have off.  In the summers, I fish 2-3 full days, or close to it, per week but only during week.  In retirement, I plan on fishing with a club and seeing how I do if I fish the entire schedule which I have never been able to do.  I plan on working part-time as a substitute teacher, mostly to support my fishing addiction, during the middle of winter.  I'll also spend time with my hobbies of hiking, biking, and outdoor photography.  Working out every day, when not fishing, is part of the plan as well.  Splitting my time between suburban Chicago and a second home in Northern Michigan during the open water fishing season is the goal.    

[Captain Phil]

21 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

For over a week I've weighed whether or not to share this and have decided that I will.

 

I'm not retired, but I'm newly disabled (I'm in my 30s). I've struggled since 2014 with severe mental illness, but I refused help until I couldn't any longer (summer of last year). It crept up on me slowly over time, each time worse than the last, until I lost my ability to function "normally." I turned out to have Schizoaffective Disorder. This illness is a mixture of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. I hardly know my dad and his side of the family, but I've since learned that Schizophrenic Spectrum illnesses run on his side of the family. I couldn't make sense of why I was seeing and hearing things others weren't, or why for some weeks I couldn't get out of bed but then over the course of some other weeks I would be wild and reckless, bordering on ruining my life, or why I would believe I was being followed, poisoned, stalked, plotted against, leading me down paths of extreme delusional thinking. I lost a lot of people during these years. I refused help because for awhile I thought everyone else was crazy and I was absolutely correct, and then as the years went by the slow realization that something is wrong with me made me too scared to get help. It was the delusions that finally became so extreme that I let my fiancee start the process of seeking help for me. Unfortunately therapy and medications only do so much to help and to some level I'll continue to cycle in and out of rationality. Working is now behind me and mental health care is now my reality. Since I've received help I haven't fished a lot. Last fall I used the excuse that the fishing was sucking so I'll hang it up for the year, but deep down I know learning that my brain is sick and that there is no cure put me in dark place. I've fished this (early) spring on some of the nice days we've had (when the wind isn't howling at 20-30mph like it seems to be most days). I'm doing a lot better now and look forward to fishing as much as I can this summer. I actually feel happiness and giddiness thinking about the season blasting into full gear soon. I bought a couple new rods I'm excited to put to the test (an Expride and a Zodias). We'll see what happens. 

 

I am acutely aware of your situation.  My mother struggled with depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder for years.  Back then, we didn't know this was an illness.  They gave her amphetamines, which made her much worse.  She was eventually committed to a mental hospital where they gave her shock treatments. This calmed her down, but it also took away much of her intellect.   After she recovered, I helped her regain her civil rights so she could own a home.   Despite her difficulties, my mother was a great Mom who raised me and my three younger sisters.  She was a very religious person all her life.  If she didn't have her faith to lean on, I don't believe she would have made it through.  It sounds like you are making progress.  You are not alone in this. 

[Darth-Baiter]

Just knowing the name of the affliction can help. You know what’s going on isn’t imagined. Glad you are finding help.  And your fiancée sounds like an angel. 
 

I was told by therapist, “action before motivation “. She said sometimes a brain needs to be reminded what joy is.  So doing what we know is joyful despite the lack of motivation can do that.   Not sure if it works but I tried. 
 

hope you land a giant on a new rod bro. 

[thediscochef]

14 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I was told by therapist, “action before motivation “. She said sometimes a brain needs to be reminded what joy is.  So doing what we know is joyful despite the lack of motivation can do that.   Not sure if it works but I tried.  

This was kind of my approach when I started fishing for real in 2021 after my dad passed and I received his gear. I was 29 when that happened, 31 now. A lot more people I care about have passed young in the time since, and there are more coming unfortunately. I have only banned words for cancer. 
But I digress - sometimes I have to just make myself go do the thing and move before it'll click between mind, body, and activity. Some days it just doesn't happen. Being outside chasing bass and hiking (alongside ongoing therapy and medication) has been important to surviving the stress and grief plus pre-existing PTSD and associated disorders. Mental healthcare is really not discussed with much kindness sometimes despite its importance to maximal enjoyment of the life experience, it's good to see kind discussion taking place

[Woody B]

On 4/22/2023 at 3:08 PM, gimruis said:

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

I checked my last pay check stub to make sure inflation hadn't turned me into a liar.  My health coverage is $24.52 every 2 weeks.   This is for me only.  Mrs. B's insurance is through the State retirement system.  The company I work for offers 3 different plans.  Mine is the cheapest, with a $3500 deductible.  All 3 plans have the same maximum out of pocket limit.   

[TnRiver46]

Ours is just under $400 , and we stay out of the doctors office almost completely 

[Captain Phil]

One of the most important things to consider in retirement is health insurance. Every retired person on this forum knows this.  The type of insurance you have is just as important.   Our insurance allows us to go to any doctor in the US without pre-approval.   If we feel we need to see a specialist, we don't hesitate.  What you don't want is some middleman doctor telling you what you need based on his/her profit incentive.  Many HMOs and Advantage plans make money by denying treatment.  You may be treated for a lung infection when you actually have cancer.   By the time they authorize an XRay, it's too late.  If this sounds like a pitch for expensive insurance, it's not.  I have seen this in my own family and it is a significant problem.  Health Insurance is one of those things where you get what you pay for.

[Darth-Baiter]

Advantage.  from what i can tell, it is not easy to switch away from Advantage.   to switch in was easy.  

 

you cannot get any home health care with Advantage.  my mom is finding this out the hard way.  she swapped in because of the attractive drug co-pays, and now she regrets her decision.  

 

i plan to play the long game when it is my time.    my retirement package will include lifetime health care, so i am blessed.  

[ironbjorn]

On 4/23/2023 at 4:06 AM, Captain Phil said:

 

I am acutely aware of your situation.  My mother struggled with depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder for years.  Back then, we didn't know this was an illness.  They gave her amphetamines, which made her much worse.  She was eventually committed to a mental hospital where they gave her shock treatments. This calmed her down, but it also took away much of her intellect.   After she recovered, I helped her regain her civil rights so she could own a home.   Despite her difficulties, my mother was a great Mom who raised me and my three younger sisters.  She was a very religious person all her life.  If she didn't have her faith to lean on, I don't believe she would have made it through.  It sounds like you are making progress.  You are not alone in this. 

It sounds like, had she been diagnosed today, that she would have been given the Schizoaffective diagnosis. Just a fancy way of saying one has Schizophrenia AND a mood disorder at the same time (it can be depression or bipolar [a mix of depression and mania]). I look back on your mother's generation frequently. The horrors they experienced at the hands of the government and medical "professionals" of the time is abhorrent. It still scares sufferers to this day. I'm a Millennial and I'm scared to death every time I see my therapist or psychiatrist. While I know the horrors are from a different time, I worry so much about telling too much. You're an outstanding son for being there for your mother not only for her illness but also fighting for her during a horrific time to be mentally ill. That someone in the bass fishing community knows so much about my cross to bear (while I wish your mom hadn't had it) is a great relief. I'm happy to hear she had such strong faith. You're right, by the way. I have strong faith too, and leaning on him indeed helps. 

[Kirtley Howe]

On 4/7/2023 at 11:18 AM, 813basstard said:

Financially, I can retire when I’m 237. 
Luckily I’m planning on hitting a scratch off which will set things in motion. Trade the wife in for a newer model, buy a boat that has more gadgets than the space station, increase my alcohol and fried food intake by 37% and play bad golf often…

 

I mean, I don’t see any holes in this plan

Seems reasonable to me except for the "trade in the wife" part. Remember, if you trade in a 40 year old wife for a 20 year old, you have to take two 10 year olds to make up the difference. 

 

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

Remember, if you trade in a 40 year old wife for a 20 year old, you have to take two 10 year olds to make up the difference. 

Na - just get two 20 year olds.

 

Course that can work in reverse....when I hit 60 the wife 'threatened' to trade me in on a pair of 30 year olds. ?

[WRB]

Sometimes I wonder if I’am retired or re tarded ?

Tom

[volzfan59]

On 4/22/2023 at 5:18 PM, ironbjorn said:

For over a week I've weighed whether or not to share this and have decided that I will.

 

I'm not retired, but I'm newly disabled (I'm in my 30s). I've struggled since 2014 with severe mental illness, but I refused help until I couldn't any longer (summer of last year). It crept up on me slowly over time, each time worse than the last, until I lost my ability to function "normally." I turned out to have Schizoaffective Disorder. This illness is a mixture of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. I hardly know my dad and his side of the family, but I've since learned that Schizophrenic Spectrum illnesses run on his side of the family. I couldn't make sense of why I was seeing and hearing things others weren't, or why for some weeks I couldn't get out of bed but then over the course of some other weeks I would be wild and reckless, bordering on ruining my life, or why I would believe I was being followed, poisoned, stalked, plotted against, leading me down paths of extreme delusional thinking. I lost a lot of people during these years. I refused help because for awhile I thought everyone else was crazy and I was absolutely correct, and then as the years went by the slow realization that something is wrong with me made me too scared to get help. It was the delusions that finally became so extreme that I let my fiancee start the process of seeking help for me. Unfortunately therapy and medications only do so much to help and to some level I'll continue to cycle in and out of rationality. Working is now behind me and mental health care is now my reality. Since I've received help I haven't fished a lot. Last fall I used the excuse that the fishing was sucking so I'll hang it up for the year, but deep down I know learning that my brain is sick and that there is no cure put me in dark place. I've fished this (early) spring on some of the nice days we've had (when the wind isn't howling at 20-30mph like it seems to be most days). I'm doing a lot better now and look forward to fishing as much as I can this summer. I actually feel happiness and giddiness thinking about the season blasting into full gear soon. I bought a couple new rods I'm excited to put to the test (an Expride and a Zodias). We'll see what happens. 

I'm glad that you have received the help that you need brother. Mental health issues are no joke, but I don't need to tell you. Like @Captain Phil, my mother suffered from mental illness to the point of being institutionalized for quite some time. I was five or six at the time and I just didn't understand what was going on. She was released after a long while, but had to see a therapist and be medicated pretty much for the rest of her life. Thanks to all of that, she had a very good quality of life. I suffer from fairly mild PTSD. It's very manageable, I know my triggers and I have a faith in my Lord and Savior. Some do, some don't, it's their choice and I judge no man. @ironbjorn, I will be praying for you. My closest friend in the world has extreme PTSD and is bipolar. He's medicated and wading for smallmouth is his release. You stay excited about fishing this spring. One thing about this community, we're here for each other.

[CincyGus]

I retired at 58 after a 30 year career as a manager in the Air Cargo business. Within 6 months, I had done all the projects I'd never had time to do previously due to working 60-70 hours a week. All caught up, plenty of time to do what I wanted an fished 3-4 times a week, mostly by myself but occasionally with a fishing buddy on the weekend. Got bored to death with it. As the original poster, I am too social I guess. I do enjoy some solitude and a morning or nice day on the water is a wonderful thing for the soul. I just don't like overdosing on it as it turns to boredom for me. Love fishing, love being around people too. Just need a balance of both to be happy is what I've discovered about myself.

[Darth-Baiter]

51 minutes ago, CincyGus said:

I retired at 58 after a 30 year career as a manager in the Air Cargo business. Within 6 months, I had done all the projects I'd never had time to do previously due to working 60-70 hours a week. All caught up, plenty of time to do what I wanted an fished 3-4 times a week, mostly by myself but occasionally with a fishing buddy on the weekend. Got bored to death with it. As the original poster, I am too social I guess. I do enjoy some solitude and a morning or nice day on the water is a wonderful thing for the soul. I just don't like overdosing on it as it turns to boredom for me. Love fishing, love being around people too. Just need a balance of both to be happy is what I've discovered about myself.

this is wonderful insight.  thanks for sharing.  

[Spankey]

I’m fairly new to retirement (last June). I don’t fish day and night, I have other various things I have to do at home. But I do get out when I want to vs. when I can. There is a big difference between the two. 
 

At 3:30 this afternoon I’ll be at my oldest daughters house picking up my middle grandson after school. We’ll go down to the creek and cover about a mile of it for some trout. Weather has been terrible and creek conditions not great due to recent rain. But fishable. Priceless time, couldn’t do that when I was working during a weekday. Our last time out before rain kicked in they were hitting Rapala ultra lites. That’s what we are gonna start off with and take it from there. 

[Darth-Baiter]

21 minutes ago, Spankey said:

I’m fairly new to retirement (last June). I don’t fish day and night, I have other various things I have to do at home. But I do get out when I want to vs. when I can. There is a big difference between the two. 
 

At 3:30 this afternoon I’ll be at my oldest daughters house picking up my middle grandson after school. We’ll go down to the creek and cover about a mile of it for some trout. Weather has been terrible and creek conditions not great due to recent rain. But fishable. Priceless time, couldn’t do that when I was working during a weekday. Our last time out before rain kicked in they were hitting Rapala ultra lites. That’s what we are gonna start off with and take it from there. 

this sounds awesome.  

[Smirak]

I am retired/disabled at 48. I suffer from severe PTSD (thanks Iraq). I’m a 100% SCDV and draw my SS as well. Funny thing is that I make nearly as much in retirement/disability pay when I was making really good money working as a director for the man. That’s all thanks to no deductions/taxes. 
 

as for fishing, I can go nearly whenever I want. That is to say whenever the wife “allows” it.

[Scott F]

I retired due to a back issue which required surgery when I was 61. I fish considerably less after retirement than before. My bad back has kept me from wading as I can’t stand up for more than 20 minutes without having to sit down. Hard to find places to sit in the middle of the river.

Few people consider that by the time they reach retirement age that they may not be healthy enough to do all the stuff that they could do when they were younger. They also don’t know that they may not WANT to fish or golf or whatever every day either during retirement either. 

[VTFan]

I took early retirement in '09 when I was 53 yrs old and some time later I went to work part time, 3 days a week.  I did that for 11 years and by the time age 65 rolled along I honestly was hearing a little voice telling me... 'It's time'. The place I was working at was a local state park with a nice lake. Now I can go back fishing and not be envious of the boaters on the lake or be concerned with work. I do get bored occasionally but the stress level is near '0'.

[Catt]