Wow. Well, I hope the shock goes away and the enjoyment increases. I am "semi-retired" and self-employed. I LOVE my life and the fact that I completely control my time and my commitments.

So good, enjoy it. I retired a few times, am counting down the weeks hoping this next one will last. I have expensive habits apparently. Called wives and girlfriends.

Retired at 53. The best revenge.Oh how sweet it is living well. Not all adjust well to the transition.
Gotta have a plan & a plan B. AARP can help. Lots of relevancy & references. Win the race. Slow & steady.

Was it Marvn Gaye singing "Freedom!" ? - yeah, when we get there, we know it. I could count the grievances over and over -- or just accept the fact that I was lucky enough to make it out w/o having to trade my "soul" for a job. Too many gave any sense of integrity and idealism to gain so little.

Enjoy the life -- but find a path to your next future -- those that sit on the front porch in a rocker die way too soon - those that get involved w/ their community/friends/clubs/hobbies -- live long and prosper.

Happy retirement, Bob! Nice to see you posting again!

Congrats! Enjoy the shit out of it!! LOL

Freedom at last. Enjoy it.

welcome to your new adventures you never retire you just move to a new role

I hadn't planned on retiring, but had health issues.

Know how you feel Bob- have dreams most nights about working again. 6 years for me.

I was lucky I was able to retire at 56. It was easy for me as I had already started to volunteer. This idea is so underappreciated and needs to be touted. Find something you like and volunteer. You can do what you want, when you want and under the circumstances you pick. Sometimes there arises the chance to even make some money. Too many look at retirement as simply sitting on the couch and wait to die. It can be the most satisfying time of your life!!

Now you can relax and you can take long vacations. I want to go to Hawaii.

SO VERY FORTUNATE to have been retired at an early age (corporate buy-out!) I learned that you can now decide who you really are and who you want to be for the rest of your life. My suggestion? Volunteer! I volunteer at a major zoo, doing tours/research/helping to assemble diets, etc. And..I'm at Planned Parenthood (hugely satisfying) and also volunteer at the local historical society (where they let me poke around in their collections!) I've seen many of my former colleagues retire and notice that those who just sit around often die sooner than expected. Those who volunteer are youthful, active and happy. Good for you!

Time to do those things you couldn't afford to do....for example, work in theater, I or a florist shop, or ??
That way you can find structure, make a few bucks, and enjoy your "work"

I’m looking forward to that, myself. 20something years to go...

It shouldn’t stop you from being around people though.