My 5 FAVORITE THINGS about being retired (5 years in!)

Summary

Steve shares his top five favorite aspects of retirement five years after the fact. He highlights the joy of napping at will, no longer needing to shave daily, the freedom from dressing formally, having more time to connect with friends and family, and the ability to exercise without the constraints of a work schedule. His experiences reveal the unexpected pleasures of a retired life, sparking a conversation about personal preferences and the freedom retirement can bring.

Takeaways

• 🕒 Steve has been retired for 5 years, which he realized by chance as it happened gradually without a specific date.
• 🛌 One of Steve's favorite things about retirement is the freedom to take naps whenever he wants, something he couldn't do while working.
• 🧔 Steve enjoys not having to shave daily as he has a heavy beard that he prefers to keep clean-shaven, despite the inconvenience and his personal preference for the look.
• 👕 Retirement has allowed Steve to stop dressing up formally and wear casual clothes like tank tops, shorts, and flip-flops.
• 👫 With more free time, Steve can now spend more time with friends and family, although he acknowledges the challenge of coordinating schedules.
• 🚶‍♂️ Steve loves the ability to exercise, particularly walking, without the stress of fitting it into a busy work schedule.
• 💊 Steve mentions that his need to nap could be related to his medications, which might have a side effect of drowsiness.
• 🌞 Steve's retirement lifestyle includes moving to different spots to avoid the sun and glare while recording videos.
• 🏠 He has kept a few formal clothes for special occasions but has mostly given away his work clothes after retiring.
• 🤒 Steve recently recovered from a prolonged illness, which affected his usual routine and ability to exercise.
• ✂️ The freedom from daily work responsibilities is a common theme in Steve's and others' favorite aspects of retirement.

Q & A

How long has Steve been retired?

Steve has been retired for 5 years.

What was unique about Steve's retirement process?

Steve's retirement was different because it happened almost by accident due to external situations rather than a specific planned date.

At what age did Steve officially retire?

Steve officially retired at the age of 65, although he semi-retired the year before at 64.

What is Steve's favorite thing about being retired?

Steve's favorite thing about being retired is the ability to take naps at any time of the day.

Why did Steve never take naps before retirement?

Steve never took naps before retirement because he was always too busy with work and did not have time for naps.

What is one side effect of Steve's medication that could contribute to his desire to nap?

One of the side effects of Steve's medication, specifically his cholesterol medication, could be drowsiness, contributing to his desire to nap.

How often does Steve shave now that he is retired?

Steve now shaves only once a week, sometimes twice, but much less frequently than when he was working and had to meet with clients daily.

What is Steve's typical attire since retiring?

Steve's typical attire since retiring is a tank top, pair of shorts, and flip-flops, or sometimes even less.

What has Steve done to fulfill his New Year's resolution regarding friends and family?

Steve has visited a couple of cousins and old friends to fulfill his New Year's resolution of spending more time with those he hadn't seen in a long time.

How has Steve's exercise routine changed since retiring?

Since retiring, Steve has more time to walk and can do so without stress. He enjoys taking long, leisurely walks for hours if he wishes.

What health issue has Steve recently faced that affected his ability to walk?

Steve has recently been sick with COVID-19 for over a month, which affected his ability to walk and caused him to miss his daily walks.

What is Steve's suggestion for others to think about regarding retirement?

Steve suggests that others think about what their favorite things might be in retirement, as it can be an opportunity to discover new pleasures in life.