To The Retired Blokes.

[Termite]

Well thanks for all your replys folks. They have helped me to start putting things into perspective and I'll give a new attitude a go. I know I've earned retirement, it's just this little niggle that wont go away.
Yes, retirement was thrust upon me through the company I worked for folding up, and then being declared medically unfit for work.
The idea of volunteer work sounds very good as it may be my self esteem has taken a bit of a hit.
Daddles the idea of building a boat sounds good but I've been there and done that as at one point in my life I helped on 3 40-50 foot fishing trawlers and the old Norwegian boatbuilder could do things with a broad axe and adze that you wouldn't believe. I've currently got a 15" Quintrex with a 50hp 4 stroke on it, nice but doesn't have the "character" of woodie.

Once again, thanks all, just airing the issue has helped.

[Ashore]

HI Termite
When I retired 10 or so years ago , I was 3 months into it and realized that for the first time since the day I left school I was un employed
My worry was do we have enough or not so I took up some part time work . Every job turned into full time in a matter of weeks.
12 months later I was working on a dredge of a day and lectureing at night and weekends in the shed
Shmbo finally said enough you didn't retire to work
So I stopped, realized we could survive, not flamboyant lifestyle but a good one
I have talked about this with other mates who have since retired and they all went through the same phase after about 3 months
So I guess having doubts after 3 or so months is pretty common when you have alwayse been employed



Rgds


Ashore

[Redback]

I dream of retirement. Yet Ive still got possibly 30 years to go

Also, as someone else said, make the most of it, my Dad passed away suddenly at age 54, poor bugger worked his butt off all his life and never got to enjoy a second of retirement

[arose62]

Termite,

the solution to your problem is simple and clear. You only have to do a search on this board, looking at your posts, and it's blatantly obvious....

You Need A Lathe !!

And, semi-seriously, I wonder if you're needing to change where you get approval from. As a 'worker', your boss 'approves' of you every time you get paid. If you've got a good work environment, you might get verbal approval, or bonuses/awards etc.

Retired, you can feel like you're not contributing any longer, hence maybe not a worthwhile person anymore. I think this is what leads to volunteer work's attraction. (Well, I felt better helping out the Spotted Frog during my last retirement...)

Maybe you could give bandsaw lessons??

Cheers,
Andrew

[Termite]

Termite,

the solution to your problem is simple and clear. You only have to do a search on this board, looking at your posts, and it's blatantly obvious....

You Need A Lathe !!

Andrew, the next time you're taking the little cutie for a walk would you like to drop in and have a few words with SWMBO.

I like the thought on the "Spotted Frog" it's just down the end of the road, and after a day with me the little ones won't think their own father is such a bad bloke after all.

Bandsaw Lessons, free to all that wants 'em. If you've got a spare 2 minutes I can teach you all I know.

[arose62]

I'd better clarify the Spotted Frog bit - I was using my IT skills, setting up and fixing their PCs, not moulding the young minds.

Occasionally I'd fix a wooden toy for them, if the guy next door to them was a bit busy.

A guy from my last job hooked up with a childcare centre upon retirement, and is so busy making and fixing wooden toys for them that his wife happily approves new tool purchases ("it's for the little dears" is his magic phrase!)

Also, your posting rate here seems to have jumped - anything to do with having broadband ???

Cheers,
Andrew

[shrek]

All advice, sensible, humourous, crazy, or insulting, will be welcomed.

Because I'm such a good bloke I've decided to help you out with your problem. I'll let you come and do my work and deal with all the crap, and I'll stay at home, work in the shed and play golf. And I wont even charge you for this generous offer.

Seriously though - Volunteering can be lots of fun. I am a volunteer firefighter and I love being involved. Only problem is work keeps getting in the way. I'm on the brigade executive and we often comment at our meetings that being involved in the running of the brigade would be so much easier if we didn't have to go to work. I'm sure that any volunteer organisation would greatfully accept any offer of help.

[Termite]

Also, your posting rate here seems to have jumped - anything to do with having broadband ???

With 2 gig of download and uncharged upload "I am pigging out." Also one of the nerves in my right arm is on the fritz at the moment so I've been banned from the shed.

[ptc]

Termite.
It took me three years to get over it.
and i was my own boss !
in time it fades away.

[arose62]

Also one of the nerves in my right arm is on the fritz at the moment so I've been banned from the shed.

And what do all the other nerves think about this ???

We're in Australia, a democracy - doesn't majority rule any more ??

Cheers,
Andrew

[Termite]

And what do all the other nerves think about this ???
We're in Australia, a democracy - doesn't majority rule any more ??
Cheers,
Andrew

The majority took a vote and went out in sympathy.

[RETIRED]

AHA, an arm of the Union?

[Cliff Rogers]

Not very Labor (labour) orientated are they.

[savage]

Well thanks for all your replys folks. They have helped me to start putting things into perspective and I'll give a new attitude a go. I know I've earned retirement, it's just this little niggle that wont go away.
Yes, retirement was thrust upon me through the company I worked for folding up, and then being declared medically unfit for work.
I've currently got a 15" Quintrex with a 50hp 4 stroke on it, nice but doesn't have the "character" of woodie.

Once again, thanks all, just airing the issue has helped.

Termite,
I can understand where you are coming from, I too am in a similar situation as your self. Although a little younger, I was put out to pasture on medical grounds and never thought about retirement, as I knew I had atleast 10yrs to go. But I was wrong, and had a bad time for a few years coping with it, sever depression was a real bummer, as I felt I'd let my family down so badly and was a failure. Finally a pain psycologist (theres a H in there somewhere) told me it's not my fault and with medication I got better. Retirement has to be planned and planned well, my Dad didn't and slowly drank himself to death over several years, plus gave mum a hard time. Now I look at life as I've done the my bit and did it the best that I could, I was a good employee, honest, punctual and did all that was asked of me (within good judgement), and bugger it I don't feel guilty because I've got nothing to be guilty about. I reckon you have done your bit too, so enjoy the time at hand and ahead, or it will eat at you, if you are having trouble talk to your G.P. and see a counselor, they are great people and a big help (your not crazy), just need a little help adjusting to a new way of life. REMEMBER
savage(Eric)
P.S. heres a greeny to help

[Chesand]

Termite
I agree with all of the above
When I voluntarily retired to part-time several years ago I found that I had to put a little structure into my life so I used to plan to do tasks that I could fit into the mornings before I worked in the afternoons. Otherwise I found myself just wasting the time and not getting anywhere.
Now if I don't feel like doing anything on a particular day it waits.
I make a list of jobs to do - if the one at the top is not done in 3 months it goes to the bottom of the list.
I saw my father not able to enjoy his retirement so I determined that I was not going down that track.
Enjoy your time.