Did your parents change once they retired?

My dad died in 1975, so he wasn’t there for his or her retirement. My mom didn’t really change. She was pretty sick most of her life but still rode a bus to work everyday.

@chyna Still?

@rebbel Oops, rode a bus until she retired about 15 years ago.

They went golfing and on trips a lot more than before retirement.
Then my mom’s health went south and that slowed things down.
As for personality changes? None that I saw except I realized just how strong my demure, ladylike mother really was and just how much my dad loved her.

Well, my folks were divorced when dad retired.
He moved to an island in Florida and never looked back. I saw him maybe 5 time from when he retired in 1992 until he died in 2005.

Mom fled to Seattle after the divorce because she wanted to be with her family. She retired in 1995 and actually moved back here for a few years before she died in 2006. She was trying to have some semblance of being a gramma I guess.

@chyna I felt sorry for your mom; still having to work at, what I guessed, around her 75th year…
(I have you about my age, so I had your mom’s age around my mom’s).

Edit: Ah, now I see in another thread that your mom has died in 2011….

Yeah she was 80 when she died.

So she did work for years after her retirement age (assuming that’s 65)?
Wow…

My mom died at 56. My dad hasn’t retired yet. And if he’s anything like my grandfather was he probably never truly will.

Yeah, into their pyjamas mostly.

My mother retired at 62, I think. Coincidentally, I was pregnant at the time. She babysat a lot for my daughter, and she loved being a grandma. She died at age 74. My stepfather told me on the day of her funeral “The best gift you ever gave your mother was that little girl.”

Mom was a mother/homemaker/housewife who NEVER had the pleasure of retiring. Mom broke down crying when dad announced that he was retiring at 66. She feared that he’d take over HER house. I tried to coach her through HIS retirement!!!

The first week dad was home full time, he did try to tell mom a better way to do everything that she had been doing to suit him for over 40 years. On day 3, she looked at him & told him very matter of fact that HE had plenty of yard work that needed to be done & she’d appreciate it IF he’d take his ass outside & get his yard work done!!! For once in his life, he listened. After that he’d get up, eat breakfast, & then get ready to go do his yard work. Being outside, he was OFF Mom’s back & she was happier!!!

Once Mom & dad found their mutually agreed upon harmony, they BOTH were happy & NO they didn’t ever really change!!! Mom lived to be 83 & dad made it to 89. It seemed to me that they grew closer as they grew older!!!

My dad retired at 62 but was dead by 63. He dreamed about retiring for over a decade. Wanted to travel the world and get better at golf. Instead, he got sick and died.

I don’t know if my mother ever retired as she stopped talking to me three months after dad died.

Oh I am so sorry Cookie.

My parents “retired” – moved to Florida when they we in their early 60’s and immediately got their FL Realtors licenses and played golf every day often with clients. My dad then finally retired at 75 still invested in properties till he died at 78. My mom finally retired at 81 and died 9 months later. So no real time for or need for them to change. They were the same since I first remembered them till they passed.

I haven’t known many people who actually got to retire, and now retirement for many (including myself) is an impossibility.

My mother was forced to “retire” a couple of years ago after her employer screwed her out of her health insurance, leading to a heart attack and stroke. Her “retirement” has been living as a shell of her former self, with absolutely no money.

My father retired a few years ago, and almost immediately was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. His retirement has been a rapid decline in physical and mental ability.

Women never retire.

^^ no kidding.

“ I haven’t known many people who actually got to retire, and now retirement for many (including myself) is an impossibility.”

@hmmmmmmm: Same here. Everyone I know who retired either died soon after of just stayed home, watched TV, and was lonely and miserable.

This is why I busted my tail to get an associate professor’s gig. I can collect social security in 18 years at 65. By then, I’ll be a full professor, eligible for paid sabbaticals and only have to teach 2 classes per semester. Plus, summers off.

Figure if I’m gonna drop dead at work, it should at least be an easy enjoyable job.

My mother never gave advice as much as reacted to decisions I had made…and almost always negatively.
When I wanted to sell the house and move out of Wichita she said that was a bad idea because I needed the tax break on my income tax. I did it anyway.
Then, 4 years later, I was in the town I wanted to be in and ready to buy a house. Mom told me not to do that because I would be responsible for upkeep and wouldn’t have a landlord to pay for it.

I’ll answer my own Q.

My dad became more relaxed and less angry. Thank goodness.

I think my mom is happier now that she is retired. I’m not sure, but I think so.