The retirement years

[Basil]

Thought I might start a thread on this for those who are already retired / semi-retired like me or nearing retirement.  A place to swap tips and idea's about a happy and satisfying retirement.
In the last 6 months as I've posted elsewhere, we've got back into boating and got back into having a dog.  Both have significantly increased our sense of wellbeing, and both were desperately needed after the long grind of years of Covid.  Mrs hound seems a little grumpy that Tony the Pony seems to be a one man dog but it is what it is and I'm the one that walks him the most.

So what tips, tricks and idea's do you have to make for a happy, satisfying retirement?
Here's a Harvard study that draws a conclusion that's probably obvious to all of us already but nonetheless is worth posting.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/10/85-year-harvard-happiness-study-found-the-biggest-downside-of-retirement-that-no-one-talks-about.html 

[Shareguy]

Great topic.

We all want to be happy generally. I see and hear of too many people with great plans for retirement and then something unexpected comes up and either kills them or their dreams.

Like you, we have recently purchased our first launch.  I have learnt that boat stands for "bring on another $1000". While this certainly has been the case, boating gives my wife and I great enjoyment.

While money is important to give you the lifestyle you want. I  think there are to many of us stuck in ruts that live to work. Worldwide there has been a huge amount of people who have semi or fully retired early.  Covid has made people re access their life, which I guess is a positive from what has been a difficult few years. 

With money being one of the largest stressors in life, having a financial plan of sorts helps me relax and enjoy life.  I am well diversified which gives me peace of mind so I can sleep well.

We both love travel so it's a great feeling when you have a few trips booked for the year. I have also thought long and hard on what gives me enjoyment and what does not, and have made a conscious effort to avoid where possible things that we don't like.

In business even if it costs us we avoid people that are difficult and hard to deal with. Life is to short for that.

[Basil]

Great to hear your enjoying your launch Shareguy.

Interesting what you say about avoiding those who carry a lot of negativism and negative energy around with them.  I agree, life is too short.  On a fine morning there's nothing I would rather do than take "The Pony" as I affectionately refer to him, for a walk in the local dog park where he can run around off leash and mix with all the other dogs.  He's such a big boy but so laid back and friendly.  This morning I was asked if his name was "Bear" lol
https://barkbag.co.nz/blog/auckland-dog-walks-craigavon-park/
Such a beautiful park and everyone you meet seems to be in a really positive mood enjoying nature and seeing their dog mix and mingle with other dog's and there's lots of positive energy and friendliness abounding.  The physical and mental health benefits of regular good walks in beautiful places is something that cannot be overstated.  Met a lovely couple today in their 70's this morning.  They walk their dogs every day which gave me something to think about because I sometimes skip days I am feeling a bit tired or stiff.  Best solution to keeping well as you get older is to walk your dog every day he said.

The other highlight this summer has been entertaining on the boat and also the overnight trips where Mrs hound and I can relax and enjoy the golden hour sunset with a few drinks.  That last hour or so of the evening in a calm bay anchored up somewhere nice is absolute bliss.    As you alluded too with travel, it's nice to have something to plan and look forward too.  I reckon boat, campervan, tenting or whatever, one of the very best things to do in retirement is get out and about and really enjoy spending time in nature in beautiful places.  Its food for the soul.

[Shareguy]

Yes walking works for me too. Can't beat nature at its finest. The last few hours in the evenings are magic. Always interesting watching the comings and goings while enjoying a few cold ones.

[Stoploss]

Great topic and it has always fascinated me , as it's a bit of an unknown.IE: You may live to 90 in that case you will need X for retirement. On the other hand if it's 65 , maybe party till like it's 1999.But generally you don't know.
Having my parents and my wifes parents all passing away at a relatively young age ,I came to the conclusion I wasn't going to be bothered if I was poorish when I was 80 .So we do what we want when we want now . Working out ok so far , another thing talking to older people is they have generally been supportive of the approach .They say "do it while you can"
  Here is a guide that is 250 pages you can download to help with your retirement planning.
 https://bizxtra.co.nz/downloads/

S/L

[Basil]

Thanks a lot for the guide Stoploss, will look through that in due course.  As you suggest, the amount of years you have is unknown as is the question of how many of them are you going to be healthy for?  What's the point of lying in a bed, incontinent, waiting for the nurse to change your nappies and unable to walk in your late 80's with $10m in investments?  I think you are right to enjoy yourself along the journey of life and enjoy the fruits of your work.

To be honest I have done that all my life and didn't really get serious about saving for retirement until I was 50, about 11 years ago.  One thing that's occurred to me at 61 is my health isn't going to be the same at 70 or 80 or if I make it that far, 90, as it is now so there is a sense of enjoy your retirement, (in my case semi-retirement at this stage), while you have the health to do so.

There are a lot of lifespan calculators out there, google "lifespan expectancy calculator" and take your pick, where you enter things like your current age, weight, do you smoke, how often do your exercise, what age did your parents die and so on and they give you an estimate.  I entered my details in one or two calculators a while ago and because I am a fat Beagle I got answers in the low 80's despite my parents living to 88 and 91 respectively.  I realise if I want longer I need to change my lifestyle and eating habits and walking Tony the Pony almost every day is certainly helping.  This morning I really didn't feel like a walk but he is such a handsome big dog and he looked at me with those big eyes and told me he really wanted to go to the dog park again so what's a guy to do lol

[BlackPeter]

...

To be honest I have done that all my life and didn't really get serious about saving for retirement until I was 50, about 11 years ago.  One thing that's occurred to me at 61 is my health isn't going to be the same at 70 or 80 or if I make it that far, 90, as it is now so there is a sense of enjoy your retirement, (in my case semi-retirement at this stage), while you have the health to do so.

...

Somehow off the screen of financials, but one thing worthwhile remembering is that each of us have a large influence over their future health. While it is true that "sh*t happens", people who don't smoke, drink only in moderation, keep their weight below the obesity limit and exercise regularly have a significantly higher chance to enjoy not just a longer life but stay as well longer healthy.

My father in law just turned 90 last year - and just won recently a regional chess championship. He still works as well (part time these days) in a saw mill. Used to be his own, now belongs to his grandson. Hard physical work ... but hey, he is fit and enjoys his life.

Unlikely he will need for a long time anybody changing his nappies ...

Just a thought.

[Basil]

A good thought BP, thanks.

[KW]

Somehow off the screen of financials, but one thing worthwhile remembering is that each of us have a large influence over their future health. While it is true that "sh*t happens", people who don't smoke, drink only in moderation, keep their weight below the obesity limit and exercise regularly have a significantly higher chance to enjoy not just a longer life but stay as well longer healthy.

On that subject, https://www.zerohedge.com/political/theres-no-such-thing-healthy-obesity

Obesity is the number one risk factor for severe covid, and long covid.  Yet Govts and the medical establishment are so hell bent on being politically correct that no-one even mentioned it.  Instead of 3years of lockdowns preventing people exercising, people going to weightwatchers meetings, shutting down gastric bypass surgeries, and stopping kids from running around playgrounds, they could have been promoting diets and exercise as a way of combatting covid, but they didnt.  What a wasted opportunity.  Fear of immediate death might have been an obesity game changer.

[Untamed]

If you are going to make claims like that you need to provide a link to an official or at least, reputable, medical source. Not a source like this one that appears to exist purely to be a "disruptive journalism" site.

I fully acknowledge that obesity is a major health issue, and increases one's chance of becoming very unwell with Covid, but I have seen zero evidence that obesity is the number one risk for Covid. Whatever that even means.

On that subject, https://www.zerohedge.com/political/theres-no-such-thing-healthy-obesity

Obesity is the number one risk factor for severe covid, and long covid.  Yet Govts and the medical establishment are so hell bent on being politically correct that no-one even mentioned it.  Instead of 3years of lockdowns preventing people exercising, people going to weightwatchers meetings, shutting down gastric bypass surgeries, and stopping kids from running around playgrounds, they could have been promoting diets and exercise as a way of combatting covid, but they didnt.  What a wasted opportunity.  Fear of immediate death might have been an obesity game changer.

[KW]

If you are going to make claims like that you need to provide a link to an official or at least, reputable, medical source. Not a source like this one that appears to exist purely to be a "disruptive journalism" site.

I fully acknowledge that obesity is a major health issue, and increases one's chance of becoming very unwell with Covid, but I have seen zero evidence that obesity is the number one risk for Covid. Whatever that even means.

Not sure what you are going on about, its simply a news article reporting on medical research, you can follow the links within the article yourself to read the medical sources.

As for obesity being the major risk factor for covid, a simple Google search will prove that, its not exactly a "conspiracy theory" but you can start here
https://www.science.org/content/article/why-covid-19-more-deadly-people-obesity-even-if-theyre-young

[Untamed]

You claimed it was the number one risk for Covid. I am simply disputing that statement. It is a major risk factor but I can find no evidence that it is the highest risk factor.

Not sure what you are going on about, its simply a news article reporting on medical research, you can follow the links within the article yourself to read the medical sources.

As for obesity being the major risk factor for covid, a simple Google search will prove that, its not exactly a "conspiracy theory" but you can start here
https://www.science.org/content/article/why-covid-19-more-deadly-people-obesity-even-if-theyre-young

[KW]

You claimed it was the number one risk for Covid. I am simply disputing that statement. It is a major risk factor but I can find no evidence that it is the highest risk factor.

"The greatest risk of developing severe COVID-19 and being hospitalized with the disease or dying of it was in patients with the highest body mass index (BMI) scores, according to a CDC report."
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2779186

Obesity is the Biggest Risk Factor for COVID Complications in Children
https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/obesity-biggest-risk-factor-covid-complications-children

[Untamed]

While the article you link to does state that, the CDC report does not. Nowhere in that report does it claim that obesity is the number one or highest risk factor for any aspect of Covid. I am talking about adults here, not children.

The report also makes it clear that:

A sensitivity analysis showed weaker associations between BMI category and severe COVID-19–associated illness when adjusted for other underlying medical conditions, particularly among patients aged ≥65 years

Given that a large percentage of adults over 65 will have at least one underlying medical condition, the above sensitivity analysis statement is an important one and cannot be ignored.

Anyway, no need for us to argue. I posted purely because emotive statements such as yours are misleading. Anyone reading your post could be forgiven for believing that their obesity provides a far greater risk, than their lung cancer, auto immune disease or any other medical condition. Which, is simply not true.

"The greatest risk of developing severe COVID-19 and being hospitalized with the disease or dying of it was in patients with the highest body mass index (BMI) scores, according to a CDC report."
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2779186

Obesity is the Biggest Risk Factor for COVID Complications in Children
https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/obesity-biggest-risk-factor-covid-complications-children

[ShiningStar]

While the article you link to does state that, the CDC report does not. Nowhere in that report does it claim that obesity is the number one or highest risk factor for any aspect of Covid. I am talking about adults here, not children.

The report also makes it clear that:

A sensitivity analysis showed weaker associations between BMI category and severe COVID-19–associated illness when adjusted for other underlying medical conditions, particularly among patients aged ≥65 years

Given that a large percentage of adults over 65 will have at least one underlying medical condition, the above sensitivity analysis statement is an important one and cannot be ignored.

Anyway, no need for us to argue. I posted purely because emotive statements such as yours are misleading. Anyone reading your post could be forgiven for believing that their obesity provides a far greater risk, than their lung cancer, auto immune disease or any other medical condition. Which, is simply not true.

Agree with you untamed. I think the point of KWs post was to bag the governments handling of Covid, once again