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Well boys I pulled the trigger this morning

Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg

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and officially applied for my SS benefits. They said to expect my first check on the 3rd Wednesday of February which of course will be for the month of January. I'll work full time until that first check hits and then go to 2 days a week. The feeling is somewhat surreal. I've worked my entire life to include working during HS. In my senior year I actually worked the second shift at the cotton mill that now houses the State Museum. I don't know how I'm going to feel about all of this. Oh well...here I go. On to the next stage of my life.

 
Thanks for your contributions. Enjoy the free time. I hope SS makes it until I can retire.

 
My BIL did that two years ago.

He owns his own landscaping company and started having health issues and decided to dial it back some.

I believe he is only getting partial benefits because he still works some.

It seems to agree with him once he got used to it.

 
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The only constant is change... Or something like that.

It is always weird to make wholesale changes in your life, even if that's the plan. Some great advice I have heard relating to this is "Don't retire from something. Retire to something."

I have about ten years to go myself. Carpe Diem, my friend!

 
SwampFox said:
Stay busy. Too many people retire, do nothing, and are dead within 6 months.
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I've got plenty to do and plenty I want to do.  I started bike riding 4.5 years ago and have pedaled nearly 8500 miles in that time, I logged 2090 miles last year.  I also lift weights 3 times a week.  I plan on increasing both of those activities as well as helping out more around the house.  We also plan on doing some traveling.  As retired Army we can take space available flights to a number of places.

 
It's weird though, we've got to go get passports.  I've been to 14 countries and have never had a passport.

 
The only piece of advice that I can offer is that if there is one thing that you really enjoyed doing in your spare time when you were working (hunting, fishing, biking, etc.), only increase the time you do that activity by 20% or so once you retire.  Otherwise you risk burning out your love for that activity.  At least that's what I've been told.  Otherwise, carpe diem! (

Full credit to Catdaddy for "carpe dieming" first.  I thought it sounded pretty good, and then noticed I was probably thinking that because I had just read your post minutes before, lol).

 
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Blitzkrieg said:
It's weird though, we've got to go get passports.  I've been to 14 countries and have never had a passport.
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Be sure to get them well in advance of any trip. Wife and I had to expedite the processing (for a fee, of course) for our honeymoon cruise. We got them a week before we left.

I hope you enjoy the new free time!

 
I've got plenty to do and plenty I want to do.  I started bike riding 4.5 years ago and have pedaled nearly 8500 miles in that time, I logged 2090 miles last year.  I also lift weights 3 times a week.  I plan on increasing both of those activities as well as helping out more around the house.  We also plan on doing some traveling.  As retired Army we can take space available flights to a number of places.
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Do that often, but be prepared to have to rent a car on occasion to get to your destination. One of my cousins is a retired CMSGT who does that as much as he can. He has been to Hawaii numerous times, as well as Las Vegas. He lives in Summerville so he tries to fly out of Charleston wherever possible. There was one trip where they ended up at MacDill and had to get a rental car to get home, as nothing was available flying into any SC bases.

My dad could have done that, as he was a retired SMSGT, but he never did. Since he passed away in 2004, Mom is out of luck on that benefit, as military widows are not permitted to fly on the cargo planes.

 
SwampFox said:
Do that often, but be prepared to have to rent a car on occasion to get to your destination. One of my cousins is a retired CMSGT who does that as much as he can. He has been to Hawaii numerous times, as well as Las Vegas. He lives in Summerville so he tries to fly out of Charleston wherever possible. There was one trip where they ended up at MacDill and had to get a rental car to get home, as nothing was available flying into any SC bases.

My dad could have done that, as he was a retired SMSGT, but he never did. Since he passed away in 2004, Mom is out of luck on that benefit, as military widows are not permitted to fly on the cargo planes.
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Yeah, there's a flight that leaves out of Charleston every Wednesday for Rota, Spain.  We're interested in taking that flight.

 
Welcome to geezerhood.  Lots of freedom time-wise.  Lots of boredom and poverty too.  It is an adjustment.  Find some good uses for your new found spare time.  Grab every old fart discount you can find.  Have fun!

 
TheYancey said:
Welcome to geezerhood.  Lots of freedom time-wise.  Lots of boredom and poverty too.  It is an adjustment.  Find some good uses for your new found spare time.  Grab every old fart discount you can find.  Have fun!
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LMAO!

...old fart discounts.

 
Blitzkrieg said:
I've got plenty to do and plenty I want to do.  I started bike riding 4.5 years ago and have pedaled nearly 8500 miles in that time, I logged 2090 miles last year.  I also lift weights 3 times a week.  I plan on increasing both of those activities as well as helping out more around the house.  We also plan on doing some traveling.  As retired Army we can take space available flights to a number of places.
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Congrats....consider taking some weekly hikes in the mtns somewhere. 

Also, if you haven't traveled out west, it's full of hidden treasures. The National Parks are amazing. You can do AirBnb/VRBOs and stay in some areas for extended times to maximize your budget. You can get to some good stuff in under 3 days by car. 

 
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