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I’ve been at my holiday home for 10 days now, feeling relaxed and enjoying myself. It’s the first ‘holiday’ since retirement. What piqued my interest, though, is a subtle but distinct difference: this break feels less intense, is probably the word, than vacations I took while still working. It’s not the same kind of escape. Has anyone else noticed this after retirement?
We have completed a 3,000 mile trek in our RV and are currently at our “lily pad” in Michigan. One thing we have noticed is that a change in venue allows us to alter habits. There are different things to do, see, and other travelers with whom we become reacquainted.
Different scenery, museums and history, and dining experiences too. Quite a shift from the Sonoran Desert to the shores of Lake Michigan. With travel come the opportunity to blog about our experiences.
Next week we’ll be in Chicago suburbs for a few days connecting with friends there. Perhaps on to the Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin’s Door County. In a few months we’ll head back to Arizona. Not certain what specific route we’ll take. We may link up with some Floridian’s.
WaHoo! I have been incentivized to experience as much as I can but with limitations; the kayak won’t be in the water this summer.
Norman,
While you are in the Chicago suburbs, try to get to The Morton Arboretum.
It’s a wonderful place.
Oh, yes. The Mort is one of our favorite places in the Western Suburbs. We lived nearby, took many, many hikes there, attended the events and were annual subscribers.
For anyone reading this it is 1,700 acres in Lisle IL and is adjacent to I-88 on Route IL-53. We preferred week days as it is quite the attraction on weekends, in the spring when the many daffodils bloom and then with the fall colors. There are long backups to enter at certain times.
To Mark Crothers, Greetings from Boston. Came from Cork City, moved here 40 years ago for the “American Dream”! Been retired for 20 months now, enjoying it very much. My husband retired last month. I totally notice a less intense ambience around vacations. They are no longer required in the same way as when I was working.The stress of managing all the loose ends prior to going away are no longer issues. Now planning a trip to Costa Rica.
Greetings from Ireland. Cork’s a lovely city to visit. People-watching at one of the little pubs beside the Lee with a Beamish in hand is a fine use of an hour.
Sounds like you miss the change from the stress of work to relaxation of vacation.
I literally retired while on vacation: We’re at the beach in Southern California for three weeks, and my official retirement date arrived about three days into the trip.
I’m only nine days into this, but yes, it feels different. While still working, I felt almost compulsive about needing to enjoy/take advantage of the break because the weight of responsibilities would be back soon enough. Now I know that when we get home in a couple of weeks, things won’t be much different than they are now—except for the absence of an ocean view whilst sipping my morning cup of joe.☕️
I’m not sure what “intense” means but there is a different feel on vacations during retirement. I’ve been retired for 2 years and we have traveled quite a bit during this time. The main difference I’ve noticed is being more relaxed during the time away, due to NOT needing to check work emails or keep in touch with the office while away. My DW used to say “ we’re not on vacation, it’s just a change in location”. To some extent that was how our vacations during working years felt. Also, not worrying about “returning to the office on Monday” at the end of vacation is a huge relief and helps to enjoy everyday of vacation.
I found that vacations in retirement are more enjoyable because you have plenty of time to prepare both planning where you want to go, what you want to do, how many days it will take to accomplish all you want to do, and to pack. We tend to plan an activity for 1/2 the day and then half the day is left open for spontaneous activities, or just sitting by the pool and reading. While on vacation days during my working years I always felt we had to pack as much into each day as days off were so limited, and thus a precious gift, and not to be wasted. Speaking of wasted days we learned after a few years to always come home one day before returning to work to rest up, catch up on chores, and prepare to return to the grind. OMG I’m starting to get stressed just thinking about that.
I’m still working, only 54, but planning and dreaming of that early retirement…I can only live vicariously through your writing and comments while I dream dream dream…
Keep dreaming, it will suddenly appear in front of you 😊
I’m now heading to try paddle boarding for the first time!
I’m at our beach house. Been retired since 2010. At this point we are used to the change. Every day is less intense and every day retired it gets more relaxed and less thinking you must do something. I am at the point where i look forward to doing nothing
I just relax more here.
Well that sounds positive, bring it on!…. very very slowly 😉
I retired at the end of March 2025. Have not yet taken a vacation but hope to do one this fall. I’ll be more aware of how it feels thanks to your note.
Enjoy your retirement 👍