Retirement: What am I going to do with myself?

I recently saw this question, followed by a series of answers. I decided to post what I thought was a pretty insightful answer.

I recently spent a few hours with a Corning retiree. He said the retirement transition takes time, and it isn't easy.

Question:

What am I going to do with myself?

I can retire in a year but with one kid just starting college, I'll likely wait 4 years until I'm 65; besides, I just received a huge pay increase to stay when I was being 'poached' by someone else. Saving like a madman!

I've worked odd hours, weekends, nights, holidays etc pretty much my whole life and still do. Once I retire, I've no clue what to do with my time other than play some golf. I manage a country club and see guys play literally every. single day - I'm not going to do that.

My wife is 4.5 years behind me and will probably work to 65 as well.

I'd like to find a hobby that won't require a lot of money/space and perhaps even sell something I can make/do in my spare time. I also plan to learn a language, probably Italian.

Any leads or ideas that might help me sort things? I'm just scratching the surface and have time but would like to spend any necessary funds, get trained, etc whilst still employed.

It was suggested I start a business taking golf groups to Ireland/Scotland as I do that now with club members. I've lived in both countries and have traveled there loads of times. It costs me nothing as I charge them enough to cover my costs which don't amount to much given free golf in most places due to my working in the industry. I just am stumped how to organize that and make money taking strangers.

Sorry for the rambling nature of my request and added info!

Insightful Answer:

I just retired in October and have not completed the obligatory six months of detoxification from being in the workforce. Detox can take up to two years.

The first thing that becomes apparent is that your deeply ingrained normalization of sticking to the grind is no longer necessary. This is a big part of your working self and a big part of the success you have achieved.

In retirement, you can choose whether to grind. I choose to grind with my fitness program Only.

Other aspects of the worker you are now become apparent in retirement. You need time to sort them out.

It's literally a discovery process.

In retirement, it's your new "job" to take the best care you can of yourself and your family and friends and loved ones. That means resting sometimes.

Work life rarely allows for rest. Lots of us stop working because we are made sick by it. This is an unfortunate reality of the system we live in.

Getting out of the workforce means figuring out who you really are and what you want to do (each day and with the time you have left) and who you want to be. It's sort of a gentle but huge undertaking.