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For many working Americans, retirement is a dream filled with freedom, hobbies, and travel plans. But for one retiree, the most common question he gets \u2014 “So, how do you like retirement?” \u2014 never stops making him laugh.<\/p>\n
He wrote, on Reddit’s r\/retirement forum<\/a>, that the question always surprises him because he can’t tell whether people are serious. “I loved my job and I loved my career,” he said. “What I love more though is not having a job. Every day is mine. I do what I want, when I want, if I want.”<\/p>\n Don’t Miss:<\/p>\n Adjusting to Life After Work<\/p>\n This retiree explained that his transition from work to retirement<\/a> wasn’t instant. “Took me a few years to get here,” he said. “OK, maybe a few decades. But it’s great.”<\/p>\n It took time to get to a place where he felt fully content. He credits that peace to having a supportive family, good health, and a modest but stable financial foundation.<\/p>\n “We’re far from wealthy,” he wrote. “We live in a small house, but it’s ours. We have everything we need.”<\/p>\n Other Reddit users chimed in to share their own experiences. One person described retirement as being “like a teenager with money and wrinkles.” Another added that the only thing they miss about work is “being young and working.”<\/p>\n While some said they were initially nervous about the transition, most agreed that the freedom and reduced stress make retirement worth the adjustment. “Now that I’m retired, I realize I should have retired years sooner,” one commenter wrote.<\/p>\n Trending: Warren Buffett once said, “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” Here\u2019s how you can earn passive income with just $100.<\/a><\/p>\n Freedom \u2014 With a New Kind of Structure<\/p>\n The original poster, who spent 40 years in the same career, admitted that it took time to get used to life without the routines of work. “We are raised and taught to be workers,” he said. “I spent my whole life thinking I would be a worker and then suddenly one day… I just get to live.”<\/p>\n Still, he’s found joy in the unstructured days \u2014 even poking fun at them: “It’s really hard deciding if I wanna hike, kayak, or garden,” he joked. “I have far too many social engagements, listen to way too much live music, and have to spend more time with my wife, children, and grandchild.”<\/p>\n What Makes Retirees Happiest<\/p>\n Research backs up many of these observations. Most retirees are happier than they were while working \u2014 particularly those who planned ahead financially and emotionally, according to a 2024 MassMutual Retirement Happiness Study<\/a>.<\/p>\n See Also: Missed Nvidia and Tesla? RAD Intel Could Be the Next AI Powerhouse \u2014 Invest Now at Just $0.81 a Share<\/a><\/p>\n According to the study, retirees who feel “much happier” in retirement are more likely to spend their time socializing, exercising, and pursuing hobbies. Those who report loneliness \u2014 about one-third of respondents \u2014 often didn’t focus on building social connections before leaving the workforce.<\/p>\n “The happiest retirees invest not just in their financial futures but also in their social circles and physical health long before retirement,” said Paul LaPiana, head of brand, product, and affiliated distribution at MassMutual.<\/p>\n Finding the Balance<\/p>\n The Reddit retiree’s story highlights that a fulfilling retirement<\/a> isn’t about luxury or endless leisure. It’s about stability, relationships, and choice. As he put it, “Every day is mine.”<\/p>\n So, how does he like retirement? His answer, delivered with a smile: “It’s great.”<\/p>\n Read Next: Backed by $300M+ in Assets and Microsoft’s Climate Fund, Farmland LP Opens Vital Farmland III to Accredited Investors<\/a><\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock<\/p>\n This article ‘So, How Do You Like Retirement?’ \u2014 One Retiree Shares Why That’s The Funniest Question He Gets<\/a> originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. 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