I’ve been off the grid for the past week or so visiting family, and I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit I’ve missed my retirement routine. Travel feels more like work. Plus, visiting family typically requires my auxiliary power, which can be exhausting.
Dale and I saw a good bit of the world when we were younger, so we don’t have a travel Jones like many retirees. We’re pretty much homebodies.
Part of being a homebody is the pleasure of sleeping in your own bed and eating your own food, and that’s probably what I’ve missed the most. I also like setting my own agenda. When I’m on the road, I find it’s easy to get sucked into doing stuff I don’t really want to do.
I suppose there’s an upside to getting outside your comfort zone, but in my first year of retirement, I’ve been sort of selfish and all about my personal comfort. Maybe playing well with others will come later.
The other thing about travel is watching money fly out the window. Airfare and meals out add up. We have a slush fund so we can enjoy a trip without worrying about money, but I still hate spending it. We had a horrible meal at the airport, and I won’t even reveal how much it cost. On the other hand, we’ve had a couple of nice meals out, so it’s not all bad. Still, I’m cheap.
All in all, it has been a good trip, but I’m ready to go home. I miss the kitty, although the cat sitter texted a picture of them practically smooching, so I’m not sure he misses us.
I admire the retirement road warriors, but that is not the life for me. Which one are you? Homebody, road warrior or something in between?
I am mostly a homebody. When my retirement was pending, the #1 question was – what will you do? followed by – will you travel? Like you, I am a homebody. For >34 yrs, time at home was at a premium. It seemed like I was always punching the clock to get things done at home while working FT. I would spend many “vacations” at home. My retirement feels a little bit like a perpetual vacation being able to indulge in my homemaking without the time constraints. After any vacation near or far, I always relish sleeping in my own bed. I’ve learned that I’m good for 2 weeks away from home then I start to get a little antsy thinking it’s time to get home. I think one of the best things about a trip away is the increased appreciation I have for my home.
Well said, Mona. I don’t think I could last two weeks, though. Week max.
Like Monda, I am mainly a homebody. I travel to my daughter and visit her at least two long times a year, and try for a couple weeks of vacaation twice a year. But honestly I’ve been talking about taking a long train trip for 30 days for a few years now, and I’ve not done it..and not for financial reasons. I do miss the beach and would like a week at the shore, but other than that I prefer a three day trip here and there, like my birthday trip to Santa Fe in October. However, like you, due to Husband’s job and so on, I got lots and lots of travel in earlier in life.
Yes, I like the idea of a three-day trip or something along those lines. This was a cross-country trek.
I am a homebody too. As you, we did travel a lot when we were younger and had cashflow on a regular basis. But Idon’t miss it not at all.
If we travel, than it’s not more than one week. Everything else is too exhausting (hate flights, like trains).
BTW, again it wasn’t possible to postcomments.
It’s funny how many of us are homebodies. It seems like everyone thinks all retirees just want to travel. About the comments — I will look into it again. Sigh!
Sorry for the typos.
Total homebody. I did enough traveling and now I just want to be home making art and riding my bike. I have to go back east this week and I am not looking forward to it at all. But that is the price I pay for moving 2600 miles away from my family.
Yes, we just went from California to Maine and back. The price we pay for being away from half the family anyway. At home making art sounds wonderful.
We’ve traveled a lot in our working days. We travel some, now, in retirement, but it seems less as each year passses. BEFORE retirement we “dreamed” of taking off for a month here or there.. but IN retirement, neither of us has the urge to be gone from home that long!!! We enjoy shorter trips the best, 3-5 days here and there. Last year we did do a relaxed one week fun trip over thanksgiving to Santa Fe..we rented an airbnb and I cooked many of our meals, but we enjoyed a few good times out too. I also have been visiting high school girlfriends I have reconnected with—have a 5 day trip to Cincinnati coming up with 2 friends, for some art,cooking and girlfriend time on friend’s porch. My husband and I both have many hobbies and we volunteer. We read. We exercise.Arizona is a ahaven for hiking and outdoors activities MOST of the year (NOT RIGHT NOW!!) so we enjoy a happy retirement right at away home most of the time!
Madeline — your retirement sounds great! I’m surprised how many of us are homebodies.