Re: How much time do you spend not working?
I retired 5 1/2 years ago, so didn't respond to poll. Now doing volunteer work in addition to keeping up with our two golden retrievers and helping elderly mother.
Thing is, back when I was working as a mainframe computer consultant, it used to drive me crazy how many people goofed off in the office. I was an outside contractor paid by the hour, so no goofing off for me. The worst offenders were employees of the various client companies I worked at. No big deal... at least not until their failure to get their projects done on time affected my projects. Too often I had to step in and help get their work done for them. I earned my keep, by golly, and have absolutely no regrets.
Knowing I wouldn't be able to put up with that for too many years, I followed the sage advice to not spend everything they pay you. Being self-employed, I didn't qualify for unemployment, so built my own rainy day fund and contributed the max to my retirement account. Also saved up for kids' college educations. Put three kids through college, paid off mortgage and retired early at age 55. Took care of failing father for the first three years until he passed away. Still living off that rainy day fund.
Soon after retiring I went through a little of that there "work withdrawal," but I'm all better now!
