After ten years of retirement, I’ve realized something that might surprise people who watch a lot of retirement videos on YouTube.
I actually love being retired.
That doesn’t mean everything has been perfect. I’ve made financial mistakes, worried about money, and dealt with plenty of challenges along the way.
But it seems like everywhere I look, somebody is talking about retirement regrets, mistakes retirees make, or things they wish they’d done differently.
I’ve talked about those subjects myself.
This time, I wanted to do something different.
I wanted to talk about five things I absolutely love about my retirement.
And the interesting thing is that most of them don’t cost anything.
Retirement Happiness Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
I retired in 2016 at age 56. Now I’m 66, and my idea of a good retirement day is probably simpler than some people would expect.
I don’t need an expensive vacation every month. I don’t need a calendar filled with activities, and I certainly don’t need to be entertained every waking moment.
I’ve learned that enjoying retirement has a lot to do with having control over my time and enough financial security to appreciate it.
That’s also why I’ve questioned the idea that everyone needs a huge retirement nest egg. In How Much Money Do You Really Need to Retire?, I explained how my own experience differs from much of the conventional retirement advice.
But today isn’t about how much money you need.
It’s about what makes retirement worth enjoying.
Watch: 5 Things I Absolutely LOVE About My Retirement
In this video, I share five things I love most about retirement after ten years, including how my YouTube income has changed my financial situation and why the simplest parts of my day mean so much.
1. Financial Peace Has Made Retirement More Enjoyable
This is probably the biggest change in my retirement over the last few years.
For a long time, I lived almost entirely on Social Security.
I managed my expenses carefully, but there wasn’t much extra money left over. Some months were especially difficult because of the five-week stretches between Social Security deposits.
By the time that next payment arrived, I was often running very low on money.
That’s not a comfortable feeling.
Even when your bills are paid, constantly thinking about money takes something away from retirement.
You start questioning every purchase. You hesitate before making plans. Things you might enjoy become things you have to think twice about.
Then my YouTube channel started generating meaningful income.
I didn’t start Retired and Trying expecting to make a fortune. I started sharing my experiences, and eventually the channel grew into something that provided additional income.
It hasn’t made me wealthy.
But it has made an enormous difference in my peace of mind.
I explained the financial side in YouTube Income in Retirement: What I Actually Kept, including why the money deposited by YouTube isn’t necessarily the amount I get to keep.
The important thing is that I’m no longer constantly counting down the days until my next Social Security deposit.
That financial breathing room makes the other things I enjoy about retirement even better.
And there’s another benefit.
YouTube gives me a creative outlet, something to work on, and a community of people I enjoy interacting with.
Sometimes dealing with sponsors and production deadlines can be frustrating. But unlike my old working life, I have much more control over what I do.
That’s important to me.
As I explained in Why I Will Not Get a Job in Retirement, earning additional income doesn’t mean I want to return to a traditional job.
I enjoy working on something of my own.
2. I Love My Slow, Peaceful Retirement Mornings
There is something wonderful about waking up without having to rush anywhere.
No alarm clock demanding that I get out of bed.
No commute.
No worrying about being late.
I can get up, make my coffee, and enjoy the morning at my own pace.
Sometimes I check on my YouTube channel. Sometimes I read something or catch up on what’s happening.
And sometimes I simply sit there enjoying my coffee.
It might not sound particularly exciting, but I spent decades having my mornings controlled by a work schedule.
Now they’re mine.
One of the biggest benefits of retirement is having the freedom to decide how your day begins.
And I don’t think we always appreciate how valuable that is.
I’ve written about this slower pace before in Want to Walk in Retiree Shoes? What Retirement Really Feels Like.
The pace of retirement doesn’t have to resemble the pace of our working years.
For me, that’s a good thing.
3. My Daily Walks Are One of My Favorite Retirement Habits
Another thing I enjoy about retirement is getting outside for my daily walks.
I’m not doing anything particularly extraordinary.
I’m simply walking, getting some exercise, enjoying the fresh air, and having time to think.
Sometimes I come up with ideas for YouTube videos while I’m walking.
Other times I don’t think about anything important.
I just enjoy being outside.
At 66, I’ve become more aware of the importance of staying active.
There are things I could do easily when I was younger that aren’t quite so easy anymore.
And while I can’t control everything about getting older, I can make an effort to keep moving.
I also appreciate being able to walk when I want.
When you’re working, exercise often has to fit around everything else. You squeeze it in before work, after work, or whenever you can find the time.
In retirement, walking can simply become part of your day.
I’ve even taken that love of walking much further by completing the Camino de Santiago.
That was a different experience from walking around my neighborhood, but it reinforced something I already enjoyed.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is slow down and appreciate where you are.
4. Retirement Gives Me More Time to Be There for My Family
One of the things I appreciate most about being retired is being available for my daughter and grandchildren.
They have their own lives, responsibilities, and schedules.
I don’t expect to be involved in everything they do.
But when they need me, I generally have the freedom to help.
I don’t have to ask for time off work or explain to somebody why I need to rearrange my schedule.
I can simply be there.
That freedom means more to me as I get older.
Family relationships also require some effort. Just because you’re retired doesn’t automatically mean you’ll spend more time together.
I talked about that in I Realized I Was Drifting From My Family… So I Did This.
Sometimes staying connected means making the effort to visit, have dinner together, or spend a little time doing ordinary things.
Those moments matter.
And having the freedom to make time for them is one of the things I love about retirement.
5. I Can Take an Afternoon Nap Without Feeling Guilty
Now, this one might make you laugh.
But I absolutely love being able to take a nap whenever I feel like it.
If I’m tired in the afternoon, I can lie down for a while.
Nobody is expecting me to stay awake at a desk. Nobody is checking whether I’m being productive.
I don’t have to explain myself.
I can just take a nap.
And I don’t feel guilty about it.
After spending so many years working, I think it’s easy to carry that feeling that we should always be doing something.
We should be productive.
We should be accomplishing something.
We should be making the most of every minute.
But retirement doesn’t have to work that way.
Sometimes making the most of retirement means doing absolutely nothing.
I’ve talked about enjoying time at home in Please Don’t Invite Me. I Don’t Want to Put Pants On.
I enjoy getting out and doing things, but I’m also perfectly happy spending a quiet day at home.
And if that quiet day includes an afternoon nap, even better.
Why the Simple Things Matter More to Me Now
When I look at these five things together, I notice something interesting.
Most of what I love about retirement doesn’t require spending money.
Enjoying my morning coffee costs very little.
Going for a walk is free.
Being available for my family doesn’t require an expensive lifestyle.
And taking an afternoon nap certainly doesn’t cost anything.
The financial peace I’ve gained through YouTube is important because it helps me enjoy those things without constantly worrying about money.
But the money itself isn’t the entire point.
The point is having the freedom to live a life I’m comfortable with.
I’ve experienced different financial circumstances over the years, and one thing I’ve learned is that more money doesn’t automatically create an entirely different daily life.
I explored that idea in I Retired With No Savings… and Nothing Really Changed.
Money can certainly reduce stress and provide opportunities.
But being content with your everyday life is something different.
And after ten years of retirement, I’ve become increasingly comfortable with the simple life I’ve built.
Retirement Isn’t Perfect, but There’s a Lot to Love
I don’t want to give anyone the impression that my retirement has been one wonderful experience after another.
It hasn’t.
I’ve made mistakes. I’ve had financial challenges. I’ve dealt with health concerns and other problems that come with getting older.
And I’m sure there will be more challenges ahead.
But I also don’t think retirement conversations always need to focus on everything that can go wrong.
There are plenty of things that can go right.
Sometimes it’s nice to appreciate what we have instead of constantly worrying about what we don’t.
At 66, after ten years of retirement, I can honestly say that I enjoy my life.
It’s not extravagant.
It’s not especially exciting every day.
And it certainly isn’t perfect.
But it’s mine.
And that’s something I appreciate more and more.
What Do You Love Most About Retirement?
Now I’d love to hear from you.
If you’re already retired, what’s one thing you absolutely love about your retirement?
Maybe it’s sleeping late, spending time with grandchildren, traveling, pursuing a hobby, or simply not having to answer to a boss anymore.
It doesn’t have to be anything big.
In fact, I’m especially interested in hearing about the simple things.
Leave a comment below and share what makes retirement enjoyable for you.
And if you’d like to follow along with my retirement experiences, visit my Retired and Trying YouTube page for more videos about Social Security, budgeting, downsizing, and everyday life after retirement.
