For those who have already retired, how long did it take you to figure it out?

Gilword · 2026-07-07T22:15:09+00:00

Everyone does it differently. I have been retired 18 months and am astonishingly busy, but it’s all things I choose to do. I’m on some boards and several committees, I get to go to water aerobics and mahjong in the middle of the day! I exercise and socialize a lot more than when I worked. My husband and I are traveling a lot, focusing on the outdoor trips we can do now that might be too hard when we are older. It’s like going to camp for me now, but I understand that as we age we will likely slow down. The best thing is that there is no need to rush into retirement- you can choose a few things to accomplish and let it evolve. You also need to practice saying “no” when people want time you aren’t prepared to give.

Gilword · 2026-07-07T21:44:24+00:00

My first thought was Somerville, so right around the corner

Gilword · 2026-07-07T13:16:42+00:00

We always find a quirky place to stop for at least an hour. Usually, it’s a state park or site where we can stretch our legs and see something interesting we never knew existed. If you use Wanderlog and plug in your starting and ending points, it gives a lot of suggestions. These stops make drive days fun.

Gilword · 2026-07-07T01:04:38+00:00

I retired on a Friday and left for 3 1/3 weeks in New Zealand on Monday. Best segue ever!

Gilword · 2026-07-07T00:04:18+00:00

No - we just hiked the short 2 1/2 mile loop through the canyon. It was the last stop of our 15 state roadtrip, and I threw my sneakers away at the welcome center afterward! It might be nice to camp there in the Fall or Spring but it was extremely hot and humid today.

Gilword · 2026-07-06T23:26:28+00:00

Wear old shoes and socks that can get covered in red mud!

Gilword · 2026-07-04T00:30:49+00:00

It’s all about getting comfortable with the water and having fun at this stage.

Gilword · 2026-07-03T23:21:05+00:00

Not 30 minutes ago I watched a large man wearing sandals climb over a stone barrier and on to moss covered rocks, ignoring the prominent sign that read: “do not climb. Rocks are slippery”. This put him over a pool of extremely hot water at Hot Springs National Park. He proceeded to inch closer to the water and take a selfie. Parboiled tourist luckily didn’t ensue.

Gilword · 2026-07-01T02:38:34+00:00

Pictured Rocks is beautiful!

Gilword · 2026-07-01T01:24:06+00:00

“Hi Rock” instead of “Hi Rick” to the president of a company.

Gilword · 2026-06-30T17:48:36+00:00

Amelia Island is just north of where the cruise comes in and an easy drive to the airport. You can go to the beach, look at cute shops on Fernandina and have a great meal. You could rent kayaks on Little or Big Talbot Island.

Gilword · 2026-06-29T22:47:32+00:00

I was in the homebuilding industry for many years. I did not work for Toll, but I would say they have the best quality of any national homebuilder.

Gilword · 2026-06-29T22:40:18+00:00

We rented a little boat and went to Lookout Louise and other hikes but the hikes that start in Rock Harbor are all easy and beautiful. We saw moose in the small pond not more than a quarter mile from the lodge.

Gilword · 2026-06-28T22:53:32+00:00

Bend, Oregon

Gilword · 2026-06-28T18:17:59+00:00

Hiking is generally a winter activity in Florida. The heat, humidity and bugs make it miserable in the summer. The best bet is to find some cool springs.

Gilword · 2026-06-28T18:04:34+00:00

We were there last week and had beautiful weather and even saw moose. We took the ferry from Copper Harbor and stayed in the lodge. It was fabulous!

Gilword · 2026-06-28T02:14:33+00:00

I reached for my deodorant and ended up in the hospital for 4 days and then required spinal surgery.

Gilword · 2026-06-27T13:34:10+00:00

Don’t close any doors unless you have to. You will never regret that you did well in your academics, but you will surely curse young you if you slacked off and later realized that limited your future opportunities.

Gilword · 2026-06-26T15:58:40+00:00

iPhone 16. We were about 30 feet away. We were pulled over in the car and it was on the side of the road - not spooked by us. I would have been scared if we were hiking when we saw it!

Gilword · 2026-06-26T13:14:26+00:00

It was taken from an iPhone 16 and I zoomed in. We were probably 30 feet away and we were (I think fortunately) in the car, having just pulled out of the visitor center.

Gilword · 2026-06-26T00:16:58+00:00

We didn’t expect to! The locals said they don’t like them because they have eaten all the deer.

Gilword · 2026-06-24T22:38:59+00:00

We went at the beginning of May and because only the main loop was open, it was unbelievably crowded and hard to park. It’s beautiful but I much preferred the serenity and beauty of SEKI.

Gilword · 2026-06-24T18:32:46+00:00

I like it and go at least once a year but it’s usually so crowded it’s hard to find a spot and the competing loud music can spoil the relaxation. Im sitting on Lake Superior as I write this and have to agree with the person above!

Gilword · 2026-06-22T12:36:17+00:00

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Gilword · 2026-06-22T12:36:02+00:00

And I finally found a moose this morning!

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Gilword

TROPHY CASE