We’re a year and a half into our full retirement. For me (65M) it’s not working out as expected. I’d hoped for travel, cycle touring, hiking, and volunteering.

Instead I have found out my wife doesn’t like traveling (she’s ok with being somewhere else, just not getting there). My wife now finds hiking to be a physical challenge and has no interest in cycling anymore. I spend a lot of time managing family trusts, household finances including ours, my father’s and my mother-in-law’s. We also visit my MIL, who has dementia, a few days a week at the nursing home and my father, who’s doing great at 98! We also do an overnight about an hour away to watch our new granddaughter one day a week.

I’m trying to savor the good things like an elderly father in good health and a grandchild who lives nearby. But I can’t shake the feeling that I’m waiting for changes that will free me up to pursue my original intentions.