Congratulations. Certainly it is time to do what you want and when you want it. I like saying you are taking a gap year before committing to volunteer endeavors.

Big congratulations to you! What an exciting next step this will be, and I know you must be fielding a lot of different emotions. I would imagine that includes relief, and of course excitement about what's to come. A "gap year" (or three!) sounds like a perfect plan. I hope you get to do exactly what YOU want to do during that time. You deserve it.

It is your time to do what YOU want, and you can take all the time you need.

Congrats, sister! I retired almost a year ago, and think I’ll take up a job at some point, but am glad to have this time to just be. That’s something I never had a chance to do. Hope you get to explore your life with a little bit more intentionality. Cheers!

Good for you! And I think telling everyone you're taking a Gap Year is brilliant.

All the best to you! May it be the best time of your life!

How wonderful! Congratulations!

Big congrats to you!!! I know the feeling, I didn’t enjoy my earlier years either and am hoping one day I can do the same!

Congratulations Sister!!!

Congratulations! I took the same step this past spring. Covid made it unexpectedly odd as I never really had a chance to formally say goodbye to anyone. Despite that, I’m so glad I did. I never quite realized how much anxiety and stress I was under day to day. I’m thankful to DH for talking me into it (he retired early as well) and also grateful for others on this forum posting about their own early retirement and easing my fears.

Congratulations! Take all the time you need and do YOU!

Congratulations! Good response on the gap year. People always ask what you plan on doing after retirement. When they asked me, I just responded that for the immediate future, I would just sit and enjoy the new routine (or lack of it). For quite a few months, I actually just enjoyed going with the flow. I love retirement!

Congratulations! Something to look forward to for the next 3 months. It's been over 3 years and I have loved every minute of retirement. I was never so glad as when this pandemic hit as I would not be able to work effectively from home due to the work I did. It would have been very frustrating. Anyway the idea to take a gap year is great!

Congratulations! I retired 2 years ago, and I love it.

Congratulations! May the new adventures bring you great joy!

How wonderful! Can't wait to hear about your adventures - even if they involve putting your feet up and enjoying doing nothing.

Congratulations! I look forward to that day myself. I like the gap year idea, too.

Congratulations! And a gap year sounds terrific. No commitments, no expectations, just you sorting through how you want the next chapter to read. Enjoy it.

Mazal Tov!!!! Taking a gap year is brilliant. I wish I had thought of that when I retired 5 years ago. I ended up on a couple of Boards, being bombarded by some non-profit organizations to provide professional support at no cost and I took a part time job. I'm glad I took the job but everything else I ended up extracting myself from last year. Enjoy, and take your time deciding what you really want to do or not do.

Well I have things I want and need to do during my “ gap” year. We are expecting our 10 th grand baby. Selling one house, moving back to the farm and renovating that house and I have a great garden to get started. Throw in family time and some travel to visit family and it’s filling up. But I won’t be making long term commitments(beyond family) or start community involvement Or consider working during the transition. Thank you for the well wishes, I am looking forward to it. As word gets out I’m getting more and more “ we gotta wrap this up before you go” so work days are jammed full and time is flying....

Congratulations SS, and thanks for giving me a new name for the journey I'm on. It's similar. I was calling it a "sabbatical" but "gap year" sounds hipper!

I am so not hip, but youre welcome! My countdown will feel shorter as I just found out today I need to take 15 days off between now and January 1st or lose the vacation time........