Retirement and Pool....not all it's cut out to be!!!

Maniac

Maniac

2manyQ's
Silver Member
Don't get me wrong, retirement is GREAT. I've been retired for 9 years now and I highly recommend it to everyone. But.....there are some disadvantages to retirement and things about working that I have missed.

Advantages:

1.) The afternoon nap (I got my priorities right, eh?)
2.) Lots and lots of time for practicing/playing pool.
3.) Being able to logon to AZB 4 or 5 times a day with ease.
4.) I answer to no one!


Disadvantages:

1.) With too much time to practice pool, the practice sometimes becomes sloppy.
2.) I miss the interaction with people (my wife still works).
3.) Logging onto AZB 4 or 5 times a day is making me bonkers.
4.) Afternoon power-nap makes it hard for me to sleep at night.

I used to have a friend that came over weekly and shot pool with me for a few hours. He moved and I miss the times we spent together playing pool, throwin' back a mixed-one (or two ;)), and the general conversations we had. I need to find another retired person in my area with the same love of the game as I have and get a weekly or bi-weekly game going. I've put feelers out on this site a time or two with no bites. I guess I'm gonna have to drive about 30 miles (one way) and spend more time at the poolhall in the afternoons (yes, there are poolhalls closer than 30 miles, just not the ones I want to patronize).

Retirement. If your thinking about it just remember that although it's really nice, it's not ALL you ever dreamed of. There may be a few bumps in the road.

Shoot well and stay thirsty, my AZB friends!!!

Maniac (reminiscing about the old days with my friend)
 
You need to think about living in one of our Florida active retirement communities. Where I live we have four GCIIIs covered with Simonis. We play for abot 2 1/2 hours in a semi-tournament format five days a week. Starting time is 12:30 and its done by 2:30

I play 15 Ball (10 ball with all the balls) for a few hours every night at 7:00 PM and there are probably five or six good (B+) players around here. Our version of 15 ball is one point per ball and we play a game is 50 points. We usually play about three games a night.

I am also on a team that plays in a league for active retirement communities. There are ten communities in the league. For the most part the players are slightly better than the league players back in Ohio. One of the requirements for a community to join the league is that they must have at least three 8 foot table. Most have 4+ 9 footers. There no fees for players at all.

Last year I won the shoot out for our league and I am probably a B+ player. I got lucky as there were probaly 5 - 10 better players in the tournament.

We moved here from Ohio about 1 1/2 years ago and I have noticed a few things. Back in Ohio everyone else was working so there were not many guys around to do things with. I had a GC III at home but could not often get others to come over to play unless it was after work.

Here (in FL) everyone else is retired so there are lots of folks around to do stuff. The people who move here are more adventurous, more active, and there are fewer overweight people. Where I live it is kinda like the USA in 1955 with a small villige atmosphere and many people to get involved with.

I thought that the folks here just live longer but have learned that it is a different kind of person who moves to one of these active retirement communities. For the most part, they are younger in their thinking and certainly much more acticve than the people I knew back in Ohio. Probably 20% of the people here are well into their 80s and 90s so some have slowed down quite a bit.

We are 45 minutes north of Orlando so the kids and the granchildren come down once a year or so. However community rules say that no one can stay for more than 30 days per year and that is a good rule for some people.

PS I am not recruiting buuuut ---- if we could get more people here we could become a thriving center for pool players. We already have 100+ players and are located central to the Seminole pro tour and many pro players. There are many (20+??) active retirement communities in the area so all sorts of living arrangements are possible. Housing is as low as 20K or as high as one wants to pay. The women like it here too -- so there is that. My wife seems to do 2 or 3 community related things every day. Gets me out of her hair -- so to speak.
 
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Learning Curve

I don't know how long you've been retired but the first year was a breeze. Then I hit a few bumps but now I'm kicking.

Going from pounding for dollars to squeaking quarters wasn't hard to learn. Been through hard times before.

I feel like a 32 year old kid again. The key for me was not being one sport, one hobby obsessive compulsive. I'm 3 or 5 D.

Fishing, Pool, Table Tennis, Re-training with Firearms, House sprucing, Yard work and watching Nature like I did when I was a kid. I don't have a honey do list but I do have a do for my honey list.

Every coin has two sides.
 
Maniac said:
Don't get me wrong, retirement is GREAT. I've been retired for 9 years now and I highly recommend it to everyone. But.....there are some disadvantages to retirement and things about working that I have missed.

Advantages:

1.) The afternoon nap (I got my priorities right, eh?)
2.) Lots and lots of time for practicing/playing pool.
3.) Being able to logon to AZB 4 or 5 times a day with ease.
4.) I answer to no one!


Disadvantages:

1.) With too much time to practice pool, the practice sometimes becomes sloppy.
2.) I miss the interaction with people (my wife still works).
3.) Logging onto AZB 4 or 5 times a day is making me bonkers.
4.) Afternoon power-nap makes it hard for me to sleep at night.

I used to have a friend that came over weekly and shot pool with me for a few hours. He moved and I miss the times we spent together playing pool, throwin' back a mixed-one (or two ;)), and the general conversations we had. I need to find another retired person in my area with the same love of the game as I have and get a weekly or bi-weekly game going. I've put feelers out on this site a time or two with no bites. I guess I'm gonna have to drive about 30 miles (one way) and spend more time at the poolhall in the afternoons (yes, there are poolhalls closer than 30 miles, just not the ones I want to patronize).

Retirement. If your thinking about it just remember that although it's really nice, it's not ALL you ever dreamed of. There may be a few bumps in the road.

Shoot well and stay thirsty, my AZB friends!!!

Maniac (reminiscing about the old days with my friend)
Click to expand...

You have a wife that work's and you answer to no one? [dream sequence] "Wake the hell up and go to work". Ugh, sorry bout that, that's my life.
 
another retired one

I've been retired for 4 years and I have no complaints at all. I love it. It is the freedom I have worked most of my life for, and I cherish it.
 
Maniac said:
Don't get me wrong, retirement is GREAT. I've been retired for 9 years now and I highly recommend it to everyone. But.....there are some disadvantages to retirement and things about working that I have missed.

Advantages:

1.) The afternoon nap (I got my priorities right, eh?)
2.) Lots and lots of time for practicing/playing pool.
3.) Being able to logon to AZB 4 or 5 times a day with ease.
4.) I answer to no one!


Disadvantages:

1.) With too much time to practice pool, the practice sometimes becomes sloppy.
2.) I miss the interaction with people (my wife still works).
3.) Logging onto AZB 4 or 5 times a day is making me bonkers.
4.) Afternoon power-nap makes it hard for me to sleep at night.

I used to have a friend that came over weekly and shot pool with me for a few hours. He moved and I miss the times we spent together playing pool, throwin' back a mixed-one (or two ;)), and the general conversations we had. I need to find another retired person in my area with the same love of the game as I have and get a weekly or bi-weekly game going. I've put feelers out on this site a time or two with no bites. I guess I'm gonna have to drive about 30 miles (one way) and spend more time at the poolhall in the afternoons (yes, there are poolhalls closer than 30 miles, just not the ones I want to patronize).

Retirement. If your thinking about it just remember that although it's really nice, it's not ALL you ever dreamed of. There may be a few bumps in the road.

Shoot well and stay thirsty, my AZB friends!!!

Maniac (reminiscing about the old days with my friend)
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as retirement, you just move on to a new aspect of your life that may even be more active then you were before. I have retired twice and it lasted like 6 months each time, once when I was only 39. Maybe it's time to open that pool room you have always dreamed about, or travel to all the big tournaments you have only been able to read about. I know people always joke about napping but for me there are not enough hours in the day. I have even picked up my guitar again after maybe 40 years, I was once pretty good. Forget retirement, time to get on with your new life and all those things that you may finally have time for.
 
I've been on Disability since early February of this year, so you might as well say I'm retired. I'll never work again, that's for sure. I can do anything I want now, within reason. I just don't have the stamina to play six hour sessions any more:frown: We haven't been getting out much until recently due to income problems, my wife has been on Disability since getting rear-ended by a drunk driver in 1990. Now that I do have some income we are starting to get out a bit more. As far as pool is concerned, I don't care much for bar table play and the closest 9 footers are in Greenville, SC not that far away, but I just haven't started going there yet.
I miss the extra money I had when I was working, usually had a good bit of money in case I ran into someone who had a cue for sale, to bet with, whatever. I don't miss the every day grind, though.
Health-wise, I have good days and bad, as far as being able to get about without pain. Today ain't a good one:(
 
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Great Subject!!

I am semi retired due to the economy, my age, and some health issues, and have been luck enough to meet a member of AZ to hang out with a play pool pretty much weekly. He has one sweet 9" Diamond that Glenn (RKC) set up, new rails and all. I count myself lucky to have met him as I could not afford the setup he has.

As to the lists I agree with 1, 3, & 4 on the advantages, on the disadvantages just about all!

Guess we are both lucky after all, our wives are still working, imagine if they were home with us full time!!!!!

OMG...



Maniac said:
Don't get me wrong, retirement is GREAT. I've been retired for 9 years now and I highly recommend it to everyone. But.....there are some disadvantages to retirement and things about working that I have missed.

Advantages:

1.) The afternoon nap (I got my priorities right, eh?)
2.) Lots and lots of time for practicing/playing pool.
3.) Being able to logon to AZB 4 or 5 times a day with ease.
4.) I answer to no one!


Disadvantages:

1.) With too much time to practice pool, the practice sometimes becomes sloppy.
2.) I miss the interaction with people (my wife still works).
3.) Logging onto AZB 4 or 5 times a day is making me bonkers.
4.) Afternoon power-nap makes it hard for me to sleep at night.

I used to have a friend that came over weekly and shot pool with me for a few hours. He moved and I miss the times we spent together playing pool, throwin' back a mixed-one (or two ;)), and the general conversations we had. I need to find another retired person in my area with the same love of the game as I have and get a weekly or bi-weekly game going. I've put feelers out on this site a time or two with no bites. I guess I'm gonna have to drive about 30 miles (one way) and spend more time at the poolhall in the afternoons (yes, there are poolhalls closer than 30 miles, just not the ones I want to patronize).

Retirement. If your thinking about it just remember that although it's really nice, it's not ALL you ever dreamed of. There may be a few bumps in the road.

Shoot well and stay thirsty, my AZB friends!!!

Maniac (reminiscing about the old days with my friend)
Click to expand...
 
A few things

Maniac said:
Don't get me wrong, retirement is GREAT. I've been retired for 9 years now and I highly recommend it to everyone. But.....there are some disadvantages to retirement and things about working that I have missed.


Retirement. If your thinking about it just remember that although it's really nice, it's not ALL you ever dreamed of. There may be a few bumps in the road.

Shoot well and stay thirsty, my AZB friends!!!

Maniac (reminiscing about the old days with my friend)
Click to expand...


No vacation, no paid holidays, no rain outs. Damn I miss rain outs. Get to the job site, it is raining, grab a friend or two from the crew and head for a pool table and beer. Eight or ten hours of peaceful bliss when you aren't expected to be anywhere else. A friend's wife asked why we started drinking at six AM when we rained out when we never started drinking that early on weekends. I explained that it is a job requirement when you rain out, practically law.

Another problem with retirement when most people you know aren't, they have all the annoying things they don't want to do for themselves that they figure you should be glad to do with all of your free time. I had more free time working four or four and a half days a week than I have ever had not working. There are advantages to retirement but you do have to take charge of your retirement and learn to say no sometimes.

The biggest benefit to retirement is I can go to the pool hall in the daytime when the smoke and crowds aren't annoying and I can take care of most other business in nonpeak hours. Also it has been years since I have strangled a co-worker, not sure if that is an advantage or not.

Hu
 
not yet

I'm not retired yet...only a year away. The Florida thing sounds pretty good and If I lived close to you in Texas you'd have a playing partner for sure. There just aren't any good pool rooms within 50 miles of where I live and I sold my GC when I moved. Can't wait to retire, move, find a friendly room and play some pool again. It's been 10 years since I picked up a cue in earnest and am looking forward to some 14-1 matches.
 
Maniac said:
Don't get me wrong, retirement is GREAT. I've been retired for 9 years now and I highly recommend it to everyone. But.....there are some disadvantages to retirement and things about working that I have missed.

Advantages:

1.) The afternoon nap (I got my priorities right, eh?)
2.) Lots and lots of time for practicing/playing pool.
3.) Being able to logon to AZB 4 or 5 times a day with ease.
4.) I answer to no one!


Disadvantages:

1.) With too much time to practice pool, the practice sometimes becomes sloppy.
2.) I miss the interaction with people (my wife still works).
3.) Logging onto AZB 4 or 5 times a day is making me bonkers.
4.) Afternoon power-nap makes it hard for me to sleep at night.

I used to have a friend that came over weekly and shot pool with me for a few hours. He moved and I miss the times we spent together playing pool, throwin' back a mixed-one (or two ;)), and the general conversations we had. I need to find another retired person in my area with the same love of the game as I have and get a weekly or bi-weekly game going. I've put feelers out on this site a time or two with no bites. I guess I'm gonna have to drive about 30 miles (one way) and spend more time at the poolhall in the afternoons (yes, there are poolhalls closer than 30 miles, just not the ones I want to patronize).

Retirement. If your thinking about it just remember that although it's really nice, it's not ALL you ever dreamed of. There may be a few bumps in the road.

Shoot well and stay thirsty, my AZB friends!!!

Maniac (reminiscing about the old days with my friend)
Click to expand...

This is EXACTLY why my wife is insisting that we not relocate anywhere that isn't within 30 miles of good place for me to play pool in the afternoons! Smart lady.

(The retirement communities in Florida were her first choice, but she is unable to get health insurance in that state, and 11 years away from Medicare. Now looking at the Mobile, AL and Gulf Shores, AL area - but no retirement communities there. The senior centers have pool, and there are some pool halls, so we're gonna have to make a trip to see how it goes. Too bad I can't carry my cue stick onto the plane with me!)
 
Some people that I know that have retired, have become busier than ever.
They are trying to do the things they either did not have the time , or money to do. But now the coordination and stamina as well as deteriorating eyesight are making alot of the projects more difficult to achieve.
Pool is also an area that eyesight and coordination are big part.
Just enjoy the games and my suggestion is think of ways to make the practice with a goal and an outcome. If you can see gains, it makes it all alot more worth while and rewarding.
 
No vacation, no paid holidays.
I forgot that part. I can't even call in sick and go fishing. It sucks being me!

I had more free time working four or four and a half days a week than I have ever had not working.
10 hour days for the last 30 years and 12 hour days 5 or 7 days a week for 9 1/2 year before that.

There are advantages to retirement but you do have to take charge of your retirement and learn to say no sometimes.
Truer words have never been spoken.

The biggest benefit to retirement is I can go to the pool hall in the daytime when the smoke and crowds aren't annoying and I can take care of most other business in nonpeak hours.
And the nice ladies at the shopping center like to help me find my way to the section I know like the back of my hand.

Also it has been years since I have strangled a co-worker, not sure if that is an advantage or not.
I don't miss that part of the job and I'm too old or too young to do time. They know how close they came. I'll never understand how or why people mistake kindness with weakness.
 
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I hope to someday be able to find out.

Sadly, the way things are going I somehow doubt I'll ever be able to retire.

So enjoy it, those of you who do get to have a "retirement". :thumbup:
 
JoeW said:
You need to think about living in one of our Florida active retirement communities. Where I live we have four GCIIIs covered with Simonis. We play for abot 2 1/2 hours in a semi-tournament format five days a week. Starting time is 12:30 and its done by 2:30
Click to expand...

Florida communities are great for pool. Our clubhouse has 4.. 9' Vitale's. We have senior leagues & play surrounding communities. I play 2-4 hours M-F.
They play mostly 8 & 9 ball. I have 2 people I enjoy playing 14:1 with. Retirement and pool....:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: I'm very thankful.
 
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We winter in Green Valley, AZ. Locate rec facilities have in total 10 9'
tables. I play every day for about 4 hours, I also occasionally play for a couple of hours in the morning, 0ne pocket. I have also found a friend at a nearby development that has a small room with 8' tables and we play 14.1. Life is good!

Back home it's barbox 9 ball, nearest room is 50 miles or so. It's still pool but
I too wished I had someone locally that I could shoot with, most of the local players are still working.

Also need to mention there is a great room in Tucson, Pockets, nice equipment, I plan on looking into league possibilities for next winter.
 
I loved my job and did it for 30 years. But retirement is without question the best gig I've ever had.

I play a couple hours daily on my home table. My only regret is not having someone to hit balls with, inasmuch as Mrs. 9BP won't even pick up a cue, much less hit with me.

Any AZers live near Golden Colorado???
 
What a GREAT post!

I am so glad you posted this.

You don't say anything about having less money to blow so I have to guess that you are rolling in the chips. lol

I have often thought about retiring. My wife does charity work so you know that means no income coming in from my better half. I don't think she will go for going back to work. :D

Another biggee for retiring is HEALTH INSURANCE. Your wife may still have you covered, or not. Still, it's a big consideration, especially if you have health issues.

Being underfoot could be a problem. It wouldn't be for me because I am street dawg.

Nevertheless, I look forward to hearing the comments of others as they see fit.

One of the reasons I haven't retired is I like working. Go figure.:p I also don't like to see the retirees at the pool room pinching pennies. That kind of keeps me from closing the doors as well.

Anyway, thanks for starting the thread.
 
retiring...

Retiring was probably one of the scariest things I have ever done. You can do the math and figure what it takes to live happily ever after but it is still scary as hell to shut off the income stream.

The other point about friends raised in the original posting is true, I was fortunate to be able to retire relatively early and almost all of my pool, hunting & fishing buddies still work, so, you need to make some new friends.

I am fortunate to have a great room near me in Stuart, FL called Riverside Billiards. There are always some quality people to play and it is just a super friendly place. Unfortunately, I split my time between Stuart and Orlando, FL where the opposite is true in that I have not found a room I like.

Previously, I have posted that it would be great if AZB had a forum for introducing members. Maybe fill out a form with your speed, preference of 8, 9, 10, straight, one pocket, general location and days/time of day you like to play. Even better yet, set up some search capabilities not only for local play but also to meet up with other AZr's when you travel.

I have a nice 9' brunswick at home set up by Wes Burden with tight pockets & simonis that only gets practiced on... what a waste. It would be nice to match up with some local AZr's.

Getting back to the point, another posted said "it's the best gig I have ever had" and I agree completely... pretty nice when your big decision is whether to play 8 ball or 9 ball.
 
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