peacefrog_0521 wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 6:57 pm
Hello Community! I’m Raj. I just joined the Bogleheads forum this weekend, after doing a web search on converting mutual funds to ETF’s and reading that thread. I’ve heard about the Bogleheads for some time, but I only now decided to join and participate.
Well finally you’re here! Welcome to the Bogleheads, we’re looking forward to reading your posts
peacefrog_0521 wrote:I have been investing with Vanguard since 1998, about half my natural life.
Nice! and what about your unnatural life?
peacefrog_0521 wrote:My birthday was a couple weeks ago (won’t say exactly which one or what date, but mid-50’s and mid-to-late May), and it was on that day that I finally decided to leave my job and enter early retirement. I had spent nearly 30 years in the automotive industry, and the past 7 years with my company. I had finally decided that I’d had enough.
Congratulations! and welcome to the Bogleheads Retirement Roll Call and this Awesome Class of 2025!
peacefrog_0521 wrote:Since leaving I have had less stress and more mental clarity to try to figure out what to do with my newfound free time. But with newfound independence comes new responsibility. Conventional wisdom says that you’re supposed to figure these things out before entering retirement, but I found I couldn’t fully conceptualize this while working. Since then I have had ideas which I’d never considered. But I do know (as I did for a long time beforehand) that my two biggest challenges would be boredom, and healthcare costs.
Sounds about right for many reasons for many new retirees. For some reason, for some strange reason, I just have this feeling, I just don’t think boredom will be a problem for you
peacefrog_0521 wrote:While I have not yet fully committed to anything, I have been doing much more in-depth reading online and watching videos on the following:a) Volunteering part-time, most likely with a local animal shelter (I have two adopted cats), or assisting seniors with tax return prep (through the AARP program)
b) Traveling more to visit friends and family out-of-state, which was more difficult to do while working
c) Setting up my own one-man consulting firm to provide some of my professional skills and services to local companies that might benefit
d) Investigating software tools that I might use to help provide those services (not really looking into AI, but may become more curious about it)
e) Focusing more on my physical health – better managing my diabetes, cutting down my smoking habit, maaaybe weight loss (but not sure I’ll go to the gym), etc.
f) Trying to spend more concentrated time & effort to reorganize my home and my life within it. This is harder than it sounds as I’m single with no kids or girlfriend, and right now very few friends. And frankly my house is heavily cluttered, especially as I have no basement or extra storage room. I need help to move stuff around, make best use of available space, and maybe even create new space.
g) Effecting much-needed home repairs and maybe upgrades. (I’ve got a slow / blocked drain that I haven’t been able to fix for a couple years!)
h) Connecting with friends & family with whom I have lost touch over the years, and hopefully making new friends in the community. Also maybe joining local or online support groups for others like myself.
Lots of many good plans, please let us know how you arrange your retirement!
peacefrog_0521 wrote: So I hope you will be kind as I join you during my retirement journey.Thanks and Best Regards,
-Raj
Oh we’re always kind – and we’ll even kindly let you know when you’re veering off the rails
Best wishes for a great retirement!
