last paycheck coming next week… tanks are pretty much comfortably stocked

[Magnum Man49 164]

so fish purchases in the future will be limited…

what are your for seeable acquisitions???

I should have pretty much the same income, with 401 K buy downs… but the plan was to slow down on spending…

known purchases coming up… a dozen or so cardinal tetras… I’ve been really happy with those neon rosy barbs I got from the local shop… if they had them in again, in a decent looking tank, I’d buy a few more… some little sun fish for the outside tank, when it’s ready for fish, and a stocking of assorted silver dollars for the 250 gallon, when it’s ready for fish… tank type work has been difficult to find time for right now with Mrs. illness, and the resulting dialysis treatments… in my minds eye, I think I can make a sting ray or two work with the silver dollars, in the big tank, the way I want to set it up… I’ve never had a sting ray, so, that will be an expensive new venture… plus I’m liking the dwarf crays, so I may add a small colony to several of my existing tanks… I need to replace the fancy guppies I lost in the last stupid tank over flow accident…

I was feeling like the hobby had pretty much stagnated for me, until I saw how long the above list actually is…

 

[GaryE10 8]

This is similar to my plans, I'm sorry to say. Retirement came and I gave away or traded most of my fish. I moved 800 km east, and sat down with an importer friend and ordered my planned retirement fish. It was a good plan, like many plans that fail.

I had a fishroom, and for the first time, I had the freedom of time. I liked my set up, and the fish did well. Actually, really well because I had time to give to them. But the old curiosity wasn't retired, and I have found myself adding. I've done some side jobs at times, and have discovered expenses work differently. I don't buy work clothes. I always eat at home. The car is paid off. The mortgage is gone (mortgage translates to "death bet", for those who think of such things).

I have a little more disposable cash than I expected, and so I still buy fish. It's still cheaper than boozing and carousing, gambling, paying tithes to religions, wanting the newest car or fishing and hunting. My wife and I put money aside to travel with, and the fish money is extra. It keeps me out of trouble.

I think you'll find that after the initial impact of retirement, whether that comes in fear, excitement or worry, you'll settle into a groove of maintaining your house, caring for your wife and buying cool fish. You must stimulate your brain, whatever that comes from, and you seem to like keeping new to you (and sometimes to the hobby) fish.

I can't buy every interesting thing that crosses my plate, but selectively, I still have my fun. When I was working and raising kids, I had less time (often several jobs) and less money. Retirement for those of us who get to do it is a modest lifestyle, but there's still room for interesting things. I'm spending much more time trying to breed the fish I acquire now.

The water will find its level.

 

[jaylach49 165]

All I can really say is that I've been retired for close to 9 years and it is the best job I've ever had.

OK, of course I can something else.

I do pretty well on an annual income most would consider low yet I put an average of$300-400,00/month in my savings. My trick is that I am 100% debt free. If you have dept get rid, of it, don't add to it.

I don't even have a credit card.