I retired in Aug '22 as soon as I was eligible for Medicare. I'm holding off on collecting SS until I'm 70 and can get the max payment.
I had planned to not work and bought an $800 project bike to keep me busy.
Then I started getting offers for jobs... My last employer asked me to come back as a 1099 contractor doing my old job (machine controls software) but I wanted nothing to do with that - I left that place for good reasons!
I landed at a small scale (<10 employees) automated machine builder and I've been having a blast working around 20 hrs/week on 1099.
My advice for coping with retirement is to take a month or 2 and consciously work on detoxing from being employed. Learn to enjoy relaxing, drink your morning coffee in the back yard listening to birds, and avoid going to stores on weekends.
