What has changed in your daily routine since you retired?

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:26:13 -0400

Here's a few off the top of my head. Know y'all can come up with many more.

Except for going to church, weekends don't matter.
A watch is no longer something you have to wear.
Actually forgot what it's like to get up before sunrise.
Can leave cell phone in family room and/or turn off ringer on phone in bedroom.
Can carry things in your right hand.
Haven't the faintest memory of wearing a hat.
Actually sleep at home every night.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Mar 20 at 2018 5:27 PM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:27:43 -0400

I shop weekdays to avoid crowds!

Response by Cpl Tom Surdi made Mar 20 at 2018 5:33 PM

Cpl Tom Surdi — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:33:41 -0400

I no longer have to arrive an hour early because 3 levels of leadership decided each had to be 15 minutes early than the time they were given.

Damn, that really sucked.

Response by SPC David S. made Mar 20 at 2018 5:38 PM

SPC David S. — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:38:29 -0400

A howitzer for a wake up call (not really as I was up for 4 hours before it went off) and wearing something other than green/tan/sand/coyote/black comes to mind.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Mar 20 at 2018 5:39 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:39:56 -0400

My watch battery died 6 months ago. I still haven’t gotten a new one and I realize that I don’t even need it.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 20 at 2018 5:53 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:53:01 -0400

I focus on the here and now instead of the past and future.

Response by PO1 Cassiopeia Goldenstein made Mar 20 at 2018 6:52 PM

PO1 Cassiopeia Goldenstein — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 18:52:08 -0400

Waking up early; I don't do that much anymore.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 20 at 2018 7:50 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 19:50:19 -0400

My civilian career- no need for work boots and hard hat
My three year enlistment- the same.

Response by SPC Mike Lake made Mar 20 at 2018 8:43 PM

SPC Mike Lake — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:43:13 -0400

IDK about leaving the cell phone or turning it off I'm glued to this thing...lol

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 20 at 2018 9:24 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 21:24:25 -0400

Eating better, exercising more, lost 85 pounds
Busier than ever doing whatever the hell I want

Response by 1stSgt Nelson Kerr made Mar 20 at 2018 9:51 PM

1stSgt Nelson Kerr — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 21:51:16 -0400

It is the same for me, except that weekends do not matter at all.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Mar 20 at 2018 10:11 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 22:11:01 -0400

I have been paying off my sleep deficit.

Response by CW5 Edward "Tate" Jones Jr. made Mar 20 at 2018 10:53 PM

CW5 Edward "Tate" Jones Jr. — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 22:53:38 -0400

When you’re really retired you don’t have to be as efficient with your time or resources, therefore you are not. And then you wonder why stuff doesn’t get done and where the time went.

Response by TSgt David L. made Mar 21 at 2018 12:01 AM

TSgt David L. — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 00:01:10 -0400

I'm in agreement with most of your list, Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen. I have a few additions.
No 80 pound Bomb suit! No Level A suit. NO PPE!! Unless I choose, and I chose none! Not having to pull standby. No weekend duty. NO RECALLS! No 2 hour Commander's Calls. No 0300 calls from the 1st Sergeant that one of my guys is in trouble. No 0310 calls from one of my guys saying he is in trouble. No ORIs or NSIs!! No processing through a mobility line and no bag drags.
No deployments. No suspect packages. No IEDs.
Sadly, I miss the last 3...I haven't found much to replace them and the feeling.

Response by Abe Dean made Mar 21 at 2018 1:19 AM

Abe Dean — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 01:19:12 -0400

Does taking orders from a cat count? I'm not retired, but I do have off days, and well I detect a lot of foreshadowing, if that's how my narrative plays out, and given that I don't like leaving the house as it is already.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 21 at 2018 7:29 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 07:29:24 -0400

Not too much, still get up early, just go to the shop to be on the computer on Sunday, then go home and head to breakfast and church.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Mar 21 at 2018 8:31 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 08:31:58 -0400

Enjoying life a lot more, but sometimes miss the old days and comaraderie of the Army

Response by PO1 Gery Bastiani made Mar 21 at 2018 5:39 PM

PO1 Gery Bastiani — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:39:04 -0400

can have your hands in your pocket, dont need a haircut every friday, can have your shirt un-tucked, can wear your hat inside