The one thing that I miss in retirement
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
November 24, 2015 5:02am CST
When the time came for me to retire from work, many people insisted that I would soon become bored. As I suspected this was totally unfounded and I have enjoyed the freedom of retirement. However, there is one aspect that I do miss at times.
I have been very fond of Microsoft Excel for many years and always welcomed the challenge of creating spreadsheets. During the course of my duties I created many spreadsheets to aid my work and process data in order to produce useful information to write into reports.
It did not take long before many employees were contacting me to create spreadsheets for them. I have been presented with some rather formidable tasks at times, but used to thoroughly enjoy this and it also helped to improve my familiarity to some degree.
Now that I have no such requests, I find myself looking back at those challenges, which are now missing from my life.
18 people like this
20 responses
@LadyDuck (502528)
• Italy
24 Nov 15
You can create spreadsheets for your daily activity. A spreadsheet for what you have in the pantry that you keep updated with the quantities and the expiry dates of the products and so on... I am very good in wasting time with this kind of spreadsheets.
4 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
24 Nov 15
I have never even heard of Fivver. Microsoft Excel is by far my favourite program and the one that I would miss most if I did not have a computer.
I have had some amusing challenges in the past because many colleagues came to me to create spreadsheets for personal use as well as work related.
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Nov 15
You could always make spreadsheets for your activity and earnings here at myLot. It's not very exciting. I had spreadsheets for my Bubblews earnings and payments until they p ut in a bank and payment history. Now it is all history .
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
24 Nov 15
I already have one for Mylot. It runs on a monthly cycle and is set according to payout of $10 and also by maximum monthly earnings so far. Each day it calculates how much per day I will need to reach £10 by the last day of the month and also the daily requirement to reach a new high.
This is totally superfluous since I would be content if I fell short of the $10, but I enjoyed creating it.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
24 Nov 15
Not in the slightest. You will probably find that you miss some of your work colleagues because we develop friendships due to the time that we spend together.
In my particular case I took several holidays abroad and took advantage of the time available, which no doubt made a big difference. Nowadays I wonder how I found the time to go to work.
4 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
24 Nov 15
Well you can still look for some customers and do some for them
3 people like this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
26 Nov 15
As others suggested, you can always create spreadsheets for your daily activities or needs. You can also create inventory systems for your households, such as books, DVDs, etc. I did a simple book management system for myself, so I know what books I have. I also did one to keep track of my online income.
As a programmer, I used to create spreadsheets for the tax consultants to calculate the tax, and other simple financial calculations. I am not so fond of creating spreadsheets, as I think using programming (non Microsoft Excel) will be easier and more flexible. But many still prefer Microsoft Excel, as they think it's very powerful and stable too. Perhaps I am still not very familiar and expert with Excel yet.
Hope you'll find some work for you to do, so you can still enjoy creating the spreadsheets. 
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
11 Dec 15
I do have a spreadsheet for my home made DVDs and CDs and even created one to calculate the daily requirement to reach payout by the month end at Mylot, These type of tasks are very basic, whereas I often got some worthwhile demanding requests while at work.
As for Microsoft Excel, it has always been my program of choice, although I have used Open Office and Lotus 123 along with a few others.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
12 Dec 15
@Asylum You have created really a lot. Perhaps you can ask around and see who needs help in creating such programs, then you can still enjoy your hobby. I agree to look into some freelance sites and find if someone might need help in creating Excel spreadsheets. Perhaps there are some "easy tasks" for you, and you are able to help someone easily.
My husband also prefers to use Excel. 
Perhaps you can ask around and see who needs help in creating such programs, then you can still enjoy your hobby. I agree to look into some freelance sites and find if someone might need help in creating Excel spreadsheets. Perhaps there are some "easy tasks" for you, and you are able to help someone easily.
My husband also prefers to use Excel. 
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
24 Nov 15
I have no idea what spreadsheets are so don't know what to say..maybe you can fill me in, cause maybe i do just am not aware i do?..hahah
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
24 Nov 15
A spreadsheet is a display of data that calculates results from the information input into it. It operates in a similar way to your bank statement that shows each entry and the current resulting balance. It can be useful for creating lists or a database.
Of course that is just a general outline and can be applied to a vast amount of situations. I often used to create a spreadsheet showing the number of days until Christmas, which would update itself every day. It often annoyed my colleagues if I emailed one around during June.
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
24 Nov 15
@Asylum hhaah..i would have been the one who loved the update till Christmas..
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
29 Nov 15
@Asylum While I've used many spreadsheets, I don't think mine could possibly be as involved as yours since I never new they could be made to update automatically with certain criteria.
I can't imagine missing that part of work, maybe your previous co-workers would still like your help in this regard, if you're wanting to do it, that is.
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
24 Nov 15
you could freelance, offering evening courses in basic training in how to use spreadsheets, etc.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
24 Nov 15
@Asylum hope you still find a way to get to do it for others when you want
@Inlemay (17712)
• South Africa
25 Nov 15
I am worrying about my hubby when he retires - he has no hobby and he doesn't like social interaction - I think he would choose an asylum rather than an old aged home just not to talk to people. I dont want to grow old when he retires, so I am moulding myself around my hobbies and pleasures, sadly I will have to go it alone, he wont join in. Its one of my worries. He doesnt even like travel - my friends ask me HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED 35 yeas with him - easy, he is quiet.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
24 Nov 15
Exactly. So figure out a situation that will give you the same mental excitement. I have found a "cause" that I expect to enjoy supporting. I am putting this into a business format, so that I get the backing I will need to pursue my goal.
I want to help save the Monarch Butterfly (which is native to my area, but declining in numbers) by becoming the Johnny Appleseed of the indigenous Milkweed plant that is crucial for their survival.
Now you find something or someone that needs your Excel skills and have fun with it.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
25 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace That is a far more practical approach than the old system of trying to stop the advance of housing development, mainly because there is a far greater chance of success.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
25 Nov 15
@Asylum Yes. This is the problem being addressed. There are several organizations helping to fix the problem down in Mexico, where they winter. I am going to show people in their migratory path how they can add a few simple, lovely milkweed plants to their gardens and give them the seeds for free.
1 person likes this
I have to stick to my old record keeping book, but it doesn't have enough columns and then there's the trouble of not remembering to enter things! 
Hopefully everyone is paying me.
@mysdianait (66005)
• Italy
26 Nov 15
As I thought before I retired, I have too much time on my hands. I have filled it up by doing English coonversation which gets me some èppocket money as well as meeting new interesting people of all ages too.
I never got the hang of Excel at all but downloaded a spreadsheet which helps with keeping funds in check.
@allknowing (153530)
• India
24 Nov 15
I have created a niche for me that keeps me merrily on my toes. To each their own. As many have suggested here you could capitalise on your expertise as just doing it for yourself will give you limited opportunity.
@allknowing (153530)
• India
25 Nov 15
@Asylum How right you are there. But I think Fivver lets you work at your pace
Even I gave up landscaped garden designing business for the reason that I did not like commitments that breathe down my neck.
@ReViewMeMedia (3786)
• United States
24 Nov 15
My mom is really looking forward to retiring, and I'm going to be happy to have her around the house more often.
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
Maybe you can send them messages that if they need your help in making those spreadsheets , you are happy to accommodate them . At least it will practice your brain .
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
27 Nov 15
As far as I know they will already be aware that I would happily offer assistance if required. During my working days I have received telephone calls from staff in other departments at weekends, which I have always been happy to help out.
I remember taking 2 short trips, one to Poland and one to Spain. This gave me just under 2 days back in England in between and a colleague telephoned me to say that he was still at work and nobody was there to lock the site, so I went down and secured the premises.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
25 Nov 15
My last employment was enjoyable but not too challenging but I do miss all the social interactions that I had at work. I know you are still doing spreadsheets at home since your money was off!!
