Relates completely. A small, consistent commitment — informally teaching a skill I used to use professionally — filled some of the gap. Not fully, but meaningfully.
Pavel Novak ⭐ Helpful member
19 May 2026, 13:00
The practical side of retiring abroad went better than expected — housing, healthcare, the social side is slowly coming together. What I wasn't prepared for is how much of my sense of purpose was quietly tied up in work, and how loud the silence is now that it's gone.
It's not boredom exactly. The days are full enough. It's more that nothing feels like it particularly needs me anymore, and I miss that more than I miss the job itself, if that makes sense.
For others who've been through this transition — did you find something that genuinely filled that gap, or did the feeling just fade with time on its own? I'm wary of forcing myself into a hobby that doesn't actually stick just to feel busy, so curious what's worked for people rather than what sounds good on paper.