What Do Retirees Miss Most And Least About Pre-Retirement Life?

CHICAGO, Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Even after working for the majority of their adult lives, current retirees still miss a great deal about the workplace. 

In a recent survey conducted by Bankers Life and Casualty Company Center for a Secure Retirement(SM) (CSR), 300 retirees between ages 55 to 75 with an annual household income between $25,000 and $75,000 were asked a variety of open-ended questions about what they have learned since retirement.

When asked what they miss most about their pre-retirement life, a majority (65 percent) said they missed the daily interactions with their co-workers.  One respondent said they missed the "camaraderie and regiment setting of a work environment."  Many others said they miss having a paycheck most because they had to cut back on non-essentials due to a lack of funds.  Other responses included missing their job or profession, their responsibility at work, travel and the feeling of being productive.

However, for all of the things current retirees miss about their previous work life, there were plenty of things that they did not miss at all. 

1. Stress at work"The grind of working and the stress of trying to hustle for a buck."
2. Getting up early"Getting up at 6:30, showering and dressing and leaving home before 7:30 am!"
3. Dealing with bosses"Dealing with crazy management."
4. My job"Business, business!"
5. Commute"Driving through traffic to get to my job."

The lack of set work demands also created a number of lifestyle surprises for those just out of the workforce.  The biggest positive lifestyle surprises respondents noted were having lots of free time to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted.  However, the most common negative surprises were not having enough money to follow through with those dreams.

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