Retired audiophile?

I'm just a couple of years from doing what I like: nothing in particular.

Having gotten that out of the way, there have been a couple of times when I thought I'd gotten as far as I could go with my system only to find out it was just this one item.....

All the best,
Nonoise

I'm semi retired I think. My main system has stabilized and hasn't changed for the past few years. Unless something fails or I move I think I'm pretty much through.

BUT, I did just set up a second budget system using some small and inexpensive stand mount monitors and a small tube amp and was just amazed at the result. Makes me wonder why I spent all the time and effort on my main system - if I had to I could easily live with that second system (easy enough to say when you know you don't have to do that :-).

I do still find audio and music fascinating as well as enjoyable and do have visions of being able to experiment more with different gear and approaches when I retire and have more time, although again on a much smaller scale.

Or maybe I'll move on to other new things. Who knows. I have too many interests to pursue them all.

Currently it will take me years to listen to all the music I have queued up already, so no time for mucking with equipment unless needed.

Even if you had unlimited means and a willingness to buy, try and experiment constantly with new gear, accessories and 'tweaks,' I think you'd find, as i have, that all of these activities may have little bearing on your enjoyment of your system as a source for listening to music. Audio is a hobby that can be pursued for its own sake, having little to do with listening to music for enjoyment; instead, the quest is to find 'better sound.' Nothing wrong with that, but at a certain point, it becomes more about the gear and tweaks than the music itself.
Like most things in life, there is a balance- a point that is different for each of us, depending on pocket book, interest, time and knowledge. I've actually found myself more able to enjoy my system now than at any time in the past. Yes, the system does some things extremely well, and has some limitations which I not only acknowledge, but can live with pretty happily. That doesn't mean I'm not interested in gear, but I'm more drawn to antiquarian stuff than the latest and greatest. Reviews are, at best, to paraphrase Mike Fremer, a form of 'informed entertainment.'
One thing having more time has afforded me is the ability to dig into the thousands of records I've collected over the years and listened to them, learn more about the artists and recordings themselves. If there's a place where I've spent money in the last few years, it has been on records- buying better pressings of records I like.
I'm not taking pot shots at those who want to spend time in gear acquisition and comparisons. But, having a fairly dialed-in system, I'm less concerned at this point with owning the latest and greatest- I'll replace a cartridge or retube a piece of gear when appropriate, but I'm actually having more fun, and getting more use and enjoyment out of the system now, than ever before.

I'm with Whart.

I'm way more interested in listening to music than mucking with different gear. That's just the means towards the end.

I've pretty much heard it all over the years. There is nothing I have heard that I feel I am missing these days. So I'll likely just keep it that way and like I said maybe downsize over time as well if needed.

I've boiled my recipe for enjoying audio down to a few simple things. It should not take a lot of work from here for me to keep myself musically enabled.

Someone here jokingly mentioned my OHM speakers might serve well as a tombstone, and I would tend to agree. Maybe with some additional weatherproofing. :^)