Retired audiophile?

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. :^)

Sounds like you just ran out of money.

Papermill-
I, personally, will never retire form this hobby. Most will be come satisfied w/ their respective systems- this is perfectly acceptable. So long as the technology keeps moving forward and there are musical gains to be made, do not retire.
Happy Listening!

Papermill, first, compliments on the craftsman house, the river dwelling and your rigs. It appears you are in a very comfortable place for retirement.

I have slowed down the buying and trying of audio gear considerably as I am very comfortable with how my system sounds, its functionality and the enjoyment it brings me. Looking back, the surprising thing is the contrast in how much time I have spent building this system compared to my college/early adult system of a vintage Sansui receiver, Jensen triaxial speakers in DIY cabinets, and a Phillips (later Thorens) turntable, which was every bit as satisfying.

I think "retirement" from being an audiophile is more related to priorities and what is important to a person than to what they have achieved with their system. The endless tweaks, cable changes, gear swaps, reviews, etc. lose their significance after awhile, especially when the gain is viewed in relation to the effort. In life, we vote with our time. In retrospect, I wish I had started retiring earlier.

I am reminded of advice I received years ago when overly weighing the pros and cons of components to put on a new mountain bike....."just ride the bike."