I had my first brain tumor operation on January 7th,2006.
There were some "trade-offs" as my doctor put it.
Vision and speech were strongly affected and after going to two social security hearings I was deemed "unemployable" even for at home phone work.

But I could still play music,work with my old Ford tractor (at home) and make sawdust in my bridge work.
I had to sell my lobster boat and traps,but I found new ways to move on and a new sense of accomplishment and joy in living.
Dear friends are so important to me.

I think my banjo playing is still growing and I learn something every time I pick it up.

It also helps to have a wonderful old (1895) Brunswick pool table and a fine McDermott stick.

While I was working, I tried to stay in shape, and practice music, with what little free time I had. Weekend were for bar gigs and yard work and home auto upkeep. I used to dream about unlimited time to work out and play music. My lovely bride dreamed of the same thing, with her passion being sewing. We spent our final working years paying everything off and preparing. Then the time came. The first thing we did was get rid of TONS of accumulated crap. We joked that if we didn’t use it in the last 6 months, it was outa there. Then we sold the house and bought a condo. Yay! No more yard work or outdoor maintenance! My wife set up her sewing room, and I joined the gym down the street. We’ve been living the dream for over 5 years now. I’ve ran several marathons and even IM triathlons, and practice music several hours a day. My wife sews, and spends lots of time volunteering with a local animal rescue. My music life has changed as well. No more bars and late nights. Now it’s church, and daytime gigs for older folks and senior communities. There’s other stuff, but that’s it in a nutshell.

I dunno whether or not I've found, or even looked for, "meaning," but neither my wife nor I had any trouble adjusting to retirement [at the age typically considered typical] ....we just take things as they come* .... yard work takes up lots of time.  Wonky feet, knees and elbows make significant activity activity unpleasant at best, but c'est la vie.  I do a lot of procrastinating.

* however the time to get rid of TONS (?) of "stuff" is not too far off ... am now debating in my head which is preferable ... an online auction or an in-person one.   [And I'm not makin' much progress  ]

I found after I retired that I had more to do than before when I was working.

When Dave was still alive, we went to jams and festivals early so we could get in with the jams. We also traveled around the country just enjoying the landscape and stopping at campgrounds and meeting new people. We worked in the yard together. We went places together.

Now, I keep myself busy with hobbies: I knit, crochet, cross stitch, sew, all those things. I make crocheted stuffies and donate them to different organizations that need toys for needy children. I go to the senior center and join another group of ladies who do handwork. I have friends who I play cards with, go out to eat with. I spend a lot of time with my poodle.

I still play the banjo, although not as good as I used to.  Arthritis has taken its' toll.   There's no jamming or festivals close to me so I've had to become a closet picker.  I do have my Band in a Box so I can play along with rhythm and feel almost like I'm in a band.  I don't do much on the  guitar and have put the mandolin away.

I just relax and enjoy life. It's great not having to get up, get dressed, fight the traffic to get to and from work. I don't have to worry about cold, rainy, snowy, icy days or days so hot it's better to just stay inside.

First retirement was 2-22-2002 from my Gummint job.
Irene and I went visiting, driving in a Chevy pickup with a camper cab, for shorter trips, (and of course, NOBODY wanted us sleeping in the camper, at THEIR house). Airfare for jets on longer trips (Grandkids in Alaska).
Made cookie tin banjos, Irene wove rugs on her Kessenich loom, did gigs, went to jams, went to Art & Crap Fairs, to try sell the rugs and banjos, generally enjoyed life.
SECOND retirement was when pancreatic cancer killed Irene.
Moped around for a while, then kept on making banjos, doing gigs, attending jams.
Eventually met Mary.
Kept on making banjos, doing gigs, etc. But did the gigs as a duo, since we both play banjo.
THIRD retirement was after I got out of the hospital. Was having a continuing hallucination.
They STILL don't know if it was a little bitty stroke, or what.
The pills I must take have lowered my enthusiasm for everything, and my sore back has made it difficult to load the gear into the SUV for gigs.
Only do daytime gigs within a reasonable distance.
Have begun contemplating getting rid of SOME of the banjo making materials.

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One of my friends got his lower leg amputated after an industrial accident. The company is giving him a desk job, but I offered to teach him some chords and carve him a wooden leg, so he can busk as a pirate on the weekends.