I have found in retirement it is advantageous not to try to time correctly, but to undertake action.
First, one will make gains even though they may not be as much as one could.
Secondly, any losses(tough in current climate) are useful to offset the gains on page one of the 1040 at year end.
Companies like Enron taught millions this credo.
Yes, I'm learning to accept that, and trying to learn to be patient. I'm good at not operating at a panic, no one transaction is going to make or break me.
I'm also learning to keep my own limits. If I set a limit order to buy if it drops another $0.50, don't keep second guessing it or chasing it if it doesn't go down that far.
And once it rises enough, at or near the target, set a trailing stop loss at 1% and don't look back after it sells. It may not be the top dollar, but I made my profit, now look for the next one.
I haven't traded stocks for a lot of years. I used to always go for growth cap funds and just let it ride forever. And most of my retirement is still in that stuff. But I'm trying, more out of curiosity, with a piece of it on individual stocks. Last couple years I've risen a little bit more than the Dow or S&P500 so I'm doing okay.