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Retirement

This is a great thread!

For me, at mid 40s, I can't grasp retirement. I'll have to keep myself funded until 70 years of age, but it doesn't have to be 100% work for 25 yrs and then 0% work. I'm currently 50% work, 50% enjoying being a Dad.
 
Retirement for me has been a great experience. The varied skills I've learned since I started working for someone else at the age of 14 have been realigned to projects I enjoy. Working in research taught me how to methodically work through problems. I've always been able to do plumbing, electrical, framing, roofing and other building trades. When my kids need work done on their house, I do that work for them. Has anyone priced contractors lately? I look forward to fixing up my houses when Spring rolls around. When it comes to my vintage audio hobby, research and development background along with my BSEE degree help revive "dumpster queens" that others have given up on. It is so satisfying to bring back a piece of equipment and listen to music while doing it. Like the native americans, I spend summers hunting and gathering and winters restoring turntables, amplifiers, receivers and speakers in my nice "longhouse". I clean and listen to thrift records and tapes every day of many genres of music without interruption from some manager demanding "directed invention". I start working on projects at around 7 in the morning and finish between 8 and 9 at night. Sometimes I get so involved in a project like rebuilding my kids garage that we put out work lights and go later. All these projects get me up off my butt and are physically demanding. Compared to sitting in a conference room, drinking coffee and eating donuts while listening to someone droning about what the vice president wants, this retirement keeps my weight down and health up. Retirement is something you make work yourself. Gather as many skills and build an experience base to keep up the variety and have lots of fun.
 
Sigh... I have 15 years to go till retirement, 12 if I go early without penalty with the company's pension plan. :(
 
I'm hoping to hold out 'till 66 to retire - about 5 years off ...
Still got some mortgage left, trying to get that off our backs before I retire ...

I've changed careers numerous times since college -
lots of skill sets, no pension, tho I do have a couple of 401Ks that are still going.

Can't stand daytime TV - plenty of projects to get into ...
Dad made it to 90 - so I figure as long as I have my head and hands
(and good ears!) I'll be positive!
 
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noogies said:
Word to the wise: if you're financially more than ready, what are you waiting for?
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The second million... ;)

Both parents lived to their 90s, so want to have plenty of cushion. Second million will be a whole lot faster than the first, but still 5-6 years away.

Unlike many, I love my job, not ready to give it up anytime soon.
 
Some of you guys make retirement sound another ****in' job. Christ, all this goddam Anglo Saxon earnestness about it.
 
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chicks said:
The second million... ;)

Both parents lived to their 90s, so want to have plenty of cushion. Second million will be a whole lot faster than the first, but still 5-6 years away.

Unlike many, I love my job, not ready to give it up anytime soon.
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Old age is not hereditary by the way.
 
If you are not already committed and up to the task, pursue young chicks :).
You get eggs which will hatch young ones.
Which will keep you going and occupy whatever time you have left...
 
So here's one thing on my retirement to-do list! http://www.thejazzcruise.com/

Visited all these ports of call in a gray destroyer back in the day, but the entertainment and accommodations look like an upgrade here. ;)

Kurt Elling, Diane Reeves, Christian McBride, Ann Hampton Callaway, Dee Dee Bridgewater... Wonder what the 2021 lineup will look like? :scratch2:
 
^^^
A man was being interviewed on the occasion of his 100th birthday. The reporter asked what he owed his longevity to. He replied "I never smoked, never drank, never fooled around with women". As he was saying this, there was a commotion from the room next door, with women laughing and glasses clinking. The reporter asked what on earth was going on, and the old gentleman replied "Oh, that's just my dad. No doubt he's drunk and has his girlfriends over again".
 
chicks said:
Looking at it coming, just 5, maybe 6 years down the road. Financially more than ready, but wondering how you old farts stay out of trouble with all that time on your hands? I mean besides welcoming newbies to AK, and wishing birthday members well? :D

Have been steadily employed for 30 years at MegaCorp; any time things started to get boring, moved on to new challenges. Expect the last few working years to be just as intellectually stimulating. Worried about staying intellectually involved after retirement. Maybe some EdX courses, maybe back to school at a small college.

Welcome input from those of you who are there...
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I retired 6 years ago at 55. My youngest daughter was in the 8th grade so I kept busy with her sports and stuff. Now the visits to college take up the time in the fall season, summer she plays pro-am so still occupied and the winter I just spend listening to music. With my first two grand kids on the way.. lot's to prepare and lot's to do for 20 more years. Oh, and I probably will have my niece move in. She to is an athlete so I'l be busy shuffling her.

Zero problem filling the time. :thmbsp:
 
RichPA said:
Actually, to a large extent longevity is hereditary.
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Statistically in the aggregate? I do not know. It only matters on the individual level. My father and his brother did not live as long as my grandfather, and my mom did not live as long as her mother. She lived longer than her dad by 4 years, but had severe dementia so I would not call it quality life.

As my Gramps would say, don't be the richest man in the graveyard.
 
I hope to retire in 3 years time at 65. By then my Grandson/Daughter (due to be born in June) will be nearly 3 so with that, the fishing/hunting and the Hi-Fi, I should have plenty to keep myself occupied.
 
I told the headmaster at the school where I work that I would be retiring at the end of this school year when I turn 65. Part of my decision is based on the fact that I lost one friend to brain cancer and another has stage 4 esophageal cancer. Both are younger than me and a year ago where thought to be healthy. You never know how long you have which I learned when my first wife died at 49. Do I have enough money? Who knows. I just feel I'll figure it out but qualifying for Medicare certainly makes it possible.
 
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Nice Work

Enjoy your last years with the company. Continue to be productive like you always were. When you retire, you will have more time to do all of the things you did not have time to do while employed full time.....like your hobbies and your family. My mother in law had a top position at a bank and finally retired recently. But what she did is she took a lower position at the bank and now works only Thursday and Friday. A colleague of hers did the same and works Monday - Wednesday. So although you may be officially retired, you still may wanna work several hours a week.
 
DublinTrader said:
I told the headmaster at the school where I work that I would be retiring at the end of this school year when I turn 65. Part of my decision is based on the fact that I lost one friend to brain cancer and another has stage 4 esophageal cancer. Both are younger than me and a year ago where thought to be healthy. You never know how long you have which I learned when my first wife died at 49. Do I have enough money? Who knows. I just feel I'll figure it out but qualifying for Medicare certainly makes it possible.
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Alright! More road trips!! :banana:
 
This coming Friday I'm going to try this retirement thing again! I retired in '08 the first time after 35 years with a local govt. as a vehicle mechanic. That same Fall I went to work for a craft brewery that is just over a mile from home. The main reason I wanted some extra income was to pay for my daughters' four years of college and that is done, she graduates May 16th. I plan on doing some home improvement projects, some fishing, some DIY stereo things and whatever other fun stuff I can dream up.
 
I'm in my 28th month of retirement. I feel fortunate.. if can go, by all means go. just last week a friend past away at 61. he retired one yr ago.. ya never know, y'know.. you'll find plenny of things to enjoy no doubt..
the key is no mortgages and other big payment items..most of the folk my age comin' to the end of the mortgages... go enjoy the last third of yo life.. :thmbsp:

Hbar


the best antiques are old friends
 
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