philconrad
Member
I am coming up on 30 years later this month working for a university. Next June is the "sweet spot" for me. I have my own business as well. I am looking forward to doing that instead for a few more years. AFTER THAT..............
Being retired
- Thread starter BigBill
- Start date
My thinking was always don't wait until you retire to do anything unless it's something an old man can do. I know people that were going to do great things when they retired but now they are not able. Larry
Benchrest1
Member
I've been retired for 12 of the best years of my life. Still too much to do and not enough time.
bulletslap
Member
My wife and me travel a lot, back forth to the Doctor’s office.
I've always wanted to retire they way my dad did.
After he retired he said...
"I'm so busy I don't know how I ever found time to hold down a job....
BUT, I don't do a damned thing I don't want to do!"
After he retired he said...
"I'm so busy I don't know how I ever found time to hold down a job....
BUT, I don't do a damned thing I don't want to do!"
I have been retired over 21 years now. For the first 5 or so we kept busy
checking off trips and other things on our bucket list. Then about 15 years
of mostly family and home things. My wife passed away in 2020 so every-
thing changed.
Now I have got into a habit of quite an oddball schedule. I go to bed
usually about 7pm. Get up about midnight and do a couple of hours
reading and/or here on the forum. Then back to bed, or my Lazy Boy, for
another hour or two snooze.
About the only places I go are the bank, post office, Walmart or the VA
Medical Center. Days are spent back and forth from watching tv, snoozing
or back to the home office.
I tried to do a little yard cleanup a few days ago, but I got my feet all
tangled up and fell down. Then I couldn't get up. Fortunately my next door
neighbor is a strong young man and he came over and helped me up. Now
I have orders from my daughter to do no more yard work.
At 86 life is not very exciting, but my memory is still functional and I have
lots of life to remember.
checking off trips and other things on our bucket list. Then about 15 years
of mostly family and home things. My wife passed away in 2020 so every-
thing changed.
Now I have got into a habit of quite an oddball schedule. I go to bed
usually about 7pm. Get up about midnight and do a couple of hours
reading and/or here on the forum. Then back to bed, or my Lazy Boy, for
another hour or two snooze.
About the only places I go are the bank, post office, Walmart or the VA
Medical Center. Days are spent back and forth from watching tv, snoozing
or back to the home office.
I tried to do a little yard cleanup a few days ago, but I got my feet all
tangled up and fell down. Then I couldn't get up. Fortunately my next door
neighbor is a strong young man and he came over and helped me up. Now
I have orders from my daughter to do no more yard work.
At 86 life is not very exciting, but my memory is still functional and I have
lots of life to remember.
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"Affordable" certainly means something different to most of us....the vast majority of people have not clue that this is how much government health care costs.
Robert
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I haven't worked since June but my retirement won't be official until Dec 31. The Covid long term effects kept me from going until 70, not for the money but for the discipline/routine. I have 53 years in on my Social Security "Earnings Record", no "zeroes." You can see the tough years like 1974, 1986, 1997, 2007 by the "$ craters." The best single thing about retirement is having 1 thing to do and all day to get to it. The range I frequent is open Thursday thru Monday so I have 3 days that aren't Saturday or Sunday to waste ammo. Joe
Targets Guy
US Veteran
Retired the first time in 1989. Went back to work in 1990. Retired the second time in 2006. I have cats so I don't need a watch. Did four years on my town city council and now I just take care of Casa Targets Guy, the wife and our cats. Full time job but I love it.
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GypsmJim
Member
- Joined
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At age 54 my company moved out of town. Only a few were asked to move. I didn't want to go. Everyone 55 or older got a "package". It felt bad wishing I were older.....LOL.
So, I started consulting for the company's competitors. Even though on average I only worked 9 days a month, with what I charged I actually made more than my salary as a manager. With all the free time I considered myself to be in pre-retirement. Lots of fishing, shooting and my gardens and lawn were the best on the street.
When the '08 Depression hit, half of my customers went out of business, forcing me to go "back to work". Back to my roots - as a Plant Engineer I was on call 24/7/365. I liked the job, but after "retirement" it got old in a hurry. After 5 years I puled the plug for good.
Now, I'm just finishing my 6th year of retirement. We have been on 13 cruises. We expanded our cabin in the woods. I get up late if I want to. I go fishing at a moment's notice. In other words, I do what I want and make no excuses. We'll probably start taking cruises again in a year or 2 when things settle down. In the meantime our Winter vacations will be in Florida.
Life is what you make of it. God willing, you'll have good health. If finances are a problem, wait to retire or work part time. Our position is that we're going to enjoy life now and spend our Children's inheritance, because nobody knows what the future will bring.
So, I started consulting for the company's competitors. Even though on average I only worked 9 days a month, with what I charged I actually made more than my salary as a manager. With all the free time I considered myself to be in pre-retirement. Lots of fishing, shooting and my gardens and lawn were the best on the street.
When the '08 Depression hit, half of my customers went out of business, forcing me to go "back to work". Back to my roots - as a Plant Engineer I was on call 24/7/365. I liked the job, but after "retirement" it got old in a hurry. After 5 years I puled the plug for good.
Now, I'm just finishing my 6th year of retirement. We have been on 13 cruises. We expanded our cabin in the woods. I get up late if I want to. I go fishing at a moment's notice. In other words, I do what I want and make no excuses. We'll probably start taking cruises again in a year or 2 when things settle down. In the meantime our Winter vacations will be in Florida.
Life is what you make of it. God willing, you'll have good health. If finances are a problem, wait to retire or work part time. Our position is that we're going to enjoy life now and spend our Children's inheritance, because nobody knows what the future will bring.
Badger Matt
Member
Retire in July after 28 years in the Air Force and 9 years teaching AFJROTC. Picked up an English Setter pup and he keeps me active. Birds make a bird dog so we’re hitting a preserve twice monthly then traveling next Fall.
I’m now the chief cook and dish washer at home while the missus works. Loving life!
I’m now the chief cook and dish washer at home while the missus works. Loving life!
Attachments
I do. But the problem is not just the cost. IMHO, the real problem is the narrow networks. The top tier hospitals (i.e. Mayo) won't accept it. I'm sure everyone has heard the horror stories about doctors refusing to take medicare patients. Obamacare patients are even worse off.
This feels a little weird saything this, learned it late in life, but I finally did learn. Work for the either the Federal or a State government if you can. They still offer retiree health care benefits. Employment is restricted to U.S. citizens of good standing (can a background check for a security clearance).
Let the H1Bs fight over the **** corporate jobs.
doublesharp
Member
I started a roadside fruit market in 1974. Rented an old service station and did well. Bought a service station directly across street in 1981 and leased it to a bbq joint. they paid for the real estate. After 19 years I lost my original spot when a Circle K bought it and has luck would have it my bbq joint tenant moved so I built a nice modern fruit market on paid for ground.
Killed it for about 5 years and then in 1996 at age 45 I sold the business and kept the real estate. Triple net lease with 25k per yr rent. I semi retired then - always been a horsetrader and have had a real estate brokers license since 78. Wife had a great job with cadillac insurance so all I had to do was make walking around money and that came easy enough. I had a half dozen yards I mowed and after dad died in 97 I looked after his businesses and took care of mom. Still worked hard but had no schedule or store hours to keep.
Ever hear the old line "working too hard to make any money" that was me. Once I got out of the 7 day grind I had more time for stock market - got broadband in 1999 on a beta test and in the early 2000's it was like taking candy from babies - buying high end Japanese luxury cars just after they turned 100k miles, high end bass boats, guns on GB and Auction Arms and S&W forum, flipped a few houses and studied/invested in the stock market daily. Never took life or myself too seriously and have always had a gamblers nature.
Killed it for about 5 years and then in 1996 at age 45 I sold the business and kept the real estate. Triple net lease with 25k per yr rent. I semi retired then - always been a horsetrader and have had a real estate brokers license since 78. Wife had a great job with cadillac insurance so all I had to do was make walking around money and that came easy enough. I had a half dozen yards I mowed and after dad died in 97 I looked after his businesses and took care of mom. Still worked hard but had no schedule or store hours to keep.
Ever hear the old line "working too hard to make any money" that was me. Once I got out of the 7 day grind I had more time for stock market - got broadband in 1999 on a beta test and in the early 2000's it was like taking candy from babies - buying high end Japanese luxury cars just after they turned 100k miles, high end bass boats, guns on GB and Auction Arms and S&W forum, flipped a few houses and studied/invested in the stock market daily. Never took life or myself too seriously and have always had a gamblers nature.
