I retired at 53 that was 11 yrs ago. Love it.
At what age did you retire.........
- Thread starter BAM-BAM
- Start date
I pulled the plug at age 61, after 39 years of corporate life. It was a great career, but I have been retired for 5.5 years now and don't regret retiring early. Started taking SS at 66. And I have a very good pension and a good amount of savings.
I retired at 60. For 31 years, I had a great job that I loved. Unfortunately, I worked there for 33 years. A change in management took my job from great to horrible. Fortunately, I had a good retirement program, so I got out while the getting was good. It's been 13 years now, and I've never regretted it.
The plan is 62 but I need 7 more years. We shall see.
DanWales
Member
Retired
Retired at just over 60. Had 38 1/2 years combined active duty and civil service in US Air Force.
Dan
Retired at just over 60. Had 38 1/2 years combined active duty and civil service in US Air Force.
Dan
carpriver
US Veteran
I retired at age 64, well I stopped working at 64, stared collecting a small pension and at 65 stated collecting my Social Security. My job as a addiction was getting to me, I felt I was working harder then my clients on their recovery, I was losing my objectivity. I do not regret my decision. I am enjoying my life doing the things I have wanted to do all my life. I am spending quality time with my wife.
jrclen
US Veteran
At age 60, on the day after I was eligible. I still work in my trade (electrician) but just for myself now, and I set the days and hours. I'm 70 and I'm very happy I did it when I did.
59 1/2 after 31 years with the same company on 02/14....Now retired is the best job I ever had. I do what I want to when I want to. Have good health, don 't take any medications. The Good Lord has blessed us and we enjoy everyday.
I took early retirement in 2004, when I was 53. I did this for two reasons: my wife was disabled in an accident in 2003 (broken neck) and my job required a lot of travel, so that was very difficult...but then in 2004, my company wanted to relocate me to NYC, where our new HQ was, and I said no. My boss couldn't have been nicer about it...I did have the points to retire early, but my pension was going to be reduced. Since my job was going to NYC whether I did or not, she treated it as a job elimination for me, and I was given severance pay, which made up the difference. Also, I fully expected to get a very small bonus for 2004, but she gave me the biggest one I've ever gotten. (Maybe she was just really glad I was retiring?!?)
We never know what life is going to throw at us...shortly after I retired, I started having health problems of my own. So, now my wife and I take care of each other. I wish I could have worked until I was 65, but even had my wife not been disabled, I probably wouldn't have been able to keep working, just with my own issues.
It's been an adjustment...from having an all-consuming career to basically doing nothing, plus our finances took a major hit with the medical bills (one hospital stay alone, when my wife wound up in ICU for a month after one of her multiple surgeries, left us owing about $500K) but money isn't everything. In fact, you never know just how much someone means to you until you see them in a coma for a month, praying they won't die, and you learn what is really important.
We never know what life is going to throw at us...shortly after I retired, I started having health problems of my own. So, now my wife and I take care of each other. I wish I could have worked until I was 65, but even had my wife not been disabled, I probably wouldn't have been able to keep working, just with my own issues.
It's been an adjustment...from having an all-consuming career to basically doing nothing, plus our finances took a major hit with the medical bills (one hospital stay alone, when my wife wound up in ICU for a month after one of her multiple surgeries, left us owing about $500K) but money isn't everything. In fact, you never know just how much someone means to you until you see them in a coma for a month, praying they won't die, and you learn what is really important.
I turn 55 in 3 weeks, at which point I will be eligible to retire from my current employer with a pension equal to about 1/3 of my current salary and my medical insurance 100% covered. Additionally I have a decent amount put away in investments and my 401k, but can't afford to actually retire yet because I have a 14 year old still at home. But once he graduates high school in 3-1/2 years it will be a different story. I may be able to retire from my present employer and get another job to make up the difference between my pension and what I really need to bring home to keep the bulls paid. Regardless, I won't keep working past 59-1/2 unless I find another job doing something that I really LOVE...
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I retired at 55 after doing some financial reviews and calculations, my wife at 52 because she was eligible with more than 30 years service with her company. We'd always been frugal, living well within our means, the numbers said do it, so we both pulled the pin the same day.
My blood pressure dropped ~30 points after a few months off. After a few years in retirement, I did some occasional consulting design work for the next 9 years, made a little mad money here and there to travel, upgrade my wood shop and loading bench, buy a few go-bang toys that I wouldn't have bought otherwise. Can't believe it's been 19 years now. Life is good but flying by.
Where did the time go?
My blood pressure dropped ~30 points after a few months off. After a few years in retirement, I did some occasional consulting design work for the next 9 years, made a little mad money here and there to travel, upgrade my wood shop and loading bench, buy a few go-bang toys that I wouldn't have bought otherwise. Can't believe it's been 19 years now. Life is good but flying by.
Where did the time go?
First time I was 49. It drove my wife nuts, she was not ready for me to retire. I left the company I had been with for 25 years over a bonus dispute so I went to work for their biggest competitor. I had a blast when I was at that company. I hired around 30 of the people I worked with at the old company and we were all better off from it. I worked until I was 55 and then pulled the plug.
That was 14 years ago and I have no regrets. Life is very good. We spend a lot of time traveling with a huge camp trailer and I can't wait to get on the road again.
That was 14 years ago and I have no regrets. Life is very good. We spend a lot of time traveling with a huge camp trailer and I can't wait to get on the road again.
One day after my 59th birthday. I could have gone at 57, but stayed on for a couple more years. I could have stayed, but my pension wouldn't have increased.
I haven't really retired, I've retired from working nights, holidays, and weekends.
As someone once said to me, there isn't a good time to retire, but there is a right time to retire. For me, it was the right time because I stopped liking what I was doing, even though I still liked most of the people I worked with. That's what I miss about the job, not the job.
A sort of off topic question. Does anyone else still dream about the job? It was really weird for a couple of years, with vivid dreams.
I haven't really retired, I've retired from working nights, holidays, and weekends.
As someone once said to me, there isn't a good time to retire, but there is a right time to retire. For me, it was the right time because I stopped liking what I was doing, even though I still liked most of the people I worked with. That's what I miss about the job, not the job.
A sort of off topic question. Does anyone else still dream about the job? It was really weird for a couple of years, with vivid dreams.
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Grayfox
US Veteran
I retired at age 60. Turned wrenches for a total of 42 years. Spent the last 25 working for the city I live in and retired from there. I started drawing Social Security last year at age 62. I get by just fine on that and my pension.
I had originally planned to retire at 65. Both pension & SS would have been a little higher. For me the difference maker was a heart attack back in 2000. I recovered just fine, but it taught me the tomorrow is promised to nobody. So I pulled the plug on the very first day I was eligible.
I haven't regretted it one bit.
I had originally planned to retire at 65. Both pension & SS would have been a little higher. For me the difference maker was a heart attack back in 2000. I recovered just fine, but it taught me the tomorrow is promised to nobody. So I pulled the plug on the very first day I was eligible.
I haven't regretted it one bit.
I retired on April 15, 2005, just 3 months & 5 days short of my 58th birthday.
Frank46
US Veteran
I retired at 50. Had been working rotating shifts 24/7/365 for over 30 years. Hot,cold,wet,dry,snow Ice and rain knees hurt so bad used to rub them down with linamint just so I could get a decent nights sleep. After I retired got diagnosed with sleep apnea and started with a cpap machine. I also have been diagnosed as having asbestosis. Things money wise were bad for a few years before my workmen's comphensation and social security disability. Not rich by anyone's standards but we live a comfortable life which is all we can expect. Not unusual to have brochitus twice a year and this year 4 times. Finally found a doc who Listens to his patients and that made all the difference. Frank
brigeton
Member
I retired 3 years ago at 62. I did machine repair in a manufacturing company. The work wasn't bad but most of the management were jerks. My wife is 63 now and still works because we can't afford our own health insurance but she has a pretty good job and doesn't mind. We each have small 401s which we'll start drawing on after she retires.
The 3 years has flown by. Most days I fish or putter around the house. I do most of the cooking at least during the week. If I drop dead tomorrow at least I've had this time to enjoy myself with no regrets about not working longer.
The 3 years has flown by. Most days I fish or putter around the house. I do most of the cooking at least during the week. If I drop dead tomorrow at least I've had this time to enjoy myself with no regrets about not working longer.
wingriderz
Member
50 for me I worked minum 67 to 100 hours a week ( auto service ) over 30 years half as a A S E master tech half as multi store managment. Owner of the franchise auto stores he had 3 that I managed for him fired me from my hospital bed over the phone when he found out I needed a heart valve replacment. So I was forced into early retirement at 50. Been a rough road last five years but we are very blessed. House paid for wonder wife. And oh yeah. Super shop owner lost two of the three stores he had. Karma has a way of catching you every time. I lost my job and insurance .He lost far more and will countiue to do so. Btw each and every store brought in over million in sales when I ran them.He lost two of the three for bankruptcy last three years
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I'm 62, hung it up a year or so ago and no regrets so far. I firmly believe and preach to those that ask; if you can afford to retire, the sooner, the better.
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