At what age did you retire.........
- Thread starter BAM-BAM
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pinduck
US Veteran
At 55 years of age in 1989. Best decision I ever made.
Glen
Glen
There are those who would have you believe that I never bothered to start working
, so how could I retire? But I'll claim 65 as my official retirement age.
, so how could I retire? But I'll claim 65 as my official retirement age.
I retired from my law enforcement job at 51 in order to accept a college teaching position. I'm still doing that....finishing up my 21st year. I'll be 72 next month. Started drawing my police pension at 51, SS at 66, and still building my 403B and 401A for when I "really retire".
But I am thinking about it some. But teaching gives me 3 months off in the summer, and a month off at Christmas, and a week in the spring, and a week off at Thanksgiving, and I'm done most days by noon, so I'm not in any real hurry.
Still........
Best Regards, Les
But I am thinking about it some. But teaching gives me 3 months off in the summer, and a month off at Christmas, and a week in the spring, and a week off at Thanksgiving, and I'm done most days by noon, so I'm not in any real hurry.
Still........
Best Regards, Les
GB
Member
I wanted to retire at 62 but I did a little digging and found that I could retire or buy health ins. but not both. Sooooo, I retired at 65 years, 3 months and 18 days. 3 years ago, the 3rd of Oct. For the first year or so, I would get a call or someone would make contact every few weeks and ask if I was ready to get back into the harness again. I always answered the same, "no thanks". I have been living on part of my retirement (haven't touched my 401K yet) for those three years and bought a new truck which I paid for and still have only dropped my portfolio about 15 grand. Life is good!
The only thing I miss is that I no longer get paid to stay home on 7 holidays and 4 weeks of vacation!
The only thing I miss is that I no longer get paid to stay home on 7 holidays and 4 weeks of vacation!
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In a few days at age 60. A couple years before I wanted but circumstances make it necessary.
Never really thought too much about retirement, and then it just happened. Left the AF after 24 years (passed over) and went to the UN to work on refugee emergencies. Left that at 50 since could not learn French with hearing difficulties. My wife wanted to go into business so she started a toy store and I was her full time help. Did that until she died 10 years later. So at 60, I sold her business and then just retired.
My new wife and I have both been retired for 10 years now. Gardening, gun collecting, and some traveling.
My new wife and I have both been retired for 10 years now. Gardening, gun collecting, and some traveling.
Did not pull the "formal plug" until almost 76. Now heading 79 and have done more traveling and lecturing in the last two and a half years than I did in the four years prior to 'Retiring from the NIH". Off to "the Antipodes" tomorrow for a month lecturing and writing. Old chemists do not stop "working" they simply lose their "elements!!" Dave_n
Sal1950
Member
60, Then moved from the Peoples Republic of Chicago Illinois to the Free State of Davenport Florida. Never knew life could be so good!
63.5 here.
I figured out a way to get my medical thru my employers plan. I had to pay the full price where my employer picked up about 60% of it when I was working. The state law here is the plan that you are covered under while employed has to be offered to you for 18 months if you are no longer employed there.
Most people have to wait until they can get medicare but I had some investments I could tap into so I made my break. It didn't hurt that I had a 30 year pension in a good retirement system either.
I worked for 45 years so I didn't feel the least bit guilty retiring early. I paid my dues and I'm living the good life now. I would have retired sooner but just couldn't get the numbers to work.
I just hope everyone can do as well as I did.
I figured out a way to get my medical thru my employers plan. I had to pay the full price where my employer picked up about 60% of it when I was working. The state law here is the plan that you are covered under while employed has to be offered to you for 18 months if you are no longer employed there.
Most people have to wait until they can get medicare but I had some investments I could tap into so I made my break. It didn't hurt that I had a 30 year pension in a good retirement system either.
I worked for 45 years so I didn't feel the least bit guilty retiring early. I paid my dues and I'm living the good life now. I would have retired sooner but just couldn't get the numbers to work.
I just hope everyone can do as well as I did.
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I'm a 75 year old physician (Internal Medicine), still working 3.5 days per week. Can't quite bring myself to completely retire as long as my patients keep telling me not to. I'm still reloading, shooting, buying more S&W's (and some Colts). Also stay current with medical and scientific developments. Hoping to stay healthy enough to use up my 5-7 year supply of reloading components!
Retired from the Air Force at 37 and started my law enforcement career. I'm retiring from it in December at 60 1/2. My only concern is not being occupied enough. May have to take on a part time job or volunteer some where to avoid boredom.
Huskerguy
Member
I have really enjoyed reading this thread and all of your life experiences. Thank you
I retired the first time from public education at 57 - took my state retirement and figured I would dabble in something to keep me busy.
Went to work for a private school for three years making about half as much money. Got a rare lung disease in year three (health seems to be a common cause for retirement on here) and called it quits at age 60
Health turned around thanks to a great doctor in Denver and was asked to help start a new school. Retired at age 61
Asked to help a non-profit who was struggling and retired from that at age 63. Said I was done for sure, I so tired of managing people and turning schools around and just all that goes with it all.
Wanted to keep busy and put in my app to substitute teach. They offered me two different jobs, neither one for subbing. So now I help special ed students with all sorts of assistive technologies that I can find to help them in their daily lives.Work same hours as my bride of 44 years and we get summers off. Probably do this one more year and I will be done at age 65 +.
The moral of the story is I could find plenty to putter around and do including reloading and shooting but I felt I was called to do more and retirement will have to wait just a bit longer. The good part is I work because I want to and not because I have to. I guess for me it wasn't about retirement for me but there were some kids I could still help so it became about them.
I do look forward to not having to be anywhere on time except to teach Sunday morning. Some of you have some great accounts of your lives well lived. Awesome job and congratulations however you were led.
I retired the first time from public education at 57 - took my state retirement and figured I would dabble in something to keep me busy.
Went to work for a private school for three years making about half as much money. Got a rare lung disease in year three (health seems to be a common cause for retirement on here) and called it quits at age 60
Health turned around thanks to a great doctor in Denver and was asked to help start a new school. Retired at age 61
Asked to help a non-profit who was struggling and retired from that at age 63. Said I was done for sure, I so tired of managing people and turning schools around and just all that goes with it all.
Wanted to keep busy and put in my app to substitute teach. They offered me two different jobs, neither one for subbing. So now I help special ed students with all sorts of assistive technologies that I can find to help them in their daily lives.Work same hours as my bride of 44 years and we get summers off. Probably do this one more year and I will be done at age 65 +.
The moral of the story is I could find plenty to putter around and do including reloading and shooting but I felt I was called to do more and retirement will have to wait just a bit longer. The good part is I work because I want to and not because I have to. I guess for me it wasn't about retirement for me but there were some kids I could still help so it became about them.
I do look forward to not having to be anywhere on time except to teach Sunday morning. Some of you have some great accounts of your lives well lived. Awesome job and congratulations however you were led.
CalmerThanYou
Member
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Retirement. What is that? I have been self employed from 1991 to present. I kind of overlooked the lack of pension thing. But I can ramp down my volume of work, but full retirement is a fairy tale at this point.
Which is cool I guess, I am a bit of a workaholic. Not sure what I would do with myself.
Which is cool I guess, I am a bit of a workaholic. Not sure what I would do with myself.
hardcase60
Member
Pulled the pin at 50. That was over seventeen yrs ago. Do I sill miss LE, yes. Do I miss the BS, no. To the poster that asked about dreaming the job, yes. Kinda eerie. After a few years got a part time job in an unrelated field and still going. Gets me out of the house, had the pleasure of meeting numerous interesting people, and it helps to feed all my habits. Guns, travel, volunteer interests (it's a long story), fine whiskey, and anything else we decide to do. I won't die rich (which I've never seen the point in doing) but I will move on having had some darn good times. hardcase60
alde
Member
I hung it up at 55 years and 18 days old. I left with 36 years 10 months of federal service. That was a year ago last July and I don't regret it one little bit.
The first time, at age 52. That was on 1 Jan, 2000, after 29 years and 7 months of service. The last and final time at age 65, in 2013. Looking back now, I wonder how I had time for work.
That was 38 years of tough retirement.
I hung it up at age 63 1/2, a little earlier than what I had hoped but luckily I had been planning ahead. The long hours between the job and the commute were wearing me out and I could feel some health issues developing. Plus my dad had some health problems and I was hoping to spend more time with him. The demands of the job were getting to be a lot harder to handle and I was getting some heat for that. So I officially retired on December 31, 2015 at 3:30 PM (but who's keeping track) and never looked back. Good thing I did, because the next month I was told I had a major blockage in one of my coronary arteries and I had medical opinions that if hadn't retired then I would probably be dead now. The only disappointment was that my dad died the week after my Social Security application was approved.
Now I give back to my town by being Secretary of the Planning Commission. Otherwise I'm cruising gun shops and American Legion posts. My house is paid for so I can now pick up a few new toys if the mood strikes me.
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crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
65. Right on schedule.
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