I've been retired since July 10, 2005. It didn't take me any time at all to get used to six Saturdays in a row followed by a Sunday.
For me, retirement came down to a simplified concept: what is more valuable; time or money. In answering this question, as a young man, it was all about income generation. Time, we had plenty of. Money, not so much. But, somewhere along the line, my priorities changed. Time became my focus. It became the most desirable commodity, because, for one thing, the amount you get is finite, and secondly, the amount you get is unknowable.
“Therefore watch, for you know not the day, nor the hour”.
Spend your time wisely.
It’s later than you think…
This. So Much THIS.
When I got home from work my wife and I had a sit-down and we decided what our priorities were going to be. Bottom line, we decided that the time was worth more to us than the money.
I got my first full time job when I was 15. I worked till I was 56. I really don't care if someone else doesn't approve of what I do with MY time. It's MINE, not yours and I will spend it as I see fit.
Good for you. I always say that retirement may have saved my life. I have no pressure or stress and I have the time to take better care of myself.
What you said is really on the money. When I decided to retire, I was still making house payments, but all of the other debts were paid. So when I sat down and ran the numbers, I knew I was not going to have a lavish retirement, but at least I could walk away from the job and have my time back. When my dad's estate got distributed I paid off the mortgage and learned how little I needed to actually live on.
So I won't be taking any cruises around the world, but the ability to go to the NRA Museum on a weekday without having to clear it with anybody is absolutely PRICELESS!
On the contrary, shortly after I retired, a stock I had was being bought out at a healthy price, a nice windfall. I asked my financial advisor if I should use some to pay off my mortgage. He asked how much I owed and at what percent. $30,000 at 4.5%. He said I could earn 8-10% investing that $30,000 instead.
I didn't pay off the mortgage, and he did easily get me 9-10% on the investment. I'm ahead by 5-6% by not paying off the mortgage.
Debt is not necessarily a bad thing that must be disposed of.
I worked 7P to7A weekends for nearly 20 years. One of the biggest adjustments I had to make was learning to sleep at night. After 4 years I still have those nights when I wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning and am trying to get back to sleep.
Retirement takes LOTS of practice. Jan 1. 2022 will be 40 years practicing retirement. You gain knowledge. I now know how many tiles are in each room. How many weeds are in the yard and how fast they grow back. Amoung other real important [emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787] stuff.
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My FIL worked for Piper at their Lock Haven Pa. home until it closed way back in the 80's. Still remember seeing dozens of new Pawnees lined up along the river road at the plant. I didn't realize Piper was still in business. Are they still at Vero Beach?Worked for Piper many, many moons ago. S-I-L and Grandson both work there now.
My FIL worked for Piper at their Lock Haven Pa. home until it closed way back in the 80's. Still remember seeing dozens of new Pawnees lined up along the river road at the plant. I didn't realize Piper was still in business. Are they still at Vero Beach?
John
Dec 31 will be 40 years retired.40 years?![]()