How close to ReTirement, Are U?

[pilgrim6a]

When I got home today 'Dangerous Catch' was on the TV.
That's when I realized.
I'm RETIRED.
I don't even want to watch someone WORK!!!!!

 

[Dueeast]

8 to 10 If I go at 60 or 62 (same benefits). Love what I do just don't like who I do it for..

 

[feralmerril]

Just remember this. There was a old boy at lockheed who retired and died when he was putting his tool box in the truck of his car to go home and celibrate!

 

[rburg]

All good stuff. The stars have all aligned and 4 months ago I walked out for the last time. Except my ex-boss keeps calling me with projects he needs me to do. Just last week I spent 2 days in an abandoned building watching a couple of guys install new garage doors. Work is tough.

I was counting the days for the last 5 or so years. Everyone in the building knew what those decreasing numbers on my bulletin board were counting. But I didn't go on that date, I waited for another 5 months.

And I'm not sure about the re-tarred part. My jeep has brand new skins, won at a jeep event 2 years ago. So to install them, I took of the set I'd won a year before that. And as luck would have it, I also have another unmounted set stacked in the garage. So the count is a factory spare on the back end, never been on the ground. 4 on the road with probably 2 or 3 years left before I sell them at a swap meet. And the stack in the southeast corner of the garage has 4 tires mounted and 4 more not mounted yet. A dozen P285s should last me for the rest of my days. And there is still a chance I'll win more!

Life is good. Health maybe not, but its OK. And I've learned fast. Anyone wants me to do anything, I tell them "I'm just not comfortable doing that just yet." Its a padded "no." But much of what I do goes unappreciated. Early this afternoon I went out and got in my wife's car. She took the minivan to work. So I drove down to the BP station and filled it with Premium (it likes premium.) The I pushed the button on the pump to buy a car wash, too. Not the econo wash, the top of the line job. Drove it home and parked where it always sits.

She came home a little early today. Didn't even notice. $50 worth of fuel and wash, down the drain.

 

[truckemup97]

I've got a couple of Maypops on the rear of my car, so I guess I'm pretty close to retirement. I'm gonna retire the wife's car before the first snowfall, too. They still have fairly good tread, but I'd like it to be deeper for winter, and I can still sell the old ones to the used retire shop.

 

[G.T. Smith]

I have 5 yrs left to go. I still want to do something though. I have always enjoyed building extremely overpowered go-karts and motorcycles. I might even sell a few..........no, probably not.
Peace,
gordon P.S. currently, along with my son, we are drawing
plans for a KZ650 powered lawnmower. I love
frightening the folks up the road. I like to feel
childish I suppose.

 

[LVSteve]

... Love what I do just don't like who I do it for..

What is really sad is how often I hear that comment. Do most employers in the US go to Richard Head classes?

 

[cincinnatijim]

December 31. I've held a number of jobs and enjoyed most of them, including the one I have now. It just seems like age 72 is a good time to hang it up. Besides, I need some time to shoot that new Browning Buckmark and a bunch of Smith & Wessons.

 

[Memphis]

I have exactly 230 days to go before (early) retirement. I actually have a chart and mark off the days each morning when I come in. I'm gone on 6/20/2011 (I'll be 55 that day). Of course I WILL have to have another job after this one..but it will not be talking to irate people each week. I unfortunatly have a job that I do not like. I am thankful to God for it..but I don't like it. I'm burned out, and have been for years. I am a trace agent at FedEx and even though we don't loose many the ones we do loose or have late are the ones that I deal with...daily. Been doing the exact same job at the exact same desk going on my 27th year now. I don't mean to sound ungrateful at all. I just want to leave this one...draw my little pittance..and find another job where I can make someone happy.
Interesting thread!

Roger

 

[Odinkar]

I'm going to be one of those cops that you read about that retires after 60+ years. I have my quote already set. "Why did you final retire after 60+ years?" Answer,"The ex died yesterday and if I live long enough to collect one check I win!" She gets part of my PD retirement, but only when I retire.

 

[feralmerril]

I know of at least two cases like that! Both ex spouses are shacked up forever so they can still collect half!

 

[Out West]

Techinically, I could retire tomorrow. I'm fully vested in the pension plan. However, if I go 10 more months I reach the magic 75: age + years of service. At this milestone my pension is maximized. I will be 55 years of age when that happens. Too early to collect Social Security and I still have a mortgage to pay off. I expect to work until I can collect Social Security. Hopefully, those bandits in DC will not change the rules and I can lay down my pencil, turn in my laptop and retire at 62.

Seven years and ten months.

Out
West

 

[raveneap]

I retired in 1991 at age 52 after a nearly 30 year career as a LEO. Been nearly 20 years now. People said, "You'll get bored." Hasn't happened yet.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Turned 55 last week-the way things are going with the kids........... I have moved retirement up about 10 years. I'm now at 80

 

[broknaxl]

Retired at 56, but not by choice. I developed arthirits real bad ib both my knees. I ended up getting a disability pension from the railroad. It took awhile to get use to it, but I'm getting the hang of it. I think it pisses my wife off that she's still working.

 

[JcMack]

I've retired as of last March. It's funny how my attitude about the "work week" has changed. I used to be happy to see Friday come so I had the W.E. off. Now I hate W.E.'s because the roads are full, and all the still working are in my way. Morning news is replaced by bizarre cartoons on W.E.'s also.

 

[rburg]

I used to be happy to see Friday come so I had the W.E. off. Now I hate W.E.'s because the roads are full, and all the still working are in my way.

Hah! Me too. I spent all those years waiting for Friday. I couldn't wait. Now I can't wait until Tuesday (the wife takes Mondays off.) I get 4 days off each week! No body to yell at me or give me things to do! I can sleep in (if 0700) counts. I get up and play on the computer if it pleases me, or not.

 

[Out West]

Just remember this. There was a old boy at lockheed who retired and died when he was putting his tool box in the truck of his car to go home and celibrate!

Speaking of Lockheed and retirement reminds me of a story - and a risk that comes with retirement. My brother's father in law worked at Lockheed for close to 40 years. An engineer and a good conservative fellow. No debt and paid cash for everything he owned. Saved and had lots of money put back. I would ask him, Bob why don't you retire and enjoy yourself? You have more than enough to see you through the rest of your life. Its time to enjoy yourself. Bob replied, I was going to do just that and then I read that the average Lockheed retiree draws a pension for 3 months. But Bob, I said, that makes no sense. Bob just smiled and said, yes it does. That is as long as they live if they have nothing else to do.

Bob finally retired and has stayed busy every minute of every day. Still hasn't spent a nickle out of his retirement kitty.

Out
West

 

[feralmerril]

Well I retired from lockheed jan of 2,000. Done 35 years, but if you based it on a 40 hour workweek, I was there longer than I am old, I know if it was microfished I averaged 65 to 70 hours a week. I honestly belive I still done more while I was working those hours than I do now!
I am not one of those guys that can brag about how busy I am, I really am a couch potato. I am on the computer a lot here. I do like getting out on the quad a lot and am always looking for new trails. We were out today for a nice ride. Winter pretty much stops that, however this winter we probley will go farther south where there isnt much snow around mesquite and on the arizona strip. Today a local recommended I pack a gun wherever I ride as they have found 4 marijuana patchs in the boonies lately. Obvisley they didnt know me!