My ex-boss fit that category perfectly. He could have lived better retired than when he was working but he chose to work. He said that his job was his family, and all he had. He died still employed, and I'll bet he died happy.
Lets hear it from those who could retire comfortably but choose to work
- Thread starter Farmer17
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My ex-boss fit that category perfectly. He could have lived better retired than when he was working but he chose to work. He said that his job was his family, and all he had. He died still employed, and I'll bet he died happy.
ACORN
Member
When I tell my wife how much I would like to retire, she asks, “What would you do?”
My reply is, “Whatever I want to, not what somebody else tells me to do.”
We only get X trips around the Sun.
My reply is, “Whatever I want to, not what somebody else tells me to do.”
We only get X trips around the Sun.
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I retired 20 years ago and didn't have to work.
My wife kept working for 4 more years. Once she retired, she wanted me to be with her all the time. After a couple of years, I went back to work part-time just to get out of the house sometimes.
My wife kept working for 4 more years. Once she retired, she wanted me to be with her all the time. After a couple of years, I went back to work part-time just to get out of the house sometimes.
BLACKHAWKNJ
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I worked part-time for a large limo company for years, we got lots of retirees, many well off, but "Too much of the wife's friends", "Too much of the grandkids", "the Honey Do list", "wife has her hands full with her mother", being "volunteered" as a chauffeur, etc.
The military retired me at 60 years old. I'd still be working there if they'd let me.
17 years later, I'm still waiting for them to call...
Tim
17 years later, I'm still waiting for them to call...
Tim
Retired ten years ago. Moved out of Colorado to South Dakota where I was raised. Not a lot of activities here so I tried 'volunteer' stuff. They all wanted to put Me on a schedule, so I declined. I just remain retired and help out whenever I want, whomever I want. Much easier that way.
GypsmJim
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At age 58 I started the planning process. Put together a spreadsheet that projected my earnings for every year between 62-70. So, I knew when I could retire with no financial problems. I followed the data and that's when I retired - 67.
I DID like my job, but there were so many things we wanted to do but couldn't. OK, plan a cruise in April, summer fishing trip in July and FL vacation in October. Those used up all my vacation days. If an August day smelled like a good fishing day I had to forego it. My job was important and I could simply not take an unplanned day off without causing problems in the plant.
So, now we travel and do whatever we want whenever we want. If I get bored I go to the club and punch holes in paper. That makes a reloading event a requirement for the next day.
Life is good.
I DID like my job, but there were so many things we wanted to do but couldn't. OK, plan a cruise in April, summer fishing trip in July and FL vacation in October. Those used up all my vacation days. If an August day smelled like a good fishing day I had to forego it. My job was important and I could simply not take an unplanned day off without causing problems in the plant.
So, now we travel and do whatever we want whenever we want. If I get bored I go to the club and punch holes in paper. That makes a reloading event a requirement for the next day.
Life is good.
jdh
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Yes, your SS benefit payment is reduced it you make more than the earnings limit. No it is not lost. It goes back in your account then your benefit is recalculated when you reach MRA.
Okay now that that is out of the way, I do work post retirement. One of the good things about this job is the school district participates in the state Teacher's Retirement System. They do not with hold SS taxes so I can receive benefits without continuing to "contribute" further payments.
I tried to retire. Once all the projects were done boredom began to set in and race cars are not inexpensive to keep running so going back to work "part time" seemed a way to get out of the house and bring in more racing money. Some how part time turned in to full time.
Okay now that that is out of the way, I do work post retirement. One of the good things about this job is the school district participates in the state Teacher's Retirement System. They do not with hold SS taxes so I can receive benefits without continuing to "contribute" further payments.
I tried to retire. Once all the projects were done boredom began to set in and race cars are not inexpensive to keep running so going back to work "part time" seemed a way to get out of the house and bring in more racing money. Some how part time turned in to full time.
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I probably ducked the class they were teaching about working at what you love to do. I could say injuries set my course for me but that is just an excuse. I worked in the city transit industry for thirty nine years, twenty seven as a city bus driver and twelve in building maintenance after burning out driving. I had a lot of fun, especially the first twenty years but politics changed, we turned into a big city, each year a new crop of idiots learning to drive.
I envy you guys that figured it out early, did the work and had jobs you loved. My wife and I did one thing we are not sorry for, we went without while others were spending and saved for retirement. Not that we didn't have a great time and enjoyed lake property, we just went without new cars, trucks and boats and I kept everything working.
Retired at sixty-one and planned it right down to the very hour, although I did check with three different retirement associates to make sure I wasn't short shafting myself. I'm the guy that worked a half a day over my scheduled early retirement date, just to make sure. I never miss my old job, rarely see any of the people I worked with all those years. Its rewarding to be remembered by a customer who always felt safe while I was driving, learning from one guy that he would miss a bus that got him home thirty minutes earlier to ride with me because he felt safe.
My wife is still doing her job which is sales oriented, still in the top five nationally, she is only sixty eight and loves what she does.
If you love what you do, why retire? I spend three days a week at my local rifle club, using my hand tools to repair target frames, etc. as a volunteer. I get in all the shooting I ever wanted to and have to say I do enjoy myself. The rifle range is close to three miles away, as is the local Veteran's Hospital and just about everything else I need. Life is good...
I envy you guys that figured it out early, did the work and had jobs you loved. My wife and I did one thing we are not sorry for, we went without while others were spending and saved for retirement. Not that we didn't have a great time and enjoyed lake property, we just went without new cars, trucks and boats and I kept everything working.
Retired at sixty-one and planned it right down to the very hour, although I did check with three different retirement associates to make sure I wasn't short shafting myself. I'm the guy that worked a half a day over my scheduled early retirement date, just to make sure. I never miss my old job, rarely see any of the people I worked with all those years. Its rewarding to be remembered by a customer who always felt safe while I was driving, learning from one guy that he would miss a bus that got him home thirty minutes earlier to ride with me because he felt safe.
My wife is still doing her job which is sales oriented, still in the top five nationally, she is only sixty eight and loves what she does.
If you love what you do, why retire? I spend three days a week at my local rifle club, using my hand tools to repair target frames, etc. as a volunteer. I get in all the shooting I ever wanted to and have to say I do enjoy myself. The rifle range is close to three miles away, as is the local Veteran's Hospital and just about everything else I need. Life is good...
Farmer17, I could have written much of what you posted when you started this thread. Here's my situation...
In 2004, I had 30 years' service with a busy big-city fire department. My engine was getting 2200+ calls per year; serious fires, shootings, overdoses, etc., were a daily occurrence. I was 51 years old, working with guys younger than my sons, and driving 36 miles each way into work. The difference between my salary and my pension was a job as a greeter at Wal-Mart. It was time to look at alternatives...
On a whim, I applied for a part-time position in another public safety enterprise, and to my shock, they offered me a full-time job. I used to think of it as my retirement gig, but after 19 years, it's become a second career. The work is very important, I truly enjoy what I do, I'm paid well for it, and the benefits are terrific. There are only 16 people in my small organization, including our Director, and we're like family.
I could live on my Fire Department pension and Social Security alone, but my salary gives me a lot of flexibility to travel, indulge whims now and then, help out my children, and donate to some favorite causes. I'm the kind of person who needs structure and routine in his life...a reason to get out of bed in the morning...and my job provides that.
I'll be 71 in March, and have no plans to stop working anytime soon. I'm happy for those who've been able to retire for good at relatively young ages...but that would never work for me.
In 2004, I had 30 years' service with a busy big-city fire department. My engine was getting 2200+ calls per year; serious fires, shootings, overdoses, etc., were a daily occurrence. I was 51 years old, working with guys younger than my sons, and driving 36 miles each way into work. The difference between my salary and my pension was a job as a greeter at Wal-Mart. It was time to look at alternatives...
On a whim, I applied for a part-time position in another public safety enterprise, and to my shock, they offered me a full-time job. I used to think of it as my retirement gig, but after 19 years, it's become a second career. The work is very important, I truly enjoy what I do, I'm paid well for it, and the benefits are terrific. There are only 16 people in my small organization, including our Director, and we're like family.
I could live on my Fire Department pension and Social Security alone, but my salary gives me a lot of flexibility to travel, indulge whims now and then, help out my children, and donate to some favorite causes. I'm the kind of person who needs structure and routine in his life...a reason to get out of bed in the morning...and my job provides that.
I'll be 71 in March, and have no plans to stop working anytime soon. I'm happy for those who've been able to retire for good at relatively young ages...but that would never work for me.
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chev37s
Member
I retired at 54 in March of 22 after 35 years in the manufacturing business. Best thing I ever did. Working on concrete floors all those years, my legs and back always bothered me but not any more. We had a house and a camp and planned everything out to retire, sell the house and move to our camp. Now I get to do whatever I want, watch the wildlife, and shoot much more with a small backyard range and no close neighbors. We heat primarily with wood so there is always something to find to do. After hearing how poorly run the place I used to work at it was a very good decision. No more stress!
May will be 3 years since I pulled the plug @ 68. I had some health issues then or else I would have gone to 70. I could have quit @ 62 but teaching Seniors at a local High School seemed worthwhile. Only downsides were getting up @ 4:15 am and "politics." Don't regret a moment of any work in the 53 years "hitting it." Joe
Since I was employed at the "Last Refuge of Scoundrels and Thieves" better known as an Uncle Sam employee, there was no restriction as to how long you could work there (other than FAA, FBI and a few other areas where there were mandatory age limits). I did not retire until I was 75 and was finally "persuaded by SWMBO" to formally hang up my lab coat. However, in the last nine years I still publish and lecture as I am still on the books at NIH as a Special Volunteer. If you like the job (and one of my old colleagues was still running a full lab unit at NIH even though being 80+. So my view is that if you enjoy what you do and can continue, then do so, though it does require a partner who understands. Dave_n
