Retirement...a word to the wise..

[Dave_n]

Retired from NIH at 75 as no retirement age in the gov unless LEO or ATC. Set up a single person LLC and started some consulting work in my scientific field. Have spent more time traveling and speaking (not paid but all exes paid) worldwide. Still actively writing and my aim is 200 scientific publications by 80. 180 down and three years to go. Dave_n

 

[jag312]

When I retired on October 31, I was told it would take 2 months to get used to retirement. Actually, it took 2 days. I enjoy my new freedom. I'm now living in Nevada, having left the People's Republic of California. I think I'll get off the computer, feed some apples to my horse, and enjoy the beautiful Spring weather.

 

[Sevens]

I really enjoy hearing tales like these. I'm 43 and I work at a place half-populated with young people, 18-24yr olds, but the other half of staff is "lifers" like myself. And it seems like most everybody there (of the older set) just -HATES- the fact that life dealt them this situation and they are stuck working there.

I'm not in that camp. I hope & pray that my body stays in decent condition so that I can work. I enjoy what I do and I'm very good at it. I'd like to run a cool fifty years off if I can manage it, and I've got nearly 26 in thus far. So retirement is a fun thing that I hear others talk about and I love when I hear about others enjoying it. To me, dreaming of "retirement" is like dreaming of a Ferrari. I'm nowhere, NOWHERE near that. It's really not in the plans.

 

[Old Corp]

Retired at age 50, in 2008. I have enjoyed it, and to shorten a long story, it has taken MUCH longer than we ever planned to make the move that we wanted. In '08, it was very difficult to sell a house, that took 5 years. Since, we have rented two places and are finally preparing to build what I hope will be our last house. (And I'll get my playroom back)
Living in a rental place denies me many of the projects I used to enjoy, so I'll be ready for a house.
But, can't complain - still shoot, accumulate, fish alot, eat too much, bike ride and beach-walk some.
It sure beats the ever-increasing case load I used to work and near-daily 'fires' that had to be put out.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had a stroke in October, 2011. Got back to work 3 months later, got let go 5 months later. I ended up not getting unemployment. So I do odd jobs and right now read monitoring wells for a couple hours a day. So I have money to pay bills, buy food and more importantly play! I Bike ride, shoot, chase the wife, bike ride, shoot and chase the wife some more. The world keeps throwing me lemons, God keeps making lemon-aide! (that keeps me from getting dehydrated!) I have needed to sell 26 guns, I used that money to go back to college and get my B.A. I am thinning the gun herd some more (need the space) so I'm slowly selling about 40 more long guns and at the same time, looking for more revolvers. I started shooting 1000 yard stuff again along with Black Powder single shot rifles (45-70 and 38-55 so far).

More important than all the fun, I have time to visit and pray for the sick, help the needy (and those that just can't help themselves) and pray for our country and The People!

Someone said that I should go on disability and I should sue my former employer. I have all the ability that God needs me to have (and that my wife can stand!) and the problem with the employer is, Why would I want anything to do with people like that?!!! I don't walk as fast as I did before but I get there and everyone knows when I arrive!

Ivan

 

[HoleCarder]

As I have gotten older, I remember the words an old co-worker once told me..."the older I get, the better I used to be..." I bought a book, "How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free" before I left the company. It's not about investing in finance, it was about investing in life. Recommend it highly. Not a plug, I don't get anything from promoting it...but a previous co-worker that I had given a copy to, and retired shortly after, showed up at my retirement party with the book cover emblazoned on the front of a t-shirt. Will never part with it.

Great post, Ron M.

Indeed, it's a great book.

 

[Ron M.]

I feel that too many people delay retirement due to financial concerns...well, the wife and I took our first cruise to Alaska a couple years back...saw many older folks using walkers and canes to get about the ship, spoke to many, who said this was their first cruise...I decided that I would spend my mobile years enjoying life, for any physical ailment in the future might deny me of that. Everything is working at this moment...but ya never know about tomorrow.

 

[Badger Matt]

I run into lots of retired military folks. Many -- too many in my mind -- still, after ten or fifteen years of being "out," only know how to talk about their time "in." I'm not saying I can't still spin a yarn, but it's not my whole knowledge base.

I'm with ya. I retired from the AF after 28 years and someone else said it better than I; "I got tired of the circus, but I kinda miss the clowns."

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I'm with ya. I retired from the AF after 28 years and someone else said it better than I; "I got tired of the circus, but I kinda miss the clowns."

I don't miss the clowns.

When I was preparing to drive out the gate for that last time lots of the young folks asked, "You can stay for two more years, why are you getting out now?"

Me: "It's changed too much, and I won't adapt."

In this context that sounds "bitter." I wasn't; I loved the 'Force, and I had a great, rewarding career. If I were handed the script of my career and told I could change anything I wanted, I wouldn't change a word.

 

[OLDSTER]

Great thread I'm reading it with a cup of coffee while waiting for my 69 year old ( same as me ) hunting buddy to show up so we can head to SW North Dakota for a day of Prairie Dog shooting !!

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Haven't read that book but have long had my own ideas. My main idea was to expand my interests along the way so I might carry them into my retirement. Quite frankly I keep so busy I can hardly find time to do what I need to do next. My only limitations are my health, which is a biggie--and not planned on. Even at this, I find excitement at almost everything I do, whether or not it is reloading, going to the range, camping or just a photographing day trip and ride. Life can be exciting, but you have to look for, and want to find it. The glass is never half empty, it is always half FULL. Of course, JMHO

 

[Krell1]

I'm not what you could call extremely active but I do try to walk a couple miles a day. After the last 30 days I find myself 60 miles from home, I just don't remember to make it a 2 mile round trip. Hee hee.

Been retired a little over 17 years now and looking forward to many, many more. I'm not nearly ready to "check out" and I intend to have as much fun being retired as I can.

 

[Farmer17]

Man, where did all the retired guys come from on this forum? I must be one of the few 57 year olds with a job. I got divorced a few years back so I lost over half my wealth and I have two kids in college and am still paying 40 grand for my current wife's college loans, oh well, my health is great and working 50-60 hours a week is no problem I just have to stop and rest a couple of times per day. I have my own construction business so I can pretty much do what I want during the day, if things are running smooth I might take off early and piddle around the house. When I do come home I watch tv for about 30 minutes then get bored, then I get on the

 

[chaparrito]

I really enjoy hearing tales like these. I'm 43 and I work at a place half-populated with young people, 18-24yr olds, but the other half of staff is "lifers" like myself. And it seems like most everybody there (of the older set) just -HATES- the fact that life dealt them this situation and they are stuck working there.

I'm not in that camp. I hope & pray that my body stays in decent condition so that I can work. I enjoy what I do and I'm very good at it. I'd like to run a cool fifty years off if I can manage it, and I've got nearly 26 in thus far. So retirement is a fun thing that I hear others talk about and I love when I hear about others enjoying it. To me, dreaming of "retirement" is like dreaming of a Ferrari. I'm nowhere, NOWHERE near that. It's really not in the plans.

Retired in 09. Went back half time in '11, not for the $$, for the challenge. I now work 6 half days a week and love it. If you love what you do, it isn't work.

 

[Farmer17]

Man, where did all the retired guys come from on this forum? I must be one of the few 57 year olds with a job. I got divorced a few years back so I lost over half my wealth and I have two kids in college and am still paying 40 grand for my current wife's college loans, oh well, my health is great and working 50-60 hours a week is no problem I just have to stop and rest once in a while. I have my own construction business so I can pretty much do what I want during the day, if things are running smooth I might take off early and piddle around the house. When I do come home I watch tv for about 30 minutes then get bored, then I surf the net or Facebook for 30 minutes and get bored so I might as well go back to work, making money is about my favorite thing to do anyway.

 

[HoleCarder]

Man, where did all the retired guys come from on this forum? I must be one of the few 57 year olds with a job. I got divorced a few years back so I lost over half my wealth and I have two kids in college and am still paying 40 grand for my current wife's college loans, oh well, my health is great and working 50-60 hours a week is no problem I just have to stop and rest a couple of times per day. I have my own construction business so I can pretty much do what I want during the day, if things are running smooth I might take off early and piddle around the house. When I do come home I watch tv for about 30 minutes then get bored, then I get on the

A stock market crash is worse than a divorce. Several years ago I lost half my net worth, yet my wife is still here. Damn.

 

[PALADIN85020]

A stock market crash is worse than a divorce. Several years ago I lost half my net worth, yet my wife is still here. Damn.

You should have observed the rule of which I routinely advise all folks who contemplate committing matrimony:

If you DO get married, be sure the ceremony is early in the morning.

That way, if it doesn't work out, you haven't blown the whole day.

John

 

[Gamecock]

Retired 6.5 years ago. Started my Sociable Security a year ago. Between pension and SS, I get $1200 a month more take home now than when I was working. Gross is considerably less, but the taxes and other deductions are way down.

Going down to Aiken Saturday to see my brothers and Mom. She's 96.