"You're too young to retire..."

johngalt

johngalt

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A few recent threads from people retiring/quitting got me thinking (which can be dangerous) about work, goals, the meaning of life, whatever.

What do people mean by "You're too young to retire". Why?

To me, it sounds like people think I have an obligation to work until I am old and used up. Doesn't seem like much of a goal to me.

I read about people looking forward to turning 65 so that they can retire. Why is age 65 the goal? The way I see it phrased sometimes, it is almost like they are saying their goal is to reach their twilight years so they can hurry up and die. Is that all there is to life?

I will never have a pension, retiree health care, or any of the other perks that people used to get. All I will ever have is what I save myself. My retirement will be 100% self funded. I have no reason to stick around to try getting that retirement package for staying xx years.

So my plan is to hit my savings goal, not an age goal. But I have people tell me "You're too young to retire". Seems to me there is more to life than working for someone else until you are miserable out of fear that you might live "too long".

Well, enough of my rambling.
 
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I don't think my business is lucrative enough for me to retire "early", but I certainly understand what you're saying. I've known a couple of guys who worked right up to that magic number, retired with great hopes and big plans, and were dead and buried within a year. Like Mac Davis said, ya gotta stop and smell the roses....
 
I never worked at any one place long enough to have a great pension, however was able to retire at 55 by building my own retirement funds. My last job was by a negoiated contract whereby I was able to gain an insurance package that covers me and my wife as long as we live, that fact made it a lot easier.
 
How can anyone working today even think about retiring? Don’t these people realize they have to support retirees like me, many people on welfare and unemployment, kids in college getting government loans and a number of federal employees! And next comes Obamacare!! You have to keep working!!!

johngalt said:
A few recent threads from people retiring/quitting got me thinking (which can be dangerous) about work, goals, the meaning of life, whatever.

What do people mean by "You're too young to retire". Why?

To me, it sounds like people think I have an obligation to work until I am old and used up. Doesn't seem like much of a goal to me.

I read about people looking forward to turning 65 so that they can retire. Why is age 65 the goal? The way I see it phrased sometimes, it is almost like they are saying their goal is to reach their twilight years so they can hurry up and die. Is that all there is to life?

I will never have a pension, retiree health care, or any of the other perks that people used to get. All I will ever have is what I save myself. My retirement will be 100% self funded. I have no reason to stick around to try getting that retirement package for staying xx years.

So my plan is to hit my savings goal, not an age goal. But I have people tell me "You're too young to retire". Seems to me there is more to life than working for someone else until you are miserable out of fear that you might live "too long".

Well, enough of my rambling.
Click to expand...
 
I will retire in about 1 1/2 years at age 60. Not exactly early, but a bit before most folks get to do so.
Guys at work tell me that I should stick around until age 62 or 65 so that I can draw social security and a few more percentage points on my retirement.
I just laugh and so "Ain't no way in....." :D
 
Grayfox said:
I will retire in about 1 1/2 years at age 60. Not exactly early, but a bit before most folks get to do so.
Guys at work tell me that I should stick around until age 62 or 65 so that I can draw social security and a few more percentage points on my retirement.
I just laugh and so "Ain't no way in....." :D
Click to expand...

This sort of gets to my question - Why 60? What is special about 60 as opposed to now?
 
johngalt said:
This sort of gets to my question - Why 60? What is special about 60 as opposed to now?
Click to expand...

Why? Well 60, 62, 65, has no relevence to me, but 55 allows me affordable medical insurance, which includes mama, something I'd not otherwise have access to. I won't venture into the conversation of the benefit's viability in the future with what has happened over the last 2-3 years, but today it represents a big financial hurdle that I intend to achieve. At 55 (a few short months away) I'll enjoy 33 years working for a fine company that maintains a solid pension plan, an independent 401K account that I have managed, plus many other diversified holdings. I intend to pull the plug by the end of this year as a result. Heck, I could live on the sales of my precious metals and valuable firearms alone, i.e. Aluminum beer cans and collection of RG-revolvers....I didn't say for how long though! :)
 
I took a buy-out from my company after 35 years at the age of 54. Worked part time when I wanted and the hours I wanted until I could collect SS. No regrets at all. Had to purchase my health care until age 65which was the worst part, but would still do it again.
 
I try to remember two things I heard long ago......There is a huge difference between working to live, and living to work....The other,..... if you love and enjoy your job, you will never have to go to "work"!!....I also heard the other day, that of the one million people in D. C. for the big gala the other day, only fourteen or so were off work.
 
You cut the best deal you can considering your circumstances and any obligations you have. I've been lucky; pulled the pin at 51. Kids educated, house paid for, security for the wife.

Never was much of a team player anyway. The team gets to do it their way and I get to have more of my life. Win-win.

"The teachers and the preachers and the mothers of this land
They'd love to mold and shape you and help you be a man
All you've got to do is sign on that same old dotted line"

Hank Snow, "That Same Old Dotted Line"
 
vytoland said:
got out of the "game" at 55 and haven't looked back or regretted it since. lots of time to spend with my family , friends and things i like to do.
Click to expand...

WoW, I retired at 55, been out 12 years this June.

As I tell people, grew up with no money.
Hustled since the age of 10, selling newspapers, shinning shoes, working in grocery stores, pizza places etc.

As a adult, worked 37 uninterrupted years

But all these years my other personality "Mr. Lazy" was trying to get out, and here he is.:D

I'm enjoying my so called "Golden Years" really.
 
Never officially retired butin 2012 I worked about one and a half months and in 2011 I worked about two months. And before that I forget anyway I am 67, be 68 in another month, and I just can't see any reason to do it anymore. People tell me that the extra money would come in handy and I guess that's true but I like getting up early and drinking my coffee and watching all these other people go to work everyday. Sometime I go outside and wave to them then I get my stuff together and I go out and do a little shooting or maybe go for a ride in the desert.

Yeah I guess I could give that up and go back into the rat race but why? I'm tired of working and paying high taxes on what little I made so other people could live on welfare. Look around people are coming from other countries now and living on welfare and getting free educations.

I'm about to go off the deep end here now so I better just end my little rant.

Just my two cents.
 
Whitey

Howdy,
Grandpa Stuhr said it all.
He was in his seventies when he was forced to retire. Worked hard all his life and was a dedicated worker. His feelings were hurt when he was told he was to old to be of any use anymore.
He was a life long bird hunter. Loved it. Kept good dogs but seldom got to go or use the dogs.
One of the first things he did when he retired was ask me to go with him on a quail hunt.
We were out for maybe an hour when he stumbled and fell hard into a ditch.
He lay there on his back with the Sweet Sixteen across his chest unable to get to his feet, looked up at me and said "Ain't this a (Bad words here), I worked all my life, can buy any dog or shotgun I want and I'm too (More bad words here) old to hunt.
Stayed with me all my life.
At around 80 he took to drinking whiskey and ran away from home and married a younger woman. (Another great story)
He was quite the character.
Grandpa says "Go while you can!"
Good luck to you
Mike
 
Last edited:
I've never met anyone who at the end of their life said "I wish I had worked longer." My dad got out at 58 and I matched him. He had about 20 good years roaming the country on his Gold Wings until Alzeimers caught up with him.
 
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