General question : Retired or not?

Doug in NNY · Jun 20, 2009

I just turned 66. I've been a full-time private practice marriage and family counselor for seventeen years (in New York State the credential is Licensed Mental Health Counselor). I love the work and it is something I can do (God willing) for a few years into the future. My simple IRA was trashed beginning in 2007 (weren't they all), so I cannot count on that as I intended at age 70.

My wife still works but we ought to be fine when it comes time to dial back a bit. We have a remodeled farm house from the 1920s, a 28' x 40' horse barn (no horses), twenty acres of woods (mostly maple) and two more to mow and garden.

I love getting up weekdays and heading to the office and I love coming home to my good wife and our Australian Cattle Dog, Ivan.

And to the land. We really enjoy tending the place.

Doug

BX2350 w/rear hydraulics, fel w/Markham tooth bar, 54" mmm, Bush Hog 48" tiller, Kodiak 5' landscape rake, Loftness 48" 3ph snow thrower, Redlandhills Handi Hitch.

zr2blz · Jun 21, 2009

Just turned 61, retired Dec 06 after 30 years at IBM and 7 1/2 yrs in Air Force before IBM. Wife was laid off shortly after I retired (I should have stayed another year) but she was able to get retirement pay right away with her 22 years at IBM. Anyway, we love our new life and keep busy with our 2 boys and their 3 kids. Got my JD to help closes son with their new house. Tractor has spent about 3 months 160 miles away for last two years.

Transit · Jun 21, 2009

Depending on your date of berth, you can earn a percentage, max is 8% compounded for each year you work past your retirement age till 70. That could work out to as much a 40 % more in your check. At 70 you may collect full SS and continue to work with no loss in benefits. Check it out.

ToadHill · Jun 21, 2009

I think now you can collect full SSI and earn as much as you want at normal full retirement age. 66,67,whichever catagory you fall into.

Doppleganger · Jul 11, 2009

Just turned 38 and wont be retiring for some time yet. Bought a century farm house on 4 acres last August. Bought the B2620 in June to make the projects we have planned easier on my back...... Gotta save the back for retirement!!!

Therios Pendragon · Jul 11, 2009

I just turned 46 last month. I wish that I could retire now... Intel has the rule of 75 for retirement. I your age plus the number of years you have worked for Intel add up to 75 then you can retire. I have not even made it to my first sabatical... one every 7 years and my first sabatical comes in 2012... Can't wait to have three months with pay... can't even imagine that!

I just hope that I don't have to work for so long that my health won't allow me to enjoy those years.

Gary Fowler · Jul 12, 2009

I will turn 60 in December. Have bought a little acreage (11) up in the foothills of the Ozarks near Hot Springs Ark and commenced making it my retirement "farm" So far I have my tractor and disc, cultivator, BB and bushhog which keeps me busy on my time off. I thought I could retire at 60 but like everyone else, the stock market downturn has put that on hold for a few years. Regardless I still plan to retire at 62 at the latest. I am trying to make up the difference in 401 K losses enough that I can build my new retirement home with cash money so I at least wont have to worry about a house payment. Since I have no other debt to speak of other than the essential insurance and food/gas I dont think money will be an issue. My wife is already on SS and enjoys time with the grandkids. If I only knew how long I will live, I could retire now, but with my luck, I will outlive my income. I sure dont plan to become inactive when I retire, I have had enough of that while working to last me a lifetime. A couple of years ago, I started making my list of things to do at the farm. So far I have worked off only a few of them working just on my vacation time off. I grew up farming and swore I would never do that, but after 35 years in construction, I am looking forward to going back to my roots(no pun intended)

JDL538 · Jul 12, 2009

In 1981 I was a happy camper, We had a beautiful 70 ac. farm in N.KY. 3 Beautiful little kids and a drop dead beautiful wife, I was doing very well with 2 meat markets and a grocery store, working just 4 days a week and loved playing around on the farm.
On dec. 4th 1981 I just got into work and had a call from a Lady who told me my wife was in a car accident, I asked if she was ok, she said she could speak, I went to the hospital and the doc.told me my wife broke her neck and was paralyzed from the neck down and would never walk again if she lives for 7 days she would live but probably would never be able to use her hands again. I told him he was crazy and did not believe him.

He was right she never used her hands OR LEGS and was and is a Quadraplegic to this day, but is still as beautiful as ever, our kids have all gone to college and are all doing great and so are we.
I sold my stores 2 years later and retired at 37 am now going on 63 and on SS WE MOVED FROM THE FARM because I hated going by the spot where she wreaked, we bought 20 ac. in n. ky. and we have a great life TOGETHER today. LOVE CONCORS ALL, I NEVER WAS A GOOD SPELLER.

Mike Costello · Jul 13, 2009

Retirement was forced upon me through a work related injury that tossed me into Workers Compensation **** that lasted 4 years. When the smoke cleared and I was itching to get back to work, nobody wanted to hire a 50 year old man with a work injury history. So, at age 54 I became a Mr. Mom to our adopted daughter while my wife continued to work as an RN. She loved her job and made excellent money and all was well for the time being. We built our dream log home in No. California in my hometown and along the way adopted 2 more girls that needed a home. In my spare time, I worked as an unpaid volunteer with the Police Dept. Then disaster struck in the form of a rare viral infection that attacked my wife's eyes. She went from perfect 20-20 vision to legally blind in less than 2 years. She had to retire on full disability.
Now, you would think all this has turned our life upside down--and it has! But it also has moved us in an entirely new direction that only Faith can answer. We moved out of California to Missouri and bought a home and 10acres. We now have a "farm " in progress and growing all the time. The pace of life is just right for my family. Most important--the girls are safe and enjoying all that the country life has to offer.
In a few days I will turn 60 years old. Trouble is, I don't feel like 60. I've taken all my life's skills and experiences and put them to work finally doing something I really love. My wife and I will continue to focus on giving our daughters a strong foundation to build upon for their own lives. I believe retirement is what you make out of it and I don't intend to idle down. I'm going to keep moving! Mike.

jinman · Jul 13, 2009

John and Mike, your stories are an inspiration.

You guys and your families are a credit to the human spirit and making the best of what fate hands you. Good for you both! God bless you and your families.