General question : Retired or not?

[brandoro]

Not retired yet at 54 but trying to cut back a little. I tell anyone who I think should know that my broad plan is to work most of the winter and not much of the summer. But, just in case, I bought a tractor with a cab this year. Blowing snow at -20 something just wasn't any fun any more. Part of my retirement plan is to do odd jobs with the tractor and attachments. At the moment I mostly do tractor work for food. Some people do insist on giving me money though.. When I actually retire I might want to encourage that more.

 

[Tig]

46 and have been working from home for 4 years. My job just keeps getting more interesting. Moved to the lake to be near my parents and the fish. On break I can jump in the boat or in winter clear the lane. People do like to tease me about being retired but I put in my 40hrs and more. I'll be doing this for a while yet.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

I've been retired for 4 years (as of 1 April '09). I worked just shy of 34 years for DoD (28 years)and Justice Dept (6years). I loved retirement....till my wife retired about a month ago......Like my brother tells his retired wife as he picks up his golf clubs: "I'm goin' to the range to hit a bucket of balls.....I'll probably be gone all day....." I'm gonna use that one myself. I love retirement now that every day is Saturday...except Sunday. BobG in VA

 

[Cottonhawk]

".....You can draw down your investments about 4% a year ......"
4% draw used to be a safe rule, with the new economy the rules may have changed!

 

[cowboy357]

I Guess I Retired in 2000 , But Not Really by Choice . I,ve allways been self employed, First in the Trucking & Escavating Buisiness , Then Later on in the Body & Paint shop .

The Wife & I had a Body Shop in the City & Was basiclly forced out of Our Lease By the City wanting the Property For a Parking lot for a New Arena . After Throwing several Thousand Dollars in Legal fees Trying to recoup some of Our Money for Improvements to the Building over 10 Years . We Finally Gave up & Moved out Here . & The Wife Got a Great Job She Really Likes , Which Has Allowed Her to Travel all over the world . She No Longer Travels anymore & I,ve Been Trying to get Her to Retire Soon .

I Probally Work More Hours a Day & on Weekends out Here on the Property Then I ever did in Buisiness . But The Pay aint Very Good . .

We Dont Have Much , But we Dont Owe Anybody Either & If We Cant afford to Pay Cash for it We Dont need it . So Far we,ve Never been Happier . Bob

 

[Farmwithjunk]

41 years with one employer and I have enough time in to retire. I'll be 62 in less than 2 months, so I can retire. I struck gold when I bought a worthless farm 39 years ago and it just happened to be where a major industrial park wanted to buy 4 years ago, making me enough to retire. So what did I do? I started a business 3 years ago that has shot out of the starting gate and is still on the run.

No plans on retiring just yet. Gonna work until the day I CAN'T work. That's how I relax!

 

[The Dougster]

I sold my little company in 2001 and haven't looked back... My bride still works but is considering retiring, which I am encouraging... We spend the week at home but every Friday pack small bags and head for the ranch, which has been ignored for many years. It is not uncommon for me to go to the ranch in the middle of the week and work my butt off... Like most rural properties, there is always something to do... often I don't finish a project, mostly brush control, but get bored and begin work on something else that needs to be done.... Like I have often heard from other retirees, "I don't know how I ever had time to work for a living." So much to do, so little time.. lol

 

[Kernopelli]

I am seriously conflicted about my retirement plan right now. At 47, I can retire in 8 yrs. I have family members and older friends that tell me 55 yrs old is too young to retire and could be a serious mistake. I have so many interests and responsibilities away from my 9-5 job that I will have no problem staying busy doing what I love ( and a little that I don't) after retirement.

We have always lived within our means and been debt free for a number of years now. With our savings, stock investments ( that are all but worthless right now), rental income and my pension ( and SS later on) we should be able to live comfortably but this current economic situation has me spooked. I see several others that posted about retiring in their 50's...I'd like to hear some opinions on retiring at an "early age".

 

[tallyho8]

I am semi-retired. I have a couple of part time things to supplement my social security. I retired unexpectedly, a little too young to collect social security when Katrina struck and spent the next 18 months fixing my roofs and removing my fallen trees.

Retiring simply means working more and getting paid less.

I have enjoyed the last couple of years more than any others in my life and am glad I saved a lot to be able to do what I am doing now. I keep active, still breaking and training horses and trying to keep from breaking bones, because I know as soon as I sit on the couch, my health will begin to deteriorate.

My Kubota L4400HST is easy on my bad knees and lets me enjoy maintaining my acreage. I keep my trusty Yanmar 1802 to get into the small spots and do odd jobs.

Erase all the bad things that you can not change from your mind, remember all the good things, and you can sit back and say.......................

LIFE IS GOOD

 

[Travelover]

".....You can draw down your investments about 4% a year ......"
4% draw used to be a safe rule, with the new economy the rules may have changed!

Good point, all the more reason to plan and save more.

What's happening to GM's health care and pension plans is just a preview of future Social Security and Medicare plans.