One more year and I'll be a Free Man!

[CJBOTA]

No I'm not in prison, but sometimes I feel like it. I'm 62 years old and I've been at my job 27 years. I am one of our company's top managers. I appreciate my job but man do I have to put up with a lot of crap. Sometimes I don't know which is worst, the workers under me, or the owners over me. If I get real lucky, I get heat from both sides about the same thing at the same time. After 27 years I came close to just walking out today.
I started a small farm three years ago (peach orchard) on the side. And yes it is alot of work but I really enjoy the fruits of my labor. ( pun intended ) Next year I plan to retire from the rat race, and just do the farm. I can't wait. I really like being my own boss and working outside. Even the physical labor feels better then the mental stress I've endured for 27 years.
The farm has had some ups and downs but at the end of the day I sleep well.

 

[Bigfoot62]

I hope you make it, and get to enjoy it. :thumbsup:

I can't identify with your job situation. I've been self-employed most of my life. But, I can relate to your feelings about the farm. I farm because I love it, and I work so that I can farm.

 

[Locoweed]

I read a quote somewhere recently that said that fun was doing work you enjoy. I'll go along with that as it has a side benefit of a sense of accomplishment.

Enjoy your retirement. For me, it has been the best time of my life!

Russ

 

[Pilot]

Food for thought. Many people retire and draw their Social Security checks at 62. Often this is a mistake, because for every year you delay, your benefits increase about 8% plus an inflation adjustment to the pay on which your benefits are calculated. But if you take the SS right away, raises are just the cost of living increase, which has been zero the last 2 years, but is more typically around 2-3%. So would you prefer an 8% raise for a few years or a 2-3% raise?

So for people who can get by without drawing SS at 62 and have no reason to suspect they will croak at an early age, it's generally better to delay.

 

[Mounted Madness]

I can appreciate your commentary regarding the employment squeeze...getting it from both directions and not enjoying the outcome.

Having done what I did for as long as I did, I too found that the internal crap was the real downside to being a manager. Dealing with outside problems was what I was prepared for, but the internal stuff wears you down.

Hang in there, let the year pass, and focus on the retirement, the peaches and as you say, the freedom. I feel sorry for the guys that can't re-invent themselves from their careers.

As you have doubtless discovered, life doubles in velocity from the decade before...your next 40 years will go by even quicker then the previous 27. :thumbsup:

 

[GPintheMitten]

I felt a lot of pressure at work in IT the last couple of years. I just didn't enjoy it as much because of the politics and management.

Hang in there. Try to let some of it wash off like water off a duck's back if you can.

Retirement is all that it is cracked up to be. Best wishes. Enjoy what you can, the farm, family, etc. Life is too short to let the bassards get you.

 

[Sheddiver]

I can relate to your situation. I worked 41 years for the same company. I enjoyed the work I did but the management kept getting worse and I was getting tired of the 62 mile drive each way. It's been 8 months since I retired. I'm glad that I did retire most of the time. I've gotten some projects done that should have gotten done a long time ago. But I also miss my old job sometimes. I guess I miss having people asking what I think and how should we fix a problem. But its not like my wife won't tell me what to do. They say it gets easier after awhile, just hang in there.

 

[MF 1532]

I am 48 , and self employed , like my job , look forward in years to come just taking a few days off here and there . I watched a movie last night that had a lot to do with this subject . I thought about it a lot today . Movie name about Schmidt ...... I think . Starred Jack Nicholson , 66 year old insurance executive , retired , wife died soon , daughter married jerk . I encourage eveyone to watch it .:thumbsup:

 

[magicheater]

Food for thought. Many people retire and draw their Social Security checks at 62. Often this is a mistake, because for every year you delay, your benefits increase about 8% plus an inflation adjustment to the pay on which your benefits are calculated. But if you take the SS right away, raises are just the cost of living increase, which has been zero the last 2 years, but is more typically around 2-3%. So would you prefer an 8% raise for a few years or a 2-3% raise?

So for people who can get by without drawing SS at 62 and have no reason to suspect they will croak at an early age, it's generally better to delay.

That may have applied 10 years ago but with all the talk about SSI going broke I think I may want to get something of what I paid in rather than 8% more of something that may not be there. On another note, if you really don't need it why not leave it for someone that does! I am years out from collecting but have my doubts whether it will even be there. "our" politicians seem to have borrowed that money a long time ago and never really told anyone. Anyone please correct me if I am wrong in my assessment!

 

[ronjhall]

Retired 7 years ago at 62. Best thing I did after 40 years of doing my job. Having to work in the auto industry doing field service has a lot of mental pressure on a person. Retirement has been the best for my mental stability.
Count your days. The year will go faster than you think.

 

[CJBOTA]

Thanks for all of the encouragement and advice. The TBN forum has been a fantastic source for me in recent years. I just needed to vent a little, I'm sure today will be better. Thanks again.
CJ

 

[300UGUY]

I retired, a bit before I was planning to, but I enjoy it anyway. My plant was in closing mode for about 5 years, so I got ready. Btw, being a part of a organization that is constantly downsizing is seldom fun. But now I am working for my wife, and I don't know how I found time to do all this stuff when I was working. Life is good!!!

 

[lhfarm]

Thanks for all of the encouragement and advice. The TBN forum has been a fantastic source for me in recent years. I just needed to vent a little, I'm sure today will be better. Thanks again.
CJ

Do vent. I didn't and the building pressure caused medical issues in my last year at work. That was a real wake-up call for me. I started taking "stress-free" Fridays and kept a
count of the number of Mondays left.

I've never been happier in my life than these past 15 months. I miss people from work and helping them solve problems. But their problems are never ending and they have done OK without me.

This is a great place to vent. Many of us have been there/done that and enjoy sharing our experiences. Hope to hear more from you.

 

[MotorSeven]

CJ...that's funny..."retire"......... I retired after a 27 year career over 4 years ago....been busier and worked harder since:laughing: There is a project on any point of my compass that needs doing/fixing/maintaining/etc.

Ahhh, but you are hitting the burn out stride, once there you can't go back and regain the 'ole enthusiasm. Planning to get out is the right move.....I've never regretted it. The biggest relief for me was getting out from under the shadow of that giant clock. I threw away my watch, get up when I want, work when I want and quit when I want...priceless.

 

[kiotiken]

I'm green with envy. I'm 37, self employed as a consultant in IT and dying to retire. The reality is I'm a long way off from that goal. My work is good, probably the best career I could have chosen, but I'd rather have time with family, the days to "play" in my (future) shop and travel. Like a lot of people, the market has taken a big bite from my retirement fund, but thankfully I put most of my energy into being mortgage free. That consoles me the odd time I get brave enough to check my investments and keeps freedom 55 on the radar.

 

[IndyIan]

I'm 35 and not thinking about retirement yet. I save some and hope the pension fund doesn't implode when I need it but thats a few major financial crisises away!
But my Dad is sort of semi retired, doing some quality assurance consulting and product inspections for engineered machinery. He likes it, and gets paid to drive around to look at interesting stuff and ask questions about it.
So if you're getting bored with retirement, doing a day or two a week of work in your old field helps you stay sharp and makes you appreciate your days off more too!

 

[dusty74]

I have 133 days 13 hours 34 minutes and 5 seconds cannot wait

 

[nybirdman]

I retired(from my regular job) three years ago.Auto industry..got out at a fairly young age(58) with 17 years with GM and 25 years on construction(union).I have 39 years of retirement credit.Planning your retirement is the most important both financially and what you are going to do to keep busy.
I started a hobby small business when I was still working and that's what keeps me busy now.
As far as Social Security:I have no choice but to start drawing at 62 but the way I look at it;I paid in $130,000 and my employees paid in $150,000 and "I" am going to draw back out all I can.I think the talk of waiting is a "Scam".

 

[5030]

That may have applied 10 years ago but with all the talk about SSI going broke I think I may want to get something of what I paid in rather than 8% more of something that may not be there. On another note, if you really don't need it why not leave it for someone that does! I am years out from collecting but have my doubts whether it will even be there. "our" politicians seem to have borrowed that money a long time ago and never really told anyone. Anyone please correct me if I am wrong in my assessment!

It won't go broke for 2 reasons.

One, the majority of the voting public is at or almost at collection age, and....

Two, there would be tantamount to a public uprising for Social Security to be dissolved. You have literally the entire populus paying into it without choice so for the Beltway idiots to dissolve it would be certain death in more ways than political assisination.

One way or another, the funding will be there, always.

The one thing that people need to realize is that Social Security can't be relied upon for a total retirement package. It's meant to be a supplement to wise investments, private pension plans and financial health.

 

[MoKelly]

You only live once ... you need to enjoy what you do every day.

As the saying goes ... if you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life.

MoKelly