Are you "lucky"if you have a secure retirement?

[ultrarunner]

A little off topic...

The news casts there always had a Washington Segment... always.

I heard more about Washington Politics working in Europe than I do here at home... mostly because it was every hour on the hour on the radio.

On several occasions friends invited me to attend church services with them... a few times I made comments saying I wonder what will be said from the pulpit about America today.

Every time there were comments about America and not in the best light...

Mostly, it was about how good they have it in Europe and America is only good if you have money.... also about environment, global warming, discrimination, etc...

Once I even had an interesting discussion with the priest after at a reception... I told him European cars, especially Diesels were too dirty to be sold in California for decades... American got the lead out of gas years before Europe... Global Warming is now Climate change and it is funny had names change when no longer convenient... then I explained Section 8 housing, discounts on utilities... how I personally new a child living in a Section 8 household that had over a million dollars of medical care for a defective heart all at no charge to the family and at Stanford medical center...

Don't think I changed his mind... only prospective.

 

[riptides]

A little off topic...

The news casts there always had a Washington Segment... always.

I heard more about Washington Politics working in Europe than I do here at home... mostly because it was every hour on the hour on the radio.

On several occasions friends invited me to attend church services with them... a few times I made comments saying I wonder what will be said from the pulpit about America today.

Every time there were comments about America and not in the best light...

Mostly, it was about how good they have it in Europe and America is only good if you have money.... also about environment, global warming, discrimination, etc...

Once I even had an interesting discussion with the priest after at a reception... I told him European cars, especially Diesels were too dirty to be sold in California for decades... American got the lead out of gas years before Europe... Global Warming is now Climate change and it is funny had names change when no longer convenient... then I explained Section 8 housing, discounts on utilities... how I personally new a child living in a Section 8 household that had over a million dollars of medical care for a defective heart all at no charge to the family and at Stanford medical center...

Don't think I changed his mind... only prospective.

Perspective for some, land of opportunity for all.

No one can deny the fact of freedom and opportunity in this great country. Sure their are hurdles, there is bureaucracy, but you can be anything you want to be in this country. And there are many people that will help you get to where you want to be. Some even will be charitable in their ways.

 

[ultrarunner]

America is the most upwardly mobile country I know... people come here with nothing and make it... some come here established and do even better.

I meet a lot of medical people in my field... one of the Manufacturer's reps was an eye Doc in Britain... went through the schooling/training and had 7 years experience in Britain... she was born in Texas and as an infant move with her mother back to Britain.

Boy can she give the low down on Health Care between the two countries and her compensation here as a Manufacturer's rep far exceeds anything she made as a working Doctor there... she trains American Eye Docs and they really respect her in depth product knowledge and experience...

If I were to paraphrase... EU living is designed so that everyone has something... it might not be the best or even optimal... but just about everyone is beholding to the government... for medical, retirement, education, etc...

 

[ultrarunner]

Government Social Security and Medicare definitely figure into my retirement planning...

I also know many living here in Oakland that are also dependent on Government for housing in their senior years...

 

[Parkanzky]

Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" was published almost 80 years ago. Carnegie used a long series of short-stories to make his points, so it's an easy read. I'd recommend it to several here.

 

[300UGUY]

Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" was published almost 80 years ago. Carnegie used a long series of short-stories to make his points, so it's an easy read. I'd recommend it to several here.

Years ago, I had a much older boss, who could piss people off faster than anyone I'd ever seen. I suggested Dale Carnegie to him, he didn't even look up, he said "the company has sent me to that thing 6 times, and it never did me a dam bit of good!!" I didn't say anything, kinda speechless!!

Old Dave once told me and a coworker to go to another plant on a job. He said he would go get us the keys to the company car, the only way for us to go there. 20 minutes later he sees us sitting there waiting. Without asking why, he launched into a tirade of our faults and proclivities, some of which are impossible.... When he stopped, red faced, for breath, I told him we were waiting for the car. He says ohh.. Then my coworker started up, and we never did get to the other plant!

I've found the best solution for stupid is to ignore it.

 

[Redbug]

Sorry Guys for responding to this thread so late in the game. I don't drop by as much. I have been retired a shade over one year, now.
My take may be a little different from some of these other posts. I get remarks about how lucky I have been, yada yada yada. Which is BS. Realistically, it was sink or swim, looking ahead and planning your moves to make the best of the cards you are dealt. It had not been easy.

For me, over the years we had paid everything off...lived frugally and maxed out the IRA's and 401 each year and kept up with the market. Knowing all along if something happened...like losing my job...I could land on my feet and be in better shape than most. I had worked rotating shifts most of my career and was ready to go a long time ago. Worked through most holidays and weekends when most people get to be with family. That's what spurred the drive to do something about my working predicament. I envy the people that love their jobs. But my job is what caused me to save, invest, and become a free man.

Well, I'm now starting on my 13th month of retirement. There has got to be something criminal about not working, being happy, and not worrying so much about money anymore. What's the catch? My retirement is now about double of what my working take home pay was. That's because of saving and investing so much of my salary all these past years and living below our means. It's funny, you get in a mindset of living below your means all the time I still have to catch myself. I have just begun to let loose and it is wonderful. I had learned about investing from friends that had retired. Once you get some knowledge you want to learn more, then. And I learned a lot from some good retirement sites...like the Early Retirement Forums.

I look back and think to myself about all the years I stuck to the grindstone and slogged along. Rotating shifts, too. I also think of all the things that could have happened in those years that could have marred the chances for a full retirement and freedom. During those years I could have fallen into bad vices, (alcohol, etc), bad decisions, RIFs, divorces, brushes with the law, and lost my job along with the benefits we now have. Out on the street like most of the people today. No future in sight. I have seen those kinds of things happen to old cohorts. Some people cannot learn from their mistakes. I think that is one of the most important rules to a successful life...is not making the same mistakes twice.

I know I had a fairly good stable job. That was not luck. But the job did not fit,"me". But I stuck with it because it was the best thing going and I could not afford to jump ship and do what my true calling is. I am now on that track towards that true calling and fullfillment.

I cannot offer much advise other than tell you my story. People do not listen to advise. They have to make their own mistakes and figure it out on their own. And many of them are just not smart enough. Sorry about my additude, but that's the way I feel. You make your own luck. It's a shame we spend half our lives trying to figure all this out and for many it will be too late.

 

[Parkanzky]

Congratulations on your retirement!

I am very happy in my job, but I scrimp and save because I know that I'll be even happier when I don't have to do it anymore.

 

[Redbug]

Congratulations on your retirement!

I am very happy in my job, but I scrimp and save because I know that I'll be even happier when I don't have to do it anymore.

Thank you. Life is what you make of it. I recommend this set of forums.
Early Retirement & Financial Independence Community

 

[JDgreen227]

Redbug....CONGRATULATIONS and I really enjoyed your post...:thumbsup: You have a great attitude: "You make your own luck"....in most cases, so true!!!!