How many 'o you retired turkeys...

[Henro]

How many \'o you retired turkeys...

...Have gone back to work??? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Just curious.

Last fall, after five years of "retirement" I decided it would make some sense to go back to work until I reach 62 and start collecting social security. So at 58, going on 59, I started " pounding the pavement."

I decided that I did not want to do what I did before, that is work as a salary employee for a steel company. Maintenance engineering was fun but a salary position just demands too much some (probably most) of the time. So I targeted a union position somewhere...preferring to get paid for every minute on the job, and also preferring the choice to walk out the door and let someone else do the work if I felt like doing that.

I had no clue as to whether at almost 59, I would end up at Walmart or in a steel plant (which matched my former experience).

Happy ending...a strong technical background (or ability to BS pretty well) turned up several offers.

So I am punching the clock again (been almost 30 years since I saw my last time clock) and lovin' it! Must be something about hot metal that turns me on /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Been working in an electric furnace melt shop for the last six weeks after starting with this company early January.

Just wonderin' if my situation is unusual, or if there are a lot of "us formally retired turkeys" here at TBN... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Oh, oh! The guys at work have been talking about turkey season lately...hope I'm not the turkey! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

I guess you could say we went back to work just a little bit after I retired. I retired in January '89, moved out of the house we sold into a fifth-wheel 3 days later, but then stayed in the same RV park untiil my wife "retired" from her job in September. We then spent nearly two years just traveling, sight seeing, and visiting friends and relatives all over the country. Then I worked 10 hours a day 6 (and sometimes 7) days a week for 4 months in my brother's tire dealership in '91 in Alaska, then we both punched a time clock about 40 hours a week in an RV resort in Virginia in '92, and then I worked, traveling and doing gas leakage surveys in '93 and '94 (they tried to get me to work full time, but I insisted on taking November and December off). Then we quit traveling, but I raised a few goats and rabbits and sold a few pecans, and worked cattle and hay for a rancher for a couple of years, then repaired/rebuilt mechanics' air tools for a couple of years in my own shop at home. Nothing that I'd say paid enough to make a living if I didn't already have my retirement pay; just doing jobs that were fun and made a little pocket change.

 

[Henro]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

Well Bird, from the response to my question I'd say we may be rare birds after all! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

Lots of retired folks I know can't stand retirement. They get antsy. We had a buy-out where I work a ong time ago. Many folks left with enougth $$ to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. 75% of them got paying jobs and kept working. I see them all over town working part-time jobs just for something to do. Walmart, Lowes, Menard's, local lumber yards, delivery drivers, public service organizations... all kinds of jobs. They enjoy working, socializing, helping their fellow man, etc... Many of them had parents that retired, sat in an easy chair for 20 years and died. They don't want that. They want to stay active and social.

Hey, I only have 22 years to go until I retire! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[txdon]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

Henro, I don't know if I'm still in the honeymoon phase of retirement (6 months) or not, but after a complete change of lifestyle I have to pinch myself regurlarly to see if it is real. Your post is my nightmare. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

However, knowing that all things change, I rule nothing out. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm glad your enjoying your new job. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DUMBDOG]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

It took me about four years to get back into things. Between getting the fields ready, planting, weeding, harvesting and selling, I get more time in seven months than most folks do in eighteen months on a regular job.

 

[ToadHill]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

I took an early retirement at 54 in 1998, spent 30+ years negotiating union contracts for a living, but soon got tired of doing nothing so I took a job in the same field I'd spent over 30 years in. Nine months later remembered what I didn't like about what I was doing and retired again. I wasn't ready to stay home with the wife and watch the grandkids all day ( I love them dearly but I don't have the patience I used to have) so I went to Cornell and got certified as a Master Gardener and Master Forest Owner and opened my own tree and lawn care business.
I just turned the business over to my daughter this past January as all my grandchildren are now in school and the wife and I are traveling and spending a lot more time on the farm.
She believes that with retirement 3 strikes and I'm out, we'll see.

 

[RonR]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

I'm still in the honeymoon phase of retirement; I wake up, think about going to work, and SMILE, knowing I don't have to!

I've only been retired since last Nov, so I'm still adjusting, but it is a WONDERFUL adjustment for me.

Wife is still working for another 2 yrs, and she's starting to come around to the idea of retirement..................

Looking forward to this summer to rehab our sailboat and see if it still floats.

I'm trying to get my Bota side biz (yard work) going, but might take a real part time job MAYBE......................

Having Fun,
Ron

 

[Egon]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

Yes Retirement:

Eight years for me since I was gainfully employed. Between moving across Canada and working on the Play Farm I've been busy.

Every so often I look at the Employment adds, find the odd job I could apply for, consider and forget it. Not that I couldn't use a few extra dollars! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Not much I could do anyway other than drink coffee and watch people work.

Got too many other things to do and the days are passing quickly!

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ronjhall]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

I guess I am a little different. Waited until I could draw SS. Then started to enjoy it. Last August company I retired from offered me a part time job of consultant. I took it. Best part of the job is because I retired before full SS age I am only allowed to make $12,800 per year before SS starts to take money back. This limits me and the company on the number of hours I can work for them. I liked my job. Except for the amount of time away from home. It has worked out well for me. The consulting does not require traveling except for a occasional trip to Akron, OH.
So I guess I am still retired. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DocHeb]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

I get up... I go to work... I come home tired.
The next day I get up... I go to work... I come home tired again.

I guess the next day I'm "re-tired", eh? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

So I am continuing to work after "re-tirement".

Otherwise, ~10 years to go.

 

[jimmoore]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

I retired in Sept of 96 at age 62 from a Chief of Police job that I had held for 20 years. couldn't stand it and drove a school bus until sept of 03 when our Chief of Police was sent to Iraq with the National Guard. I was hired back to replace him until he came back. After he came back a year later he ask me to stay on as a Captain. I only work 3 days a week 8 hours a day. I am also limited to about a $1,000.00 a month but with my pay check, the police retirement, my social security check and a small check from my bus driving retirement, I am doing fairly well. I don't have to work the streets anymore , I just do all the departments paper work.
Hi Bird !!

jim moore

 

[MossRoad]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

<font color="blue">Not much I could do anyway other than drink coffee and watch people work. </font>

Come to my home town. You would fit right in with the Street Department, Water Works, Parks Department, etc... only the Police, Fire and Sanitation(garbage men) Departments actually do any work here. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[JDgreen227]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

Henro, apologize for the late response but I have so many projects going on here I don't log onto TBN very often Would rather be outdoors doing something, I guess.

I retired 3 1/2 years ago at only 51, had 31 years in as a facility engineer/carpenter/handyman with a government agency. Loved my job, liked my boss, had so many different types of work to do all over the state and was so busy I never got bored. TIRED from working 55-60 hours a week, yes, but never bored. Some mornings I would be driving to my worksite at 5:30, speeding to get there and begin my latest project...what kind of idiot speeds to get to work when he isn't late?

Between my pension, investment income, and part time work I am better off than I was when I was working full time, I only earn about $200 a month working part time and could easily get a full time job but don't want to...if I needed the income that would be a different story. I have a 6 acre yard, huge house with an addition we built ourselves, garden, two big barns, etc. Every time I think about going back to work I sit out back and admire our property and think of how far it's progressed since I moved here in '89.

While I miss the contact with people I don't miss all of them, my wife retired at the same time I did, she got so bored she went back to work half time, then 3/4 time, and she enjoys having something to do. Would be nice if I could have her help around here, but she isn't an outdoor type of spouse.

Sorry if this is kind of scribbled together, but it's a nice day out there and I want to get some SEAT TIME and not stare at my computer screen. Don't laugh, but a lot of time while mowing the large areas of yard I put the JD on cruise and surf TBN with my Blackberry.

Time to GET TO WORK !!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[3RRL]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

I've been retired (officially) since 2003. However before that I owned and operated my own business. Was very successful and had a "staff" to run the daily operations, only needing to be there in the mornings during the last 10 or 15 years before retiring.
Although I'm officially retired, I'm really not...I still do some work out of my garage shop for a select few customers....mostly at their beckoning, not mine. So I guess you can say I went back to work? My work projects come in spurts so I have plenty of time to play golf, spend tons of time with my 10 year old son or be at my rural property on weekends. It does not interfere with the quaility of my "retirement" whatsoever. I'm only 55 so I'm not drawing off any pension or SS yet. My wife still works but she will retire in 1 year.

The income I produce through my garage shop is rather significant, even though I don't invest a lot of time in it. We have budgeted so that all or most of it will be saved or used to pay for purchase and expenses on our rural property retirement home. We live off her income. My problem was that I am bored and the occassional job gives me a chance to busy myself without the pressure of a regular job. It gives me a break from the daily hum-drum of having to play golf at the country club. Don't think that I am boasting here, but as you know, there are montly dues, fees, assesments etc. regardless if your play or not, so I play to get my money's worth. I'm thinking of selling my membership anyway, because I just don't enjoy it nor use it as much as I used to. My life has changed again in that I'd much rather be building a tractor project now or visit my TBN buddies via this site.

 

[alan40]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

Retired from the Navy in 97. Stayed at home with two boys untill last December. It wasn't as easy as it sounds. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif My wife's company called looking for a security guard from 6-2. Good money so back I went. Been there six months got a raise and a promotion. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Best part is it gives me weekends off now. So now we're saving for college.
Take care

 

[BB_TX]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

You guys are killing me. Plan to retire in less than 2 yrs and now y'all are telling me I have to go back to work. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Actually, I had figured I would retire, do whatever I felt like for a year or two, then find a low pressure, part time job to keep busy and bring in a little extra income. Seems to be what most everyone else has been doing too.

 

[rozett]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

Yea, I'm sorta retired too. After 30 years in computer development and management, we decided that I was done with the rat race (and all the stress and travel that went with it) and were just waiting for daughter #3 to graduate from college. Before we were able to pull the trigger, the industry fell apart (2001) and I found myself on the street. With a pile of options, that didn't sound too bad... till most of them evaporated with the market.

I'm less than a year younger /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif than Henro. It didn't take long to figure out that starting a farm is nice (and very busy), but it's just not enough. So I started teaching. The pay is real cheesy compared to what I was making, but it has great health insurance. I really enjoy teaching computer apps to kids! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif And it leaves me time to work the christmas trees and woodlot and do firewood over the summer. In some ways it's the best of both worlds.... I enjoy what I'm doing, there's little to no stress, no flights to asia /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif, and I spend lots of time in the seat and in the woods.

 

[Bird]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I enjoy what I'm doing )</font>

And that's the key to a happy life. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[mjarrels]

Re: How many \'o you retired turkeys...

good question... i am 51, wife is 38... i too retired from the navy in 1997 as a CPO after 21 years of service. went to school for one year after retirement... worked as a QA supervisor for 6 years in the further processing poultery buisness) Navy jets and chickens both have wings. (yes met jim perdue and had diner with him a few times). Worked second shift and build a new house and garage in 1999. Tried working on a Lance snack food truck for about 1 and a half years... loved my costomers but made little money for 12 hour days going on 14 hour days... walked off the job. never walked off the job in my life but had too. Mom and dad passed away in the last two years. Have major interest in a 36 hole golf course (1 share of 50 shares bought in 1962 on the original 9 holes next door and still in the family). Needed to go to stockholder meetings vice earn nothing on a lance truck. Have about 37 acres for sale for next door for 5Million that needs attention to market... buyers knocking. Kept the old house, large bank, machine shed, smokehouse etc and about 4 acres. Enlarged yards by an acre. Must split (farm) 3 ways but will still walk away with $$$. Do I retire or not? Mom aways said I was too young to retire... I was frustraided last week and just wrote retired, age 51 on a piece of paper in the garage. Stocks we inheireted is another story. Just cash poor at the time. What to do? Wife works at the golf course next door... gas up the truck about ever two months for the trip next door.