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

[Redbug]

The job I hold and what I do, (Feds under NOAA), are OK by anyone's standards. But I think you reach a point in life later on where a job is just a job...no matter what you do. When you are younger, you have a different attitude and your views and life are narrower and not as broad as you get older. When you are young, you are hungry and have more energy to put towards a career and work. You have to be that way. Later, you don't have those needs and you can see the real forest...the trees are not in the way. Life is in stages. You do not identify yourself by what you do, rather by who you are inside.

The past 10 years at least, I think of my life as being a see-saw. Up and down, up and down. You have your work life and then your real life. Turn one on and turn the other off. Get off work and turn your real life on. And vice versa. Trying to do things and get things done in your real life while fitting in work in between. Life stops while at work. I hate that and I hate wasting time and turning the real life off. 100% of your time and life are yours to do with what you want after you retire. It's not about money anymore.

A lot about retiring has to do with saving, investing, and living below your means. And not going through divorces. For me, the drive is knowing that you can't keep living a roller coaster most of your life and expect to be happy.

Anyways...I do see the zip, zip, zip, now. And I feel like 40...so take that Gizmo!

 

[CJBOTA]

Does anyone know if when you retire at 62 and have a part time job with health care benefits, is the health care benefit considered income? One of my retirement scenarios includes a part time job and I know you are only allowed to make so much money when retiring early. Also does anyone know if that income amount increases each year until you reach your full retirement year?
Thanks!
CJ

 

[jinman]

Here are a couple of links that should be helpful:

Social Security Exempt Earnings Table. Next year, it's a bit over $14k before deductions are made. Then, they will deduct $1 in benefits for every $2 you make.

After full retirement age, there is no limit to wages.

I believe money you make and pay into insurance is earned income and will be calculated, but a call to your SSI office can verify that.

Finally, here is some general info you will find helpful for your planning. If you want to retire at 62, you need to apply when you are 61 and 9 months so your benefit starts on time.

How work affects your benefits.

 

[TripleR]

I read most of the posts and only have one peice of advice, retire just as soon as you can possibly afford to.

I was fortunate in that I liked my job for most of my career, so I worked six years past my eligibility date to put a little more money back and as mentioned I liked it.

All this time I made plans of everything I was going to do. Four months after I retired at the age of 60, my health took a downward turn and I can no longer do many of the things I planned. I gave my Harley to one of my sons and had to buy cab tractors and move my open station ones to other properties for my brothers to use.

I often have to use a step stool to get into my truck or on my tractors and now use crutches to get around.

No one has a guarantee of a long life or good health, so get the most out of it while you can.

I am not complaining as I still consider myself a lucky man; just something to think about.

 

[JDgreen227]

I read most of the posts and only have one peice of advice, retire just as soon as you can possibly afford to.

I was fortunate in that I liked my job for most of my career, so I worked six years past my eligibility date to put a little more money back and as mentioned I liked it.

All this time I made plans of everything I was going to do. Four months after I retired at the age of 60, my health took a downward turn and I can no longer do many of the things I planned. I gave my Harley to one of my sons and had to buy cab tractors and move my open station ones to other properties for my brothers to use.

I often have to use a step stool to get into my truck or on my tractors and now use crutches to get around.

No one has a guarantee of a long life or good health, so get the most out of it while you can.

I am not complaining as I still consider myself a lucky man; just something to think about.

Agree 100% with your advice, I retired at age 51, was very healthy and active then. Although I try to stay busy at age 60, I don't have the ambition and stamina I did only nine years ago. Used to be willing to do volunteer dirty work like roofing tearoff in my spare time, but now I don't even want to bother unless I have to do it for myself. Also have to be a lot more careful when working with heights or other risky work like using a chain saw...at my age, it's easier to injure yourself badly and harder to recover.

 

[ArtMech]

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.

Hmmm ... where have I heard similar thoughts? :mur:
Oh, it's me.
Sometimes it is nice to realize you're not alone with your fantasy. Even if the man generating the same dream is 7-8 time zones away. :drink: