Today makes 6 months

[slydog]

I've got 6 years untill I am eligible, and the day I'm eligible is the day I am outa there! I see too too many folks retiring where I work, going back to work for the contractors in our training department for 1/3 of the pay, and working till they die. I have never understood that mentalitly. NOT this kid!

My older brother died in Oct, of 2003. He was 52, had been a sheet metal worker since age 18. He was 5 months from retirement and that was all he could talk about for the last 5 years of his life. I guess that is why I can't understand these folks who can afford to retire, are way past eligible, and still getting up before daylight to come to work, or working evening shifts, for 1/3 the pay. I work to live, I do not live to work! (I'm speaking of working FOR someone else here. I don't mind working for myself.)

IMO, if your waiting till you can "afford" to retire, no amount of money is ever enough. Me personally, I will make do on what I will get the day I'm eligible.

 

[Gomez]

Only 26 and a half more years to go for me!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Cactus]

24 years down and 4 1/2 to go......

 

[DUMBDOG]

Forced out six years ago at the age of 44, enjoyed life, does not take a lot of work to manage a couple of commercial properties, dabble in the market, then after about five years, missed the interaction with people all of the time, not bored, just looking for a new something to do. So now doing the farmers market, which is great because you work like the dickens for about six months, then head down here for the winter. This gives a good variety. It is amazing how much time you can spend on this board.

 

[alan40]

Been retired since 97. Busier now then ever. Between being a stay at home Dad, 23 acres to care for, gardens, oldest boy sells pumpkins and we have 120 taps for sugaring keeps me busy enough. Still had time to build me a nice sugarhouse and go on vacation. Wife likes it because about 90% of the house work and cooking gets done. I don't dust! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Take care

 

[B7500]

Two months and a couple of days for me.

It's funny I was scared to death retiring. I thought I'd miss the guys, work ect..
Nope! I enjoy this so much I pinch myself because I don't believe it. I've also been busy remodeling a bathroom. It is so nice being able to take my time and do it perfect. Stop when I want each day and relax with a nice glass of wine while cooking supper. ( the wife likes that)

This is literally the best time of my life right now.
-Terry

 

[EastTexFrank]

I was one of those "live to work" guys for most of my life. My attitude changed in the last couple of years at work though. I saw too many friends and acquaintances have heart attacks and strokes or otherwise have their health break down ... and they were just like me. So when the opportunity came 6 years ago to retire, I took it. I stayed home for a year but missed it a little bit, the people mostly. So, for the next 3 years I consulted for 3 to 4 months a year but for the last couple of years I gave up all pretence of working and just love being at home full time. I wouldn't change it for the world.

Now you younger guys, I don't want you quitting early. I qualify for Social Security benefits in about another 6 years (I think) and I need you to keep paying in that money every week/month. So, work harder, more overtime, keep making those contributions. We ol' timers really appreciate you.

Now, just what will I do for the rest of the day ????????

 

[riptides]

I enjoy reading the posts on people looking back and seeing that it is time to enjoy life.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
Now you younger guys, I don't want you quitting early. I qualify for Social Security benefits in about another 6 years (I think) and I need you to keep paying in that money every week/month. So, work harder, more overtime, keep making those contributions. We ol' timers really appreciate you.

Now, just what will I do for the rest of the day ???????? )</font>

I was hoping to avoid any mention of SSN benefit distribution in this string.

But since someone else started it.....

I am an avid supporter of planning my own retirement and I feel the system needs to be revamped.

Sort of goes against my belief of "responsibility to community"in the sub-dividing the country side post.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The time to enjoy your life is this very minute! Think about that for a second, and smile. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JDgreen227]

I am fast approaching the 2 year and six month mark of our retirement...many days I wonder how I ever managed to get anything done for myself when I was employed full time.

Bored...??? LOL LOL my spouse sure was we retired together and she already went back to work full time for 7 months and she recently started her newest part time job. Since retiring I have only worked about 80 hours total at my sideline construction business...I don't need the income but I do miss the contact with people sometimes.

This may sound inane to some of you guys but every since I retired I keep having these vivid, colorful dreams about my old career and the people I associated with. Prior to retiring I loved my job and felt challenged enough that some days I could not wait to get to work and take on the latest project.

One of the hardest things about retiring was that so much of your self worth is gained by what you do for a living, and it took me almost a year before I felt I had "earned" the right to relax and enjoy the life of leisure.

This morning I was up at 6 am as usual, went out and cleared the driveway so the wife could go to work, when she left I spent the next several hours hanging drywall, got tired of that and went back out to start up the JD again. Spent the next three or four hours plowing our driveway again and then did the driveways of four of my neighbors, the poor folks are still on the treadmill five days a week. They all offered to pay me for the work, I told them to save their $$ for retirement.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Although I am reasonably close enough to dream about drawing SS in a few years, I don't feel the subject belongs in this forum. We planned our retirement NOT expecting to collect anything from SS down the road.

"I am an avid supporter of planning my own retirement"...

GREAT !!!!! Same with me !!!!!

 

[GRUMPA]

Well personally I don't plan on waiting till I'm 62 to retire. As soon as my house sells I'm gone to my other home the wife and I have been working on for 10yrs. At 44 I'll retire as long as I can on the equity from the home sale. But since the other home is off the grid the only expenses I'll have is food and taxes. But at least with 40 acres I can grow my own food. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif