Retirement age

[norty1]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Something like maintaining professional credentials can be limiting and over time prevent enjoying one of the real benefits of retirement, freedom to roam when ever and where ever. Several of my houseboat friends here at the lake have maintained a home up north. For the most part its nothing more than keeping that one foot on the old base and soon becomes nothing more than an expensive and time consuming maintenance task. One of my conditions when we bought our property on the KY/TN border was that we cut the cord up north completely. After all we have family up there so a place to stay during a short visit is never an issue. I had another neighbor who built a small lake home near us and were planning to use it most of the year, but after retiring from teaching, his wife agreed to a temporary pt assignment at the special needs school that she retired from the previous year. This is the 2nd full year since taking that temporary pt job that quickly became permanent and fulltime. Not sure where I'm going with this but just wanted to give emphasis to how retirement plans can be kept on hold when a spouse doesn't want to completely let go.

No arguement from me. We can’t leave for long periods because of family obligations. When that is resolved She won’t be working any. I just hope I’m still able to hit the road.

[DavidSD]

June 30, 2016 @ 65 y.o. My wife and I have spent 6 months on the road during this time. Glorious.

[Seann45]

55, that was 10 years ago. No one ever mentioned that all my friends would still be working for another 10 years....

[Bookemdanno]

I'll be eligible at 47 (6.5 years from now). But realistically I'll have one in college and a senior in high school! After that I'm just going to go with the 2 day rule...have 2 bad days in a row and pull the plug!

[Sshepguy]

While I’m not retired, I went “freelance” at 55 (just this year) and am enjoying it! Worked like a bugger in the winter and into the spring and then had some time off to enjoy our new fifth Wheel! So far, I am enjoying the flexibility this new work pattern is giving me!

[Mach1tosh]

I've got just under 5 years to 65 and the Mrs. has 7 to full pension. So I'm working to pay out the mortgage by that time and she's working to build up the bank account further so we can enjoy what we like to do from then on.
We are in our forever, last one til the old folks home or the urn, home and have no other debt. Our vehicles and trailer are all paid for and in very good shape.
Not working will give me more time to engage in my back woods photography passion with not having to pack and return to civilization until I'm good and ready. So looking forward to finishing the work-a-day gig.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I first retired at 55 to lock in my benefits, then worked another job to supplement my pension until age 60 when I finally got fed up with the male bovine biscuits at work.

[Bandit12]

I enlisted in the USAF at age 17, I'm now 56 and have been retired for just a little over 19 years. I still work for beer and camping money (and because my wife says I'd drive her nuts if I was at home all the time) and I plan on doing what I do for another 11 years. My short term goal is to make Uncle pay me more money for being retired than they did for being on active duty. As near as I can figure, I break even at age 62. The men in my family tend to live long lives. Grand-dad passed at age 94, Dad just gave up driving this year and he is 93. I figure I got quite a few more good years left in me.

[KWDAILYD]

I had planned to retire at 62. Health issues forced my retirement at a little over 61. Took me a few years to get my health back in shape. I am now 69. Been retired since Sept of 2010. I missed work for about 3 months then got over it. My wife is 7 years younger then me and turns 62 next month and is retiring. We got back into RV's last year with a used conventional and bought our first 5er this past May. Have only been out in it 5 times this summer and 4 days at a time is the longest. We hope to do some traveling next year. I didn't realize how stressful work was till I gave it up. I just hope we get a few good years in before we have to call it quits on the travel.

[Crabman]

Retire? Commercial fisherman die with their white boots on........

[Midnightmoon]

I'm not actually sure how I feel about the idea of retirement. I've been working now just shy of 30 years. For quite a while, especially when we were young, I worked 2 and sometimes 3 jobs.

I've been working just one now for some time and I can honestly say that I often get a little restless and feel like I should be doing more. Guess that's a sign that I'm nowhere near ready to hang it up.

[jasum]

I’m re tired.......

Last week I was tired and this week I’m re tired!!

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

...For quite a while, especially when we were young, I worked 2 and sometimes 3 jobs...

Been there, done that. It's one of the reasons I'm handicapped now.

[Bassdogs]

Note: Retired 14 years ago at age 57 and in a few days will turn 71. The previous life is little more than a blur and the life in retirement seems like an entirely new life. Delaying retirement until the standard age would mean that in my early years of retirement I would be suffering from a serious heart condition and a handful of other age related medical challenges. Those first 10 years of retirement or last 10 years of working realisticly represent key years in the rest of your life. Not to sound morbid but all the fun and experiences DW and I have enjoyed over the last 10+ years probably would not be possible if we had delayed retirement.


Final Word: $$$ vs Years. Plan, save, and invest early and you will be able to enjoy the final phase in life.

[enchantedwon]

I'm hoping I only have another 20 years of employment (that'd put me at 57). We put a decent amount into our 401k, but I'd love to hear advice.


For those of you close, or already retired, what advice would you give? What did you do, or wish you would have done?

[2edgesword]

I'm hoping to never retire (setting myself up to do consulting from home) but will retire from full-time work and commuting when my younger wife retires. At that point I will be 67 1/2 (June 2020 Lord willing). Since I can't go anywhere without her in my mind it didn't make sense to retire and sit home while she is still working full-time.

[2edgesword]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Note: Retired 14 years ago at age 57 and in a few days will turn 71. The previous life is little more than a blur and the life in retirement seems like an entirely new life. Delaying retirement until the standard age would mean that in my early years of retirement I would be suffering from a serious heart condition and a handful of other age related medical challenges. Those first 10 years of retirement or last 10 years of working realisticly represent key years in the rest of your life. Not to sound morbid but all the fun and experiences DW and I have enjoyed over the last 10+ years probably would not be possible if we had delayed retirement.


Final Word: $$$ vs Years. Plan, save, and invest early and you will be able to enjoy the final phase in life.

Health is a key element in retirement planning. My wife and I both have some health issues. Fortunately they haven't prevented us from RVing and we're hoping (you never know what tomorrow may bring) we can maintain a level of health that allows us to continuing RVing during our earlier years in retirement. The reality is these years of relatively good health aren't going to last forever.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by enchantedwon

I'm hoping I only have another 20 years of employment (that'd put me at 57). We put a decent amount into our 401k, but I'd love to hear advice.


For those of you close, or already retired, what advice would you give? What did you do, or wish you would have done?

I'm not an expert by any means, but I have a financial advisor and I firmly believe that they have helped me develop a better strategy than I had previous to 2008 (I don't know about the rest of you, but my 401K really took a beating back then).

I'm now not so 401K centered. But rather, the 401 is just part of my overall strategy. I'm a lot more diversified now.....some independent stocks, mutual funds, investment property, etc. If you have some time, start looking to some alternative investments that might be of interest to you and or work with a financial advisor if you haven't done so already.

[nisbitch]

Only 25.5 more years. Although, I'm sure some things can change in that time. Hopefully, lottery winnings will accelerate that though.

[bdreinv]

All most 67 self employed entire life.Putting the house up for sale next month.Down sizing everything going to take about a year. Then were are done wife all ready retired after 30 years Kroger!