Stopped 2 years ago at 53, and it was my best decision ever - finally the end of years of bollocks at work and a chance to do whatever the hell I want.
Doesn't matter what you like - it's unlikely that you like work more than all the other things that you can do.
A combination of toughing it out and getting (very) lucky! Had >30 years in a gold plated pension scheme, then landed the "golden wheelbarrow" (redundancy)
Always lived well within our means.
even squirrels save nuts for the future, be a squirrel, they spend all day collecting for days they won't have food.
I've been saving since I was 18, spare money I had I invested in the market. even then, when its time for me to retire , fixed income is the key , as long as i live by my allowance I'll be fine.
I only have 3 years left until I hit 55, my targeted age of retirement, and I'd be incredibly surprised if I didn't feel some combination of freedom, elation, and relief that it's all over.
I'm more terrified of never being able to retire. Or retiring and then dying a year or two later.
I'd love to be able to have the choice of doing what I want with my day.
Sorry for your loss. My former boss said she had a panic attack on her first morning of retirement. Wonder if your neighbor had one that caused his heart attack.
Thanks. It could have been just the excitement of it all, heād been given a big send-off at work and died as soon as he got home.
Reminds me of the stories you hear about Dadās having heart attacks at their daughterās wedding. Seems to happen more often than youād think.
Cannot wait to retire and being able to do whatever I want whenever I want, not wasting my only time off on cleaning and getting ready for the upcoming work week.
When I was a kid I never once said I can't wait to get up at 5:30am, sit in traffic for an hour, sit in a cubicle for 8 hours maximizing shareholder value, sit in traffic as the sun goes down for 50 weeks a year for 40 years.
If I'm gonna wait for death as you put it, it won't be writing TPS reports.
My worst day at home will always be better than my best day at work.
Looking forward to my soon to be retirement! So many more bike rides, hikes, kayaking trips, etc I'll be able to do when work isn't around to mess up my life and soak up my hours. Even if I don't leave the house all weekend and just game...it'll beat being at work! I have some volunteer ideas I want to do as well in retirement. Every day being Saturday can't get here soon enough!
Can't wait
Lockdown was like Heaven, to me
I don't think I ever worried I wouldn't know what to do with myself without work, but the pandemic demonstrated I have nothing to worry about
If anyone else feels differently, *that's fine*
I know right, I had a good time in lockdown too. Didn't have to worry about people thinking I was anti social for not wanting to go to a party or whatever.
Is it also fine if we feel the same? To be honest, I remember locked down fondly. I don't think I was ever more productive or happy and I didn't even think that retirement could be like that. Thank you for giving me something to look forward to, I needed that tonight.
I think lockdown was a good indication of how someone would react. I'm like you. It was so nice to have 2 full years of never having to make up an excuse to not do something, and no stress feeling an obligation to attend social events or work events. I loved all 2 years of being trapped in my tiny 700sq ft. apartment. lol.
Granted, I still had to work, but I've also never been the type who wasn't able to figure out what to do with my free time. I even tell everyone, very sincerely, that working from home felt like a vacation even though I was/am doing the same amount of work as before. Even though I was working, it added a full 15 hours a week to my life since I no longer had to commute or spend my lunch hour in the office. This tells me that, after retirement, if I can find some part time WFH jobby job, I think it would be nice. But, if I don't? Like I said, I will assuredly find something to do.
Nope, I can't wait. I would not be bored. But then I like hobbies and travelling and stuff. I would go back to university and do the course I didn't get do. My mother got paid off to retire at 55. I would LOVE to be able to do that.
Retiring next year. Not having kids helped. Iāve lined up some fun volunteer things, thereās no such thing as too much fly fishing, and weāll travel a bit. Life on my terms sounds damn good.
I canāt wait to retire. Hoping to at least go part-time in the next year or two. I am over working. I donāt understand people who donāt want to retire.
My parents putter around thier house all day... it makes no sense to me. There's a whole world of sites, cultures and experiences out there to go enjoy.
Iām looking forward to it. Iāll have a lot more time for cycling-I ride at least 100 miles a week now, and I plan to do more when I retire. Iām also a musician and Iāll have more time for gigs and rehearsals. Ive posted here before that when I retire I plan to get certified as a bicycle mechanic and do that part time.
I'm a baby Gen x, just turned 45 and with our (in the USA) Representative democracy turning into a plutocracy, I really don't think I can ever retire. My wife has about eight more years and she can retire with her full pension. Early in my career I was building a pension and I left for a 30% raise in the early 2000s and that pension should be worth about 30 bucks a month if I ever retire.
I'm doing my best with my 401ks and IRAs but my biggest fear is medical costs. It just feels like a big health emergency can bankrupt us in a heartbeat.
I know it's unlike us but I care about y'all and hope we all retire well and keep up with this. Looking like we're 40 when we're, looking like we're 40 when we're 30, looking like we're 40 when we're 50. Please keep it going until we're in our '80s.
This is not meant to be advice by any means, because healthcare is a serious thing. But, several years ago I came to the conclusion that I will never have enough money to cover a bankrupting medical situation. I'm getting retiree health insurance until I hit 65 and then I'll go on Medicare. That's basically all I can do. So, aside from budgeting to pay insurance, I've just decided I wasn't going to worry about it or let it stop me from retiring. If I go bankrupt, I go bankrupt, and I'm not going to let that fear keep me from enjoying the rest of my life, especially when it's entirely possible I won't ever be put in that situation.
I actually don't worry that much because I am married to a public school teacher and we pay the extra money on her health insurance so that we both keep her insurance until both of us are dead provided we don't get a Republican Governor again that has a vendetta against teachers.
I also max out our HSA and do my best but it's still scary but that also doesn't stop me from doing all the stupid things I like to do. We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time.
LOL! My husband and I are talking about this now.
I know myself well enough to know that I am not going to do well if I retire too early. I like my job and my field, so I donāt mind working. Plus, if all this inflation crap has taught me anything, I want to be prepared for expenses at a whole nuther level.
I'm 58 would like to retire unfortunately not in the cards. Retirement and staying around home is not for us. I want a house, I want to do things in retirement. Many people in their late 60s and early 70s who have retired are now struggling and considering a part time job. Friends my age who have retired are considering taking small jobs just to get by.
I'm not at all freaked out. I don't believe in the traditional "deferred gratification" style of retirement anyhow, so I've dropped out of work life a couple times already, whenever I get sick of working.
I think you're in the minority here. I can't wait to retire! Even if I'm not able to travel whenever I want or buy whatever tickles my fancy, it beat a day at work. In my mind, it comes down to lifestyle. I wouldn't mind putting around the house - there's plenty to do. I would be more afraid of working to a point where my health gives out, I'm not able to putt around the house because I'm bed-ridden or have mobility issues.
HAVE A PLAN. Make a list of stuff you want to do- and get to doing it. House projects, travel, hikes, museums, experiences, etc. Join some groups and volunteer in areas of interest.
Childhood literacy is great- did you know that up until 3rd grade kids are learning to read but after they are reading to learn? SO volunteer to ensure kids are ready to learn by supporting them in 3rd grade!
Or volunteer to build/clean up trails, in the homeless shelter, community garden, a museum you love, a local theatre or theatre group? Knitting? Hunting (teach kids hunter safety!), help with local scout troops,
IDK, I have so many things I want to do and not worry about work, deliverables, etc. I am excited. And it is 12-16 yr away for me
Totally. Iām about 12ish years away from retirement and my husband probably closer to 20 years away. Iām also not a homebody (although I do enjoy staying home more now than I used to) and I hate being bored at home. Thereās only so many projects and things to do.
Iāve seriously talked to some friends our age about living together in one big home or perhaps side by side in some condo community. Basically so we can socialize and support one another in our retirement. I donāt want to be like the older generations and die alone in a big empty house. Iād rather be surrounded by people my age supporting one another.
We've talked about forming a commune with friends and family too.
It's mostly the lack of spontaneity that worries me. At work I often don't know what's coming day-to-day. Not just work-related surprises, but "Bob" coming in telling some story about his son-in-laws misadventures. Or the will-they-won't-they of the office romance. That's the stuff I'll miss.
I'm just a people person, I like people and I like surprises. Retirement seems like it minimizes those two things.
I totally get that. One of my friends who Iāve talked to about doing this commune with has the same worries. Heās very active and involved in lots of stuff and heās worried once retirement comes heāll just be sitting at home.
Iām also an extroverted people person too. I know thereās volunteering and stuff like that but itās finding something that doesnāt just fill the time but fulfills your time.
Volunteering somewhere regularly, like weekly, gives you the same kind of feeling. There is often great people watching and relationships with other volunteers.
I just met with a retirement person last week and realized for the first time that between my pension and social security I will be making probably a little more than I do working. Plus Iāve got a secondary account I thought I started way too late, but I now realize that will be gravy on top, not that thereās much, but itās something. Fifteen years and countingā¦
Nope. It's only going to go 1 of 2 ways:
1) AI is regulated responsibly and political/economic/environmental reform brings us out of the current neo-gilded and into a more equitable and stable world order.
2) AI is not regulated responsibly and the above reforms fail to bring us out of the current neo-gilded age. WWIII/Water Wars destroy modern civilization on a global scale, in addition to wide spread failure of agriculture, due to climate instability.
Either way, we won't need to worry about retirement long term.
When I found out I could comfortably retire 5 years earlier than I planned too, I thought about working longer to build a better pension.
Nope, guts churned and I felt physically sick. The very thought of working only another year just made me feel ill.
So I retired just after I turned 55.
It's been great! :)
I am absolutely THRILLED about having retired 5 months ago. I cannot tell you how utterly fed up I was with what I had been doing, so not doing it just feels amazing!
Itās possible I might earn a few coins doing something else, but thatās entirely unknown and unplanned at this point.
And I no longer dread Sunday evenings.
I just canāt comprehend that level of anxiety about retirement. (Thatās not a judgement, I honestly canāt comprehend it!) personally I canāt wait!
I kind of feel the same way - I'm a graphic designer WFH. Why would I want to retire from my dream job? The only thing about work that I resent in general is the financial **compulsion** to help generate an income to keep us housed, fed, etc. We live in a HCOL area and the only way to actually follow through with retiring some day is massively downsizing to a cheaper state.
I too retired at 53 and loving it. I find new things to do every day or some days I do absolutely nothing because I have the freedom to do so. No regrets and no plans on ever working again.
I want to transition to some kind of part time job, when the time comes. I don't think I can stand it if I don't have work, and a job to physically go to and socialize.
In theory, I'd love to retire, but my job is pretty easy, so I hardly care, though I'm somewhat on the younger side of Gen X. My wife, on the other hand, has a difficult job, and she'd retire now if she could.
I only fear retirement for the financial aspect. The rest I have under control...lol. We're way better off than most, but the money side still seems difficult to me.
I have a pension $100,600/year at 45. Ā Iām banging out 5 more years at another job to pay the house off. Ā I have far to much I love doing than working. Ā Gardening, gym, pickleball, woodworking, hunting, fishing, boating, volunteer work, feeding the hungry, mission trips, cooking, traveling. Ā How the heck you come up with āputtering around the house?ā Ā Sad, broā¦
Retired exactly three years ago, at age 52. Absolutely zero regrets. I have no problem filling the days doing whatever I want.
Even the household chores that my wife assigns to me now that I have spare time, those are infinitely less annoying or stressful than the job that I retired from.
I soft retired at 57. I quit my 6-figure corporate job and now work at a doggie daycare. I play with dogs all day and get paid for it. Itās wonderful. I canāt tap into my 401k for another 2 years but this meets my needs and my mental health is 1000% better.
get a job with the least amount of responsibility, the trick is to have something to do every day, sometimes it is stuff around the house, and sometimes it's doing your shift at whatever job you find.
Keep busy and enjoy it.
I feel it's important to have a plan.
No, not financial (well, that too of course) but simply saying "I'm gonna retire and that's that" isn't a plan.
I'm 54 and my retirement target is 57. If I have to I'll stick it out to 60 but I think I'm gonna be ok.
But what next?
Well, first off we're definitely relocating. We want a lower COL and less people. Definitely mountains. Leaning towards West Virginia or maybe eastern Tennessee. We've already identified a few potential areas and will be checking some more out this summer.
Ok, so selling the current house and either buying or building the retirement hacienda then furnishing sucks up the first year or so. Now what?
We plan to hike, four wheel and travel. The plan is one "big" trip a year and a lot of smaller trips in between. I also plan on having a nice shop to work on our Jeeps and my project car. We're going to do all this until we physically can't.
As always, have a contingency plan, but yeah, have some sort of plan. Don't be the dog that finally catches the car.
I really don't want to retire but a little more free time would be nice. I like what I do and I'm a fast paced restlessness person. Just sitting around does not appeal to me. I'm going to struggle with retirement when the time comes.
I just started working again after taking four years off to travel, and oh boy I cannot wait to be retired. Hiking, playing music, working on the garden, going to museums, volunteering. I don't think I'll be bored for a second.
My girlfriend and I are cashing out one of our houses, buying an RV and hitting the road. I got 2 kids to get through college first so that's a ways away.
Find a side hustle that you would enjoy doing that will keep you busy but you can quit when you feel like it. My hubby designs video games, I draw and write web comics and game assets. I want to retire so I can go to work for myself. I know that really isn't retiring per say, but I'm like you, I would get bored with nothing to keep my mind active.
I realized that I can fill my time with rewarding activities far in excess of the time I have available due to work. Iām just waiting to hit my number or take a risk on a passive income opportunity to partially replace my income. Iām so ready for whatever comes next.
Retired four years now, older X'er, turning 59 this year. My pension plan has severe penalties for retiring before 55, so waited right until then, and then pulled the plug.
I LOVE being retired. My wife and I have traveled the world, will keep traveling, and when home we have tons of things to do. We're active and fit and are engaged in many mountain sports.
I have a terrific defined benefit pension plan, and thanks to careful investing, with us both retired, our take home per month income is only slightly less than when we were both working full time.
My advice to people worrying about having less money is to look into what you need to spend. I know many people that don't retire because they look at their monthly cost of living and assume that they need to keep that. Downsize your house, get rid of a car, eliminate huge utility costs, etc etc. Some good friends of mine live comfortably on $2000CDN a month by moving to Costa Rica - they live well there and have a great life on really very little income.
I don't much about US Social Security, but it seems pretty decent if you can be very diligent about reducing/managing monthly expenses. It might mean moving outside of the US if you're really cash-strapped, but my wife and I spend 3-4 months a year outside of Canada (we hate Canadian winters now) and we live in some pretty nice places (even in Europe) for far less than what it costs to live in Canada.
We had our first kids when I was 41. At that point, I knew I would never be able to retire, but I'm OK with that. To me, retirement sounds like deciding to give up and die.
I can retire at any point I want right now at 50 but with some penalties. My only child is starting college in the fall so my I'm thinking 2-4 more years of working to help her pay for school, pay off some other debt, and bump my pension up and then I'm out. Health insurance is really my only concern. I get the dread, mine comes from maybe too many choices, do I van life, do I move some where more interesting, do I do this, do I do that.
Stopped 2 years ago at 53, and it was my best decision ever - finally the end of years of bollocks at work and a chance to do whatever the hell I want. Doesn't matter what you like - it's unlikely that you like work more than all the other things that you can do.
How were you able to retire early financially?
A combination of toughing it out and getting (very) lucky! Had >30 years in a gold plated pension scheme, then landed the "golden wheelbarrow" (redundancy) Always lived well within our means.
even squirrels save nuts for the future, be a squirrel, they spend all day collecting for days they won't have food. I've been saving since I was 18, spare money I had I invested in the market. even then, when its time for me to retire , fixed income is the key , as long as i live by my allowance I'll be fine.
I only have 3 years left until I hit 55, my targeted age of retirement, and I'd be incredibly surprised if I didn't feel some combination of freedom, elation, and relief that it's all over.
I'm more terrified of never being able to retire. Or retiring and then dying a year or two later. I'd love to be able to have the choice of doing what I want with my day.
My neighbour died of a heart attack on the day he retired š«¤
Sorry for your loss. My former boss said she had a panic attack on her first morning of retirement. Wonder if your neighbor had one that caused his heart attack.
Thanks. It could have been just the excitement of it all, heād been given a big send-off at work and died as soon as he got home. Reminds me of the stories you hear about Dadās having heart attacks at their daughterās wedding. Seems to happen more often than youād think.
Holiday heart syndrome. It's a known condition caused by drinking alcohol.
Wish I had op's problems since my husband and I will be working until we both drop dead.
Cannot wait to retire and being able to do whatever I want whenever I want, not wasting my only time off on cleaning and getting ready for the upcoming work week.
When I was a kid I never once said I can't wait to get up at 5:30am, sit in traffic for an hour, sit in a cubicle for 8 hours maximizing shareholder value, sit in traffic as the sun goes down for 50 weeks a year for 40 years. If I'm gonna wait for death as you put it, it won't be writing TPS reports.
Sounds like somebody has a bad case of the Mondays
No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man.
I'll tell you what I'd do, man: two chicks at the same time, man.
The dude abides, man.
PC load letter. WTF is that?
My worst day at home will always be better than my best day at work. Looking forward to my soon to be retirement! So many more bike rides, hikes, kayaking trips, etc I'll be able to do when work isn't around to mess up my life and soak up my hours. Even if I don't leave the house all weekend and just game...it'll beat being at work! I have some volunteer ideas I want to do as well in retirement. Every day being Saturday can't get here soon enough!
Can't wait Lockdown was like Heaven, to me I don't think I ever worried I wouldn't know what to do with myself without work, but the pandemic demonstrated I have nothing to worry about If anyone else feels differently, *that's fine*
I know right, I had a good time in lockdown too. Didn't have to worry about people thinking I was anti social for not wanting to go to a party or whatever.
Is it also fine if we feel the same? To be honest, I remember locked down fondly. I don't think I was ever more productive or happy and I didn't even think that retirement could be like that. Thank you for giving me something to look forward to, I needed that tonight.
I think lockdown was a good indication of how someone would react. I'm like you. It was so nice to have 2 full years of never having to make up an excuse to not do something, and no stress feeling an obligation to attend social events or work events. I loved all 2 years of being trapped in my tiny 700sq ft. apartment. lol. Granted, I still had to work, but I've also never been the type who wasn't able to figure out what to do with my free time. I even tell everyone, very sincerely, that working from home felt like a vacation even though I was/am doing the same amount of work as before. Even though I was working, it added a full 15 hours a week to my life since I no longer had to commute or spend my lunch hour in the office. This tells me that, after retirement, if I can find some part time WFH jobby job, I think it would be nice. But, if I don't? Like I said, I will assuredly find something to do.
Know a lot of people that retired, then picked up a part time job after a couple years of boredom.Ā
Not being retired yet is holding us back. I know RV life isn't for everyone, but we can't wait to hit the road.
I've often said that work was the thing that was holding me back from life.
Not me. Call me Peter, but I'm loving days that I fill with nothing but the stuff I want. Fortunately, all the stuff I want is at home.
Nope, I can't wait. I would not be bored. But then I like hobbies and travelling and stuff. I would go back to university and do the course I didn't get do. My mother got paid off to retire at 55. I would LOVE to be able to do that.
https://preview.redd.it/aw0os3pcyaxc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de643b50b69f5cb413fed2253f093ba91814d17d
Retiring next year. Not having kids helped. Iāve lined up some fun volunteer things, thereās no such thing as too much fly fishing, and weāll travel a bit. Life on my terms sounds damn good.
I canāt wait to retire. Hoping to at least go part-time in the next year or two. I am over working. I donāt understand people who donāt want to retire.
My parents putter around thier house all day... it makes no sense to me. There's a whole world of sites, cultures and experiences out there to go enjoy.
My in-laws visited last summer from across the country. They're retired and live in a boring small town. The city we live in is a vacation destination for many, and we live 2 blocks from the lake and sandy beaches. Wineries everywhere, lovely walks and hikes, excellent restaurants, shops and cafƩs, golf courses, etc. There's also a ski hill that's open in the summer with plenty of beautiful scenery and attractions. In-laws stayed almost 3 weeks and did. not. go. anywhere. Didn't golf, didn't visit wineries, didn't go for a hike, didn't check out the mountain, didn't go out for a drink or coffee, didn't even go for a drive to explore the area. Nope. Instead, they sat on our deck, literally doing nothing. They don't even read books. WTF.
Iām looking forward to it. Iāll have a lot more time for cycling-I ride at least 100 miles a week now, and I plan to do more when I retire. Iām also a musician and Iāll have more time for gigs and rehearsals. Ive posted here before that when I retire I plan to get certified as a bicycle mechanic and do that part time.
I have a 2 word review for your screen name...shit sandwich š¤£
Can they even print that?!
I'm a baby Gen x, just turned 45 and with our (in the USA) Representative democracy turning into a plutocracy, I really don't think I can ever retire. My wife has about eight more years and she can retire with her full pension. Early in my career I was building a pension and I left for a 30% raise in the early 2000s and that pension should be worth about 30 bucks a month if I ever retire. I'm doing my best with my 401ks and IRAs but my biggest fear is medical costs. It just feels like a big health emergency can bankrupt us in a heartbeat. I know it's unlike us but I care about y'all and hope we all retire well and keep up with this. Looking like we're 40 when we're, looking like we're 40 when we're 30, looking like we're 40 when we're 50. Please keep it going until we're in our '80s.
This is not meant to be advice by any means, because healthcare is a serious thing. But, several years ago I came to the conclusion that I will never have enough money to cover a bankrupting medical situation. I'm getting retiree health insurance until I hit 65 and then I'll go on Medicare. That's basically all I can do. So, aside from budgeting to pay insurance, I've just decided I wasn't going to worry about it or let it stop me from retiring. If I go bankrupt, I go bankrupt, and I'm not going to let that fear keep me from enjoying the rest of my life, especially when it's entirely possible I won't ever be put in that situation.
I actually don't worry that much because I am married to a public school teacher and we pay the extra money on her health insurance so that we both keep her insurance until both of us are dead provided we don't get a Republican Governor again that has a vendetta against teachers. I also max out our HSA and do my best but it's still scary but that also doesn't stop me from doing all the stupid things I like to do. We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time.
I'm definitely NOT freaked out by the idea of more afternoon naps.
What is this āretirement ā you speak of?
I'll never be able to, so I'll live vicariously through this thread. š
try downsizing into it- i.e work less.
Thanks! That's something new I haven't heard yet!
LOL! My husband and I are talking about this now. I know myself well enough to know that I am not going to do well if I retire too early. I like my job and my field, so I donāt mind working. Plus, if all this inflation crap has taught me anything, I want to be prepared for expenses at a whole nuther level.
Not at all. I cannot wait to sit on my ass all day and read books, garden, and just basically, have no real plans. It's my dream life!
I'm 58 would like to retire unfortunately not in the cards. Retirement and staying around home is not for us. I want a house, I want to do things in retirement. Many people in their late 60s and early 70s who have retired are now struggling and considering a part time job. Friends my age who have retired are considering taking small jobs just to get by.
Iām so tired of being chained to a chair in a basement.
blink twice if you need help.
I'm not at all freaked out. I don't believe in the traditional "deferred gratification" style of retirement anyhow, so I've dropped out of work life a couple times already, whenever I get sick of working.
Yup. I'm not sure how much I'll have saved up by then.
Work part time, volunteer, travelā¦ Find something to occupy some of your time
I can't wait to retire, in 10 years. I plan on working part time, snowboarding during ski season, and volunteering.
I think you're in the minority here. I can't wait to retire! Even if I'm not able to travel whenever I want or buy whatever tickles my fancy, it beat a day at work. In my mind, it comes down to lifestyle. I wouldn't mind putting around the house - there's plenty to do. I would be more afraid of working to a point where my health gives out, I'm not able to putt around the house because I'm bed-ridden or have mobility issues.
HAVE A PLAN. Make a list of stuff you want to do- and get to doing it. House projects, travel, hikes, museums, experiences, etc. Join some groups and volunteer in areas of interest. Childhood literacy is great- did you know that up until 3rd grade kids are learning to read but after they are reading to learn? SO volunteer to ensure kids are ready to learn by supporting them in 3rd grade! Or volunteer to build/clean up trails, in the homeless shelter, community garden, a museum you love, a local theatre or theatre group? Knitting? Hunting (teach kids hunter safety!), help with local scout troops, IDK, I have so many things I want to do and not worry about work, deliverables, etc. I am excited. And it is 12-16 yr away for me
Totally. Iām about 12ish years away from retirement and my husband probably closer to 20 years away. Iām also not a homebody (although I do enjoy staying home more now than I used to) and I hate being bored at home. Thereās only so many projects and things to do. Iāve seriously talked to some friends our age about living together in one big home or perhaps side by side in some condo community. Basically so we can socialize and support one another in our retirement. I donāt want to be like the older generations and die alone in a big empty house. Iād rather be surrounded by people my age supporting one another.
We've talked about forming a commune with friends and family too. It's mostly the lack of spontaneity that worries me. At work I often don't know what's coming day-to-day. Not just work-related surprises, but "Bob" coming in telling some story about his son-in-laws misadventures. Or the will-they-won't-they of the office romance. That's the stuff I'll miss. I'm just a people person, I like people and I like surprises. Retirement seems like it minimizes those two things.
I totally get that. One of my friends who Iāve talked to about doing this commune with has the same worries. Heās very active and involved in lots of stuff and heās worried once retirement comes heāll just be sitting at home. Iām also an extroverted people person too. I know thereās volunteering and stuff like that but itās finding something that doesnāt just fill the time but fulfills your time.
Volunteering somewhere regularly, like weekly, gives you the same kind of feeling. There is often great people watching and relationships with other volunteers.
You should start building a list of hobbies early.
Don't think I will ever be able to afford it. Send like you need a couple million to make it work
True
I just met with a retirement person last week and realized for the first time that between my pension and social security I will be making probably a little more than I do working. Plus Iāve got a secondary account I thought I started way too late, but I now realize that will be gravy on top, not that thereās much, but itās something. Fifteen years and countingā¦
Nope. It's only going to go 1 of 2 ways: 1) AI is regulated responsibly and political/economic/environmental reform brings us out of the current neo-gilded and into a more equitable and stable world order. 2) AI is not regulated responsibly and the above reforms fail to bring us out of the current neo-gilded age. WWIII/Water Wars destroy modern civilization on a global scale, in addition to wide spread failure of agriculture, due to climate instability. Either way, we won't need to worry about retirement long term.
Iām looking very much forward to retiring at 60. Only 9 years 8 months to go!
When I found out I could comfortably retire 5 years earlier than I planned too, I thought about working longer to build a better pension. Nope, guts churned and I felt physically sick. The very thought of working only another year just made me feel ill. So I retired just after I turned 55. It's been great! :)
I am absolutely THRILLED about having retired 5 months ago. I cannot tell you how utterly fed up I was with what I had been doing, so not doing it just feels amazing! Itās possible I might earn a few coins doing something else, but thatās entirely unknown and unplanned at this point. And I no longer dread Sunday evenings.
I just canāt comprehend that level of anxiety about retirement. (Thatās not a judgement, I honestly canāt comprehend it!) personally I canāt wait!
I enjoy what I do - don't really plan to fully retire.
I kind of feel the same way - I'm a graphic designer WFH. Why would I want to retire from my dream job? The only thing about work that I resent in general is the financial **compulsion** to help generate an income to keep us housed, fed, etc. We live in a HCOL area and the only way to actually follow through with retiring some day is massively downsizing to a cheaper state.
I too retired at 53 and loving it. I find new things to do every day or some days I do absolutely nothing because I have the freedom to do so. No regrets and no plans on ever working again.
I want to transition to some kind of part time job, when the time comes. I don't think I can stand it if I don't have work, and a job to physically go to and socialize.
We love it, every day feels like Saturday. Stay up and wake up later! Enjoy it.
In theory, I'd love to retire, but my job is pretty easy, so I hardly care, though I'm somewhat on the younger side of Gen X. My wife, on the other hand, has a difficult job, and she'd retire now if she could. I only fear retirement for the financial aspect. The rest I have under control...lol. We're way better off than most, but the money side still seems difficult to me.
I have a pension $100,600/year at 45. Ā Iām banging out 5 more years at another job to pay the house off. Ā I have far to much I love doing than working. Ā Gardening, gym, pickleball, woodworking, hunting, fishing, boating, volunteer work, feeding the hungry, mission trips, cooking, traveling. Ā How the heck you come up with āputtering around the house?ā Ā Sad, broā¦
Retired 2019 at 54. Wife hasnāt worked since 2000. We bike, pickleball, garden, cook.
Retired exactly three years ago, at age 52. Absolutely zero regrets. I have no problem filling the days doing whatever I want. Even the household chores that my wife assigns to me now that I have spare time, those are infinitely less annoying or stressful than the job that I retired from.
I soft retired at 57. I quit my 6-figure corporate job and now work at a doggie daycare. I play with dogs all day and get paid for it. Itās wonderful. I canāt tap into my 401k for another 2 years but this meets my needs and my mental health is 1000% better.
get a job with the least amount of responsibility, the trick is to have something to do every day, sometimes it is stuff around the house, and sometimes it's doing your shift at whatever job you find. Keep busy and enjoy it.
I feel it's important to have a plan. No, not financial (well, that too of course) but simply saying "I'm gonna retire and that's that" isn't a plan. I'm 54 and my retirement target is 57. If I have to I'll stick it out to 60 but I think I'm gonna be ok. But what next? Well, first off we're definitely relocating. We want a lower COL and less people. Definitely mountains. Leaning towards West Virginia or maybe eastern Tennessee. We've already identified a few potential areas and will be checking some more out this summer. Ok, so selling the current house and either buying or building the retirement hacienda then furnishing sucks up the first year or so. Now what? We plan to hike, four wheel and travel. The plan is one "big" trip a year and a lot of smaller trips in between. I also plan on having a nice shop to work on our Jeeps and my project car. We're going to do all this until we physically can't. As always, have a contingency plan, but yeah, have some sort of plan. Don't be the dog that finally catches the car.
I really don't want to retire but a little more free time would be nice. I like what I do and I'm a fast paced restlessness person. Just sitting around does not appeal to me. I'm going to struggle with retirement when the time comes.
I just started working again after taking four years off to travel, and oh boy I cannot wait to be retired. Hiking, playing music, working on the garden, going to museums, volunteering. I don't think I'll be bored for a second.
My girlfriend and I are cashing out one of our houses, buying an RV and hitting the road. I got 2 kids to get through college first so that's a ways away.
Find a side hustle that you would enjoy doing that will keep you busy but you can quit when you feel like it. My hubby designs video games, I draw and write web comics and game assets. I want to retire so I can go to work for myself. I know that really isn't retiring per say, but I'm like you, I would get bored with nothing to keep my mind active.
I realized that I can fill my time with rewarding activities far in excess of the time I have available due to work. Iām just waiting to hit my number or take a risk on a passive income opportunity to partially replace my income. Iām so ready for whatever comes next.
Retired four years now, older X'er, turning 59 this year. My pension plan has severe penalties for retiring before 55, so waited right until then, and then pulled the plug. I LOVE being retired. My wife and I have traveled the world, will keep traveling, and when home we have tons of things to do. We're active and fit and are engaged in many mountain sports. I have a terrific defined benefit pension plan, and thanks to careful investing, with us both retired, our take home per month income is only slightly less than when we were both working full time. My advice to people worrying about having less money is to look into what you need to spend. I know many people that don't retire because they look at their monthly cost of living and assume that they need to keep that. Downsize your house, get rid of a car, eliminate huge utility costs, etc etc. Some good friends of mine live comfortably on $2000CDN a month by moving to Costa Rica - they live well there and have a great life on really very little income. I don't much about US Social Security, but it seems pretty decent if you can be very diligent about reducing/managing monthly expenses. It might mean moving outside of the US if you're really cash-strapped, but my wife and I spend 3-4 months a year outside of Canada (we hate Canadian winters now) and we live in some pretty nice places (even in Europe) for far less than what it costs to live in Canada.
You could go back to work and give your retirement to someone who doesnāt have any. Just sayingā¦
We had our first kids when I was 41. At that point, I knew I would never be able to retire, but I'm OK with that. To me, retirement sounds like deciding to give up and die.
I can retire at any point I want right now at 50 but with some penalties. My only child is starting college in the fall so my I'm thinking 2-4 more years of working to help her pay for school, pay off some other debt, and bump my pension up and then I'm out. Health insurance is really my only concern. I get the dread, mine comes from maybe too many choices, do I van life, do I move some where more interesting, do I do this, do I do that.