Dumbest question you'll ever read...

F350Lawman · Aug 12, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

Not sure how to answer but I will tell you my situation and observations.

I am now retired from a job that I really enjoyed, in a very good assigment. My job was far from stress free but I am not a person bothered by stress so it was not a factor in my decision. I also retired at a very young age. I would say it is an adjustment.

I do work and go to school, but the work is more at my picking and choosing. So at anytime I may not be working.

I have young children and some hobbies to keep my busy. I am very happy..but

If I were a person with grown children/without children or a person without considerable other interests I would NOT want to be retired.

It is all based on your ability to fill those hours 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you love to travel, play golf, ski, fish, tractor, be involved with community groups, local politics,whatever and will be able to $afford$ to do these things you may love retirement. If you are a person who gets bored easily or needs to be around others most times you may not be happy.

Oops, almost forgot how well do you get along with the Misses /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif They are not to thrilled with you when they roll over to get up for work at 5:30 on Monday morning to go to work and see you snoring...trust me.

My wife doesn't work now so I don't have that problem anymore.

Egon · Aug 12, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

B7500:

There are times when I make " Tounge in Cheek " kinda statements.

If you have a JOB and are able to retire do it.

If you are engaged in a " Vocation which you enjoy " then think long and hard.

But just remember; on retirement there are no more holidays!!

Egon

B7500 · Aug 12, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

Thanks Gary,
I'll keep your excellent reply in mind. However, according to my wife I could never vacuum, dust, clean well enough for her. (Thank God! hehe)
-Terry

B7500 · Aug 12, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

You guys are great!
The trouble is it didn't help. This has to be my decision and mine alone. Very scary!
I've been pretty fortunate making those life-altering choices. Oh sure I've blown a few but on a whole I'm pleased. This one has me stumped. My wife says I've done my duty and go for it. My co-workers tell me I'm making a huge mistake. My friends say it's "my choice and my choice only".
I only hope you guys have it easier then me when the time comes.
Like my best friend said...
... Once I walk out the door...I can't come back.
Darn!!

Golfgar4 · Aug 12, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

( My co-workers tell me I'm making a huge mistake. )

Hmmm.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Maybe they're saying that because they know when you leave, THEY'LL have more work to do!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 12, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

 "(All of your advice) didn't help. This has to be my decision and mine alone" 

OK, let me take one more run at this for you. Is there any chance you could take a 'Leave of Absence' or a 'Sabbatical' of some sort for a year or so (even six months would probably work)? At the end of that period you'd either return to work or retire then. I don't know if that's possible with your job, but, if it is I think it would allay all of your concerns.

MossRoad · Aug 12, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

About 10 years ago they had a buy out at our company. If you were 55 or older and had been there 18 years or longer you could take it. It essentially was the same deal you have. Most of them would get almost the same amount as they were earning until they turned 62 and went on social security and pension. Most of them took it in a heart beat. Then most of them went out and got part time jobs doing things they enjoyed, like working at hardware stores, lumber yards, lawn services, temporary agencies. Some went into business for themselves, too. The point is, they all wanted to continue to do things. Someone was offering them free money, so they took it.

I'm only 42. I see myself working in some capacity until I croak. Not because I will have to, but because I want to. I have seen too many retirees sit in a chair in front of the TV and slowly deteriorate. What I would really like to do after I 'retire' is buy old houses, re-model them and sell them. I won't make much of a profit, but I will make beer money and keep active and healthy in mind and body.

If you really enjoy what you are doing now, keep doing it. If you don't enjoy what you are currently doing, take the money and run. Good luck in your decision. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

frank_f15 · Aug 13, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

( Like my best friend said...
... Once I walk out the door...I can't come back.
)

not true!if u find u want to work after u retire u can pick a job u like and do it part time, you may not be able to go back THERE but u can go back and do something. everyone is different , i personally don't tink i will have a problem with not going to work everyday, and if i do, i will deal with it then.

B7500 · Aug 13, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

( Is there any chance you could take a 'Leave of Absence')

Gary,
Yes there is. That is a really good idea. People have taken leave of Absence for other reasons in the past and the city (City of Plattsburgh) alderman have always approved it up to one year.
I may just do what you suggest. It would give me a chance to "feel the waters".
Thanks for your excellent idea.
-Terry

fivestring · Aug 13, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

"I see myself working in some capacity until I croak. Not because I will have to, but because I want to. "

Very well said.

TimSullivan · Aug 13, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

Four years ago I retired at fifty-five and have never looked back. It was a no brainer for me because of the finacial part. When I subtracted my retirement income from what I was earning I was working a year for about 8% more. Those are just not good numbers.

As others have said retire to something. In the my retirement years we have traveled to Ireland one year and the next to Scotland. We have visited forty of the States and have enjoyed our freedom. Last year my wife and I built a new home and did a lot of work ourselves. I tease her by saying I am going back to work for a rest.

There is a friend that retired at the same time and he is miserable because he doesn't do anything.

Our next project just about ready to go. That will be GCing my son's new home.

Don't waste any time when you don't know how much time you have. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

MRHURT · Aug 13, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

I am not old enough to really ponder that question yet. But my mother who is 70, retired to take care of my grandmother who was 91. Now that my grandmother is gone, my mother wishes everyday that she was still at work. She is just that kind of person, raised 5 kids, up every morning at 5:30, wide open for 70 years. I guess she is finding old habits are hard to break.

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 13, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

 "Thanks for your excellent idea." 

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to hear that I was able to help. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Please let us know how it works out for you. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Heck, after a year you may go back to work and then decide "What the heck am I doing back here?" and decide to bail out then. At least you'll have, to quote Carole King, "looked at life from both sides" then. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Good luck with your application for a leave of absence with the city. I hope it all works out for you. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

rlk · Aug 13, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

Terry, the attached information was sent to me by a friend. I'm not sure who put the info together, but it sure is something to think about. Good luck with your decision.

As you know I am a strong proponent of retirement and I want to share this info with people I care about, either people who are working hard and putting off retirement or are younger and can use it in planning their futures.

It's from a US study (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, AT&T, Lucent Tech, etc.) that showed age at retirement vs average age at death - here's what portions of the table looked like:

Age @ Retirement Average Age @ Death

49.9 86
55.1 83.2
58.3 80
60.1 76.8
62.1 71.8
65.2 66.8

Key conclusions from the study:

"For every year one works beyond 55, one loses 2 years of life span on average."

"if you are not able to get out of the pressure cooker or the high speed battleground at the age of 55 and must keep on working very hard until the age of 65 or older before your retirement, then you will probably die within 18 months of retirement."

"The hard-working late retirees probably put too much stress on their aging body-and-mind such that they are so stressed out to develop various health problems that forced them to quit and retire. With such long-term stress induced serious health problems, they die within two years after they quit and retire."

Retirement as used in this study can include some work, on a part-time basis at a more leisure pace.

I'm not trying to forecast doom but to encourage quality of life.

I am having trouble getting the columns to line up, however, you may be able to make out the information. The first column should be "average age at retirement". The second column should be "average age at death".

fivestring · Aug 14, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

Great facts, rlk.

This oughta wake up a lot of folks. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Similar statistics were found at our Police Dept. After 25 years of service (high stress, high divorce rate, etc.), if you didn't retire and have hobbies, you died within a couple of years. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Those that stayed more than 30 and did not have a life or hobbies usually died within a year. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Gotta have hobbies or part-time work to make it.....

Bird · Aug 14, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

( After 25 years of service (high stress, high divorce rate, etc.), if you didn't retire and have hobbies, you died within a couple of years )

That was a good enough reason for me to retire 2 months short of 25 years. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Of course I have had a few hobbies, and even a few part time jobs, since retiring 14.5 years ago. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

fivestring · Aug 14, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

Bird, I was just thinking of you and F350Lawman. I hope to join the retirement ranks in a little over 6 years. They've been trying to get 25 yr retirement for 10 years now.... that would be real sweet for me...less than 1 1/2 years away. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Imagine 46 and retired! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
On another note... this my 200th post. I thought that was a lot until I saw your number!!! OMG! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Your keyboard must have dents in the keys! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

B7500 · Aug 14, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

Wow rLK,
That is one sobering article.
Color me gone......
-Terry

fivestring · Aug 14, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

Guess that answered your questions, eh, Terry????

DaveNH · Aug 14, 2003

Re: Dumbest question you\'ll ever read...

WOW! I like those numbers.
I went out at 46 . That chart puts me at about age 92.
I worked for 21 years but draw a pension for maybe 46 years! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Now I don't feel so bad.