Retirement, anyone been there done that ?

[bonz_d]

Billfo, I too can relate. Have been forced out of work since March because of a disability. Income has dropped by 2/3 and mobility by 1/3, again and I'm only 61. I live only about 300yds from the lake and by the time I walk there I need to sit for about 10 minutes to recoup. I still get out to the garage to work on the boat but it's usually for only a couple hours before I need to go in and rest.

Fortunately I have a brother only a couple years older than me that is a clinical psychologist and he's help a lot. I guess along about July I was in a real denial of just how severe my disability is. Mind's still young but the body is old. Slowly coming to grips with this though it's not easy and the thought of winter coming, yicks!

If you all want to talk about hospital stays just ask. Another sad part of this is that I've personally been a patient in every ICU room at our local hospital over the past 10 years. Which includes 5 surgeries and a dozen heart procedures. Insurance, deductibles and co-pays can be crushing.

Just learning to enjoy what I have and making up for all the missed times I didn't have with my children and grandchildren because I was too busy working.

 

[RGrew176]

I retired from Ford Motor Company March 1, 2007. I took the next 8 months off and did what I pleased when I pleased. I live in a condo so there are not really any "projects" that need to be done around here. Maybe replace a faucet, fix a toilet but nothing major. I spent that season mostly on my boat cruising all over the western end of Lake Erie and the Detroit River. Come November I started looking for a job. I went to an agency and while I was sitting there a job request came in and they asked me if I wanted that job starting the following morning.

I worked for that company from November until April when I was laid off. This was 2008 and the economy started to tank and I was laid off from that job. I managed to find a new job the evening I was laid off starting the following week. I worked there from April 2008 to April 2010. I was a delivery driver for a bodyshop supplier. I loved that job but I was laid off from that job and it took me 13 months to find my current job working security. I was a security officer prior to working at Ford so I was happy to get back into something that I enjoy doing. I really do not consider it a job as I enjoy doing it.

I just read a study out of the UK that says that seniors who continue to work during their senior years tend to live longer and tend to be healthier than those who don't. That said I believe anyone who is retired and find ways to keep themselves busy and their minds active would also tend to be healthier and live longer.

I have no plans to re-retire any time soon. As long as I enjoy what I am doing I will continue to do it.

 

[Harritwo]

I retired from the Military at the ripe old age of 45 after 20 plus years. 6 months later I was bored silly since the Admiral was still working full time. I found a part time job at Target and was there for about a year. Then I went back to welding and had 2 heart attacks and 2 strokes and was off work for 8 months. Now I am fully employed as an Estimator and Project Manager where I am not in the field daily but still have close contact in the field. For me, the dream was better than the reality since the Admiral was still working, however I fully intend to go to part time in the near future (2-3 Years) and just work on an as needed basis while the Admiral is still working. When we both retire, we will run and play more than we do now. My issue wasnt or isnt money, so much as being bored and not wishing to travel a lot without the Admiral.

 

[bonz_d]

All I can add is God bless those that can retire in good health and God help those that don't. Our time here is short, there will always be joy and sadness in-between.

I have enjoyed what I have and am thankful. Even when I read all the advice columns about preparing for this time. I thought I was doing it right until I got sick. I wasn't prepared for this, emotionally or finically. At this point the medical bills have now drained about all savings but we continue on.

 

[Bonus Check]

Billfo, I retired 3 years ago in July at the age of 48 with 26 years at my job. Retirement lasted every bit of 12 hours as I was on a plane headed to San Francisco as a sales engineer with a new firm. Nothing like what I was doing for the past 26 years. There was no way that I could just retire and stay at home with the admiral. I didn't sell the main house nor the Mountain Home in the Smokies. I bought a Harley and a 21' boat and try to enjoy the time in between conferences and business development lunches and sporting clays. My life hasn't changed as only my employer has changed. My surroundings have not changed as my church family and friends as well as my immediate family are still nearby. The retirement checks comes the first of each month an the new job supplements our lifestyle. The admiral has taken a part time job as well. She gets to travel with me when she can and has seen a lot of the US that we have never seen before. God has been good to us as we would have never planned it like this. Gotta stay busy or would go crazy with the same ole same ole.

Stay in there with the transition and hit the local coffee shops in search of friends in your new community. Having a sense of being needed is very important.

 

[WIMUSKY]

All I can add is God bless those that can retire in good health and God help those that don't. Our time here is short, there will always be joy and sadness in-between.

I have enjoyed what I have and am thankful. Even when I read all the advice columns about preparing for this time. I thought I was doing it right until I got sick. I wasn't prepared for this, emotionally or finically. At this point the medical bills have now drained about all savings but we continue on.

Billfo, I retired 3 years ago in July at the age of 48 with 26 years at my job. Retirement lasted every bit of 12 hours as I was on a plane headed to San Francisco as a sales engineer with a new firm. Nothing like what I was doing for the past 26 years. There was no way that I could just retire and stay at home with the admiral. I didn't sell the main house nor the Mountain Home in the Smokies. I bought a Harley and a 21' boat and try to enjoy the time in between conferences and business development lunches and sporting clays. My life hasn't changed as only my employer has changed. My surroundings have not changed as my church family and friends as well as my immediate family are still nearby. The retirement checks comes the first of each month an the new job supplements our lifestyle. The admiral has taken a part time job as well. She gets to travel with me when she can and has seen a lot of the US that we have never seen before. God has been good to us as we would have never planned it like this. Gotta stay busy or would go crazy with the same ole same ole.

Stay in there with the transition and hit the local coffee shops in search of friends in your new community. Having a sense of being needed is very important.

Amen Brothers.......

 

[NYBo]

I am 23 days away from retirement myself, but I will be picking up a part-time job at, well, a place where I will be wearing an orange apron.

 

[bonz_d]

I am 23 days away from retirement myself, but I will be picking up a part-time job at, well, a place where I will be wearing an orange apron.

That would be terrific if I could do it. Since March I have tried 2 different part time jobs, neither of which worked out. The last was as a cashier at a local truck stop, was only 6 hrs. 4 days a week. I found I can no longer stand for 6 hrs. with only one short brake to sit down. I'm still looking though.

 

[WIMUSKY]

I am 23 days away from retirement myself, but I will be picking up a part-time job at, well, a place where I will be wearing an orange apron.

Ahhhhhh, Home Depot.......

 

[bruceb58]

I plan on retiring in a couple years when I turn 59. Going to first start with a 3 day work week and see how that goes first and probably at a much less stressful job than I have now. See if I can get my golf handicap down into the teens!

My dad retired when he was 61 and wished he had done it years before. He and my mom traveled all over the US, Mexico and Canada in their 5th wheel. They were always super busy and were hardly ever home at all!

 

[bonz_d]

Bruce, good luck. With both the retirement and the golf game! I played this year for the 1st time in over 6 years and it was very enjoyable. Even if we did have to cart it. We were only going to play 9 but after the 1st nine I was feeling good yet so we played another nine. After the 1st couple holes I was back to playing bogey golf.

Have my next younger brother that has been in the Steam Fitters since he got out of the Coasties and he's got about one more year until he has his 30 in and then it will be a forced retirement for him from the Union.

Again I wish all very well with their retirements and hope everyone gets to enjoy them. For many like myself it becomes a struggle because of health reasons and rising medical costs eating all your savings and believe me it doesn't take long for that to happen.

I can't be jealous of those who retire healthy, wealthy and wise because I have a great wife, fine children and have enjoyed what I have had throughout my life. I wouldn't trade it with anyone.

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