Are you retired? If not, when do you hope to be?
- Thread starter BigCL24
- Start date
same dude, same lol ... at least we'll have this board to get us through - LORD WILLING
I am 54. I sell cardiac equipment, and am also a lead trainer. Have developed a lot of relationships to hopefully stay in the field till I am 63, then switch to full time training, less money but way less stress till I am 65. Then some sort of consulting role (25 hours a week 3 weeks a month) till I am 67. Usually the path for someone like me if I can keep the sales up. And the consulting gig comes with oversea travel I can take my wife with me.
I'm probably one of the older posters here. My recommendation is to find something you truly enjoy and stay with it. It's not about making a bunch of money quickly. It's about making money consistently, for a long period of time. Do that and you will have a very bright future.
I've been lucky in my career and I don't ever plan to retire. I've done the same thing my entire career and have always had great support from my spouse and family. My only regret is working to many hours when my kids were younger. I wish I had some of that back but I'm trying to make up for that now. As I age, I take time off whenever I want and I'm not working the 12 hour days. I'm going to work as long as my body and mind will allow it.
I've been lucky in my career and I don't ever plan to retire. I've done the same thing my entire career and have always had great support from my spouse and family. My only regret is working to many hours when my kids were younger. I wish I had some of that back but I'm trying to make up for that now. As I age, I take time off whenever I want and I'm not working the 12 hour days. I'm going to work as long as my body and mind will allow it.
After 38 years in IT (last 21 as a government contractor) I retired in early 2021. Since then I've turned a hobby (flying my drones) into a part time job. I'm now a 'professional' drone pilot and as time has gone by I'm at the point where I have to turn jobs down because I don't want to work that much. I love my garden, I have 3 dogs to take care of and I'm always finding new things to try. I think I will always find some way to make extra money until the day I can no longer do so. As long as it doesn't get in the way of enjoying life with family.
I have a nuke site that needs blown up just outside of Tehran if you have a few extra hours. I sent an email to Maverick but he’s busy that week.
Too-ta-loo. I haven’t heard that one for a while. A fave of my mother.
Just turned 58 and executing a plan to retire at 60. Will only work longer if I like what Im doing at the time and who I am business partnering with. Have worked for 5 Fortune 100 companies and this last one has been doozy. Tired of the bureaucracy, politics, and woke ass culture that exists in much of corporate America today.
Remember that most retirement plans pay a set amount with no increase for inflation as years go by . Make sure you have enough income ( SS & retirement plan) to keep up . No mortgage or other set payments because you'll see costs of health care and other expenses go up . Take my word for it, they will .
CasperCody here..I'm 58 and retired from teaching last June. (CodyHusker will be retiring this coming June at age 60) Luckily, my wife has a pretty good job so right now I'm just enjoying the time off. I do want to find a part time job soon that doesn't require punching a clock (love spending time and being available for my grand kids) but is also worth my while. I'd like to make an extra 1200-1500 a month and just put it away for trips, golf, hunting, etc. I've looked into uber, grocery delivery, etc. but haven't pulled the trigger. Honestly, subbing a couple days a week makes a lot of sense but I just don't wanna go back to the classroom...if anyone has any ideas I'm listening!
I worked until 70. I retired June 30. The first week, I started to have exercise induced chest pains which the heart surgeon said are normally treated on an outpatient basis. The ER doctor fought to get me admitted to the hospital due to bad family history. The heart surgeon was really upset on being called in on a Sunday morning for my facts. Since he came in, he went ahead and did an angiogram and was shocked to find a 99% blockage which they treated with a stent. The Lord shined on me that day!
Morals of the story: Never ignor chest pains. I never thought I would say I regret not retiring sooner.
Morals of the story: Never ignor chest pains. I never thought I would say I regret not retiring sooner.
Retired a year and a half ago at 58 after 32 years in a local municipality. Best decision ever.
I have a pension, a wife who has had good income for our 32 years of marriage, and have had good investments....so we're financially secure. I picked up a part time job delivering auto parts which I love. 3 days a week and 4 day weekends, I like driving and listening to music, and there is zero stress. I've also discovered, after 3 decades of dealing with some real a holes, that most people are actually pretty nice. Spend time with my dog, lost 20 pounds and started biking again. I sleep way better and most days are happy ones
I do not miss the stress of supervising 40 people with 40 different problems.
Finally.....I didn't have to get up a 5 this morning to clear the driveway......it's way better snowblowing at 8
I have a pension, a wife who has had good income for our 32 years of marriage, and have had good investments....so we're financially secure. I picked up a part time job delivering auto parts which I love. 3 days a week and 4 day weekends, I like driving and listening to music, and there is zero stress. I've also discovered, after 3 decades of dealing with some real a holes, that most people are actually pretty nice. Spend time with my dog, lost 20 pounds and started biking again. I sleep way better and most days are happy ones
I do not miss the stress of supervising 40 people with 40 different problems.
Finally.....I didn't have to get up a 5 this morning to clear the driveway......it's way better snowblowing at 8
I farm and will turn 70 in March. I have a son and grandson who are taking over. I rented most of my land to them but still farm about 300 acres. I am busy being a go-for and running the combine, a truck or a tractor and checking cows when needed.
I give them advice from years of experience…even when they don’t ask. I have never had a job in my life. Never had W2. I started helping Dad when I was old enough to tag along. Stated driving a 20 hp tractor when I was 10. No cab. Armstrong power steering. Now I sit in a 370 hp tractor that has a climate controlled cab, air ride seat, and tractor drives itself.
I leave when I want and plan on being gone a lot this summer.
I give them advice from years of experience…even when they don’t ask. I have never had a job in my life. Never had W2. I started helping Dad when I was old enough to tag along. Stated driving a 20 hp tractor when I was 10. No cab. Armstrong power steering. Now I sit in a 370 hp tractor that has a climate controlled cab, air ride seat, and tractor drives itself.
I leave when I want and plan on being gone a lot this summer.
Retired at age 56. Worked hard for 34 years plus wife was a big income earner. Was lucky had both a pension and 401k plus stock market was bullish for those 34 years.
Stay active hiking, golf 3 days a week, gym two days a week, wife to do list etc. spend summers in Taos, NM area to get out of AZ heat.
Stay active hiking, golf 3 days a week, gym two days a week, wife to do list etc. spend summers in Taos, NM area to get out of AZ heat.
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I am 10 years from retiring. Not sure I will when I can. I would be bored being home all the time, and I have more vacation now than I can even use, 50 days this year.
My brother has a place in Tuscany that would kill a lot of time, but I fear the ‘fun’ would wear off.
I don’t wish for retirement because I don’t want time to pass any faster than it already does…..
My brother has a place in Tuscany that would kill a lot of time, but I fear the ‘fun’ would wear off.
I don’t wish for retirement because I don’t want time to pass any faster than it already does…..
I retired this past year at 75.
Ran my own business 48 years
Wife passed last year sadly
2025 would have been 50 years
together.
She was a college professor for 48 years same school.
Building a new home in the Sandhills next to a couple great golf courses. Something we both wanted for ourselves, kids, and grandkids.
More involved in my kids and grandkids lives.
Take all of them on family vacations. Papa pays.
Work hard on my health. Walk every day and eat less. Stress is limited.
Try to keep the old man out of my life.
Ran my own business 48 years
Wife passed last year sadly
2025 would have been 50 years
together.
She was a college professor for 48 years same school.
Building a new home in the Sandhills next to a couple great golf courses. Something we both wanted for ourselves, kids, and grandkids.
More involved in my kids and grandkids lives.
Take all of them on family vacations. Papa pays.
Work hard on my health. Walk every day and eat less. Stress is limited.
Try to keep the old man out of my life.
so sorry about the Mrs. @walnut creek ... sounds like you are doing your best to embrace every day, especially with the kids ... so cool, the golf course residence sounds amazing too
God is so good! Timing is everything in life, don't ignore the signs!
Dang, you did well. Very sorry to hear about your wife though, that's really tough.
My next door neighbor is 85 and his wife passed away about 18 months ago. Really hard for him and he gets pretty lonely. Hopefully you can surround yourself with family as much as possible.
Forgot the fly fishing part down below on the Snake. 300 plus feet so will get a good workout
Hey, don’t know if I want to. Could have probably retired 10 years ago. I enjoy my work and it’s pretty low stress. I can take off virtually any day I want, and as many days as I want, so I have that flexibility.
Wife will make me eventually, but I’ll probably hold out as long as I can.
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45 here.
So it's interesting because if you had asked 2-3 years ago I would have said my wife and I want to semi retire around (from IT) 60 and spend as much time as possible on a beach somewhere day drinking as much as possible....
God has given me a completely different mindset over the past couple years, and I actually feel way more at peace about it (and I'm so excited for it).
I'll probably stay in IT until I'm 60-65ish but then I want to shift and become a full time pastor and just work until the Lord calls me home. I honestly would go into ministry full time right now if I could financially, but we've built our lives off an IT salary and we have too many kids to get a smaller house hahaha
As of right now, I don't want to retire really...I want to shift what I do, but I don't want to ever do nothing. I figure once my house is paid off and I've got my 401k built up, I can live off a fairly small salary at a church somewhere.
So it's interesting because if you had asked 2-3 years ago I would have said my wife and I want to semi retire around (from IT) 60 and spend as much time as possible on a beach somewhere day drinking as much as possible....
God has given me a completely different mindset over the past couple years, and I actually feel way more at peace about it (and I'm so excited for it).
I'll probably stay in IT until I'm 60-65ish but then I want to shift and become a full time pastor and just work until the Lord calls me home. I honestly would go into ministry full time right now if I could financially, but we've built our lives off an IT salary and we have too many kids to get a smaller house hahaha
As of right now, I don't want to retire really...I want to shift what I do, but I don't want to ever do nothing. I figure once my house is paid off and I've got my 401k built up, I can live off a fairly small salary at a church somewhere.
45 here.
So it's interesting because if you had asked 2-3 years ago I would have said my wife and I want to semi retire around (from IT) 60 and spend as much time as possible on a beach somewhere day drinking as much as possible....
God has given me a completely different mindset over the past couple years, and I actually feel way more at peace about it (and I'm so excited for it).
I'll probably stay in IT until I'm 60-65ish but then I want to shift and become a full time pastor and just work until the Lord calls me home. I honestly would go into ministry full time right now if I could financially, but we've built our lives off an IT salary and we have too many kids to get a smaller house hahaha
As of right now, I don't want to retire really...I want to shift what I do, but I don't want to ever do nothing. I figure once my house is paid off and I've got my 401k built up, I can live off a fairly small salary at a church somewhere.
Well, I’ve heard your proselytizing about EVs, and that’s some fine pastoring… should work out well for you.
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Retired in 2007, (Aerospace) I'm now 73 but never stopped working from home. I have my workshop in my garage where I enjoy working with golf equipment. I enjoy my own hours and how much I want to spend each day in my workshop. I will never be uber-rich but always very satisfied in my craftsmanship with what I do.
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