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@berto avatar
UTC

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@berto avatar
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UTC quote
I hope you will indulge me. I'm approaching forty, and starting to think about these kinds of "mid-life" things that never occurred to me before.

I work in Finance and generally enjoy my job. It's challenging, interesting, and well-compensated. But basically, I don't love it so much that I would continue going to the office if they stopped paying me.

I might be off-base, but I get the impression many forum members do not strictly have to work, but choose to continue doing so. For people in this situation, I just curious on your motivations for not "retiring"? Is it pure love of your career / job? Is it a desire to continue building wealth? Or is it something else entirely?

I have plenty of hobbies and never enough time - so given the option I plan to stay home and work on my own "projects". But I recognize we all have different motivations and situations, and so I am interested to hear about them.
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UTC quote
Work? What's that?

The boss, after completing some family estate issues, told me I could start thinking about retiring. That afternoon, if informed her that I gave notice that very day.
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
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UTC quote
Interesting question. Well, the work I have done during my life has been because I find it interesting. I suppose I have been lucky in that regard. But that really wasn't by chance. I chose a college major that attracted me. I have also always maintained a range of activities I enjoy. I phased into retirement over several years and have always found myself with more interests and activities than there are hours in a day.
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saggezza di scala
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saggezza di scala
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UTC quote
Strictly speaking, I don't have to work. But I find it allows me to dabble in the pasta and canned goods market.
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UTC quote
Retirement is not for the fainthearted.

When I worked I employed people to do the odd jobs around the house while I went to work to earn the money to pay them [they did a better job than me and they knew what they were doing]

THEN I RETIRED
So all the little jobs are now down to me to do, if I can find the time.

When I worked I had workmates that were fiends and drinking/pub/meals out mates.

THEN I RETIRED. Being older than most of my workmate I retired sooner than them...so going out was restricted to Friday's and Saturdays as "we've got to get up for work in the morning" came into play.

I had to find a new lot of mates that were also retired, so bought a campervan and joined a forum for camping and meetups, bought a classic car and joined a forum for gatherings in aid of charity, Bought a scooter and joined a forum for ride outs, then there's the odd days fishing and moving to a new country was interesting to say the least. It didn't take long for me to realized that there not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

So in answer to your question Berto...If you can work your finances out where you can afford to retire ASAP, DO IT...I only wish I had done it earlier.
I probably work harder now than when I worked full time but now it's all for me and my wife. we wake up anytime we want and decide what we are going to do today.
Then again, that ceiling that needs repainting,,,,,fuck it i'll do it tomorrow, if I feel like it, maybe I'll wash the car today or shall I go down the pub and have a beer or two with whatshisname.

Or I can sit here and type silly rambling post's about retirement.

Good Luck
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UTC quote
I retired at 55 8) but when my friend died I got the chance to buy her house. I am now 62 and back at work again
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UTC quote
I work to support my scooter habit.
Bill
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UTC quote
Beating cancer because of early detection, I won't semi-retire until 65 to get Medicare (if it's still available). If I was lucky enough to fully retire, I would. I like my job but I despise my commute.
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UTC quote
I started working as a pre-nursing student 46 years ago I qualified as an RGN in 1976.

I've nursed in various areas of healthcare/management/countries since

I really felt a 'vocation' to nurse and though it is now better paid that was not my motivation for doing it.

I retire in October 2020 so I have recently been retraining as a counsellor so I can continue to have something to do and to bring in a small amount of money. Ironically I estimate that I could work half my current hours as a counsellor and still make my nursing wage. (Go figure - as our American cousins say.) If I could do that tomorrow I would. With our present government's policies the NHS is not a happy place to be at the moment.
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UTC quote
I retired at the end of June 2017 after working for a university for 44 years. I loved my job. But now, I love not doing it. Retirement is a puzzle. Even though I had a long list of projects and endeavors I wanted to undertake a variety of things have intruded. The largest -- without the stick to earn money that drove me to work, I'm a pretty lazy dude it seems.

My wife says it's fine to float for awhile after all those years of working. Fine. But I'm beginning to sense the need to work. Not for money now, but things I really want to do.

Riding, photography, writing, and tinkering with my blog are on the list. And much more. The weeks and months ahead will be an exercise in determining what I'm really passionate about. Everything else will fall to the side of the road.

Most surprising -- a return to table tennis. I played on a college team in the early 70s. It's still fun. My brain remembers what to do. Unfortunately my soon to be 64 year old body can't deliver...
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UTC quote
We work for many reasons.... and retire for many reasons.

I worked in software design for almost 20 years. Somehow I was on a streak of designing stuff that was never released, cancelled, or was a feature added for requirements reasons but never used by customers. It was depressing.

I taught high school math for a year, was hoping that would be fun, but it wasn't.

I've been self employed (with my wife) since then. It's not glamorous, it's not super lucrative (I'm not starving), but it's nice to have some control over my time and activities. Since I'm only 54 (Happy Birthday to me!), I'm not in a retirement pondering mode yet.....

But retirement can be a two edged sword. My mom retired when Dad got sick. After he passed, she just sits in her house, depressed, passing judgement on her neighbors, and basically unhappy.

My father-in-law owns a building in his small town, and at 75 is opening a new store, an artist coop and gift shop. It's his perfect vision of retirement (he is self employed, and still working). He's widowed, but he really wants a reason to get up, roll down to the store, and sit around with a cup of coffee and schmooze with people. Playing golf, going on cruises, or moving to Florida would be the end of him.

And then there's my former brother-in-law. He joined the rat race, and has admitted that in the past 30 years that he travelled too much, worked too much, and made tons of money (petroleum production engineer). Last fall, after his kids were off to college, his wife tossed him out and served him papers for divorce. So he's really contemplating what the hard work over the past 30 years was all about. He's looking for his divorce to be finalized (the lawyers are getting rich!), and an enticement package to make retirement possible for him. And right now, he's bouncing around Europe trying to think of what the next phase of his life will mean. Will he be a travelling engineer (his work doesn't require a home base), living out of a trailer and pulling up stakes whenever he wants, or will his life include work with the homeless (or some other kind of charity work). He struggles with this.....

It's different for all of us.
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Molto Verboso
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UTC quote
I quit a great paying job in NYC cold turkey about 2 years ago, mostly because I was burning out and didn't need the income at the time. In my early 50's it's a little soon for me to attempt full retirement so I ended up working for another big media company in NYC on a freelance basis and that has given me a much better work/life balance as I have more control of what I'm willing to do.

My greatest frustration with many institutions is how rigid they can be with regard to the traditional 40 hr work week. I would have loved to stay at my old job had they offered me an option to downshift or otherwise shakeup my 5 day/wk commute into NYC but that wasn't an option for them.

When the weather is good and I can ride I have no trouble filling the free time but the winter months can be brutal in the northeast if you can't put yourself to use. Retirement, like getting older in general, isn't for the faint at heart.

w.
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UTC quote
My wife retired from teaching four years ago and couldn't be happier about it. She is an artist and also finds plenty of projects that she now has time for. Not to mention the three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter!

I had contemplated slowly fading out my private psychotherapy practice, adding my Social Security to my wife's pension, and spending my time gardening, woodworking, and taking photographs.

Instead, four years ago I was offered a part-time position as coordinator of the group therapy program at a community counseling center and I couldn't pass it up. I now have two clinical supervision groups there, and am busier than ever.

So the answer to the OP's question for me is: because I love the work I do. It is fulfilling and meaningful for me, does good in the world, and allows me to give and receive much love. It is also continually challenging and mentally stimulating.

I will turn 70 in a couple of weeks.

Oh, and commuting to work gives me a reason to ride my scooter several time a week!
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
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UTC quote
terryvanman wrote:
When I worked I had workmates that were fiends and drinking/pub/meals out mates.
I don't want to get into your personal life, but maybe you might want to hang out with some other folks. Razz emoticon Laughing emoticon
Bald Wasp wrote:
My greatest frustration with many institutions is how rigid they can be with regard to the traditional 40 hr work week.
I see that as a common problem with so many jobs...do what you do 40 hours a week or retire. Sometimes it's just too demanding, sometimes it's just more time than you want to invest.

I feel fortunate in a way, I work for myself (a mixed bag), work in health care in a field that I love despite the hassles of regulation and administration, and it's really so much of my life I have a hard time thinking of walking away from it completely. At 62 11/12 I'm "not at the end of the road, but I can see it from here" as they say. My kid has 3 years of HS (ask me about being an older parent), and my wife has some years to go with work, so there's incentive to keep at it at least 3 more years. I have these increasingly frequent pipe dreams of taking afternoons off, later starts, whole days off, 3 day weeks...you name it. What I can also do is rent space from a colleague to eliminate most of the administrative hassles and expenses. Who knows, maybe at 75 I'm still working 2 days a week.... In the meantime, I'm less worried about taking time off for vacations, etc. If only my wife could wrangle more time off.....

The ultimate pipe dream is having a small practice from a house in Mexico..... low overhead, minimal regulation. Hell, even if they pay me with chickens, it might be fun.

Economically I could swing it any time, but there's always that little fear of things not going as expected- health expenses, change in economy, whatever. I'm used to producing income to live on vs. draining savings, which I expect will be a bit of an uncomfortable transition.
@seamus26 avatar
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UTC quote
Back in 1991 I had just moved back from Florida after realizing that my ITT education was of little value there (or anywhere, for that matter). I had been playing guitar for several years, but quickly realized that all of the positions for "Rock Star" were already filled. So I began doing the next best thing. Programming coordinate measuring machines for a die cast aluminum factory. Sure, it may not have the glory of millions of screaming fans, and wearing spandex and hair extensions is often frowned on, but they are really alike in a lot of ways. Just like being a lead guitarist in a hair metal band, I get to sit on a stool in an air conditioned office in front of a computer and measure automotive parts. And just like being on a massive world tour to promote my latest album, I get to race to the time clock every morning in an effort to avoid attendance points that might reflect negatively on my next performance review. Still, it was only a matter of time before my dreams were to become reality.

In 1993 I started a band. Grunge rock had thankfully killed off the remainder of bands like Warrant and Winger, and we were well on our way to being the next Pearl Jam. By that I mean we listened to Pearl Jam a lot. Then in 1995 I found out that I was going to be a father. And my bass player decided to attend Kendall College of Art and Design for a photography degree. When my twins (surprise!) were born 13 weeks early (surprise!) and we found out that my son had Down Syndrome (surprise!) and they both had health issues that led to multiple surgeries (surprise! surprise! surprise! surprise! surprise!) I decided that I would have to accept the fact that the fame and fortune of a CMM job would have to suffice. I mean, who really wants a private jet and a Ferrari anyway, right?

Honestly, I would like to line up everyone who says, "You know, if I won the lottery, I'd have to keep working just to keep busy" and poke them all in the eye, maybe both eyes. I have so many hobbies and activities that I enjoy that I don't ever have enough time for them. I work because I have to. It pays the bills. Don't think for a minute that if I were financially able to that I wouldn't lock the door on my 25+ year career, throw away the key and never look back.

Then I'd be all like, "Hey, Sean ... were getting the band back together!"
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Moderatus Rana
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Moderatus Rana
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UTC quote
To stay out of trouble. I need constant supervision it seems.
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UTC quote
With my kid all grown up, work is the only place I can escape my natural tendency to be a self-absorbed, hedonistic wanker.

Also, as a teacher, I get to make my students feel bad for being self-absorbed, hedonistic wankers, so that's a bonus.

Pleasure is nice, and lord knows I indulge mine deeply, but generally pack animals thrive when they feel they're contributing value to the pack; because of my natural tendency toward introversion, work is really the only place I'm forced to to get out of my self and try to contribute.

But I'm super, super lucky: my commute is a forty minute walk, each way, thru a pretty, small town; my job requires me to talk about my great passions (Homer, Plato, Conrad, Sartre...); and I'm paid to stare at eternally-pretty 20 year olds.

Oh, and I get about four months a year to do sweet f--- all.

But it turns out that by the fourth month of doing f--- all I'm fairly bored.
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UTC quote
If there is anything you want to do, do it before you retire - you will not have time afterwards.

Provided one's finances can support one's expected lifestyle then nothing beats retirement. Resume old hobbies or adopt new ones. In my case that means music, gardening, scootering, messing about on computers (video editing, book writing, annoying people on Facebook), going to the gym to stare at eternally-pretty 20 year olds. Well, actually, because I am retired and go during the day all I see are other old folks.

Can't think of a downside.

Wait. The sun is shining. Time to go outside to play. Bye, y'all.
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UTC quote
WLeuthold wrote:
I work to support my scooter habit.
Bill
This, widely speaking + since work is my only income and it takes a fair chunk of my time to finance all my habits, I've long ago desided that I seek pleasure from work too.

Have I been succesful - most of the time, which I consider a good achievement.

The social aspect is important to me too. I'm a certified extrovert, so I need my social fix once and awhile. Buddies at work enrich my circles nicely.
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UTC quote
When i was young i wanted to be a Archeologist. My dad, not wanting to support me forever suggested that i get a real job (one doesn't make much money as a archeologist) and do the Archeologist for fun. So i decided to be a nurse. Both my parents died at 45. I was 20 when my dad died and 25 when my mom died. I'm a only child. I soon realized that one needs to do things now. Don't put anything you want to do off because you might not be around to do it. I worked in a Burn Center 8yrs and learned everything i could about burn care. I was the head of a 13 bed burn unit at 23 and some head hunters came knocking with a offer to set up a burn center in Saudi Arabia, i was just 28. I worked to fund my travel. Been to over 150 countries. Did over 5yrs in Saudi and worked on the Indian reservations in AZ and NM and on a pedi floor in St Thomas Took a year contract in Hawaii. I got injured by a patient (not intentionally) in '99 and left the work force in '99. I liked my job and it funded my travels. My dad was right. I signed up with Earth Watch a non profit out of Boston. Spent a few weeks in the jungles of Belize where we found the tool making section of the Mayan civilzation.. 8) The archeologists heading the dig was from Texas A&M university. So i can safely say "been there and done that". Came back here in '99 and it's the longest i've ever stayed in a place. Graduated high school at 17 and live in a dorm when i went to college. Best thing to do is go part time and see how it goes. When i traveled to work i took time off between jobs. Good luck
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UTC quote
It appears that most people work hard to save the money to do what they want to do (retirement). I was most fortunate in loving every job I have ever had (US Air Force for 27 years, high end computer sales and telecom sales also for 27 years). Nothing special about 27 years, just the way it worked out. I finally went into retirement due only to health reasons. If you don't love your job, broadcast your resume and stop waiting for retirement so you can enjoy life.
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
2015 GTS 2017 BV 350
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UTC quote
One the the things I like pointing out to older folks (myself included) is that purpose plays a big role in aging and longevity. I remember years ago having patients admit that they weren't sure what they wanted to do on retirement, and a couple barely made it 5 years. If you have a choice and your job is killing you, time to start thinking. OTOH, if your job is reasonably satisfying and you really don't have much better to do that gives you meaning, stay at it. Either way, hopefully that gives you more years to scoot....
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UTC quote
I told this story to friends not so long ago.

An old neighbour of mine stopped me one day and invited me to join him for a pint later that day to celebrate his Birthday. I used to see him leave for work every morn, always smartly suited and booted and assumed he was in his late 60's. When I asked what birthday he was celebrating I nearly fell over, he was celebrating his 89th and in the same breath he told me, all my mates retired, got old and died. Not me I'm not ready yet.

That was 3 years ago and I guess he's still not ready. I saw him yesterday out walking a retired greyhound that he had just adopted. It was struggling to keep up with him.

Legend!!
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UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
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UTC quote
Gedmunds wrote:
I told this story to friends not so long ago.

An old neighbour of mine stopped me one day and invited me to join him for a pint later that day to celebrate his Birthday. I used to see him leave for work every morn, always smartly suited and booted and assumed he was in his late 60's. When I asked what birthday he was celebrating I nearly fell over, he was celebrating his 89th and in the same breath he told me, all my mates retired, got old and died. Not me I'm not ready yet.

That was 3 years ago and I guess he's still not ready. I saw him yesterday out walking a retired greyhound that he had just adopted. It was struggling to keep up with him.

Legend!!
Reminds me of an elderly attorney I had in my office years ago. The guy had to be about 90, still dress up in a suit and went in to his office...double-knit, with wide tie.... Used to wonder how many clients he had...maybe one, who knows, but it obviously meant something to him, and he certainly was pretty sharp and reasonably agile. It surely had to help keep him going.
UTC

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UTC quote
OP- the only true answer lies within you and you alone. Approaching 40 is young from my viewpoint given I'm 74. I began working in the 5th grade-seasonal potato picker upper and remained a golf caddy on and into college. Between farm work, several mini careers and 5 "real careers", one as a career counselor, I can truthfully say I have a good handle on the whole subject. Yep, I've been around the proverbial block!
During each of my 5 careers there was a point in time that I envisioned the possibility I'd be there until retirement. The early ones were gauzed over by being young and unknowing about this and that plus
un-predictables like, will I meet a girl, will I play professional baseball and so on does ones life flow.
The love your job thing can be quite elusive in my experience.
An e.g., at one point my wife & I lost our jobs to an institutional closure. At that time we had 3 sons under 3 years old. so try that for influencing your decisions toward a paycheck! I passed up jobs due to timing and missed jobs that way too- that real world.
When I look back on each place I worked, each had a few things or much more that I really liked. I made a transition from retail grocery to meat packing to military non- com to commissioned, then back to non-com. military & industry/skilled trades, then a retirement career in many assignments in education-teacher, counselor, admin..
I was in the army with a guy whose dream job was to count his cattle someday. I worked with many blue collar types who desired to rock on the porch for retirement. Given my many hobbies never did my work no matter how demanding define all of me. Family and hobbies remained a major aspect all the way to now. I've seen these senior activities like classes, group trips so on and zero of that holds interest for me. I don't need anyone to plan my activities or help make my life fulfilling. In counseling we called it becoming a self-actualized person-which I think I've been for a long, long time?
We travel a lot, we do family stuff in 3 states and we decide/plan all of it as much as we can then hope we can fit in our own hobbies around it all. I have a large separate wood shop and have worked in there for many years. Also a bunch of acres and a sawmill and barns full of MC's, scoots, wood (and more wood) and so on.
The true dilemma for us is aging out while living on land. In retirement assuming the bills are paid and you aren't forced to become a Walmart greeter to have food on the table, it's all about ones health-PERIOD!
Retire if & when you can or want to do so. Stay busy, it's infectious.
I worked in the meat packing plant with a man named Hunter Blair who was 75 years old and ran the boning room. We are talking 60 hour weeks and hard work in a union workplace. I ran the pkg room and wrote production orders and was young and vigorous and my feet hurt at the end of the day. I never knew how he pulled it off! he had previously retired from a dog food packing plant called Hills Packing Co.- at that time a major packer of horse meat for pet food & European market, he was still there when I burned out and left for greener pastures, meaning better hours and environment, not more money.
@franknbrew avatar
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2006 LX 50
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@franknbrew avatar
2006 LX 50
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I work because a divorce drained my savings, split my retirement in half, and left me with a child support payment that would buy me 3 new Vespas every year. And I was too stupid to find a job 30 years ago that would pay a pension at my age. Fortunately I get paid more for what I know than what I do, so working another 20 years is no big deal if I stay alive.
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Granturismo 200
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I am a priest, love what I do. It is on my mind when I get up, all throughout the day, and lastly when I am headed to sleep. It is my vocation and not a job. I am blessed to provide the sacraments for a wonderful parish that God led me to plant in 2011. There is now a new blessing in my life as I ride to appointments in my clericals on a Vespa. Blessings to you all! FJ
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I work because I have to. I do what I do because I love creating things people in hospitals use to do their jobs better. The better they can work, the more lives they save. There is a great sense of purpose in that and it's very satisfying.
@waspmike avatar
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LXV 150 3v ie. Midnight Blue (Sold) Now Honda Zoomer X
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LXV 150 3v ie. Midnight Blue (Sold) Now Honda Zoomer X
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Was essentially retired for 12 years. OK but no real money.

Now I'm going back to work because I was made an offer I cannot really refuse. Same kind of work I used to do and in another country I have been before but now not in such an isolated area. Two running groups one in each direction, they alternate every two weeks. My Saturday afternoons/evenings are planned before I even get their.
Travel and adventure? Already sorted.

Only downside is that the rules have changed and now I will have to pay tax. So in real terms my remuneration will not have 100% kept up with the real world. Almost:-) but not quite.

Being retired is about taking a job you want not a job you need.

Tip: Always be the assistant "someone" . Almost as much money but none of the responsibility.
OP
@berto avatar
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2006 LX150 (carbed) | 2007 GT200
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@berto avatar
2006 LX150 (carbed) | 2007 GT200
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Wow! What and interesting thread this has become! Thanks everyone for the thoughtful input
@gbaby avatar
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Molto Verboso
Modern Primavera (not pictured); Moto Guzzi V-85 TT
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@gbaby avatar
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Treppenwitz wrote:
Strictly speaking, I don't have to work. But I find it allows me to dabble in the pasta and canned goods market.
This! And having run an impromptu experiment a few years back during which I didn't work for a while, I found the hunger pangs and lack of indoor plumbing to be a crashing bore.
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Molto Verboso
ET3 & PX150 & GTS 300 Super Sport MY23 & Yamaha Neo's electric
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ET3 & PX150 & GTS 300 Super Sport MY23 & Yamaha Neo's electric
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fatherjoshua wrote:
There is now a new blessing in my life as I ride to appointments in my clericals on a Vespa. Blessings to you all! FJ
Like this?
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2007 250 GTS, 1980 P200E, 2010 ThunderFly 190 (SOLD) 2015 Yamaha SMax (SOLD)
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2007 250 GTS, 1980 P200E, 2010 ThunderFly 190 (SOLD) 2015 Yamaha SMax (SOLD)
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I'm a good way from retirement, so I try not to think about it too much.

Over the last few years though, I've lost both my parents and my only sibling. All 3 of them left "stuff undone". The lesson I've taken is to do whatever you want while you still can.

I work to earn money to live the life I want to live. I like my job and I'm pretty good at it. It pays all the bills and some $$$ left over to have some fun.
@web-tech avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
2008 MP3 500, 2013 BV350, 2020 Vespa Sei Giorni, 2008 Vespa S150
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
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2008 MP3 500, 2013 BV350, 2020 Vespa Sei Giorni, 2008 Vespa S150
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UTC quote
I work to make money so I can play. I hate my job, but any job I want to do pays half what I am making. So I am stuck. Would love to open a BBQ food truck, but that is too much of a risk for me.
@jimc avatar
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The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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A reminder to the youngsters here: it's NEVER too early to start saving for a pension. Then plan on taking it as early as possible, so you can do loads of things while you're still fit and active. I managed to retire at age 52, and since then have wondered how on earth I found the time to go to work!
@old_as_dirt avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 GTS
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Location: Harriman, Tennessee, Tn
 
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@old_as_dirt avatar
2007 GTS
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Location: Harriman, Tennessee, Tn
UTC quote
WLeuthold wrote:
I work to support my scooter habit.
Bill
I scoot to support my work habit
@bvbob avatar
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Molto Verboso
'95 Yamaha Riva 125- '05 Piaggio BV200-'05 Honda Reflex-'08 Honda Metropolitan
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Molto Verboso
@bvbob avatar
'95 Yamaha Riva 125- '05 Piaggio BV200-'05 Honda Reflex-'08 Honda Metropolitan
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Posts: 1890
Location: Ohio
UTC quote
jimc wrote:
A reminder to the youngsters here: it's NEVER too early to start saving for a pension. Then plan on taking it as early as possible, so you can do loads of things while you're still fit and active. I managed to retire at age 52, and since then have wondered how on earth I found the time to go to work!
True!

Many people (in the U.S.) have some magical date in their minds as to when they are SUPPOSED to retire. Its a very personal choice but as they say "no one ever wished they could have worked a few more hours while lying on their death bed"... I was "trained" from a very young age to think independently. I have a friend that could have EASILY retired a few years ago but he keeps telling me "I'm not 65 yet". "Dude, what if you don't make it to 65?"

Like I said- It's a very personal matter and some people are defined by their job... to me that would be sad but I do understand it.

I remember vividly an elderly neighbor coming over the day her husband died years ago - she walked up to me and said "do the things you really want to do NOW- don't wait for some magical date".... She turned 100 last New Year's Eve....words of wisdom.

Bob
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@gloria avatar
Bea 2007 LX150.
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I was hoping to leave my job at 62 (this June) after 20 years with the company. Then I decided there was a few things that needed my salary as well as my husband's to accomplish such as pay off the car, house, remodel the master bath and next years trip for my husbands 60th and our 25 year anniversary.

Once the above is paid for then I will think about leaving this full time job and going to work part time. What I like about this job is that is gets me out of the house and makes me talk to people. so it does give me a purpose.


I worry about me though as I don't have hobbies and I am getting to the point in life where I only want a few scheduled things going in a month's time. However I know that may change tomorrow and so we must let life unfold before us!
@ocart avatar
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Vespa GTS
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@ocart avatar
Vespa GTS
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What a wonderful discussion. I read and enjoyed every post. This is such an exceptional forum filled with good, thoughtful and warm people.
Thanks!
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Molto Verboso
'14 Piaggio BV 350
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Molto Verboso
@nautiker avatar
'14 Piaggio BV 350
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I worked (or flailed) a couple of years after college, then joined the Air Force, learned to fly/navigate KC-135s all over the world, and had a very enjoyable 28+ years of service when I retired - back in 2007. Then, I worked as a DoD contractor for 3 more years before going back into retirement.
I consider myself very lucky - I have a pension, savings and will collect some portion of social security (depending upon what becomes of it) and am healthy. I spend my days reading, exercising, toying with hobbies (cars/scooters/audio gear/music/travel/friends) and some volunteer work in the local community. Frankly, finally getting enough sleep has been a joy... And still on the lookout for other ways to be useful, and enjoy this part of my life...

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