Week 1 of retirement

["J"]

Well year three in the books, thoroughly enjoying this thing called retirement.... Everyone should be so lucky to make it too it.... Just got done replacing some broken snaps on my tonneau cover and recrimping the attaching brackets too the bows that hold the cover up and gotta say extang sucks

Guy at customer service acted like I was putting him out when I contacted them... But it’s back up and hanging in there... That’ll be last one of those I buy from them...

Got a few buddies retiring this summer and early fall and looking forward too their ceremonies as they progress into normality

For all you young guys who think it’s a long way away, don’t worry, in a blink of an eye it’ll be here... Meantime enjoy your ride...

 

[5Cent]

Great update J, hard to believe its been 3yrs already! I still scratch my head at those who say they wont know what to do with themselves when retirement time comes.....sitn me up right now!

 

[Buckmaster]

That's great J! I'm glad you are enjoying yourself while your still reasonably young.

After my job change last year and making less money now I'm trying to better positioning myself for retirement someday. I'm in debt reduction mode this year so I can begin to save more for my hopeful retirement ....worst case if I don't make it, my wife will have more money after I'm dead.

I do enjoy my stress-free weekends. I couldn't imagine a weekend every single day. I certainly have enough hobbies to keep me busy.

 

[Sgt Fury]

I’ll be right there with you soon...I’m ready to retire, just waiting on the company to make an offer. Hopefully this fall.

 

["J"]

I’ll be right there with you soon...I’m ready to retire, just waiting on the company to make an offer. Hopefully this fall.

As long as the debt isn’t overwhelming, do it. You won’t regret it it....

 

["J"]

Ordered a automatic bilge pump for the boat last Friday, going to the end of the week before I see it according to Amazon. Otherwise I’d be on it and flipping docks

We ordered a new gas grill on Saturday afternoon and it was here yesterday morning @8:15 oh well, there’s a few little nitnoy things I can still get done in the meantime...

 

[Sgt Fury]

As long as the debt isn’t overwhelming, do it. You won’t regret it it....

I’ve been planning for retirement since I was a teenager. Always had a job. Paperboy, dishwasher while in school, went in the army the day after graduation, had a job at a window factory after the military, then got in with ma bell at 22 years old. I’ve got 32 years with the phone company and am now just waiting for an offer. My house is paid off, my lump sum pension and 401k are good. When the company offers a buyout, they want to get the senior people that are at the top pay rate and have the maximum in vacation off of the payroll, so they give $50,000 cash plus $2200 per year of employment. That’s going to be what I use to build a 3 car garage ( 1/3 of which is going to be a man cave...bar, fridge, card table, pinball machine, etc.). Also buying a boat to use flounder fishing, crabbing, clamming, etc. I’ve seen too many people work until they are too old to enjoy retirement. I planned on retiring while still young enough to enjoy myself. Hunting, fishing, metal detecting, gardening, archery tournaments, and sightsee a bit. I’m 54 now and can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!

 

["J"]

I’ve been planning for retirement since I was a teenager. Always had a job. Paperboy, dishwasher while in school, went in the army the day after graduation, had a job at a window factory after the military, then got in with ma bell at 22 years old. I’ve got 32 years with the phone company and am now just waiting for an offer. My house is paid off, my lump sum pension and 401k are good. When the company offers a buyout, they want to get the senior people that are at the top pay rate and have the maximum in vacation off of the payroll, so they give $50,000 cash plus $2200 per year of employment. That’s going to be what I use to build a 3 car garage ( 1/3 of which is going to be a man cave...bar, fridge, card table, pinball machine, etc.). Also buying a boat to use flounder fishing, crabbing, clamming, etc. I’ve seen too many people work until they are too old to enjoy retirement. I planned on retiring while still young enough to enjoy myself. Hunting, fishing, metal detecting, gardening, archery tournaments, and sightsee a bit. I’m 54 now and can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!

Good deal, looks like you’re all set. Here’s hoping you can go soon... You’ve done it right from the sounds of it... I love the man cave idea....

 

[Jackalope]

I’ve been planning for retirement since I was a teenager. Always had a job. Paperboy, dishwasher while in school, went in the army the day after graduation, had a job at a window factory after the military, then got in with ma bell at 22 years old. I’ve got 32 years with the phone company and am now just waiting for an offer. My house is paid off, my lump sum pension and 401k are good. When the company offers a buyout, they want to get the senior people that are at the top pay rate and have the maximum in vacation off of the payroll, so they give $50,000 cash plus $2200 per year of employment. That’s going to be what I use to build a 3 car garage ( 1/3 of which is going to be a man cave...bar, fridge, card table, pinball machine, etc.). Also buying a boat to use flounder fishing, crabbing, clamming, etc. I’ve seen too many people work until they are too old to enjoy retirement. I planned on retiring while still young enough to enjoy myself. Hunting, fishing, metal detecting, gardening, archery tournaments, and sightsee a bit. I’m 54 now and can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!

Awesome stuff buddy! I told my wife years ago that I'm not working a single day past 55. I don't care if we have one million in the bank or one hundred, i'm done the day after my 55th birthday.

 

["J"]

Awesome stuff buddy! I told my wife years ago that I'm not working a single day past 55. I don't care if we have one million in the bank or one hundred, i'm done the day after my 55th birthday.

Thats the spirit! I’ve talked to way too many people who’re ill prepared for retirement or just want to work until they can’t anymore.... Some who just don’t prepare and some who thru no fault of their own end up unable... I’ve worked with guys who knew they had a shelf life and the exact date they had to leave and went kicking and screaming the whole way, only to find out later that they’d wish they’d have done it sooner....

 

[Quantum673]

Great update J. Glad you are enjoying it. Can't believe it's been 3 years.
I look forward to it as well.

 

[hickslawns]

I'm 42. Been planning since 21. I'm done at 60. For the young guys reading this. . .don't worry. I'm not sure the early money I put away hasn't added up to much. You still have time. The early money I put away simply put my head in the mindset of what I wanted to do. I couldn't afford to put much away when I was 21. Bought a house at 23. Got married at 24. Had a kid at 25. There wasn't a lot going into retirement. I think $50/mo is how I started. The point I make? Reading J's posts, and Sgt Fury's post: Have a plan. Get after it.

Keep on enjoying it J! Happy for you buddy! Good luck to you Sgt Fury!

 

[Mike]

Awesome stuff buddy! I told my wife years ago that I'm not working a single day past 55. I don't care if we have one million in the bank or one hundred, i'm done the day after my 55th birthday.

Hells yes

 

[Bigslam51]

I'm with Joe[emoji23]. Glad you're enjoying it, j!

 

[Buckmaster]

You guys have pensions to consider retirement at age 55?
I used too however that was frozen by my plan provider 3 years into the program. That's where my retirement plans went out the window.

If you guys are 35 that gives you 20 more years to bank it.

Your IRA will payout at age 59.5 so you'll need to float yourself for 4.5 years out of your personal savings.
Your social security checks probably won't be available until your 67 so add another 7.5 years.

How you are you tackling life's retirement hurdle?

 

["J"]

Being forced into mandatory retirement we have a safety net in the form of a suplimental until age 62 when we can apply for SS and it drops off weather we apply or not. That was a big relief otherwise I’d have to work to make ends meet. I collect my military retirement this summer and that’s another saving grace as well. Health benefits are the biggest barrier you’ll come across in my opinion. That’s a huge expense between retirement age and 65 when you can apply for Medicare. Most don’t take that into account when planning but it’ll wake you up real quick. My premium is right at 600 a month and once I hit 60 I can go on tricare which will be another saving grace for both of us as tricare is roughly 1500for the year along with a supplemental to pick up the cost difference of what is paid.

I was fortunate enough to have an older workforce ahead of me and showing and explaining what’s coming my way when I was younger. Hopefully you all have some mentors as well.

 

[Milo]

I set aside all my porn star earnings just for retirement. I’m up to 50 cents as we speak

 

[giles]

Good stuff fellas. I’m not sure if an age or day, but I won’t be an old man working my life away. I have a couple more goals for my “life purchases” before the day comes though. All reachable goals for the next ten years. That’ll put me at 48. A lot can happen in ten years, so we will see what happens.

Hell, I already tried to retire a few years back, made it two years before my wife got me a job and told me to get out of her house!

 

["J"]

I set aside all my porn star earnings just for retirement. I’m up to 50 cents as we speak

That’s .50 ahead of me Milo

 

["J"]

Well it was fun catching up with this. Hard to believe it’ll be 4 years of retirement this May. Did a hiatus from life tour again this year. A buddy of mine that I worked with retired before Xmas and he and I took off January 16 and were on the road for 5 weeks. We headed out too Arizona and worked our way back slowly through the southern part of the country.
All in all we hit 23 states and spent time in Arizona, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and West Virginia. Visited a half dozen former coworkers and friends who both my buddy and I have worked with or have known.
Go at home 2 weeks ago and then took off last week with the boat in tow too drop it off in Tennessee too get a new trailer built for it as well as redoing the carpeting in the boat. The marina is a dealer of the trailers that the boat manufacturer uses. The boat and trailer should be done the end of March and when done I’ll swing by and get it, then head too lake Norman in North Carolina for our annual fishing trip there. Looking forward too seeing the upgrades.
Looking forward too the upcoming fishing season, did some fishing in Florida and had some luck. Hopefully it’ll be a sign of things too come...