Retirement

SnoopRob said:
I like what I do and I believe my work makes a difference for others, so I'm pretty inclined to keep working beyond when I can likely afford to retire. (I'm not even 50 yet, so I might feel differently closer to when I can actually retire.) But I also have a plan for semi-retirement that I think/hope will work where I plan to take a significant step back in responsibilities in my early 60s - with a likely corresponding reduction of salary that I can manage - but that will keep me doing stuff I like while passing many of the parts I don't find as fun off to others.

I do think that recognizing when you've lost the focus and/or drive to succeed is a major part of knowing when to retire (or at least cut back) and it is a struggle for some folks to have that self-awareness.
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I'm much more of a "I like what I do and I believe my work makes a difference for others, but I'm pretty inclined to work the absolute minimum amount of time and retire ASAP" guy.

I first worked as a high school math teacher when I graduated UNC in 98. Got a job after that running computer networks at the med school at Wake Forest. The longer I was there, the more I liked the stuff THEY were doing, and the less I liked the stuff I was doing. I quit my job, moved into a tiny apartment next to UNCG and took all the pre-reqs in a year. Applied to dental school. Went to UNC. Stuck around for specialty residency. Should pay off student loans this year. Now it's just rapidly hoarding cash to make a big enough pile to not have to sweat being alive for the rest of my life.
 
aGDevil2k said:
Also I dont know how I resurrected this old thread - I thought I was replying to the other one on work perspectives. I searched and got the wrong one I guess.
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I'm glad you did. A robust discussion of when or whether to retire ( or if you are financially able to retire at all ) is a pertinent topic for this thread. I am enjoying the discussion you are having with SnoopRob
 
doctor_octopus said:
I'm much more of a "I like what I do and I believe my work makes a difference for others, but I'm pretty inclined to work the absolute minimum amount of time and retire ASAP" guy.

I first worked as a high school math teacher when I graduated UNC in 98. Got a job after that running computer networks at the med school at Wake Forest. The longer I was there, the more I liked the stuff THEY were doing, and the less I liked the stuff I was doing. I quit my job, moved into a tiny apartment next to UNCG and took all the pre-reqs in a year. Applied to dental school. Went to UNC. Stuck around for specialty residency. Should pay off student loans this year. Now it's just rapidly hoarding cash to make a big enough pile to not have to sweat being alive for the rest of my life.
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Same. I think I said earlier, I am not FIRE, but I definitely plan to be career-done in my 50s. Maybe I do some part time or something more chill. Or maybe not. But I want to be done with where I "have" to work by 58. I might not retire a billionaire, but if I am comfortable that's what matters to me
 
I set a goal of having financial security and retiring by age fifty. I met the financial goal but I loved my work and had no desire to retire- ever. However I was forced to retire at age 60 by illness. When I made an unexpected complete recovery I had been out too long to return so I remained retired. Colleagues and family worried that (as a confirmed workaholic) I would be bored, depressed, etc. However I embraced retirement and I've never looked back. Now, many years later, I revere that missed diagnosis that kicked off my second life.
 
I’ll be 57 in a few months and hope to retire at 62. My wife is a teacher and 5 years younger. She became a teacher later in life, so needs to work until 62 to get full pension. I’m not sure my wife will tolerate me laying about all day while she’s at work…
 
aGDevil2k said:
Same. I think I said earlier, I am not FIRE, but I definitely plan to be career-done in my 50s. Maybe I do some part time or something more chill. Or maybe not. But I want to be done with where I "have" to work by 58. I might not retire a billionaire, but if I am comfortable that's what matters to me
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For most of my adult life my work/career was my identity, and then other circumstances took priority. I retired in 2007 at age 55yo. Fortunately, I had the means to retire and felt taking care of my best friend who had cancer and helping the missus being our day care for our pre-school grandchildren was more important.

My retirement life in these past 18 years has been more rewarding than the previous 55 years.

If you are approaching retirement and because you are loving what you are doing without regard to the need for whether you need the resources you will need in retirement then go for it bro :cool:

If you are approaching retirement age, but plan to continue to work in order to have enough in retirement to have a worry free retirement then it makes sense to keep working even if you dream of an early retirement.

The missus retired at 50yo and I retired at 55yo. I sometimes tease her telling her if we had retired 65yo, 67yo, or 70yo we would be more financially well off.

And my wife asks how much better financially in comparison to taking care of Jimmy ( my best friend ) and enjoying "raising " Sam and Lily ( our grandchildren )

Ok, this is a long post , and I am aware it comes across as a bit self indulgent, but my hope is you guys will get the gist which is as you plan retirement focus not only on finances but how you want to spend your time in retirement.
 
TigerBTM said:
I’ll be 57 in a few months and hope to retire at 62. My wife is a teacher and 5 years younger. She became a teacher later in life, so needs to work until 62 to get full pension. I’m not sure my wife will tolerate me laying about all day while she’s at work…
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If the house is clean, dinner is ready, and your working out so you can do anything she asks she could probably be persuaded.
 
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