When did you retire?

[Cane Pole]

Retired 16 years ago yesterday. Now at 78, I feel like I live in a much different country and I don't like it

I agree. We are a different country and skidding down hill. Goooooooogle Land.

[Quackrstackr]

October 25, 2034.

[Eager Beaver]

The difference from retirement and working is that when you are working you get paid for doing a job! After you retire you still work but just not getting paid for it! Beings you are retired and have all this free time people come out of the wood work and want little favors from you. First is the Kids and they decided that since you wasn't working you could keep the grandkid after School and they could get rid of the daycare. EB

[crappiemax]

I'm turned 62 last November and I'm facing the same decision.
I've worked for a family owned business for the last 38 years and as you can imagine there isn't much of a retirement plan but they do have a 401k and they have added money every year since they started it. So far it's working out.
Since you only have one chance to get it right I decided to call Fidelity and made an appointment to see where I was. Could I retire now, should I wait, was I missing something,what were my options? It was a good call. He looked at my assets, looked at my expenses and looked at the family tree to look for longevity and he gave me the green light to go ahead and retire. He did say I was right on the edge of making it and having to maybe cut back mainly because of needing to cover health insurance for a few years. Personally I don't want to feel like I have to cut back any so I plan to work 2 more years.
I have a great relationship with my employer and he asked for 2 years notice before I retire so he can find my replacement. I agreed because I knew he wanted me to train him before I left. I knew they had been looking around for someone and my replacement started in January. Oh and since I was such a nice guy in giving the notice, I got them to throw in an extra 4 weeks of vacation over the next 2 years. It's hard to believe that 6 months has already gone by.
I've been a boss of some kind all my life and I can't wait to not be in charge.

[jimfish]

Retired in Sept. 1975 at 37 years old,20 yrs in the USN. Went to a jr college for 2.5 yrs and studied ind . maint. Stated my own HVAC bus and worked at it for 24 yrs . Shut it down in 98 and workedat a co as an consultant for a few years and finally hung it up.Made some good investments have a very comfortable income don't owe nobody anything just about do anything I want to.

[pesce]

It's a beautiful thing to be home or fishing and you know the pension check is in the account,now i know what my dad was talking about.

[drc]

I retired in 07 at the age of 51 after 30yrs with the Ky.DOT I took a $20,000 a yr.cut but I haven't missed a thing. I hunt, fish, paint and help with 3 grandkids. My wife retired a year ago and I'm thinking I might look for another job lol.

[NIMROD]

Semi retired in 2002 helped my parents till they passed. Worked till I was 43 most of it as welder and then a machine operator. Still got more than 3 years before I can draw retirement. Then later wondering if there will be any social security when time comes for all I paid in. But I have done what I want which has been fish more days than not.

[justfishin2]

I agree. We are a different country and skidding down hill. Goooooooogle Land.

To all of you who have replied to this post, thank you. I will be done on Oct 31-will turn 65 two days later and be medicare eligible. While I do work for the government (postal service, and yes, I've heard ALL the jokes about how bad we are), I've always been proud to have served my patrons in this small, rural area. Now it really is a different time. The stupidity of some things we are subjected to has caused me to rethink my position that I've been the last line of defense between the customer (all of you) and Big Brother, and I've taken a lot of heat over the years for standing up and speaking my mind. Now, with new regulations affecting us rural carriers, I feel like I have to tell customers when they have a problem that s... runs downhill, and I'm at the bottom of the hill. It is time, and I'll do my best to remain positive and cheerful until the end. It definitely has become a different country over the past several decades. Gone are the days of our youth when I could ride my bike to the other end of town, jump off it and play with other little boys my age running home for lunch and not even thinking that the bike might be gone when I remembered it...or had to worry about some pervert coming after me. God bless what is left of America!

[pesce]

What does a mailman do on his day off, goes for a walk. Congrats and enjoy every day of your retirement, i retired at 51 due to going in burning buildings for 30 years and working 2 jobs 1 for my wife and 1 for the 3 boys, what day is it, thats how i felt. I have no time to worry about the big picture anymore of the USA, its the little things in life now the 5 little grandchildren, and the man above who will call someday down the road. I now spend my days thinking of what can i do to the boat now and go fiiiisssshhhhiiiinnnnggggg oops the wife loves the pension check tells me go fishing hun.

They always said the more you laugh the less you cry. No time for crying lifes to short.