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29 December 2018, 05:26 PM | #1 |
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Discussion for early retirees ....
Hello all,
I know many people have retired at an early age, say 40s or early 50s. I’m late 40s, ready to retire from my main career, at least on one level, but am not really sure what I’d do with my time. Finance not an issue as I’m all set comfortably. So, for those of you that have retired early, how have you spent your time? Have you found a ‘purpose’? Or, have you been content just taking the days as they come? I’m considering going back to university for the enjoyment only (masters or PhD in in a new area), maybe expedition-challenge type travel, or maybe interspersing interesting work-style contracts with periods of rest, travel etc ... I’m really interested in all perspectives, I’m sure there are others in a similar situation, or maybe those thinking about retirement ... Thanks! |
29 December 2018, 05:32 PM | #2 |
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I have no desire to retire regardless of finances. If my mind isn't doing a million things a minute I'd surely go mad. Lot's of respect for those who can, but personally, that's pretty much being dead.
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29 December 2018, 09:00 PM | #3 |
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Yes, I’m fairly similar, hence the thoughts about studying again, but in a different area, perhaps with a second, more fun, career in mind, but perhaps just for the pure learning.
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29 December 2018, 09:04 PM | #4 |
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Hey – If you can afford it and you don’t think you will miss work I say do it.
I am a late 50s and have decided to start working less, with no desire to fully retire as I enjoy being active and like/need the income. It sounds like you have a plan to keep yourself active with the study (which I would consider a massive punishment) - I think it’s important to have and do interests. I can easily fill my day playing my chosen sports, reading, gardening, walking etc and will join the ‘National trust’ to tick off some of their many monuments, buildings and places of interest. |
29 December 2018, 09:10 PM | #5 |
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Still some way off for me, and I’m very lucky to enjoy my work immensely.
Once the time comes, there is a lot of travel we would like to do and some charitable pursuits.
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29 December 2018, 10:04 PM | #6 |
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With me it was slightly different as due to local government costsaving my department was to be amalgamated and my job title scrapped, and I was offered a retirement redundancy package at 54 I just could not refuse. I didn't want to stop working, nor did I want the university further education route. I did some volunteer driving for a charity for a time, and then I spotted an opportunity as I needed to get my chimney swept and there was nobody near me who could do this, and the sweep that did this came from 40 miles away. I retrained as a chimney sweep, initially wanting to do 3 or 4 sweeps a week, this soon changed to doing 3 or 4 sweeps a day. I have never advertised, apart from appearing on the Guild of Master Sweeps website list, all jobs come from recommendations or word of mouth. I have got to a stage now where I cannot take on many more clients, my diary is full from September to Christmas next year, 2019, and in the summer when it is quieter, I try to keep a month completly free, so we can get away. I really enjoy this work, completely different from my career, with completely different responsibilities, I would recommend it to anyone, I am 64 next birthday, and cannot see myself packing up, unless, of course, nature, and old age dictate differently.
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29 December 2018, 10:07 PM | #7 | |
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I love your story!! Congrats! |
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29 December 2018, 10:20 PM | #8 |
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The happiest people I know in a similar situation, have taken something they really enjoy doing and turned it into a very small business.
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29 December 2018, 10:25 PM | #9 |
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I did not retire 'early' but when I did, life was very boring. I am working again and have no regrets. Intend to keep this way as long as possible. I travel and now learning Golf in which I am a complete failure. No regrets again.
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29 December 2018, 10:36 PM | #10 |
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100% this. As long as I have my health I don't plan on retiring, I have a relatively light work load as I'm self employed and can continue for a long time provided I stay healthy.
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29 December 2018, 10:40 PM | #11 |
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I’m 51 and headed toward a semi retirement.
I’ve found purpose in volunteering and plan to do more of that once I’m fully retired. |
29 December 2018, 10:44 PM | #12 |
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I don’t foresee retirement. I’ll be retirement age as my son enters college... and have a (beautiful) old house requiring constant care.
I am hopeful my next career will be something I enjoy, as opposed to something I am exceptional at. Big difference from my perspective as I also need stimulation and am constantly bored at my current job despite the rather high technical challenges. So I say, do what you love to do and if you can make a few bucks at it, great! |
29 December 2018, 10:46 PM | #13 | |
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Sweet!
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OP: Good for you. You have a great idea to expand your "world" and to do what you want to do, within reason. |
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29 December 2018, 10:50 PM | #14 |
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I have been retired for five years and was fortunate enough to retire at 49 with a nice pension based on 30 years of service. My wife has a good job and makes a fair amount of money so the finance end is stable and provides enough for us to live. I have two children that are still at home, with the oldest going to college next year and the other to follow in four years. I have not worked and have focused on my health, my relationships with family and friends and being active in my children's lives. I lost 35 pounds, walk 4 miles a day in around an hour and go to the gym for light weight training three days a week. I have corrected my sleep issues caused by years of working a rotating schedule and sleep through the night. My children know their father, for better or worse, as we have been able to spend a lot of time together. As an adult it has been the best five years of my life. I believe retirement is what you make it, like life. I also believe that time is the greatest commodity we trade in and no one knows how much they have left. There are and where so many other things I wanted to do beside work. I like retirement.
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29 December 2018, 11:06 PM | #15 |
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I had to laugh about your comment about taking up golf and being a complete failure. I am 46 and just started golfing and it sounds like we would make great golf partners!
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29 December 2018, 11:06 PM | #16 |
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Retired 10 years ago at the age of 51. Long story short, don’t miss it at all!!! Play golf and honey do list keeps me busy!!!
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29 December 2018, 11:22 PM | #17 |
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I was forced into a early retirement due to a health issue that would not allow me to continue down my trained path. That was at age 47 and was difficult to accept for a long time. Did a lot of soul searching and trying to figure out what I wanted in life. Had money, house, kids etc. Decided to volunteer with things and also turn my hobby up a bit and did pretty good with it.
Now older, lazier and enjoying just fixing stuff around the house and spending time with the wife and our animals. You will need something to occupy your time for sure. You have a great opportunity to go do something fun and maybe make a few bucks along the way. Most people I run into in this position always comment that they wish they had retired earlier. Enjoy |
29 December 2018, 11:23 PM | #18 | |
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I will probably die working because I enjoy what I do and working at a relaxed pace and take just enough stress to stay alive.
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29 December 2018, 11:42 PM | #19 |
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Congrats!
I can warmly recommend studying: It is a lot more satisfying than 20 years ago!!! Also some volunteer work to help other people is something to concider. Life is short, let’s make the best out of it! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
29 December 2018, 11:47 PM | #20 |
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I was an Emergency Department physician for 26 years. I was assaulted by a patient and sustained a brain injury, losing some fine motor skills, balance and short term memory abilities. After a year on disability, the insurance company retested me and found slight improvement in motor skills. They discontinued benefits and advised me to go back to the ED. As my case manager said, "Give it a shot. See how it goes."
Not wanting to "see how it goes" only to find out it didn't go well, I retired at age 56. After spending 26 years in the high stress environment of the ED waiting for terrible things to happen to people and watching the clock for shift end, I began living a day at a time. I sleep regular hours, enjoy holidays with my friends and family, watch entire football and hockey games without interruption and love waking up every day to see what happens in life. Not every effect of a brain injury is negative. Though I lost some IQ points, I can function well in life. Perhaps the most surprising change in my life is the loss of my Type A personality. I'm no longer constantly driven to work, succeed, excel, and produce. I'm the volunteer director of a ski patrol chapter at a local ski resort. I ride a mountain bike in the summer. I dabble in astronomy and photography. My spouse and I downsized and built a new house on a river and pond in the pines. I spend wonderful time with grandchildren, children, my spouse, my friends and myself. Some days, I do nothing "productive." Others are extremely busy. But every day, I do what I want. Have I found purpose? Yes. Living intentionally. Cherishing every day instead of wishing it was over. The further I get from my ED career, the more I realize how difficult and painful it was to depersonalize my interactions with tragic situations. I feel feelings I stuffed years ago. I've never once wished I could undo my brain injury and return to work. The last six years have been the happiest and most peaceful of my life. |
30 December 2018, 12:44 AM | #21 |
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Discussion for early retirees ....
I think we need to stay engaged and keep the mind active somehow. How we all do that is different and I think you need to do whatever it takes to keep your sense of purpose. For some it is family and the increased involvement. For some it is volunteer work. For some it is a hobby or a new lower stress career.
I’m 43 and financially could only semi-retire if we made major life changes (sell the house we live in etc). And I would still have to do something to keep the brain working. I have decided to leave my high stress “what have you done for me lately” corporate job and go back to my roots as buy into a financial advisory practice. It will be different and less financially rewarding for a couple years but much more emotionally rewarding now and long term. I got into this business 20 years ago to help people as I had a steady, well paying job in retail management. Made the move to the corporate side 10 years ago and while financially it has been very rewarding it has become much more of a burden and micromanagement exercise the last 5 years or so and I no longer enjoy it like I used to. I am going into it with a great partner that is significantly older than I am and has a great base of clients I have worked with (thru her) for many years. Will be a lot of work, should be a great time, money should take care of itself. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro |
30 December 2018, 12:46 AM | #22 |
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I know it’s not really early, but I was planning to retire at 62, but now I’ve moved my date back to 57. The kids will be out of college, no debt, insurance benefits from the University, etc. Just no reason to keep grinding except the $$$. I won’t get the med view cottage anymore that I thought I wanted, and that’s just fine. I had a health scare and it changed my perspective 180 degrees. I like my job, I’m very good at it, and it is rewarding, but it can be very high stress. I’ve already made some changes to lighten my load, next will be a cut back to 80%, then 60, then out. I don’t know what I want to do or exactly what I’ll have when I retire but it will be more than enough by any measure. It’s nice to see these kinds of posts.
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30 December 2018, 01:07 AM | #23 |
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30 December 2018, 01:31 AM | #24 |
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I always wanted to retire at 55.
When that came around, I was enjoying my job so much that decided to go until 59 1/2. I just retired on 11/30 and loving it, not looking back. I have plenty of travel planned (left for a three week South America trip a few days after retirement) and lots of projects going on with home remodeling. The couch won’t be seeing me much.
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30 December 2018, 02:01 AM | #25 |
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Wow. So many really interesting responses, thanks guys. It’s amazing to read about so many perspectives, opinions, experiences. I know I’m in a lucky position, so can take my time to try a few different options.
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30 December 2018, 02:03 AM | #26 | |
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30 December 2018, 02:04 AM | #27 |
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Yes, I’ve already looked into helping charities, with my professional experiences being welcome.
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30 December 2018, 02:06 AM | #28 | |
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So it totally depends on where you get you feeling of self worth, or accomplishment... and for me its not the career, as that is means to an end, nothing more.
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30 December 2018, 02:09 AM | #29 | |
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30 December 2018, 02:16 AM | #30 | |
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