Posted on 10/22/2014 2:53:18 PM PDT by A Cyrenian
Any Freepers preparing to retire in the next 5 to 10 years?
What are you plans?
What are you doing to get ready to enter the next level of your life?
I'm considering retiring in 3 - 5 years and I feel like I don't have all my ducks in a row.
Know what I mean? I'm not asking about financial advise, but would like to know what one should do to be ready to sleep in the first day of retirement.
I got 5 years, August 1st, 2019.
We’re in the process of selling our house and buying a 38-foot sail boat. We’ll live on that until then, and then cast off and sail away.
My wife has had breast cancer twice now. We won’t wait any more. Just until we can afford to call it quits.
Besides, why would I want to work myself to death for an extra $500 a month.
what do you do?
Did you have a life outside of your work? If not, I recommend finding what it is that you like to do, then doing it. Maybe start a new company? Find a hobby or a volunteer activity that you enjoy. What was it about your job that motivated you? Hopefully it wasn’t just that it filled your time. I hope you find what your looking for and I wish you all the best. God Bless.
You nailed it! I retired a few months ago and can't seem to ever find the time to do all that needs to be done.
I completely understand...
To be fortunate enough to set sail is a Godsend and I hope you a blessed and happy life.
My Mother beat breast cancer twice so I know it can be done. I wish you & your wife good luck and will say a prayer for you.
May the wind always be at your back.
“If you do everything today you will have nothing to do tomorrow.”I respectfully disagree.
I have enough things that I’d like to do to last 100 lifetimes, so getting things done is great!
I do agree that you can take your time and work at your own pace. “Relax” is good advice, especially for someone who is going full tilt and needs some down time. But you should always have a few ideas for the next project(s) so that you don’t get bored.
Won’t get me on that!
It’s got holes in the hull! One of those windows break and you’re toast.
We’re looking to buy a Cabo Rico 38 with a full keel, and, keel stepped mast. Plan on taking it all the way round the world at least once.
I won’t go out of sight of land on that one.
That sounds like great couples advice! Some things together but not everything.
My boss is retiring in February - he will be applying for Social Security in 2 weeks. He’s been paving the way, and was told by SS Admin to apply 90 days out.
Ready to sleep??? Are you kidding me? I was finally free to do all the things I didn’t have time to do when I was still “working”. I couldn’t live long enough to do all the things I still want to do.
:-)
Been retired since 2003. I worked 3-11 for most of my career, so I never got to bed until 1-2 a.m. That schedule carried over to my retirement. I stay up until 3 a.m. or so, and sleep in. No going to bed at 8 p.m., and getting up with the birds for me. Also, you’ll be surprised at how fast time flies once you’ve retired.
Sleep in?
I have worked harder every day of the past 7 years since I retired than I ever did working for a paycheck. The difference is that I work at things I enjoy, with my own priorities and at my own pace and no external pressure to perform.
Too many people I have known let themselves be defined by their job. When they retire they seem lost and without purpose and often lose all self esteem. Often you can see them deteriorate so rapidly it is astonishing.
The trick is, or at least was for me, to redefine yourself as an individual with your own unique purpose in life. A friend of mine became the worlds biggest baseball fan. Another an expert fly fisherman. In my case from sales and marketing executive to long distance sailor, videographer and blogger.
The stress I did not even realize I was carrying melted away immediately and my wife and friends say that I am a new (Improved) man. While my career was exciting and rewarding, I wish I had made the move years earlier.
Pinging for later...we are nearing retirement age, not sure if we’ll manage it on time, though...sure to be some good reading here, and thanks for posting the query!
My wonderful, handsome and terribly missed husband passed away about five years after he retired. It was, and still is crushing! Unfortunately I had not (and still haven’t) retired, I wish I had so I could have been with him more, but that’s not how it worked out. We used to laugh, I’d come home, talk about my day, then we’d talk about his... and although not stressful as it had once been for him, he was busy busy busy and used to tell me, he “did hundreds of things today” and he had! I am grateful he had the time to be so happy and content, he loved being retired. I wish us all the same joy, but for a longer period of time that he (we) had!
I think the move on SS is to apply as soon as you are eligible. For me that was 62. I saw an article a few years ago that said you would have to live past 80 to reach the point where waiting to 65 would be an advantage financially.
Medicare is automatic when you turn 65. You will get a form in the mail to complete. I did not sign up for the optional Part B. If you do like it says on the front of the form and tear off the card you will wind up with the additional benefit and an additional cost. Read the forms carefully.
As a disabled veteran, I am exempt from Obamacare and do not need the prescription drug benefit. YMMV
I signed up to start SS when I turned 66, signed up in January of that year for a March start. Worked one more year and saved a whole year’s SS just to get a jump start on the transition.
Found out I like to do photography, bought a good camera, studied over 300 hours of Photoshop and Lightroom and now travel all over shooting barns and other old farm buildings and publish many of them.
We like to travel and are planning on a 3 month trip to Western Australia. After a career of traveling, the last two years have been the best of years for my wife and I, kind of like a second elongated honeymoon.
I retired the first time 20 years ago...got bored, started
a business and when it took off, sold it and retired. Got bored and launched another venture and it’s taking off, and
I’m just short of 72. It’s contagious.
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