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61 and "Actively" Retired
03-04-2014, 03:10 PM
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#1
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 24
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61 and "Actively" Retired
Retired in January after 35 years in the business, but having a hard time with how people react to my retirement.
So, since I'm still involved in my old company (on the board and ownership), I started using the term "Actively Retired"... not sure that's working very well. A lot of people just say I'm too young to retire! And, there is always an underlying tone that they wish they could.
Any ideas on a better response than actively retired?
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03-04-2014, 03:18 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,362
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"I'm a consultant."
That means I can do what I like, when I like. But others can interpret it to mean my nose is still to the grindstone, just on a different schedule.
This topic comes up often here, so you might try searching for some key words.
Congratulations on your success!
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03-04-2014, 03:44 PM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,999
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I just got back from getting my haircut. Because I go in the middle of the day, they always ask me if I'm off today.
My standard reply is always "off what?"
Usually leads to some interesting conversations.
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03-04-2014, 03:55 PM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,376
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How about semi-retired? You serve on a board after all.
You'll get used to it. It took me abut a year to get comfortable with telling people that I was retired (I was 56 back then).
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
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03-04-2014, 04:45 PM
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#5
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 24
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I'll get through it... I like semi-retired. Consultant sounds a little like I lost my job.
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03-04-2014, 04:52 PM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,495
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I have no problem telling people I'm ER on 2/3/15. When people say I"m too young to retire, I tell them I'm too young not to!
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03-04-2014, 06:44 PM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Lake Livingston, Tx
Posts: 4,204
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I tell folks I have found something I am really really good at! Doing Nothing! and I am going to keep on doing it!
__________________
If it is after 5:00 when I post I reserve the right to disavow anything I posted.
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03-04-2014, 07:04 PM
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#8
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,999
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This theme comes up from time to time on the forum. I have to say I've never understood it.
You worked hard, managed your finances well, and now you have enough money to do whatever you want for the rest of your life. You don't need to work for anyone, and nobody owns you. And yet, when people ask what you do, something causes hesitation to say you are retired.
When I retired, I wanted to shout from my rooftop for everyone to hear "Look at Me! I no longer have to work anymore and I can do whatever I want for the rest of my life!!! How awesome is that!"
Maybe I'm missing something.
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03-04-2014, 07:18 PM
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#9
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,587
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I always use semi-retired. And I do work 3 months of the year and very part-time the rest of the year. Been using semi-retired since 2000
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03-07-2014, 03:53 PM
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#10
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Bismarck
Posts: 168
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I am 60 and just retired 2 months ago and I still feel a little guilty sharing that with friends and Rotary and Lions Club members
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03-07-2014, 04:03 PM
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#11
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,362
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by Dcharles
I am 60 and just retired 2 months ago and I still feel a little guilty sharing that with friends and Rotary and Lions Club members
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No need for guilt.
My goal, since I was a teenager, had always been to retire by 55. I figured that since the standard retirement age was 65, I should aim for ten years sooner.
I actually made it, at 55.3 years of age, so I consider myself to have succeeded. When you succeed at meeting your goal, you have nothing to feel guilty about, nothing to apologize for, and nothing to sugar-coat.
People do still ask for my advice on many things, so I can legitimately call myself a consultant. I just don't send them invoices any more!
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03-07-2014, 04:26 PM
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#12
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 24
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A lot of people my age get a strange introspective look on their faces as if wondering if they will ever get to retire.
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03-07-2014, 04:58 PM
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#13
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: San Diego
Posts: 880
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Empresario
I'll get through it... I like semi-retired. Consultant sounds a little like I lost my job.
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It is interesting how the connotation of words change over time. When I first started my software consulting business in 1981 being a consultant sounded even a little pretentious, a person wiser than his peers. Now with so many long term unemployed being told to list themselves as "self employed" or "a consultant" it is beginning to take on the opposite meaning.
So as I wind into retirement over the next couple of months, I will have no problem at all continuing to refer to myself as a consultant, just now more of the unemployed type.
__________________
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.
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03-07-2014, 05:11 PM
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#14
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 32
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I've just been saying, "I'm taking some time off for a while." It's a bit of a cop-out I guess, but at 53 saying "retired" makes me feel old.
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61 and "Actively" Retired
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03-07-2014, 07:17 PM
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#15
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,555
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61 and "Actively" Retired
At 57 I merely say I'm retired. I'm kind of proud of it. If they tell you you're too young to retire, try:
"Damn right!"
Or, she's an attractive young lady, tell her you were considering opening an escort service, and ask her if she'd be interested. Just might start a fun new career!
__________________
"Growing old is no excuse for growing up."
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03-07-2014, 07:34 PM
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#16
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,362
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaliforniaMan
It is interesting how the connotation of words change over time. When I first started my software consulting business in 1981 being a consultant sounded even a little pretentious, a person wiser than his peers.
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Back in the 70s when I was actually hiring consultants for one thing or another, the standard definition was "someone who doesn't know any more than you do, but has it better organized, comes from out of town, and uses color slides."
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03-07-2014, 07:52 PM
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#17
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: San Diego
Posts: 880
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Quote:
Originally Posted by braumeister
Back in the 70s when I was actually hiring consultants for one thing or another, the standard definition was "someone who doesn't know any more than you do, but has it better organized, comes from out of town, and uses color slides."
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You made me smile. I knew I should have brought the color slides. 
__________________
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.
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03-07-2014, 08:27 PM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Colorado Mountains
Posts: 3,165
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03-08-2014, 06:17 AM
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#19
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 883
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Empresario
... having a hard time with how people react to my retirement. ... A lot of people just say I'm too young to retire! And, there is always an underlying tone that they wish they could. Any ideas on a better response than actively retired?
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What did you do in the summertime when you were young, between school routines, and before career/scheduled work/scheduled vacation? ... Whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted I suppose. Now you can do it again! Retirement is a second youth in an endless summer. It takes along time to grow young!
__________________
"It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating". Oscar Wilde
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03-08-2014, 06:44 AM
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#20
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Peru
Posts: 6,335
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Hmmm... Actively Retired sounds good...
Am in my late 70's and the comment usually is:
"Oh!... so you're still alive!" 
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