How many years have you been retired?

**Martha** · 11-28-2007, 11:38 AM

I don't recall if we have polled this before. So, what is your experience with ER?

packrat44 · 11-28-2007, 11:43 AM

One year, going on fifty years.

Moemg · 11-28-2007, 11:54 AM

Just celebrated my first year and it has been great . They'd have to drag me kicking and screaming back to work !

Khan · 11-28-2007, 12:11 PM

Approaching three years (31 Dec '04).

haha · 11-28-2007, 12:42 PM

I seem to be the only 18+ years retiree so far. Without digging out tax returns I can't really pin down the exact year. I just had less and less eagerness to grub for new business, and one day I just quit doing so. About 20 years.

More like something out of a novel of modern fecklessness than what a responsible young husband and father would do.

All I can say is thank God for bull markets and cheap whiskey.

Ha

**Martha** · 11-28-2007, 12:58 PM

I think Jarhead, if we could entice him back, would have you beat Ha. But you, Mick and Jarhead are the long term ERs, as best as I can recall.

Tiger · 11-28-2007, 01:16 PM

Four years this month and I've never been happier.

Donzo · 11-28-2007, 05:47 PM

I am a relative newbee w/ about 17 months - there is no going back - the thought of dealing w/ people and issues that mean nothing to me makes me feel ill......

Being free is incredible. So much time for the family and whatever interests me at the moment - sometimes I feel like I am doing something illegal - while working, I had to check voicemail and E mail CONSTANTLY just to keep up. Now I often go out and forget the cell....no biggy.
I have my allocation where I want it and sleep well at night -
I have a real sense of excitement for the future - because I get to make it!

Zipper · 11-28-2007, 07:00 PM

I retired from teaching in June 1997 after 33 years.

Goonie · 11-28-2007, 09:03 PM

Well, I'm the shortest ER'd to check in so far. 8 months next week.

I stopped in at the old joint today to borrow a locator to find a buried bird feeder pipe in the ground here at home. After chatting it up with the guys, it was made extremely clear that the magnitude of the sh*t going down hill there has only increased and intensified since my departure. I'm SOOOOOO glad that I am not them!!! Had i stayed employed there any longer than I did, I would probably be in custody awaiting a jury trial for the execution and decapitation of a couple of morons....the main one being the boss.

I will NEVER have another j*b! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!

I LOVE MY RETIREMENT!!!

lazygood4nothinbum · 11-29-2007, 07:02 AM

i've lost track. i left my calendar on the job. i think i'm on two years. i live in florida so i don't know the seasons. i only know two of the days of the week because of garbage days. by the time i wake up after noon the bank is only open for a few more hours. i don't know how anyone can accomplish anything under these circumstances. it's a good thing i don't have anything i have to do today.

Dawg54 · 11-29-2007, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goonie

Well, I'm the shortest ER'd to check in so far. 8 months next week.

I'm right there with ya. Eight months tomorrow. If I was still employed with my old company, I would be facing annual inventory starting today and dealing with auditors through the weekend. Instead I'm going on a hike today with my dog and playing golf the rest of the week.

ER is the only way to go.

TexasGal · 11-29-2007, 08:23 AM

Goodbye tension, hello pension!

Dec 3rd will be a big and wonderful 4 months for me. It does not matter what I do today because ANYTHING is better than w*rk. I would rather eat guinea pig pellets than go back to w*rk.

cute fuzzy bunny · 11-29-2007, 08:58 AM

Six and a half years!

TickTock · 11-29-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martha

I think Jarhead, if we could entice him back, would have you beat Ha. But you, Mick and Jarhead are the long term ERs, as best as I can recall.

And Billy and Akaisha.

cute fuzzy bunny · 11-29-2007, 10:07 AM

Lets not forget Charlie...

kcowan · 11-29-2007, 10:13 AM

5 years, 4 months and 3 weeks

But who's counting!?

toofrugalformycat · 11-29-2007, 11:18 AM

About seven and a half. Life is good.

two4theroad · 11-29-2007, 02:04 PM

One year exactly on Dec 10th!! Hooray, best anniversary I ever had.
2fer

tightasadrum · 11-29-2007, 03:53 PM

Soon. Very, very soon. But...

An observation:

I love looking at statistics and letting numbers talk to me if they will. Folks on this board pour out alot of heartfelt ideas concerning how to safely retire as early as possible. The sample is still small, but look how the numbers skew toward the low numbers.

86.8% retired 4 years of less, or not retired yet

It sort of makes me wonder how reliable all this advice and information really is with 86.8% of it coming from a group who have only been retired 4 years or less! I sure hope the mathematical models are accurate.

I would be even MORE curious about how much in assets the long-retired group started with. Did anyone out there have to quit retirement and go back to w**k? Is this just pre-retirement jitters I'm suffering from? (Not that I plan to change MY plans.)

View Poll Results: How long have you been retired?
I am not retired yet	52	41.27%
Less than two years	37	29.37%
two to four years	18	14.29%
four to seven years	11	8.73%
seven to nine years	3	2.38%
nine to twelve years	3	2.38%
twelve to fifteen years	1	0.79%
fifteen to eighteen years	0	0%
More than eighteen years.	1	0.79%
Voters: 126. You may not vote on this poll

11-28-2007, 11:38 AM	#1
Martha Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: minnesota Posts: 9,848	How many years have you been retired? I don't recall if we have polled this before. So, what is your experience with ER? __________________ . Do not rely on the information provided--my posts are not to be taken as legal advice. Needless to say you must consult with your legal representative. I am not responsible for errors. If I offended you with cya I apologize. If I did not, I tried.

11-28-2007, 11:43 AM	#2
packrat44 Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 542	One year, going on fifty years. __________________ Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

11-28-2007, 12:11 PM	#4
Khan Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Greater Dayton area Posts: 3,152	Approaching three years (31 Dec '04). __________________ "Candle wax and red wine can do interesting things to a keyboard."

11-28-2007, 12:42 PM	#5
haha Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,473	I seem to be the only 18+ years retiree so far. Without digging out tax returns I can't really pin down the exact year. I just had less and less eagerness to grub for new business, and one day I just quit doing so. About 20 years. More like something out of a novel of modern fecklessness than what a responsible young husband and father would do. All I can say is thank God for bull markets and cheap whiskey. Ha __________________ "Show 'em just enough to win the turkey."- Former KY Governor Bert Combs

11-28-2007, 11:54 AM	#3
Moemg Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sarasota,fl. Posts: 3,088	Just celebrated my first year and it has been great . They'd have to drag me kicking and screaming back to work !

11-28-2007, 12:58 PM	#6
Martha Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: minnesota Posts: 9,848	I think Jarhead, if we could entice him back, would have you beat Ha. But you, Mick and Jarhead are the long term ERs, as best as I can recall. __________________ . Do not rely on the information provided--my posts are not to be taken as legal advice. Needless to say you must consult with your legal representative. I am not responsible for errors. If I offended you with cya I apologize. If I did not, I tried.

11-28-2007, 01:16 PM	#7
Tiger Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 392	Four years this month and I've never been happier.

11-28-2007, 05:47 PM	#8
Donzo Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 527	I am a relative newbee w/ about 17 months - there is no going back - the thought of dealing w/ people and issues that mean nothing to me makes me feel ill...... Being free is incredible. So much time for the family and whatever interests me at the moment - sometimes I feel like I am doing something illegal - while working, I had to check voicemail and E mail CONSTANTLY just to keep up. Now I often go out and forget the cell....no biggy. I have my allocation where I want it and sleep well at night - I have a real sense of excitement for the future - because I get to make it! __________________ Freed at 49. You only live once - live it

11-28-2007, 07:00 PM	#9
Zipper Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 802	I retired from teaching in June 1997 after 33 years.

11-28-2007, 09:03 PM	#10
Goonie Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,103	Well, I'm the shortest ER'd to check in so far. 8 months next week. I stopped in at the old joint today to borrow a locator to find a buried bird feeder pipe in the ground here at home. After chatting it up with the guys, it was made extremely clear that the magnitude of the sht going down hill there has only increased and intensified since my departure. I'm SOOOOOO* glad that I am not them!!! Had i stayed employed there any longer than I did, I would probably be in custody awaiting a jury trial for the execution and decapitation of a couple of morons....the main one being the boss. I will NEVER have another jb! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!! I LOVE MY RETIREMENT!!!* __________________ "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss - Retired April 2007 @ 50 with COLA'd DB Pension plus Lifetime Medical & Dental Insurance.

11-29-2007, 07:02 AM	#11
lazygood4nothinbum Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,783	i've lost track. i left my calendar on the job. i think i'm on two years. i live in florida so i don't know the seasons. i only know two of the days of the week because of garbage days. by the time i wake up after noon the bank is only open for a few more hours. i don't know how anyone can accomplish anything under these circumstances. it's a good thing i don't have anything i have to do today. __________________ "off with their heads"~~dr. joseph-ignace guillotin "life should begin with age and its privileges and accumulations, and end with youth and its capacity to splendidly enjoy such advantages."~~mark twain - letter to edward kimmitt 1901 Last edited by lazygood4nothinbum; 11-29-2007 at 07:07 AM.

11-29-2007, 08:23 AM	#13
TexasGal Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 230	Goodbye tension, hello pension! Dec 3rd will be a big and wonderful 4 months for me. It does not matter what I do today because ANYTHING is better than wrk. I would rather eat guinea pig pellets than go back to wrk.

11-29-2007, 08:58 AM	#14
cute fuzzy bunny Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Losing my whump Posts: 22,527	Six and a half years! __________________ Many an optimist has become rich by buying out a pessimist

11-29-2007, 10:07 AM	#16
cute fuzzy bunny Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Losing my whump Posts: 22,527	Lets not forget Charlie... __________________ Many an optimist has become rich by buying out a pessimist

11-29-2007, 10:13 AM	#17
kcowan Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific latitude 20/49 Posts: 1,545	5 years, 4 months and 3 weeks But who's counting!? __________________ For the fun of it...Keith

11-29-2007, 11:18 AM	#18
toofrugalformycat Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Anchorage Posts: 393	About seven and a half. Life is good.

11-29-2007, 02:04 PM	#19
two4theroad Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 166	One year exactly on Dec 10th!! Hooray, best anniversary I ever had. 2fer __________________ Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.<br />-Robert A. Heinlein

11-29-2007, 03:53 PM	#20
tightasadrum Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: athens Posts: 490	Soon. Very, very soon. But... An observation: I love looking at statistics and letting numbers talk to me if they will. Folks on this board pour out alot of heartfelt ideas concerning how to safely retire as early as possible. The sample is still small, but look how the numbers skew toward the low numbers. 86.8% retired 4 years of less, or not retired yet It sort of makes me wonder how reliable all this advice and information really is with 86.8% of it coming from a group who have only been retired 4 years or less! I sure hope the mathematical models are accurate. I would be even MORE curious about how much in assets the long-retired group started with. Did anyone out there have to quit retirement and go back to w**k? Is this just pre-retirement jitters I'm suffering from? (Not that I plan to change MY plans.) __________________ Can't you see yourself in the nursing home saying, " Darn! Wish I'd spent more time at the office instead of wasting time with family and friends."