Deferred ER Regret

[BunsGettingFirm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lusitan Well, this is one of the reasons why I have pondered the OP's question myself. Youth goes, and most of it goes by whilst sitting behind a desk at some j*b. I don't want to stick around at the office one minute longer than necessary!

I agree, but if all I had to do is sit behind a desk, I'd do that and try to live the other 16 hours a day as interestingly as possible. However, most professional jobs involve dealing with people's enormous egos and miniscule accomplishments. Yesterday an office mate wasted an hour and half of my time giving me crap for "not keeping him informed" because his self style "IT steering committee" needs to be informed of all the IT projects going on within various programs. When I asked him how often his "IT steering committee" meets, he said, oh, from time to time when I feel like it. In other words, if you actually depended on this so-called IT steering committee to get any real projects accomplished, you're sh1t out of luck. He's not adding any value, but needs to be in the loop to repeat everything that you have done to the IT people again, on an irregular and unreliable basis, just so that he looks important. In short, another time wasting hot air bag I have to deal with. To top it off, the idiot support guy, sensing that he's being cut out of "important decisions", launched into a 20 minute tirade about how spending $40k on implementing a software package is a "not a wise financial decision." OK, I can pay you, Mr. High School Graduate, $40k. Please write the software in 3 months. Thank god I'm well on my way to FI, and thank goodness for the enlightenment thanks to Dilbert that people really are idiots that I don't take this kind of stupidity seriously.

A lot of the already ERs are far removed from the day-to-day grind, idiocy, inefficiency, ego trips, back stabbing, and moronic behavior of a typical office to think that there is this nirvana of being able to just show up to work, get paid, and go home to live an interesting life. There is no such thing.

[Medit8]

Pulled the plug at 46, some 3 months ago. I took a year off 3 years ago, so I knew this is what I wanted to do. Love it and don't ever want to look back. The time I get to spend with my 2 young girls now is irreplacable.

[Midpack]

Good to see some replies from folks who have been retired for a long time. Not to slight those who have only been retired a few years, but it would seem you'll only know for sure if it was a good decision financially at the end of the plan. Retirement is about much more than $ and there are tradeoffs to making the $ work, but that part has to work to make the rest possible. Also make a big difference if you're FIRE or SIRE or where in that continuum. I am 55, not retired, and still can't figure out if I will work another year or 10...but it is helpful to read all the perspectives here.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack Good to see some replies from folks who have been retired for a long time. Not to slight those who have only been retired a few years, but it would seem you'll only know for sure if it was a good decision financially at the end of the plan.

Isn't that true regardless of how long any of us have been retired?

[Medit8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack Good to see some replies from folks who have been retired for a long time. Not to slight those who have only been retired a few years, but it would seem you'll only know for sure if it was a good decision financially at the end of the plan. Retirement is about much more than $ and there are tradeoffs to making the $ work, but that part has to work to make the rest possible. Also make a big difference if you're FIRE or SIRE or where in that continuum. I am 55, not retired, and still can't figure out if I will work another year or 10...but it is helpful to read all the perspectives here.

Ok, I'll bite. Financially, I am sure I won't have a problem. For me, it was a whole host of other considerations that came into play. I have conquered most of those other "demons" and I couldn't be happier about my choice. I could have done this 3 years ago, but am happy with the way things are turning out. And boy is my golf handicap getting better. Just shot my first 80 on Friday. Looking forward to getting under than shortly...

[Moemg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack Good to see some replies from folks who have been retired for a long time. Not to slight those who have only been retired a few years, but it would seem you'll only know for sure if it was a good decision financially at the end of the plan. Retirement is about much more than $ and there are tradeoffs to making the $ work, but that part has to work to make the rest possible. Also make a big difference if you're FIRE or SIRE or where in that continuum. I am 55, not retired, and still can't figure out if I will work another year or 10...but it is helpful to read all the perspectives .

Normally I would agree with you but several of us retired just as the economic melt down occurred .We watched our portfolios melt away . If that did not make us run for jobs or leave the country I think our plans were pretty good .

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Isn't that true regardless of how long any of us have been retired?

No interest in a dispute, but I guess I don't see how anyone will really know if their $ plan worked until the plan actually ends. Anytime before that, it's a calculated probability, but I don't have the experience many here have.

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medit8 Ok, I'll bite. Financially, I am sure I won't have a problem. For me, it was a whole host of other considerations that came into play. I have conquered most of those other "demons" and I couldn't be happier about my choice. I could have done this 3 years ago, but am happy with the way things are turning out. And boy is my golf handicap getting better. Just shot my first 80 on Friday. Looking forward to getting under than shortly...

OP's question was very open ended. In your case it is all about the important non-financial aspects, congratulations (really).

[BunsGettingFirm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack No interest in a dispute, but I guess I don't see how anyone will really know if their $ plan worked until the plan actually ends. Anytime before that, it's a calculated probability, but I don't have the experience many here have.

Yes, but everyone is preparing for the left tail. What about the right tail? A lot of people drop dead before they hit 60 as well.