I Think I'll Keep Working

[Aiming_4_55]

BTW - If one enjoys their job and have no outside demands on their time which is more enjoyable, Congrats on finding that dream. For me, I have many outside interests were my job is only providing $$ and medical benefits for the time being.

 

[urn2bfree]

Regarding this business about "doing nothing" the Italians have a wonderful phrase:
LA DOLCE FARNIENTE =
the sweetness of doing nothing

I look forward to that sweetness --someday.

 

[Nords]

If transitioning to retirement is a problem now, will it get any easier after working a few more years? It seems to me that, the longer you work, the more you identify with your job and the less you have time to build a strong social network outside of work. Hence working longer could make the transition to retirement that much more painful. Perhaps it is why early retirees on this forum don't identify strongly with the subjects in the study.

"Just one more year"...

 

[Aiming_4_55]

If transitioning to retirement is a problem now, will it get any easier after working a few more years? It seems to me that, the longer you work, the more you identify with your job and the less you have time to build a strong social network outside of work. Hence working longer could make the transition to retirement that much more painful. Perhaps it is why early retirees on this forum don't identify strongly with the subjects in the study.

Sure with poorer health/stress do to megacrap.

 

[martyb]

Fabulous perspective!

Q: What do you do?
A: Nothing

I live for this moment

+1

 

[Danmar]

If transitioning to retirement is a problem now, will it get any easier after working a few more years? It seems to me that, the longer you work, the more you identify with your job and the less you have time to build a strong social network outside of work. Hence working longer could make the transition to retirement that much more painful. Perhaps it is why early retirees on this forum don't identify strongly with the subjects in the study.

I'm not sure it would get easier. In my case (not typical I know) I think I have some regrets about not sticking it out longer and making a greater success of my career. Perhaps getting to the next level was in reach if I had tried harder and enjoyed it more. This isn't a big deal to me but does cross my mind sometimes. I suspect most people here would think I'm nuts.

 

[old woman]

I didn't retire yet at 63, got a 8% raise this week so now making even more money. I was already saving a major amount of money. I have surpassed my goals for retirement savings but am not thinking so much about retiring.

Two years to Medicare so that is about my minimum. Giving up 60K or so a year to stay home doesn't sound like much fun. First my boyfriend will start asking what I did all day if I don't do cooking and cleaning. I am not motivated without deadlines so knowing how I was as a housewife I can see my days as drinking coffee until afternoon, then a nap or read a book.

I like work because I have to get up, shower and dressed in the car and on the road. The work is easy and the boss appreciates me.

I will wait until I really want to move farther from work so the commute is bad. Then spend the first year getting a new house picked and move and sell the old house. That sounds like so much work I rather go sit at my desk and fiddle with things.

 

[FIREd]

I'm not sure it would get easier. In my case (not typical I know) I think I have some regrets about not sticking it out longer and making a greater success of my career. Perhaps getting to the next level was in reach if I had tried harder and enjoyed it more. This isn't a big deal to me but does cross my mind sometimes. I suspect most people here would think I'm nuts.

I can understand that. Actually my wife is still working because trying to "get to the next level" is what gets her out of bed in the morning. She was promoted to the VP level of a fairly large company yesterday, so there is only one level left for her to conquer. I doubt she will give up until she reaches that ultimate level. Granted, DW is one who gets a lot of her identity from her work and who (I suspect) will have a harder time transitioning to retirement.

 

[Pete44]

Where in Thailand do you live? My uncle lives in Phu Noi, south of Hua Hin, and we've got family friends in Bangkok. After visiting Thailand one of my semi-retirement ideas is starting a game development studio on a beach there. Much lower amount of money coming in needed to fund that lifestyle than living here in California.

Living in a luxurious apartment, multiple pools, five minutes from the beach in Phuket. You can live a nice life here for $2k a month. You have to be willing to make a few sacrifices however. I've given up on beef, wine and cheese for instance. Live like a Thai instead of a westener. Having said that, this is more of an adult Disneyland than the rest of Thailand.

I'll try and do a post about SE Asia alternatives and the financial aspects of living here. I don't want to get off topic any more than I have.

 

[Spanky]

I can understand that. Actually my wife is still working because trying to "get to the next level" is what gets her out of bed in the morning. She was promoted to the VP level of a fairly large company yesterday, so there is only one level left for her to conquer. I doubt she will give up until she reaches that ultimate level. Granted, DW is one who gets a lot of her identity from her work and who (I suspect) will have a harder time transitioning to retirement.

More power to her. She may get there eventually. The question is what is next after that?
By the way, my brother who is in his 60s is still working for the next goal - business success. He is definitely financially independent as he has practiced medicine for years and owns a couple of clinics, but he now has also ventured into the patient data management business.
As for me, I like to get into the next level. However, getting there is not important as I do derive great satisfaction from a promotion.

 

[okapi]

I lost my identity in retirement.Yes it"s everything I thought it would be.Love it!Love the solitude also.

 

[Aviator]

What a great thread! Agree with most that I won't have a problem being "retired." Soon to be 50 and one year away from my retirement date, I've had a great military career and will leave with no regrets, only fond memories. Most of my friends serving on active duty have transitioned to the Federal civilian workforce in the DC area and continue the same grind they had on active duty for most of the same reasons mentioned earlier: prestige, money, few interests outside of work, lifestyle, maybe defining themselves by what they do for a living, etc. I get lots of raised eyebrows when asked what my plans are when I get out of the service, especially when I tell them I'm building a dream home (with cash) on 40 acres (I own) in the boonies of Northern Michigan, where it's so "depressed." When asked what will you do, I simply say "whatever I want" then watch their expression. My only dilemma will be .... how am I going to possibly do all of this fishing, golfing, hunting, reading, gardening, hiking, camping, travelling, camping, exercising, biking, visiting friends and family, volunteering?

 

[yakers]

My only dilemma will be .... how am I going to possibly do all of this fishing, golfing, hunting, reading, gardening, hiking, camping, travelling, camping, exercising, biking, visiting friends and family, volunteering?

UP! Forgot to add: shoveling snow, battling mosquitoes, black fly, etc

 

[Danmar]

Lot's of responses that imply "no problems with retirement". This is to be expected with a FIRE discussion board. There are more complicated and diverse views though(perhaps including mine). For those with a fulfilling and interesting career(minority here for sure) retirement isn't as "cut and dried" as some might think. Would be interested in hearing more of these views if possible.

 

[REWahoo]

For those with a fulfilling and interesting career(minority here for sure) retirement isn't as "cut and dried" as some might think. Would be interested in hearing more of these views if possible.

Why would someone with a fulfilling and interesting career be hanging around an early retirement board? If it were me I'd be too busy to waste my time here.

 

[travelover]

...... Would be interested in hearing more of these views if possible.

Sorry, I can't help. I had a boring and unfulfilling career. I only have uncomplicated and undiverse views.

 

[DallasGuy]

I sometimes wonder if the type of career you had before you retired has alot to do with how happy you are after you retire. IN GENERAL, my guess is that people in high prestige types of careers (ie. doctor, lawyer, ceo, etc.) have a more difficult time adjusting to retirement than people in non high prestige types of work because they miss the extra attention they don't get after they retire. Also, they probably invested more time and effort getting to that level of prestige and have a hard time justifying early retirement because it took so much effort to get to that point. My brother in law is a doctor and almost 70 years old and continues to work and my impression is that his identity is so tied to being a doctor that he has a hard time letting go of it. I was a computer programmer before I retired at 53 and although it was a good career for 30 years, in my opinion it didn't impress people very much...I had little trouble letting go of it and adjusted to retirement fairly quickly.

 

[Gone4Good]

For those with a fulfilling and interesting career(minority here for sure) retirement isn't as "cut and dried" as some might think. Would be interested in hearing more of these views if possible.

I had an interesting and fulfilling career as discussed here. But it wasn't so interesting and fulfilling that I wanted to devote my every waking moment and thought to it. I have other things I want to do in life, and my career prevented me from doing those things . . . so it had to go.

What's more, I can't think of an interesting and fulfilling career that isn't all consuming. It seems that you either punch a clock or are racing against the clock. There is no in between, at least as far as I can tell. I'm sure some folks have found Nirvana: the perfect trade-off between a fulfilling career and a fulfilling life outside of work. Unfortunately I never saw it from any vantage point I've ever held.

 

[Nords]

I didn't retire yet at 63, got a 8% raise this week so now making even more money. I was already saving a major amount of money. I have surpassed my goals for retirement savings but am not thinking so much about retiring.

Two years to Medicare so that is about my minimum. Giving up 60K or so a year to stay home doesn't sound like much fun. First my boyfriend will start asking what I did all day if I don't do cooking and cleaning. I am not motivated without deadlines so knowing how I was as a housewife I can see my days as drinking coffee until afternoon, then a nap or read a book.

I like work because I have to get up, shower and dressed in the car and on the road. The work is easy and the boss appreciates me.

I will wait until I really want to move farther from work so the commute is bad. Then spend the first year getting a new house picked and move and sell the old house. That sounds like so much work I rather go sit at my desk and fiddle with things.

The sarcasm of this post seems too subtle even for me.

Would be interested in hearing more of these views if possible.

Why would someone with a fulfilling and interesting career be hanging around an early retirement board? If it were me I'd be too busy to waste my time here.

You know that scene in [insert movie name here] where the main characters realize that they've wandered into the wrong bar?

 

[MasterBlaster]

I sometimes wonder if the type of career you had before you retired has alot to do with how happy you are after you retire. IN GENERAL, my guess is that people in high prestige types of careers (ie. doctor, lawyer, ceo, etc.) have a more difficult time adjusting to retirement than people in non high prestige types of work because they miss the extra attention they don't get after they retire.

The book pointed out that many physicians keep working into their 70's (perhaps in a reduced manner). They indeed like the status and the income which their career provided.

Lot's of responses that imply "no problems with retirement". This is to be expected with a FIRE discussion board. There are more complicated and diverse views though(perhaps including mine). For those with a fulfilling and interesting career(minority here for sure) retirement isn't as "cut and dried" as some might think. Would be interested in hearing more of these views if possible.

There have been a number of threads containing references to this topic...

Our member CarDude (among others) was fiancially successful but didn't quite enjoy all of that free time. He went back into business a couple days a week. You can read his post about it here:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/sucked-back-into-the-car-business-55882.html

Another member (Emshays) wanted to go back and work (part time):

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f26/i-flunked-retirement-38284.html

There are more similar posts if you keep looking in the archives...

 

[REWahoo]

You know that scene in [insert movie name here] where the main characters realize that they've wandered into the wrong bar?

 

[FIREd]

More power to her. She may get there eventually. The question is what is next after that?

I guess we'll see when we get there...

As I have said before, I am not militant when it comes to retirement, let alone early retirement. I understand that retiring is not for everyone. If my wife decides that it is not for her, then I am not going to stand in the way. Retiring made me happier and she respects that. If working is what makes her happier, I will respect that.

 

[MasterBlaster]

For me, the FI part of FIRE is much more important than the RE part. Everyone is different though. So to each his own...

Advice I would give based on my experience: If you enjoy your work and are reasonably well paid, keep working until you don't.

I agree with that logic

 

[yakers]

For me, the FI part of FIRE is much more important than the RE part.

Yep, that is what it really is about. I liked my previous boss so much that I would have stayed as long as he did. Told DW they could drag me out of there. And there were some medical issues. But stayed 2 years after FI because I enjoyed work and liked the income & benefits. Now I had 2 two year periods in my 35 year career that I 'worked for a jerk'. Becoming FI meant I jerk proofed my work life and it just got better.

I REALLY agree that the point is FI, then do whatever you want, nothing wrong with work if you like it. Actually getting to FI was an important psychological point for me as I could no longer claim that I 'had' to work and I had to admit that I was actually doing whatever I want.

 

[Jamtin34]

Jerk-proof... that's beautifully said!