Rethinking Retirement???

[bots2019]

CNN - Rethinking Retirement


"Those who say 'I'll never work again' are making a major, major mistake. Because they're going to find themselves adrift, away from a community purpose and a sense."

Hmm... a pretty sad thought that some can't autonomously find greater meaning in their lives than they're able to find through megacorp

I'll pass... it seems like these articles are trying to present the increasing numbers of those delaying retirement as some kind of social revolution... when in fact it's a financial necessity for most.

 

[Khan]

CNN - Rethinking Retirement


"Those who say 'I'll never work again' are making a major, major mistake. Because they're going to find themselves adrift, away from a community purpose and a sense."

Hmm... a pretty sad thought that some can't autonomously find greater meaning in their lives than they're able to find through megacorp

I'll pass... it seems like these articles are trying to present the increasing numbers of those delaying retirement as some kind of social revolution... when in fact it's a financial necessity for most.

Although some employees sitting in cubicles may long for the end to their work lives, sun-drenched days with tee-times, knitting and visiting the grandchildren, Howard Stone said retirees shouldn't retire, at least in the traditional sense of the word.
"Those who say 'I'll never work again' are making a major, major mistake. Because they're going to find themselves adrift, away from a community purpose and a sense," he said.

I just love people who know what I think/want/need.



I am happier and healthier than I have been in my whole previous life.



%^& him and the horse he rode in on.

 

[Webzter]

I have two major goals in retirement. The first is to really dig into photography... it's a passion now without enough time.

The second is to go back to college and be 'that creepy old guy in class'.

Between those two and travelling, I think I'll be fine, thank you very much...

 

[Helena]

Retirement of the baby boom generation
has the government and corporate America
scared stiff... so they resort to propaganda
to try to convince us not to retire.

 

[bssc]

This is a good article to keep people working longer and funding social security. Those of us here can think for ourselves.

 

[Goonie]

To Taylor Gandossy (the author of the article) and to CNN, I say "Eat Poo!"

I will NEVER w*rk again!!!

And THAT'S my final answer!!!

 

[Goonie]

"Nearly six in 10 baby boomers who intend to work after retirement say they want a job that gives them a greater sense of purpose....."

What greater sense of purpose could one have than to live and enjoy life fully, completely unencumbered by the shackles of a j*b?! My entire purpose in life, now that I'm retired, is to thoroughly enjoy endless days of play for the rest of my life!!! Scr*w w*rking after retirement!!!

 

[chinaco]

IMHO - People may be reluctant to take the initial step to ER (when older) for fear of being able to get the same wages if they need to reenter the workplace.

On a personal front, I believe there is a little anxiety about quiting work. Heck for most of us we have been doing it most of our lives. For some people, that is all they have socially.

Personally, my only concern about ER is financial (maintaining an acceptable lifestyle in the goods and services consumption sense). Finding structure, social connections, staying busy... those are things that I have little concern about.

 

[52andout]

If you want to stay busy and connected you can.
When I first left work I joined a local garden club and volunteered at a soup kitchen. Took a pottery class and am still throwing pots for fun. The people I am in contact with are so nice and really wonderful people. Fitness, reading all those books you never got around to, traveling in the off season, expanding your flower or vegetable garden, getting around to all the craft projects or home repairs you never had time to do, they are all waiting for you. You may have to try a few volunteer organizations to find a good fit. Habitat for Humanity, the red cross- the list goes on of good people doing good things. Next year my garden will be bigger so I can bring veggies to the soup kitchen with me.
The funny thing was my old coworkers kept calling me to meet for lunch as they were concerned about me. I didn't have time to meet with them and they just couldn't get it.

 

[audreyh1]

It truly, truly amazes me that so many people think the only kind of "community" available to humans is the workplace!!! Huh?

What is wrong with people?!?!?

Audrey

 

[Joss]

This situation sort of parallels the "participant vrs non-participant" discussion aspects of racing motorcycles (and probably many other "extreme" activities). To the non-participant, racing is a frightening and dangerous activity, with no positive value whatever. That people do it with joy and fervor is utterly beyond comprehension.

To the participant, short of a Vulcan mind-meld, there is just no way to convey the soul soaring reasons it appeals. And, in the end, most discussion distill down to "if you have to ask, you won't understand."


Personally, I can't imagine why otherwise sane people climb mountains or bungee-jump.



.... or continue to work past their "sell by" date.

 

[RunningBum]

As a telecommuter, when I work I'm bound to my house, working alone. I have a few phone calls a week, and IM and email people, but usually it's the same couple dozen or so people. When I retire, I'll be able to get out more during the day and meet more people. And I already have a couple of purposes in mind, like doing work for the local nature foundation and perhaps the volunteer fire department, which sound a lot more community oriented than keeping some software working.

 

[Cattusbabe]

If you want to stay busy and connected you can.
When I first left work I joined a local garden club and volunteered at a soup kitchen. Took a pottery class and am still throwing pots for fun. The people I am in contact with are so nice and really wonderful people. Fitness, reading all those books you never got around to, traveling in the off season, expanding your flower or vegetable garden, getting around to all the craft projects or home repairs you never had time to do, they are all waiting for you. You may have to try a few volunteer organizations to find a good fit. Habitat for Humanity, the red cross- the list goes on of good people doing good things. Next year my garden will be bigger so I can bring veggies to the soup kitchen with me.
The funny thing was my old coworkers kept calling me to meet for lunch as they were concerned about me. I didn't have time to meet with them and they just couldn't get it.

I love this post. This person has a life. This is the reason to FIRE. This is the stuff w**k keeps you from doing. I am 18 months FIRED. We have traveled and are doing all of those projects that needed doing around the house. I have time to spend with my elderly parents. We are also looking into taking pottery classes. Work is a means to and end. For me it was to get here. FIRED ASAP.

 

[Sandy]

I saw this article as well. It is sad that so many people do not know how to structure their own time and need someone else to do it for them.

I also agree that there is a cultural "sell" going on. The purpose of this sell is to help people justify continued employment when they are are financially unprepared for RE.

My recent vacation has only reinforced my desire to FIRE so that I can have the time to do what I want to do when I want to do it.

 

[Eagle43]

Seventy-seven (77) million baby boomers coming down the retirement road. Somebody's got to convince some of them to keep working longer. As for me and my house, we shall continue in ER with a watchful eye on our Index Funds, hoping for the best.

 

[Mudd]

Did I read a different article? Granted I think what the Stone's said of making a huge mistake of retiring/lack of communtiy is a total croc, but the rest of the article was good. It states that you better have a plan if you're going to up and quit. Now to me that plan might be never working again, but if you have a passion about sculpting/wine making/writing children books, and you make some money doing it- That's o.k. in my book.

Mudd

 

[Spanky]

Nearly six in 10 baby boomers who intend to work after retirement say they want a job that gives them a greater sense of purpose, according to a 2005 MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures New Face of Work Survey.

I do not have any intention to work after retirement.

 

[unclemick]

Welllllll - for those of us with fairly sick and demented minds - it wasn't too many years back when I could put on a pot of coffee in the morning and sit on the back deck over Lake Ponchartrain and look across and watch the poor bastards bumper to bumper commuting into the city to 'work.'

The shear joy of not working, never volunteering for nothing and doing absolutely nothing 'meaningful' (or any other crap like that) was overwhelming.

Of course in 13 years of ER - you always get sucked (suckered??) into things.

But that's yet another story which I would only admit to after torture and if my 5th amendment rights were violated.

heh heh heh - doing absolutely nothing is great if you can sneak it in while doing nothing in particular!

 

[Life_is_Good]

No Way!

After 2 years of ER, I don't plan on working any more. I'm having too much fun doing whatever.... every day. I've taken up a few new hobbies and now have time for the simple pleasures... like reading books! Luckily, my wife and I get along so neither of us is going crazy with both of us hanging around (she ER'd 11 years ago).

 

[playaman]

Part of me can hardly wait to enjoy the freedom to be free; part of me, though, is apprehensive. I actually enjoy what I do, but I'm also tired of doing it .... Change is not always easy, and going from a structured to a non-structured environment is not an insignificant change.

In any event, I have declined a contract renewal and the final FIRE date remains fixed -- July 31, 2008. In other words, one year and counting...!

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

%^& him and the horse he rode in on.

And everyone that LOOKS like him! or the horse!


To be fair, a whole lot of people live a life thats simply a string of distractions. Work is a major distraction. Take it away...better have some other ones for replacements.

 

[laurence]

I've met people who love to work and retired only when health required it, in their 70's+, and that's fine, more power to them. What bothers me is how many people on either side of this choice seem to feel the other side is full of people needing medical attention.

A Wiccan golden rule I like - "And it harm none, do what ye will.".

...but I suspect this is just more re-hashed fluff written up to make a deadline and fill white space.

 

[FIREd]

Free thinkers and independent people are dangerous for society... It is in society's best interest for people to think that there is no life beyond work, so that they'll keep working, producing goods, creating wealth, and paying taxes while keeping their mounth shut. It is always easier to control people who depend on a paycheck for their survival...

 

[Goonie]

If you want to stay busy and connected you can.
When I first left work I joined a local garden club and volunteered at a soup kitchen. Took a pottery class and am still throwing pots for fun. The people I am in contact with are so nice and really wonderful people. Fitness, reading all those books you never got around to, traveling in the off season, expanding your flower or vegetable garden, getting around to all the craft projects or home repairs you never had time to do, they are all waiting for you. ..............The funny thing was my old coworkers kept calling me to meet for lunch as they were concerned about me. I didn't have time to meet with them and they just couldn't get it.

I joined a local garden club several months before I retired, just to meet some new folks who had similar interests as me. They're a great bunch of people, and we have a lot of fun together. I expanded our gardens this year (and will expand more next year) and added in some more veggies.

It's nice now also that I have time to catch up on my reading...books & magazines both. I'll grab a magazine and a mug of iced tea, and go out and sit in the garden and read the thing cover to cover. I also have my old hobbies to devote more time to....if I can ever find the time!

My former co-w*rkers think I sit around all day and never leave the house, because they hardly ever see me. I try explaining to them that they hardly ever see me, because I'm always busy doing something or off on another trip. They, too, just don't get it!

 

[W2R]

Once I retire, I'd suffer a lot of privation before going back to work. I am doing what I can right now to make sure I can manage in my old age, but once I retire I will not work any more!!!

Getting a part time, non-strenuous job may not be an easy option to pursue. There are going to be 340986762309487 or more seniors applying for each part time "Welcome to Wal-Mart" or "Will you have fries with that order, Sir?" job, and such jobs are going to be hard to impossible to find due to competition from other seniors who haven't adequately prepared for their retirements.

At least, that is my prediction. It's worth every cent you paid for it.