How often do people tell you that you are too young to retire?

[W2R]

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Originally Posted by David1961 In my experience, at least 90% who say I am too young to retire are really jealous.

Either that or they are trying to compliment the retiree by pointing out a youthful appearance.

[braumeister]

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Originally Posted by rodi I still don't have much grey hair.

Very common. Many of us don't have much hair, and it's grey.

[purplesky]

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Originally Posted by Forced to Retire I was talking to another early retired person who got out of the workplace at sixty and he told me that if one more person tells him he is too young to retire, there is going to be a murder! He told me in complete furious anger that he has now decided to change the subject when strangers at social events ask him what he does for a living. He used to tell them with a smile on his face that he was retired. They would look at him, frown and tell him that he was way to young to retire. And then make him feel guilty or act like he is some sad middle aged man who can't cut it in the work world. Is this your experience in live after fire?

Retiring at age 60 is really close to the normal ball park retirement age For people that planned and saved properly for retirement
Sounds kind of strange that he would have furious anger Towards strangers who act surprised about a 60-year-old man being retired In 2016

I don't know anyone that would tell a 60-year-old man that you are way too young to retire .

Considering this guy can take 401(k) withdrawals now without penalty since he is passed age 59 1/2 I think the IRS would agree also that he's not too young to retire

And access to Social Security is not far away

So what planet do the social events take place on?

[2017ish]

Better to be asked "aren't you too young to retire?" than "Aren't you too old to be working"!

[healthyandfun]

I find most people that make this comment can't think beyond their little bubble. They have a view of how things should be and can't imagine that things might be different for someone else. I have messed up their view of reality!! Shame on me!!

[HFWR]

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Originally Posted by Ronstar One problem in saying "I'm a consultant" is that sometimes nosy people get more inquisitive and want to know what kind of consulting work we do.

Tell them the "agency" doesn't allow you to discuss such matters. Then mumble something about witness protection...

[flyingaway]

When people say you are too young to retire, that is a compliment. Just like to tell a 40 years old woman that she looks like 20 years old. You are too young to be 40.

[redduck]

Not often enough.

[OverThinkMuch]

"I'm taking a break. Several times in my career I've saved up money and taken a sabbatical, and gone back to work later."

Then the conversation is about what I did on sabbatical (not much, sorry!) or what I'm up to now. It's truthful, and a much easier conversation than talking about how much money I must have if I've retired early.

But if it's been too long to be on break, I may have other posters here to thank when I start saying that I'm a consultant.

[Major Tom]

As we all know, it is not the norm to retire at anything much before the mid 50's at the earliest. When talking to someone who is younger than that and finding that they are retired, most people are going to throw out a partially thought-out response, such as "How did you manage that?" or "You're too young to retire!" I imagine most of these comments were cooked up in a very short space of time, in response to information they are not used to being presented with ("I'm retired, and I'm under 55"). Shortly after making these types of comments, I'd bet that most folk forget them and move on to thinking about much more important things, such as when they get off work, what they're going to eat for dinner tonight, or whether that cutie in the next department really did smile at them, and what that might mean.

In short, I don't think others are thinking about us as much as we'd like to think they are. Yet, we find plenty of ways to imagine that they are, and talk about it in this online forum

[mystang52]

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Originally Posted by Helena . Most people are envious that I was blessed to retire at age 55. .

Sort of related, when I got the "you're too young to retire," or, "how were you able to it?" I simply said I was fortunate. Nearly all of the time that ended further discussion on the matter.

[UnrealizedPotential]

I thought 46 was too young to retire. But then I thought if I can do it , who's to say I can't? Hardly anyone has asked me anything about it and I do not tell anyone anything. It's not a good subject. That said I don't look that old so maybe everyone thinks I can't find a job. Either way I don't lose sleep over it.

[UpAnchor]

In my 50's I looked forward to the day someone would say, "You look too old to be retired!" to which I could reply, "And you look to old to be working!" But OMY intervened and now it'll never happen.

Quite regularly I do have folks ask what I used to do or what I do now. I don't look at it as nosiness. I just think many people are helped by having a mental picture of me (or anyone else) as "that guy who used be a blah blah for the blah blah, etc." I'm honest knowing they'll probably forget the details anyway and, at the most, will just remember that "he used to do some kind of engineering work".

As for what I do with my time now? Yes, I can tire of that one. But still, I don't read anything into it. UNLESS someone makes the rash assumption that I must feel unproductive, unchallenged, or bored and takes it upon his/herself to solve my "problem" by finding things for me to do. I shut that down as politely as possible. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they can detect a temperature rise and realize they've stepped over a line. And that's ok by me.

[Milton]

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Originally Posted by Sojourner I know that in other parts of the world, asking someone what they do for a living is considered impolite, but in the U.S. it is extremely common, almost to the point where it's unusual not to hear it when meeting someone for the first time.

While I don't consider it terribly offensive, the question does seem rather tacky. It necessarily implies that one is a mere 'wage slave' who has no choice but to toil away at some drudge vocation.

"How do you spend your time?" is a much better question, IMHO.

P.S. Worth reading: Life's Most Dangerous Question.

[RE2Boys]

Up until very recently, I always used the phrase "semi-retired" as I do work about 3 months each year in a seasonal accounting job (tax season). If asked any further, I just say firm was downsizing and made a good early retirement offer....which is exactly what happened. If they said anything about being too young, I took it as a compliment and would comment that I look younger than I look, which is/was also very true as they are usually very surprised when/if they ever learn my age.

But in last five years, I guess I'm starting to look more like a senior, hair turned completely gray, skin is changing, and I even noticed how tired I felt at the end of my 20 mile bicycle ride yesterday.