Jealous brothers and sisters?

Brdofpray

Brdofpray

Recycles dryer sheets
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Jan 13, 2012
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Upstate SC
Does anybody have relatives that are jealous about your early retirement? We have several. In particular, my brother-in-law constantly calls us "retarded" (his joke instead of calling us retired). He is our age, a doctor. We think he would like to follow us, but doesn't want to give up his current income stream.

When he makes these comments, we just smile.
 
No, my little brother retired when he was 40. Except for one sister, my other siblings are retired or semi-retired by the time they turned 50.
 
Brother ER'd at 50, went into business for himself, now has military reserves pension/govt pension/SS/consulting work/does whatevertheheckhewants. I'm the "drudge" in the family!

Some people just seem to think it's cute to say "We're retarded" instead of retired. Their sense of humor may be, shall we say, a little mentally-challenged. Just tell Dr. BIL that prolonged jealousy lasting more than 4 hours is bad for one's health :D

Amethyst

Brdofpray said:
Does anybody have relatives that are jealous about your early retirement? We have several. In particular, my brother-in-law constantly calls us "retarded" (his joke instead of calling us retired). He is our age, a doctor. We think he would like to follow us, but doesn't want to give up his current income stream.

When he makes these comments, we just smile.
Click to expand...
 
I retired at 61, and both my big brothers retired about ten years younger than that.

Brdofpray said:
my brother-in-law constantly calls us "retarded" (his joke instead of calling us retired).
Click to expand...

That isn't even funny. Sounds to me like he has quite a problem dealing with your retirement.
 
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My sister talks about retiring all the time now that I've retired, though she never did before I retired. My whole family was very surprised but she's happy for me more than overtly jealous. She is 5 years older than me...
 
I've mentioned many times that I retired at age 51. Sister and her husband went to about 58 for retirement. Brother, although he could have retired many years ago, is still hanging on. He's now 65 but has it made. If I had a deal like he has, I wouldn't retire either. In fact, when he tried to retire about three yedars ago, he about went nuts. Really, he almost had a breakdown. Went into depression. Was under treatment. Decided he just had to go back to "work". He just has to have something going all the time, needs to stay busy. He's happier than a pig in p**p! Some people are just like that. Me? I was burned out and had to get out of there.
 
I don't communicate with any of the people that share my DNA.
 
I am the youngest of three siblings, and thus far, the only one who has retired. I pulled the plug five years ago at 50. My brother is 64, enjoys his job, and hasn't even mentioned retiring. He's said several times that he's happy that I was able to retire so young and enjoy my freedom. He said he really enjoys what he does, and doesn't think he'd be as content if he retired yet.

On the other hand, my 60 year old sister is fairly unhappy that I was the first of us three to retire. By her choice, up until a few years ago she's always had jobs that were 'fun' or 'fulfilling' but that did not offer decent wages or benefits and no retirement plans or pensions. Then a few years ago, after her divorce, she realized that she needed a job that provided some security, as well as wages and benefits (even if it wasn't 'fun') that would allow her to retire sometime prior to her 100th birthday. She'll be able to retire and collect a pension in about five years, at 65.

She has expressed some jealousy over my early retirement and the freedom that I have, and has made digs about it. But I just shrug it off and figure that all three of us had about the same start in life. And each of us chose different routes in life. Therefore, our lives are what each of us made them, nothing more and nothing less.
 
I have six sisters. All of my sisters inherited the LBYM genes from our parents. Jealous? I don't think so. I think if anything they are working towards their own FI.
 
I am the one who is jealous of my younger sister, retired now ten (?) years.

But she had a high stress job that wasn't that much fun and I am still groovin', so we just get together and party when we are back in the country.
 
I have had my share of jealous relatives and acquaintances. My parents proudly told someone I was retired at 50, and the response was "you mean retarded". My parents did not know how to respond. My BIL wanted to retire early but really did not have any ability to retire. So, for the last two years every encounter with him has been a little tense. We do not see him very often anymore. Old co-workers also commented about how lucky I am. I agree I am fortunate and a benefit of my current situation is I can choose who I associate with, and who I can leave behind.
I did not anticipate any jealousy from anyone. I must be a little niave and thought that people would just be happy for me.
 
There are so many other issues a sibling can be jealous about. My sister, I think, is jealous because my children are accomplished while her son, in which she had so much invested, has a serious mental illness. She is wealthy, financially, while my wealth is in grand children. I wouldn't want to trade places.
 
My brother's always followed his own path, so it hasn't been an issue. He certainly doesn't begrudge me the path I followed.

He and his long-time GF have bought a third-hand RV and they're planning to sell the dog-care business in a few years. They'll roam the country picking up collectibles to sell on Etsy. Caring for our Dad may have put that plan on the shelf, or at least limited it to a few weeks of vacation at a time.
 
Why even the need to respond ? I would move on with my life and think about more important things than relatives' jealous comments.
pb4uski said:
Respond that it would be retarded to work when you don't have to?
Click to expand...
 
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I just tell them I'm on sabbatical. Then after a few years, maybe on hiatus, then after a few years, on a quest. Then after a few years ....
 
I have a big family. My siblings applaud my actions. Many of my nephews and nieces and our kids see DW and I as role models for sensible work/life balance.
 
Goonie said:
....On the other hand, my 60 year old sister is fairly unhappy that I was the first of us three to retire. By her choice, up until a few years ago she's always had jobs that were 'fun' or 'fulfilling' but that did not offer decent wages or benefits and no retirement plans or pensions. Then a few years ago, after her divorce, she realized that she needed a job that provided some security, as well as wages and benefits (even if it wasn't 'fun') that would allow her to retire sometime prior to her 100th birthday. She'll be able to retire and collect a pension in about five years, at 65.

She has expressed some jealousy over my early retirement and the freedom that I have, and has made digs about it. But I just shrug it off and figure that all three of us had about the same start in life. And each of us chose different routes in life. Therefore, our lives are what each of us made them, nothing more and nothing less.
Click to expand...

Strange how some people are unwilling to accept the cumulative effect of the decisions that they have made. If something good happens to a friend or family, I'm happy for them, not jealous of them. Be it good decisions or luck, good for them!!! Life is too short to bear grudges.
 
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