tangomonster
Full time employment: Posting here.
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2006
- Messages
- 757
I thought I had done well by retiring at 52. A week ago, a guy started a Meetup group for early retirees. The description was:
Growing up, I was always envious of characters in Woody Allen movies that seem to never have to work and all they did was socialize, go to restaurants and museums and other various places with their friends and other associates of the same lifestyle. It is a fortunate thing to have a life where you have little to no work and can enjoy every day like it is a weekend. You don’t go to an office, you don’t commute, you don’t prepare for meetings. You’re not a housewife/husband or stay-at-home parent while your partner goes every day to bring home the bread. You are your own boss. You never have to schedule time off. You vacation when you want, sometimes months at a time. You eat out all the time. No matter how you came to this lifestyle, you are truly blessed. But . . . You have no one to share it with.
You have all this free time now, and you want to fill it with activities, hobbies, and outings, but nobody wants to do these things alone and all your friends work every day, and are too tired to do things at night.
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Sounds great, right? But then he goes on to say:
The only people who are out there with the same availability seem to be nothing but 50 and 60 year olds, who despite having a similar schedule, you have nothing else really in common with. This group is a beacon for intelligent, fun people in their 20's and 30's who are functionally retired and at a lost to find people to connect with. You are either completely retired or work takes up only a few hours of time a week, allowing you to be free to do anything you like without a restricted schedule or budget. This doesn't mean rich or trust-fund kids, by any means. I don't have a mansion or sports cars, but I can go watch a movie on a weekday, or go to the High, or go shopping or to a gym or club.
And this is for people in their 20’s and 30’s. When I started this meetup, I used the term “young,” but I know now that such a term is ambiquious. There are some people who are 50 who still feel they are young, and rightfully so. Everyone has their own definition of young. We are by no means exclusive or limiting in membership. Anyone who wants to join can join. However, if you are 45, 55, 65 and retired, there are hundreds of groups and meet ups out there with similar aged people. For young people, 25-40, there is nothing. We will never say no to anyone who wants to join, but please make sure you are comfortable with the atmosphere you are joining. I’ve had 50 year olds who say they don’t want to hang out with people in their 70’s and 80’s, but want to spend extended time with people in their 20’s and 30’s. Activities could range from going to the theater to paintball, video games, maybe even some types of recreation extreme sports, etc. I apologize if this group sounds elitist, as I assure it is not. All races, sexual preference, and religion are welcome.
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He's entitled to start any group he wants----but does he honestly think he is going to find even a handful of retirees under 40? Ironically, the first two people who joined are in their 50's (women whose husbands work). Then a 36 yo stay-at-home housewife joined. Then a 40 something self-employed woman. Then a couple of women about 35 who work, but say they have flexible schedules and are "mentally retired."
I actually think it's difficult to find people to play with during the day who are younger than 70---and this guy wants them under 40! But it definitely made me realize I am not as early a retiree as I thought---and while I think being FIREd has kept me youthful, obviously a 30 yo would disagree!
Growing up, I was always envious of characters in Woody Allen movies that seem to never have to work and all they did was socialize, go to restaurants and museums and other various places with their friends and other associates of the same lifestyle. It is a fortunate thing to have a life where you have little to no work and can enjoy every day like it is a weekend. You don’t go to an office, you don’t commute, you don’t prepare for meetings. You’re not a housewife/husband or stay-at-home parent while your partner goes every day to bring home the bread. You are your own boss. You never have to schedule time off. You vacation when you want, sometimes months at a time. You eat out all the time. No matter how you came to this lifestyle, you are truly blessed. But . . . You have no one to share it with.
You have all this free time now, and you want to fill it with activities, hobbies, and outings, but nobody wants to do these things alone and all your friends work every day, and are too tired to do things at night.
*************************************************
Sounds great, right? But then he goes on to say:
The only people who are out there with the same availability seem to be nothing but 50 and 60 year olds, who despite having a similar schedule, you have nothing else really in common with. This group is a beacon for intelligent, fun people in their 20's and 30's who are functionally retired and at a lost to find people to connect with. You are either completely retired or work takes up only a few hours of time a week, allowing you to be free to do anything you like without a restricted schedule or budget. This doesn't mean rich or trust-fund kids, by any means. I don't have a mansion or sports cars, but I can go watch a movie on a weekday, or go to the High, or go shopping or to a gym or club.
And this is for people in their 20’s and 30’s. When I started this meetup, I used the term “young,” but I know now that such a term is ambiquious. There are some people who are 50 who still feel they are young, and rightfully so. Everyone has their own definition of young. We are by no means exclusive or limiting in membership. Anyone who wants to join can join. However, if you are 45, 55, 65 and retired, there are hundreds of groups and meet ups out there with similar aged people. For young people, 25-40, there is nothing. We will never say no to anyone who wants to join, but please make sure you are comfortable with the atmosphere you are joining. I’ve had 50 year olds who say they don’t want to hang out with people in their 70’s and 80’s, but want to spend extended time with people in their 20’s and 30’s. Activities could range from going to the theater to paintball, video games, maybe even some types of recreation extreme sports, etc. I apologize if this group sounds elitist, as I assure it is not. All races, sexual preference, and religion are welcome.
*****************************************************
He's entitled to start any group he wants----but does he honestly think he is going to find even a handful of retirees under 40? Ironically, the first two people who joined are in their 50's (women whose husbands work). Then a 36 yo stay-at-home housewife joined. Then a 40 something self-employed woman. Then a couple of women about 35 who work, but say they have flexible schedules and are "mentally retired."
I actually think it's difficult to find people to play with during the day who are younger than 70---and this guy wants them under 40! But it definitely made me realize I am not as early a retiree as I thought---and while I think being FIREd has kept me youthful, obviously a 30 yo would disagree!
. 
. Filled with mostly women around age 70, common sidebar topics of discussion included grandchildren or great grandchildren, friends who had just died, illnesses from which they or their friends suffer, etc. Not trying to perpetuate a stereotype, just relaying what I experienced. 
