Unclemick2 and others......

[OldAgePensioner]

um2, how did you unplug from engineering mentality at ER. I find that with every issue about retirement, I go into trade-matrix mode. Spreadsheets, scenarions (from market collapse to 50% returns), and I have a little notebook in my pocket to jot notes. It's making me ill.

Nothing in my education or career prepared me to be happy, don't worry. The real tough one is letting go of accumulation.

[Newell]

I found two ways of dealing with this. Living substantially below my means for about 15 years before retirement and actually retiring about two years before I told my employer that I had done so.

[unclemick]

The engineering mentality never dies - like male hormones and the stock market - it's incurable and unkillable.

So I just let it run - deliberately don't act on it from time to time - and go out once in a while and force myself to do something stupid and frivolous(engineering trade -off wise that is).

No longer have a daytimer, planner of any kind, try not make lists.

Last major incident 1999 - after my beater 1993 Dodge Spirit died one more time of many - the SO threw her check book with a signed check book at me - DO NOT SHOP! - GO BUY A NEW TRUCK - TODAY - take your rental car - BUY "ME" - NOT YOU - F#!KING TRUCK - WITH A/C. 1999 Chevy Silverado - turned in the rental near the dealer(Enterprise). Called the mechanic and had him sell the beater for parts. In my head - still run the numbers on how bad the trade off was - but keep my mouth shut - discresion being the better part of valor.

It's incurable - you just have to train yourself to step outside make/buy, life cyle costing, spreadsheets - and just do something silly anyway - it helps to have some women around - to let you know - "you aren't getting any younger" and " you cheap bastard - you can't take it with you."

It gets easier with time - but like male hormones - never fully goes away.

Heh, heh, heh

[maddythebeagle]

"actually retiring about two years before I told my employer that I had done so."

My employer is actually doing a good job of encouraging this.

[OldAgePensioner]

um2, agreed it's unkillable. 20 years ago, I sat next to a blonde beauty in my Chey blazer and discussed the red/green light switching at the intersection of Manhattan Bch Blvd and Hawthorne Blvd.

She said "Don't you ever stop analyzing things." and stupid me, I said why would I wont to do that. She said, "Well, maybe, just maybe, I could enjoy my life with you a little more." Ahemmm errr, gotcha ya.

Actually, I am a bit of an out-of-boxer. Lived in a hotel room for 2 years, went with out a car in Australia for 5 years (nearest town was 1500k) and gave away my car in England with 6 months to retirement. I wanted to drop the big crusher plate on it but the "breaker-yard" guy so "N" "O".


Today's project is buy home vs rent, so I'm off to the harware store to see how much plumbing O-rings cost. Need to get an estimate of annual repair costs for the spreadsheet.

Thanks.

bykur,
Job wouldn't let me just kick back, so I started working off-hours to get way from cow-orkers and bossers.

[moghopper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldAgePensioner Nothing in my education or career prepared me to be happy, don't worry. The real tough one is letting go of accumulation.

Hey, OAP, did you ever look at your personality type?
http://www.retireearlyhomepage.com/mbti.html

[OldAgePensioner]

mog, not really but others have and from their descriptions I'm a little worried to find out.*


OK, just took it ENTJ. And yuck, that pretty much is what others have said.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

The accumulation/spending thing died off on me after a couple of years.

The analysis doesnt stop, it just finds other occupations. Drives my wife crazy every now and then, but she puts up with it

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notth The analysis doesnt stop, it just finds other occupations.* Drives my wife crazy every now and then, but she puts up with it

It finds other targets, too.

I've found that it's much more fun to torment my daughter with those "Did you ever wonder?" questions. Besides she can't reach over, rip the keys out of the ignition, and tell me to walk home like another female I live with. Yet.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Swell. You have now set a bar that I must cross...

[OldAgePensioner]

The lady that I was dating that told me to quit analyzing everything, also said to another secretary: "I don't see how he finds his way home." They both looked genuinely sad for me.

Funny thing is; I'm still not sure how I do it. Probably instinct, I've noticed the smaller the animals brain the more instinct plays a role.

But seriously, are bonds in our portfolios to yield current income mainly or is it a hedge?

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Funnny...close to a line I used to use when I wanted to play dumb "Hey look...I'm not sure how I even got here this morning..."

[moghopper]

"If you are going to let the fear of poverty govern your life... your reward will be that you will eat, but you will not live." - George Bernard Shaw.

[OldAgePensioner]

notth,
this gal was serious. She must've had a bad day with the 1985ish, green plaid pants, engineering geeks who wore the same clothes every day.

I don't think she thought we were dumb overall, just dumb in all the wrong places.

[haha]

Other than whatever enjoyment you get form having your ball bounced, you have already gone way beyond where anyone can effectively act.

If I were your supervisor (glad I am not) I would tell you to take a long break, during which time you made no decisions of any importance. No new businesses, investments, houses, CDs, apartments, girlfriends- nothing at all.

Your mental "flight" needs to be given time to quiet itself.

You really may be going under.

Ha

[OldAgePensioner]

HaHa,
Not sure if that message is for me but I have said all along that I came here to learn. My knowledge of retirement finances as of 1-May was novice. I needed to get knowledgeable quickly and this board had lots of good posts when I visited.

But reading for months would not give me the knowledge I have gained by asking direct questions (admittedly, without good research beforehand).

I added anecdotal quips to seem human. But I really wanted to tap some of the expertise.

[Eagle43]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moghopper "If you are going to let the fear of poverty govern your life... your reward will be that you will eat, but you will not live." - George Bernard Shaw.

I haven't heard this before, but I like it. Applies too much to me.

[OldAgePensioner]

Eagle,
I've experienced lows and highs also and going out on a high would be good.

[unclemick]

I am not going to show the quote to the SO - 'you can't take it with you.' is bad enough.

Besides - I may want a customized hot rod wheelchair and 'premium grade' viagra in the rest home.

[OldAgePensioner]

I want a customized wheelie chair powered by viagra ingestion.

Imagine, 15 hours after the pill and some "sophiticatin desirein, hi fo lutin quotin nimrod" excites you. Cood b ogly.