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"You're too young to retire!"
05-08-2011, 05:48 PM
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#1
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 30
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"You're too young to retire!"
That's what people are telling me. I really don't get it.. too young to be free? I stuck out an o.k. but unsatisfying job for 24 years to get to this point. I was there for the money, I admit it. If these guys weren't getting paid they wouldn't be there so why would I stay if I have enough? I think if the best thing I can come up with if I got bored is to go back to that dirty shift work that I should be put out of my misery.
I read with much admiration the thread "WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY?" I can't wait to live like that and it's only a couple months away!
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05-08-2011, 05:59 PM
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#2
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NC Triangle
Posts: 5,807
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freedom42
That's what people are telling me. I really don't get it.. too young to be free? I stuck out an o.k. but unsatisfying job for 24 years to get to this point. I was there for the money, I admit it. If these guys weren't getting paid they wouldn't be there so why would I stay if I have enough? I think if the best thing I can come up with if I got bored is to go back to that dirty shift work that I should be put out of my misery.
I read with much admiration the thread "WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY?" I can't wait to live like that and it's only a couple months away!
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You are welcome to join http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/the-class-of-2011-a-53912.html
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05-08-2011, 09:05 PM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 1,050
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Congrats. It's just not the norm for most people.
Just have ideas to fill some of your new free time =) That will be your new job ;-) Enjoy
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05-08-2011, 10:23 PM
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#4
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,223
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I don't discuss early retirement with those at work. Very few can grasp the concept. They are quite content with mortgage, car , boat, rv, vacation timeshare, etc monthly payments.
The usual response when I suggest that you should have your mortgage paid off by 50 is not positive.
L.B.Y.M. for most around me means Living Beyond Your Means.
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05-09-2011, 01:19 AM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Duesseldorf, Germany
Posts: 1,202
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Different folks, different strokes....
I do what feels best to me and DH. I will be in the same situation next year, only that my job is quite interesting and not toxic.
Still, I value time spent in freedom with DH more than a nice salary and interesting business tasks.
But to feel like that you have to be sure that there is a life waiting for you outside your job. And, of course, some financial groundwork has to be done in time.
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05-09-2011, 01:26 AM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: North of Montana
Posts: 2,769
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When I left mega-corp at 58, I had several co-w*rkers caution me. They suggested that since I didn't take exotic vacations, buy a new car every year, wear $2K suits etc. that I couldn't possibly have enough to keep me for the rest of my days. If I had it, I would have flaunted it.
You can, they can't, WTFC.
__________________
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate conclusions from insufficient data and ..
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05-09-2011, 05:34 AM
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#7
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 517
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kumquat
When I left mega-corp at 58, I had several co-w*rkers caution me. They suggested that since I didn't take exotic vacations, buy a new car every year, wear $2K suits etc. that I couldn't possibly have enough to keep me for the rest of my days. If I had it, I would have flaunted it.
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That's amazing. They will never "get it".
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05-09-2011, 06:02 AM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,328
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Maybe you are too young to retire. In that case, congratulations for beating the crowd.
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
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05-09-2011, 07:19 AM
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#9
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 30
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about 18 years ago my co-workers had a bet on when I would "actually" retire (it's still written down) I win! They were way off.
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05-09-2011, 07:20 AM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Alberta/Ontario/ Arizona
Posts: 3,393
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Congrats. I am always amazed at how poorly the majority of people plan their lives. LBYM is important, but in my view the actual planning part is a pre requisite for LBYM. As long as you have a reasonable plan LBYM seems to happen naturally. To take this thought further, one could make the case that LBYM without a good plan is just being cheap.
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05-09-2011, 08:42 AM
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#11
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 30
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Thanks for all the congrats, it's very exciting to be in the class of 2011. Since my early 20's I've had the plan of FIRE. I used to talk about it openly back then but most were on a different page. I too find it amazing that few people set themselves up for retirement. To each their own of course, and I wish them happiness but I get to smash my alarm clock with a hammer soon
Someone on this forum sent me a song by the 'stones (forget the title but it's a great retirement song), I'm going to play it as I drive off the site for the last time.
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05-09-2011, 08:51 AM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kumquat
When I left mega-corp at 58, I had several co-w*rkers caution me. They suggested that since I didn't take exotic vacations, buy a new car every year, wear $2K suits etc. that I couldn't possibly have enough to keep me for the rest of my days. If I had it, I would have flaunted it.
You can, they can't, WTFC.
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Lovely anecdote. Funny how so many people believe flaunting what you have is some kind of universal law that cannot be denied.....
Audrey
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
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05-09-2011, 09:02 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,381
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I've run into three kinds of people:
1) "How is it possible?" people. It doesn't matter how much they earn. Folks 10 years my senior, making high six and low seven figure salaries for a couple of decades, have asked me how I could possibly afford to leave work. Another told me, very sternly, that I should keep working so I can 'retire for real' someday - presumably to a rocking chair. These people tend to be the most openly hostile. While they think they'd like to do the same thing they ultimately aren't willing to make any sacrifices. They often wrongly assume that I haven't sacrificed either.
2) Puritanical work ethic people. Some have told me that work is a virtue. When I ask how working in finance, which produces no visible good to society - in pursuit of ever large piles of cash and things, is virtuous I'm always met with blank stares. I think there is an intuitive feeling among some people that suffering is good for your character. When I promise them I'll self flagellate instead of returning to work it doesn't seem to satisfy them, though.
3) "What will you do all day?" people. Some people can't imagine life without an overlord telling them how to spend their hours. They're not caught in the Matrix, they want to be there. They can't understand why anyone would ever leave.
One of the things I learned in college is that most of the great 'Romantic' poets, those who advanced the idea of breaking with societal norms, died early and miserably. Going your own way is hard, and standing out from the crowd often makes you a target. Your mere existence calls into question what everyone else takes as a matter of faith. It's not a path for everyone. And those who walk it should expect to be especially thick-skinned.
__________________
Retired early, traveling perpetually.
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05-09-2011, 09:43 AM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 1,050
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gone4Good
I've run into three kinds of people:... snip...
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I'm not sure I fall in those groups .... I'm happy for those that can pull the plug and slightly jealous as I currently don't have much of a choice ;-) but a plan is in the works
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05-09-2011, 09:45 AM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,381
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Quote:
Comments apply to those who say 'You're too young to retire.' My guess is that you don't fall into that camp.
__________________
Retired early, traveling perpetually.
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05-09-2011, 09:54 AM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright
Posts: 2,847
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I got the "You're too young" comment the other day - from another early retiree!
__________________
There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is having lots to do and not doing it. - Andrew Jackson
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05-09-2011, 10:20 AM
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#17
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 1,050
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gone4Good
Comments apply to those who say 'You're too young to retire.' My guess is that you don't fall into that camp.
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I stand corrected (mutlitasking during a conference call), I won't stand in that camp. Never too young to retire if you have the means to support yourself/family.
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05-09-2011, 10:21 AM
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#18
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,500
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Congratulations on your upcoming retirement, freedom42.
I retired at 61 (not very early), and even so people at work were concerned that I was retiring too early. I guess they just assume that since THEY weren't financially ready to retire at that age, I couldn't possibly be ready.
I guess the best approach to comments like that might be as follows:
(1) be absolutely sure you are ready,
(2) pleasantly tell them that you can afford it and have plans for more pleasant ways to spend your time, so why not? and
(3) proceed to retire as planned.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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05-09-2011, 11:04 AM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Collin County, TX
Posts: 9,296
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"You're too young to retire!"
Pfffttttttttttt...
.....in that case tell 'em...."You're too old to work!"
__________________
There's no need to complicate, our time is short..
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05-09-2011, 11:09 AM
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#20
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SF East Bay
Posts: 4,342
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bbbamI
"You're too young to retire!"
Pfffttttttttttt...
.....in that case tell 'em...."You're too old to work!"
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+1
Great comeback!
__________________
Contentedly ER, with 3 furry friends (now, sadly, 1).
Planning my escape to the wide open spaces in my campervan (with my remaining kitty, of course!)
On a mission to become the world's second most boring man.
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