The downside of a cover story

[brewer12345]

Nobody wants to hear that a 40 year old is retiring, plus I want to be able to crawl back into a job if the wheels come off the bus. As such, DW has pretty much made me develop a cover story, namely that I am taking a sabbatical and then working in DW's business and finding something entrepreneurial myself. I might well earn a few bucks here and there if its not too much hassle, but mostly I hope to be retired.

The downside of a cover story (aside from the fact that it irks me to have to have one) is starting to become apparent. My mother has started to suggest business opportunities, including goofy franchises. I am waiting to see who else comes up with great things for me to do (three friends and colleagues have independently suggested that I start managing money). Sigh...

 

[haha]

Nobody wants to hear that a 40 year old is retiring, plus I want to be able to crawl back into a job if the wheels come off the bus. As such, DW has pretty much made me develop a cover story, namely that I am taking a sabbatical and then working in DW's business and finding something entrepreneurial myself. I might well earn a few bucks here and there if its not too much hassle, but mostly I hope to be retired.

The downside of a cover story (aside from the fact that it irks me to have to have one) is starting to become apparent. My mother has started to suggest business opportunities, including goofy franchises. I am waiting to see who else comes up with great things for me to do (three friends and colleagues have independently suggested that I start managing money). Sigh...

Plastics, Brewer, plastics.

Ha

 

[travelover]

Congratulations.



Have you considered an Amway route?

 

[Meadbh]

Squirrel farming.

 

[brewer12345]

Squirrel farming.

I dunno about the farming part, but if DW ever allows me I might want to participate in this some day:

Home Page

 

[Larro Darro]

If my Mamma traveled well, I would have entered her in that contest. She always cooked the heads too, something most people don't do these days. The little bit of meat on each cheek is the tenderest and best tasting on the whole squirrel. But of course, like with chicken, the legs are the easiest to eat.

 

[FIREd]

Yep, people keep trying to find me a real job and a new career...

 

[ER Eddie]

If it irks you to have a cover story, why bother? Why not just tell the truth?

 

[spncity]

Just tell them your DW added an FTE for general staff.

 

[Throwdownmyaceinthehole]

Financial analyst working internationally from home

 

[W2R]

Your mother is probably worried about you. We mothers are like that. So be nice to her and think up a good, air-tight cover story. Whatever it is, tell her it has a 401K and that you have group health insurance either through that or through DW's job.

(Um.... I don't have any ideas!)

 

[brewer12345]

Your mother is probably worried about you. We mothers are like that. So be nice to her and think up a good, air-tight cover story. Whatever it is, tell her it has a 401K and that you have group health insurance either through that or through DW's job.

(Um.... I don't have any ideas!)

Actually, I don't think she is worried. Of her 4 kids, I have always been the most goal and success-oriented. I was married the youngest, the first to own a home, the only one with an MBA, and she knows I am the financial sophisticate (and advisor) of the family. I suspect that a lot of this is about not wanting to see "wasted potential."

 

[brewer12345]

If it irks you to have a cover story, why bother? Why not just tell the truth?

A) nobody wants to hear about a 40 year old retiring

B) DW can also be spelled SWMBO (she who must be obeyed)

 

[steelyman]

I suspect that a lot of this is about not wanting to see "wasted potential."

Well, you blew that by joining e-r.org!

JOKING!

You'll be fine, you seem a smart guy

 

[CCdaCE]

Video games. You haven't leveled up, but, have REALLY been meaning to.

Lana Del Rey - Video Games - YouTube

No, seriously. People will think you're off your rocker if you play that hand, obviously.

The problem with a cover story is that you have to come back from that, or out do it, to save face, perhaps. Or you don't give a $hit about what they think (way more likely). It's turning "political" on you. The best thing, I think, is to find what you are most passionate about, and go head over heels into it. If you're an overachiever, you have to put yourself into SOMETHING. Otherwise, the wheels come off.

That's what I've found.

-CC

 

[clifp]

The downside of a cover story (aside from the fact that it irks me to have to have one) is starting to become apparent. My mother has started to suggest business opportunities, including goofy franchises. I am waiting to see who else comes up with great things for me to do (three friends and colleagues have independently suggested that I start managing money). Sigh...

Make it 3 friends and an internet friend. Although would say that if you think is more work than it is worth to manage other peoples money. Then you have a very plausible cover story, I am an independent money manager with a small number of clients. Make sure that your wife gives you $20 or so or her IRA or something just so nobody you can accuse of being a liar.

 

[jayc]

Just say you are going to try freelance for a while. Making up a story and remembering who you told it to seems like a lot of trouble and drama. Enjoy Colorado.

 

[Amethyst]

Can't you just laugh behind your hand? That's what I'd do, but I'm not in your shoes. Also, my mother has long since passed away (I wish I still had her to laugh at and with).

Amethyst

My mother has started to suggest business opportunities, including goofy franchises.

 

[ivinsfan]

Just wondering if this "cover story" idea isn't your DW trying to let you know she isn't really comfortable with the the idea of you retiring completely. She realizes that you need a break and can't stay in your current workplace, but she might feel a little uncertain about very long terms results.Maybe you two will need to talk this over. One thing about being completely on board with FI and ER is that it shouldn't really matter what other people think.My Momma always used to tell me, that people think about you a lot less then you think they do!

 

[brewer12345]

Just wondering if this "cover story" idea isn't your DW trying to let you know she isn't really comfortable with the the idea of you retiring completely. She realizes that you need a break and can't stay in your current workplace, but she might feel a little uncertain about very long terms results.Maybe you two will need to talk this over. One thing about being completely on board with FI and ER is that it shouldn't really matter what other people think.My Momma always used to tell me, that people think about you a lot less then you think they do!

I could give a flying reproductive act (with 3 squirrels and a dolphin) about what other people think, generally speaking. DW, OTOH, is an extrovert and always seeks to get along. She isn't uncomfortable about this, so far as I can tell and we have been talking about it forever. Our plan has long been that between the two of us we will generate a certain amount of money every year for several years and DW's small business is already at that level. Whatever I come up with (if anything) will be gravy. When I firecalc'd our plan at current asset levels for 40 years I got a 99% success rate, which both of us are good with.

Perhaps she will be comfy with dropping the charade after a while. Or perhaps after I have some time to recharge (feel like crap after two weeks on the road) I will stumble into money management or some other venture. Or perhaps I will decide I want or need to go back to the salt mines (unlikely, but who knows, I am only 40).

 

[Free To Canoe]

There is the focus issue "putting yourself into something" aspect which I see in a serious light. I still am working on this.

Then there is the cover story aspect which begs for a humorous comment.
This makes me think of Law Dogs. When I lived in Van Nuys there was this lawyer that owned a hotdog shop who offered free legal advice when you bought a hot dog (on Wednesdays only).
Why not Wise Brews? Your neighborhood drive through place for home brew and free financial advice?

Enjoy Colorado!

 

[sengsational]

There is the focus issue "putting yourself into something" aspect which I see in a serious light. I still am working on this.

Then there is the cover story aspect which begs for a humorous comment.
This makes me think of Law Dogs. When I lived in Van Nuys there was this lawyer that owned a hotdog shop who offered free legal advice when you bought a hot dog (on Wednesdays only).
Why not Wise Brews? Your neighborhood drive through place for home brew and free financial advice?

Enjoy Colorado!

It would be so awesome if it was legal to sell homebrew! That's the job for you, brewer...go to K street for us.

 

[ER Eddie]

A) nobody wants to hear about a 40 year old retiring

I do. So do a lot of people on this and other forums.

If they don't want to hear about it, then just don't talk to them about it.

B) DW can also be spelled SWMBO (she who must be obeyed)

No comment.

I will say this though: It sounds like the truth is not far from the cover story. You're saying (unless I misunderstand) that you're retiring, but you may get into some little side venture, whether for interest or a little cash. You're not sure what you might do yet, you're still sort of tossing ideas around in your head. Okay. That sounds reasonable. I'm not sure why that needs embellishment.

I think telling stories just makes things more complicated. You're already noticing that telling a "cover story" to family members means that you have to then cover that cover story with other stories (the "oh what a tangled web we weave" problem).

Bottom line for me is, retirement is good for you. It is a good thing. It is much healthier than your work. You've worked hard many years at a miserable job to earn the priviledge of retiring. You don't need to apologize to anyone for that. If they want to get judgmental about the fact that you're retired, well, expletive them.

 

[MooreBonds]

The downside of a cover story (aside from the fact that it irks me to have to have one) is starting to become apparent. My mother has started to suggest business opportunities, including goofy franchises. I am waiting to see who else comes up with great things for me to do (three friends and colleagues have independently suggested that I start managing money). Sigh...

How about "partner in a global non-profit therapist practice"?

Surely, posting advice on the ER forum for current and prospective early retirees would qualify as an international non-profit venture for the betterment of humankind - and that's even ignoring the therapeutic value of discussions on b3aver cheese futures, bacon, and bunnies wearing pancakes.

 

[brewer12345]

It would be so awesome if it was legal to sell homebrew! That's the job for you, brewer...go to K street for us.

That is mostly a matter of state law. Here in CO, state law is extremely friendly, so we have scads of breweries some of which are not all that far removed from homebrewing. In CO it is legal for the brewer to set up a facility, start brewing, and basically just start selling their production over the counter to whoever wishes to buy. Minimal restrictions and hassles, and there has been an explosion of pub breweries, where the brewer does not bother with a restaurant but just seeks to sell all of their production to people in the tasting room/bar. Lots of these are in light industrial strips near residential areas, and most of these brewers make deals with local restaurants and/or foo-foo food carts to bring food in (and avoid the complications of running a restaurant themselves.). Other states are less accommodating, shall we say.