stepford
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
This came up a lot at my recent 40th HS reunion.
My usual answer: "I'm a bum"
Might as well own it.
My usual answer: "I'm a bum"
Might as well own it.
I will answer your question with a post I made in response to a similar question (another thread)...basically, I don't want to toot my own horn.I honestly don't understand why anyone is reluctant to just say "I'm retired". I get the feeling that some people feel ashamed of that fact. Why? I wanted (and still want) to shout it from the rooftops. It is a milestone in life that, generally speaking, most people aspire to achieve, but not everyone is able to achieve. So why try to cover it up with fake titles? Be proud of your accomplishment. And if you are able to do it in your 50's or 40's or whatever, even more reason to pat yourself on the back. It shows you worked hard and made some good choices in your life. If others don't "get" that then phooey on them. Who cares? Did you ask for/need their approval while you were working and saving? No? Then why would you need it now? It's your life.
My wife is still working full-time so I try to always have a couple of things I have done at the ready. Often they are things that help her out so never get the sideways glance.I don't find that question nearly as troublesome as when DW comes home from visiting her aging relatives and asks the other question:
"So, Honey, what DID you do today?"
"eh...uh....well...wait??...what?..."
My wife is still working full-time so I try to always have a couple of things I have done at the ready. Often they are things that help her out so never get the sideways glance.
I honestly don't understand why anyone is reluctant to just say "I'm retired". I get the feeling that some people feel ashamed of that fact. Why? I wanted (and still want) to shout it from the rooftops. It is a milestone in life that, generally speaking, most people aspire to achieve, but not everyone is able to achieve. So why try to cover it up with fake titles? Be proud of your accomplishment. And if you are able to do it in your 50's or 40's or whatever, even more reason to pat yourself on the back. It shows you worked hard and made some good choices in your life. If others don't "get" that then phooey on them. Who cares? Did you ask for/need their approval while you were working and saving? No? Then why would you need it now? It's your life.
I honestly don't understand why anyone is reluctant to just say "I'm retired". I get the feeling that some people feel ashamed of that fact. Why? I wanted (and still want) to shout it from the rooftops. It is a milestone in life that, generally speaking, most people aspire to achieve, but not everyone is able to achieve.
I think it's partly because there are still negative connotations to the word "retirement." For some people, that means you're no longer a productive member of society. You're done, washed up, out to pasture.
It took me about 6 months to become comfortable telling people that I was retired (I retired at 56). I think some of becoming more comfortable was that once I retired I began hanging our more with other people who were retired, skiing or playing golf or whatever.
I still get a bit uncomfortable saying that I'm retired in front of other people my age or older who are still working.
Interestingly, I have yet to have someone directly ask me how I was able to retire at such a young age (relatively anyway)... and that is becoming less likely now that I am 63 and more of an age where people often retire.