61 and "Actively" Retired

[Empresario]

Retired in January after 35 years in the business, but having a hard time with how people react to my retirement.

So, since I'm still involved in my old company (on the board and ownership), I started using the term "Actively Retired"... not sure that's working very well. A lot of people just say I'm too young to retire! And, there is always an underlying tone that they wish they could.

Any ideas on a better response than actively retired?

 

[braumeister]

"I'm a consultant."

That means I can do what I like, when I like. But others can interpret it to mean my nose is still to the grindstone, just on a different schedule.

This topic comes up often here, so you might try searching for some key words.

Congratulations on your success!

 

[Ready]

I just got back from getting my haircut. Because I go in the middle of the day, they always ask me if I'm off today.

My standard reply is always "off what?"

Usually leads to some interesting conversations.

 

[pb4uski]

How about semi-retired? You serve on a board after all.

You'll get used to it. It took me abut a year to get comfortable with telling people that I was retired (I was 56 back then).

 

[Empresario]

I'll get through it... I like semi-retired. Consultant sounds a little like I lost my job.

 

[Options]

I have no problem telling people I'm ER on 2/3/15. When people say I"m too young to retire, I tell them I'm too young not to!

 

[Rustic23]

I tell folks I have found something I am really really good at! Doing Nothing! and I am going to keep on doing it!

 

[Ready]

This theme comes up from time to time on the forum. I have to say I've never understood it.

You worked hard, managed your finances well, and now you have enough money to do whatever you want for the rest of your life. You don't need to work for anyone, and nobody owns you. And yet, when people ask what you do, something causes hesitation to say you are retired.

When I retired, I wanted to shout from my rooftop for everyone to hear "Look at Me! I no longer have to work anymore and I can do whatever I want for the rest of my life!!! How awesome is that!"

Maybe I'm missing something.

 

[RE2Boys]

I always use semi-retired. And I do work 3 months of the year and very part-time the rest of the year. Been using semi-retired since 2000

 

[Dcharles]

I am 60 and just retired 2 months ago and I still feel a little guilty sharing that with friends and Rotary and Lions Club members

 

[braumeister]

I am 60 and just retired 2 months ago and I still feel a little guilty sharing that with friends and Rotary and Lions Club members

No need for guilt.
My goal, since I was a teenager, had always been to retire by 55. I figured that since the standard retirement age was 65, I should aim for ten years sooner.

I actually made it, at 55.3 years of age, so I consider myself to have succeeded. When you succeed at meeting your goal, you have nothing to feel guilty about, nothing to apologize for, and nothing to sugar-coat.

People do still ask for my advice on many things, so I can legitimately call myself a consultant. I just don't send them invoices any more!

 

[Empresario]

A lot of people my age get a strange introspective look on their faces as if wondering if they will ever get to retire.

 

[CaliforniaMan]

I'll get through it... I like semi-retired. Consultant sounds a little like I lost my job.

It is interesting how the connotation of words change over time. When I first started my software consulting business in 1981 being a consultant sounded even a little pretentious, a person wiser than his peers. Now with so many long term unemployed being told to list themselves as "self employed" or "a consultant" it is beginning to take on the opposite meaning.

So as I wind into retirement over the next couple of months, I will have no problem at all continuing to refer to myself as a consultant, just now more of the unemployed type.

 

[annienz]

I've just been saying, "I'm taking some time off for a while." It's a bit of a cop-out I guess, but at 53 saying "retired" makes me feel old.

 

[seraphim]

At 57 I merely say I'm retired. I'm kind of proud of it. If they tell you you're too young to retire, try:

"Damn right!"

Or, she's an attractive young lady, tell her you were considering opening an escort service, and ask her if she'd be interested. Just might start a fun new career!

 

[braumeister]

It is interesting how the connotation of words change over time. When I first started my software consulting business in 1981 being a consultant sounded even a little pretentious, a person wiser than his peers.

Back in the 70s when I was actually hiring consultants for one thing or another, the standard definition was "someone who doesn't know any more than you do, but has it better organized, comes from out of town, and uses color slides."

 

[CaliforniaMan]

Back in the 70s when I was actually hiring consultants for one thing or another, the standard definition was "someone who doesn't know any more than you do, but has it better organized, comes from out of town, and uses color slides."

You made me smile. I knew I should have brought the color slides.

 

[Hermit]

I went to a lunch for one of the folks I used to work with. He is moving to another site. When the subject of me being retired came up, I grinned, they bared it.

 

[racy]

... having a hard time with how people react to my retirement. ... A lot of people just say I'm too young to retire! And, there is always an underlying tone that they wish they could. Any ideas on a better response than actively retired?

What did you do in the summertime when you were young, between school routines, and before career/scheduled work/scheduled vacation? ... Whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted I suppose. Now you can do it again! Retirement is a second youth in an endless summer. It takes along time to grow young!

 

[imoldernu]

Hmmm... Actively Retired sounds good...

Am in my late 70's and the comment usually is:
"Oh!... so you're still alive!"

 

[Dcharles]

I am now proud to say that I am retired and not ashamed at all!

 

[poorcarver]

I am using independently wealthy. It is true, at some level and in some sense for all of us on this board, who have retired is it not. After all weathly does not imply a specific measure, it is in the eye of the beholder.

Besides I like the idea.

 

[Ready]

I am using independently wealthy. It is true, at some level and in some sense for all of us on this board, who have retired is it not. After all weathly does not imply a specific measure, it is in the eye of the beholder.

Besides I like the idea.

The less you desire, the wealthier you are.

 

[kimcdougc]

Funny, I retired at 50 and others say...so what does your DH do? I say he is retiring in June at 56. Don't much care what they think or say anymore. I volunteer a lot and keep very busy doing what I wanna do. Congrats on your retirement.

 

[RetiredAndFree]

I'll get through it... I like semi-retired. Consultant sounds a little like I lost my job.

Now that made me laugh! When my daughter recently took a new job with higher pay, she went from the title of 'manager' to 'consultant.' I was so confused! I kept asking her, "So you are full time and you get benefits, right?"

Welcome! I went through same with regard to what to call myself once I'd retired from my former job title. It took me about a year to grow into my new title of 'retired.'