Mickey
Dryer sheet wannabe
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2008
- Messages
- 17
Hi.
I discovered this forum a few weeks ago through a Google search (don't remember what I was looking for). I've read a LOT of the posts here and have visited it pretty much daily since I found it.
So, I thought I'd introduce myself. Marilyn here, 47 years old, single retired USAF E-9, with no kids, living in upstate NY, with Mom as my roommate. I served in the AF for 27 1/2 years and enjoyed every minute of it. I got to travel, meet/work with great people and still get paid! I could have stayed to 30 years but (after finally figuring out why I left) - I got bored. Through the course of that 27 1/2 years, I got my fill of oh-dark-thirty wake-ups, paperwork, politics, deployments (to include Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) and general pettyness. I wouldn't trade a minute of it (actually had more fun on the deployments!) but sure don't miss it. Especially the part about time (early to work until late afternoon/early evening, day after day ... after day ... after day...). "They" sure are correct when they say (in regards to retirement): "You'll know when it's time to go."
I retired a year ago from the AF. Well, actually, with terminal leave, I left work at the end of September 2007 with my retirement ceremony in the beginning of October - my actual retirement date was 1 January 2008. I bought a house here in upstate New York when I retired. Currently, I receive a net annual pension (with annual COLA adjustments) of $40,500. My expenses are $27,000 (I have no debt but the mortgage - which is included in this figure).
Have a bunch of cash in savings for emergencies/what ifs situations. Should do well with that as the roof on the house was new in 2004, some minor kitchen upgrades were done sometime in the last 5 years (as were all the windows replaced) and I've replaced all the appliances (with the exception of the furnace and the water heater). I've also had vinyl siding installed on the house, added insulation (had NONE in the bedroom wing!) and replaced the 1950s era garage doors with new ones. Oh, and my car is a 2006. So, most stuff I'd have to worry about is new or near new. I'm still putting a bit every month into the savings and I've also got some investments in a ROTH IRA mutual fund- but I'm not paying on that anymore.
My current plan is to pay off the house (6.75% APR, 30-yr fixed). If everything works right and I stick to my schedule, that'll be in January 2014. After that, I am unsure what I'll do with the "extra" money. I'm giving serious thought to investing it for future long term care concerns (in taxed funds - as I won't be working to use the IRAs). I am open to any other thoughts on what I can do with this money ...
That's my story right now. I am enjoying the heck out of not working. I have long been used to puttings savings and investments first and then living on the rest, so I'm actually not living any differently than when I received a full paycheck (no investments/minimal savings = same $$s). I've always thought of it as "living within my means," but "beneath my means" will work too. This past year, I've been able to make 3 trips (in the states only - but have friends overseas for future trips!), visited friends/family, slept in, browsed the Internet and read as much as I wanted to and visited with my mom. Looking forward to many more years of this.
And, as I've read a LOT of the posts here - I want to thank you all for making me feel less "guilty" for not working after my "retirement" from the AF. And, an bit of extra thanks to Nords and his discussions about truly retiring after the military versus getting another job. Most (all?) people I've talked to cannot imagine not having a job once they've retired from the military. And, the transition assistance program has not changed - the program every retiree must attend still pushes "how to get another job" and was full of interview tips, how-to-dress tips and using your contacts tips. I spent those 3 days giggling to myself ...
But, I am still working on the "you're too young to not work!" guilt trips. Finding this forum, and a whole bunch of people who are young and ER'd, was/is a great help. With continued reading of this forum, and the great postings here, hopefully, I'll be able to work through the guilt of not working and be happily ER'd.
Thanks, y'all!
Marilyn
I discovered this forum a few weeks ago through a Google search (don't remember what I was looking for). I've read a LOT of the posts here and have visited it pretty much daily since I found it.
So, I thought I'd introduce myself. Marilyn here, 47 years old, single retired USAF E-9, with no kids, living in upstate NY, with Mom as my roommate. I served in the AF for 27 1/2 years and enjoyed every minute of it. I got to travel, meet/work with great people and still get paid! I could have stayed to 30 years but (after finally figuring out why I left) - I got bored. Through the course of that 27 1/2 years, I got my fill of oh-dark-thirty wake-ups, paperwork, politics, deployments (to include Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) and general pettyness. I wouldn't trade a minute of it (actually had more fun on the deployments!) but sure don't miss it. Especially the part about time (early to work until late afternoon/early evening, day after day ... after day ... after day...). "They" sure are correct when they say (in regards to retirement): "You'll know when it's time to go."
I retired a year ago from the AF. Well, actually, with terminal leave, I left work at the end of September 2007 with my retirement ceremony in the beginning of October - my actual retirement date was 1 January 2008. I bought a house here in upstate New York when I retired. Currently, I receive a net annual pension (with annual COLA adjustments) of $40,500. My expenses are $27,000 (I have no debt but the mortgage - which is included in this figure).
Have a bunch of cash in savings for emergencies/what ifs situations. Should do well with that as the roof on the house was new in 2004, some minor kitchen upgrades were done sometime in the last 5 years (as were all the windows replaced) and I've replaced all the appliances (with the exception of the furnace and the water heater). I've also had vinyl siding installed on the house, added insulation (had NONE in the bedroom wing!) and replaced the 1950s era garage doors with new ones. Oh, and my car is a 2006. So, most stuff I'd have to worry about is new or near new. I'm still putting a bit every month into the savings and I've also got some investments in a ROTH IRA mutual fund- but I'm not paying on that anymore.
My current plan is to pay off the house (6.75% APR, 30-yr fixed). If everything works right and I stick to my schedule, that'll be in January 2014. After that, I am unsure what I'll do with the "extra" money. I'm giving serious thought to investing it for future long term care concerns (in taxed funds - as I won't be working to use the IRAs). I am open to any other thoughts on what I can do with this money ...
That's my story right now. I am enjoying the heck out of not working. I have long been used to puttings savings and investments first and then living on the rest, so I'm actually not living any differently than when I received a full paycheck (no investments/minimal savings = same $$s). I've always thought of it as "living within my means," but "beneath my means" will work too. This past year, I've been able to make 3 trips (in the states only - but have friends overseas for future trips!), visited friends/family, slept in, browsed the Internet and read as much as I wanted to and visited with my mom. Looking forward to many more years of this.
And, as I've read a LOT of the posts here - I want to thank you all for making me feel less "guilty" for not working after my "retirement" from the AF. And, an bit of extra thanks to Nords and his discussions about truly retiring after the military versus getting another job. Most (all?) people I've talked to cannot imagine not having a job once they've retired from the military. And, the transition assistance program has not changed - the program every retiree must attend still pushes "how to get another job" and was full of interview tips, how-to-dress tips and using your contacts tips. I spent those 3 days giggling to myself ...
But, I am still working on the "you're too young to not work!" guilt trips. Finding this forum, and a whole bunch of people who are young and ER'd, was/is a great help. With continued reading of this forum, and the great postings here, hopefully, I'll be able to work through the guilt of not working and be happily ER'd.
Thanks, y'all!
Marilyn
for saying the winters are too long. we actually have 7 seasons here...
