In the home stretch

[MRGALT2U]

Quote:

Originally Posted by th I'm a lesbian trapped in a mans body.* Works for me though.

Hey th, did you hear about the 2 lesbians who built a house
together? It went up lickety-split!

(Sorry folks, I couldn't resist)

JG

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Could be worse.

I came home and found two confused lesbians in my liquor cabinet.

[retire@40]

Quote:

Originally Posted by th Could be worse. I came home and found two confused lesbians in my liquor cabinet.

Why were they confused?* Were they having a ball?

[cute fuzzy bunny]

They were trying to figure out which part was the "cabinet".

[JonnyM]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoJo Girl Yeesh Martha and John, I can't believe I forgot that Beatles song. For the record, I am not a man who thinks he's a woman . It is interesting to think about what triggers when you retire or finally do what you really want to do with your life. While some people in this forum base it on financial goals, there are also those that pick a time based on life events as well. I have found in middle age that it's life events that make me think most about when to retire. Things like watching a close friend endure cancer or die young (big impact for me), noticing people at work who have no spirit left but continue on just because, waiting until you have more freedom because the kids are self-sufficient, a change in business circumstances, etc.

I'm there, with about 400 days to go. It was never about the money, when DW and I started our 7 year plan, we expected about 1/2 of what we will end up with for income, and that was just going to have to work, as we were commited to ER with minimal FI. Just a steady, for-sure income that would meet our obligations. It's going to turn out much better, thankfully, but the fact of the matter is our time is so much more valuable than working more years for a better total yearly income.

It's about freedom. and certainly life events that have occured over our planning and accumulation period have just brought that more into focus. I'm getting out soon, because it's vital for me to do so. 8)

[FIYes]

I, too, am in the home stretch. I have 4 1/2 years (or less if I decide to take a reduced pension). Just knowing I am that close has been extremely liberating for me. I know I have options. I have enjoyed lurking on this forum---lots of good ideas.

[REWahoo]

With only 9 days to go to eR, I'm wondering why on earth I spent all those years stressing about work. If the previous 324 months were as good as this last one has been, I would never have considered retiring early.

My advice: If you can't get to ER as soon as you want to, at least adopt an ER attitude as soon as you can. Sure, you give up all chance at promotion and walk around with an annoying red dot on your forehead, but what the heck. (Attitude? What attitude?) Life is good.

REW, 9 days to eR

Quote:

With only 9 days to go to eR, I'm wondering why on earth I spent all those years stressing about work.

Yup, when you're all done with work, you'll look back at it like stressing over finger painting in Kindergarten.

[Kitty]

I have 438 days to go then on to the next chapter*

[laurence]

Reading posts here has helped me a lot with keeping the right perspective on work. I'm not quite in an ER mindset, as I have over 14 years to go, but the sense of empowerment is invigorating, and I enjoy my weekends a lot more!

[AltaRed]

I am also in the home stretch of somewhere between 150 and 350 days- give or take X days. Made the decision a year ago when I turned 55 and was eligible to retire that I would hang up the spurs somewhere between the end of my ex-pat assignment obligation (Nov 05) and spending 35 years in the energy industry (May 06). Timing will depend on what kind of housing we will re-patriate to in Calgary, Canada. DW and I will be checking out the real estate market there in July to see whether to buy or to build.

Clearly some different dynamics at work as a result of that decision. Ticking the days off can make time go very slowly, but in other ways work isn't as stressful any more as I really don't care what management thinks any more and I don't intend to go out of my way to jump through impossible hoops to please. I find the best approach is to find more ways to relax at work, turn a deaf ear to department and corporate noise, and spend a bit of extra time with co-workers that you particularly enjoy being with. In other words, hang loose!

[OldAgePensioner]

AltaRed,
Just went thru my last year of work (was overseas 20 years) and you have a good handle on how to spend that next few months. I listened to guys for years saying once you can retire (money/age) things just don't matter at work anymore.

I retired and repatriate at the same time and it was stressful. Tryig to get all the retirement stuff finalized when you don't have an address can be tricky.

Good luck and enjoy.

[steinj]

Altared, is Calgary your only option or are you looking at BC too? Are you running into 'repatriation' issues? JoJo