Very happy for you!
My DW has lost two close siblings in the last 2 years, and it has given me pause to consider where I'd be if I were to lose her. Nowhere, I'm afraid.
"Man plans, God laughs"...all too true.
Anyone Living Plan B?
- Thread starter GravitySucks
- Start date
Very happy for you!
My DW has lost two close siblings in the last 2 years, and it has given me pause to consider where I'd be if I were to lose her. Nowhere, I'm afraid.
"Man plans, God laughs"...all too true.
HFWR
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
No real Plan B when I FIREd, though the outline of one is slowly revealing itself, maybe...
OP
OP
GravitySucks
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Your story always gives me hope.
I was "retired" in 04 due to health reasons, and since then our plans have changed a lot. At one time we wanted to hike long distant trails, I barely think about that now. Stuff happens.
Now we have a largish place with lots of room and wildlife (elk, deer out back). And kids in 3 states, two on opposite coasts with grand kids. But at some point in time, even though i love it here, I'll tire of all the work and upkeep, and downsize, expecting to travel more.
But this is life, and we'll take what we get, adapt and move on.
Now we have a largish place with lots of room and wildlife (elk, deer out back). And kids in 3 states, two on opposite coasts with grand kids. But at some point in time, even though i love it here, I'll tire of all the work and upkeep, and downsize, expecting to travel more.
But this is life, and we'll take what we get, adapt and move on.
aja8888
Moderator Emeritus
Plan A was to stay put in Texas and maybe travel a lot (U.S. Only).
DW got real ill in 2017 and became physically handicapped and travel is a real hard time.
Plan B is to stay here and do the best we can.
That's OK though.
DW got real ill in 2017 and became physically handicapped and travel is a real hard time.
Plan B is to stay here and do the best we can.
That's OK though.
brett
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We never really had a Plan B. We tend to be very pragmatic. So, we are still working our original plan but with changes here and there as required.
We our plan was to travel frequently for extended periods. We are spontaneous travellers. The extended periods changed from four months to two months. Grandchildren changed that plus DW's preference for shorter trips.. We were benched for almost 10 months because of a medical challenge however we are now back on track so to speak. We are spending more since our assets have grown at a faster rate than planned.
Not certain if this constitutes plan B or not. I spent my career in an industry that changed every six months or so. Change is not a stranger to us so we tend to make the best of what we have, take advantage of opportunities, embrace change, and keep moving forward with our lives. Don't really see any alternative to this for us.
We our plan was to travel frequently for extended periods. We are spontaneous travellers. The extended periods changed from four months to two months. Grandchildren changed that plus DW's preference for shorter trips.. We were benched for almost 10 months because of a medical challenge however we are now back on track so to speak. We are spending more since our assets have grown at a faster rate than planned.
Not certain if this constitutes plan B or not. I spent my career in an industry that changed every six months or so. Change is not a stranger to us so we tend to make the best of what we have, take advantage of opportunities, embrace change, and keep moving forward with our lives. Don't really see any alternative to this for us.
ShokWaveRider
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
No plan here, like Robbie. We adapt as we have to. We have impending events where we review our situation. We would like to downsize the house for example but cannot find anywhere better than we are now. So we put up with the extra expenses until something pops up.
happy2bretired
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
My husband and I planned for my retirement at the end of 2006. We really didn’t have a plan A,we were just winging it.
Well, then my plan B started in January of 2006, before plan A ever started. My husband died in January of 2006 and I retired.
Well, then my plan B started in January of 2006, before plan A ever started. My husband died in January of 2006 and I retired.
NYEXPAT
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I may have had a plan? It's been 31 years now and I do not recall if I had one or just ran out of letters in the alphabet!
Koolau
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Plan A was to (truly) EsR (maybe age 30 or 35) and buy naked land on the Big Island (plan A light was to live on a beach under a blue tarp - don't laugh, lots of folks here do that, even w*rking folks, but that's another story.) After some land, we thought maybe we could get part time j*bs to make a small build or a trailer (don't know that Hawaii actually has any trailers - don't recall seeing one). SO IOW we would just "exist" in Paradise.
We reevaluated quickly and realized we were not "suited" to be "poor" even in Paradise. Plan B was to wait until true ER (about 51) with modest pension and good savings. Of course, things work out differently than most of us plan, so our big move didn't come until a few years past our goal. BUT plan B is a mainland life-style (as in, enough money to live where we want in Paradise, travel when we want, eat what we want, etc. etc.) You really need to know yourself or you might end up clear at plan C or even D. As Dirty Harry said "A Man's got to know his limitations." YMMV
We reevaluated quickly and realized we were not "suited" to be "poor" even in Paradise. Plan B was to wait until true ER (about 51) with modest pension and good savings. Of course, things work out differently than most of us plan, so our big move didn't come until a few years past our goal. BUT plan B is a mainland life-style (as in, enough money to live where we want in Paradise, travel when we want, eat what we want, etc. etc.) You really need to know yourself or you might end up clear at plan C or even D. As Dirty Harry said "A Man's got to know his limitations." YMMV
Nature Lover
Recycles dryer sheets
Plan A was to keep working.....so yes, living a Plan B (retired @ 55). 
I expect there'll be a Plan C, D, etc....as the years go by; but I'm thrilled with Plan B!
I expect there'll be a Plan C, D, etc....as the years go by; but I'm thrilled with Plan B!
UnrealizedPotential
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I can't say I really had a plan. Nothing precise anyways. I have ideas that I might try to implement in the future, but I am not sure I'd call it a plan, because who knows what the future holds. Heck, I thought I would be working until 2022. Ha! Didn't happen. I was out in 2016.
So far be it from me to try and come up with anything even remotely resembling a plan. I just take it one day at a time. I must be doing something right, I'm still here holding things together.
So far be it from me to try and come up with anything even remotely resembling a plan. I just take it one day at a time. I must be doing something right, I'm still here holding things together.
ychuck46
Recycles dryer sheets
Definitely Plan A. We purposely moved to a low cost Southern state from NY shortly before I retired, and shortly after my wife had retired. Loving life in a great part of the country, and loving saving all the $ year after year we are gone from our former fiscally irresponsible state.
Huston55
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Financially, we’re still on Plan A. But, in terms of location, we’re definitely on Plan B. For our last 10+ working years, we took many of our vacations to places we were considering for retirement; all US & literally coast-to-coast. For most of that time, coastal Florida (where we’d previously lived) was at the top of our list. Then, lo & behold, we decided to return to the SF Bay Area. 
So, Plan B (SF Bay Area) is where we are, and it’s working out well. We downsized (but, it’s 2 of us + a small fur child), and it’s actually wonderful. Have to give DW all the credit; it was her idea. Esposa feliz, vida feliz!
So, Plan B (SF Bay Area) is where we are, and it’s working out well. We downsized (but, it’s 2 of us + a small fur child), and it’s actually wonderful. Have to give DW all the credit; it was her idea. Esposa feliz, vida feliz!
Proper planning
Retired 9 months ago and started on Plan A but skyrocketing HOA fees are already making it impossible to continue. Plan B was to scope out a place in FL, but I'm thinking instead of going with No Plan - thumbing my nose at the "retirement is NOT the time to wing it!" advice that I see in retirement articles. Sell most of the Stuff; put what I want to keep in storage; and go drift around until something feels right. Checking on what it takes to sign up for housesitting gigs now.
I AM rather tired of traveling alone but no family ties, and friends are scattered around the globe, so will see how long drifting lasts. But as long as I keep the fund for buying a new place intact, and my friend in GA is willing to let me use one of her spare bedrooms if needed, I don't see any real drawbacks to this idea...
Odd though: I was always one of those people who planned everything in detail wayyyy in advance!
Retired 9 months ago and started on Plan A but skyrocketing HOA fees are already making it impossible to continue. Plan B was to scope out a place in FL, but I'm thinking instead of going with No Plan - thumbing my nose at the "retirement is NOT the time to wing it!" advice that I see in retirement articles. Sell most of the Stuff; put what I want to keep in storage; and go drift around until something feels right. Checking on what it takes to sign up for housesitting gigs now.
I AM rather tired of traveling alone but no family ties, and friends are scattered around the globe, so will see how long drifting lasts. But as long as I keep the fund for buying a new place intact, and my friend in GA is willing to let me use one of her spare bedrooms if needed, I don't see any real drawbacks to this idea...
Odd though: I was always one of those people who planned everything in detail wayyyy in advance!
PointBreeze
Recycles dryer sheets
On Plan C and expect other changes
Plan A was to retire at FRA (66 and 10 months)
Then Dear Partner (DP), who is 15 years older, developed serious health problems and new boss arrived making job miserable. I stuck it out 4.5 years, and then decided life was too short. I could retire at 58 and we would be comfortable, but maybe not go to Europe for vacation.
Plan B was to fully retire at 58
Then former colleagues (who escaped miserable boss to other companies) asked to hire me as a consultant.
Plan C is to be semi-retired until mid 2019 - age 60
Current plan is to continue to work part-time as consultant. I'm making enough to barely touch retirement money (DP has SS), but still low enough to get sizable ACA subsidy, and working from home let's me spend time with DP and help out my 83-year-old parents. Life is good!
At this rate, I fully expect a plan D...
Plan A was to retire at FRA (66 and 10 months)
Then Dear Partner (DP), who is 15 years older, developed serious health problems and new boss arrived making job miserable. I stuck it out 4.5 years, and then decided life was too short. I could retire at 58 and we would be comfortable, but maybe not go to Europe for vacation.
Plan B was to fully retire at 58
Then former colleagues (who escaped miserable boss to other companies) asked to hire me as a consultant.
Plan C is to be semi-retired until mid 2019 - age 60
Current plan is to continue to work part-time as consultant. I'm making enough to barely touch retirement money (DP has SS), but still low enough to get sizable ACA subsidy, and working from home let's me spend time with DP and help out my 83-year-old parents. Life is good!
At this rate, I fully expect a plan D...
38Chevy454
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Still on Plan A. That was both DW and me retire, and move cross country to be near family. We built a nice house, with a big detached garage for me to work in for my old car hobby. Right now all is going according to Plan A.
Only potential sort of Plan B would be a change to snowbird south in future years. We already have the big motorhome, so it just becomes a choice if we want to do that.
Only potential sort of Plan B would be a change to snowbird south in future years. We already have the big motorhome, so it just becomes a choice if we want to do that.
Plan A was to relocate from Baltimore-Washington area to New England when we were through working. We moved to VT as one daughter and her family were living there. A year later they moved to MA, then CA for a year and back to MA (all job related). We remained in VT for a total of 8 years and then "moved South" to MA where we've been 5+ years. Don't know if that's Plan B or A.1.
Finances and other aspects of retirement are essentially the same.
Finances and other aspects of retirement are essentially the same.
marko
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Man plans and God laughs.
Our plan B was driven by family issues rather than financial. (maybe a lesson for all you OMY'ers)
Plan A: Winter in Florida with a month skiing the Alps, summer north of Boston with a summer month in Provence. We did that for my first 10 years of RE.
Due to my brother's serious stroke (and no one else to manage his life...I'm not his caregiver but he needs me around) and mom a spry 89, we've stayed closer to home with shorter trips abroad.
We still do Europe and moved our skiing to Utah but tend to make them 10 day trips; just don't want to leave those two alone for too long. Mom and bro come to Florida with us for the winter now.
My own health issues have also made me reconsider how far from a hospital I want to be; the days of a week on a boat-access-only island are less appealing than before.
It all works out but a bit of a change of plan for us.
Our plan B was driven by family issues rather than financial. (maybe a lesson for all you OMY'ers)
Plan A: Winter in Florida with a month skiing the Alps, summer north of Boston with a summer month in Provence. We did that for my first 10 years of RE.
Due to my brother's serious stroke (and no one else to manage his life...I'm not his caregiver but he needs me around) and mom a spry 89, we've stayed closer to home with shorter trips abroad.
We still do Europe and moved our skiing to Utah but tend to make them 10 day trips; just don't want to leave those two alone for too long. Mom and bro come to Florida with us for the winter now.
My own health issues have also made me reconsider how far from a hospital I want to be; the days of a week on a boat-access-only island are less appealing than before.
It all works out but a bit of a change of plan for us.
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iloveyoga
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
I have thought about this thread a bit and I come back to read from time to time. Life is always full of plans A, B, and C.
Our plan A was to move to the Oregon or Washington coast, but after a few trips there, the reality of 1-2 hour drives for specialist medical care later in life, have nixed that plan. While we have no specific plan B, we are retired in place as we can still do any traveling from here with one extra connecting flight.
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