Retirement opportunity deal killers

[athena53]

As the job involved tons of travel to help resolve problems at supplier production sites, I said only if they could assure me visits to suppliers located in wonderful vacation spots (= non exist, btw).

DH loves to tell the story of a friend who worked in the oil business; he was sent to the Middle East in Business Class on an emergency because some plant had shut down. He arrived at the plant, said, "Darn it, I told you never to touch that switch!", flipped the "Standby" switch off, and everything started up again. Then he went home.

I agree- not the kind of travel we have in mind.

 

[Focus]

Have to say I'm surprised at some of the reactions to my original post. Hey, I'm one of us! There's no judgment here.

To me, ER is all about freedom and flexibility, so there's no wrong answer. You can enjoy leisure activities or take on a new part-time assignment of some sort (low-stress versions are rare, I realize) -- or anything in between. And the "right" answer for you might change from one year to another.

I've come to realize, only three months in, that retiring early really does change one's ideas about what's important to oneself on a daily basis, and that's what triggered this post.

 

[audreyh1]

What is confusing is you talking about "assignments" versus leisure activities. No one ever said retirement was restricted to leisure activities only, although I notice people sometimes make that very assumption. And work is an assignment that someone else gives you and pays you for, but that doesn't mean that you can't assign yourself something to do while retired, regardless of whether there is a financial compensation involved.

 

[audreyh1]

As soon as I find an employer willing to send me to interesting places (Business Class, please!) and write/blog about it, I'm in.

Yes, this! If they'll send DH & me business class to places I want to go anyway, in exchange for a travel article - I'd definitely consider it.

 

[Chuckanut]

+1 What Larry G said.

 

[Focus]

No one ever said retirement was restricted to leisure activities only, although I notice people sometimes make that very assumption.

I've been there. In fact, I've spun this off into another thread...

What do most people get wrong about ER? - Early Retirement & Financial Independence Community

 

[48Fire]

I've heard that the longer one has been retired, the harder it is to give up certain aspects of retired life when opportunities (such as part-time work or volunteer assignments) are offered.

Only three months into ER, I'm already seeing the truth of this, and I've started to compile my deal killers related to new opportunities. At the top of my list would be having to start the day early (sleeping in has become too important) and managing other people.

What are your deal killers? What aspects of ER would you never give up?

Working for someone I don't really like is the number one item. Also, need to have a really flexible schedule, including two week vacations if necessary. Nothing longer than a six month assignment. No management responsibilities, just being a worker bee. Good pay.

 

[jfn111]

OK, I'm one of the crazy ones who likes to work in Retirement. About a year and a half into RE (Retired at 55) I went and got my Real Estate license. I have a closing tomorrow for my ninth sale this year.
I can work as much or as little as I want and my office is in my house.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

OK, I'm one of the crazy ones who likes to work in Retirement. About a year and a half into RE (Retired at 55) I went and got my Real Estate license. I have a closing tomorrow for my ninth sale this year.
I can work as much or as little as I want and my office is in my house.

Good for you. I would probably be horrible at that kind of career and fail miserably, but I have thought about doing something similar just to try something totally new and out of my comfort zone.

 

[omni550]

In preparaion for ER, I'd gotten a real estate license. Trying to sell real estate in one of the worst-hit regions of the country during the period of the major real estate market downturn of 07-09 was not much fun. For me, the ongoing costs of simply being in the business (errors & omissions insurance, access to MLS, con ed classes, etc.) were comparatively high for just a 'hobby' business.

And that was when I learned the oft-stated realtor phrase "Buyers are liars, and sellers are worse".

omni

 

[superdave]

What Money Magazine says...

This months money magazine mentions that 89% of retirees plan to work part time upon retirement. It goes on to say that only 21% do any part time work upon retirement. This matches up with my experiences....

I am 9 months into ER and was contacted last week to do a 3 month contract. Sounded interesting, went for the interview, got the offer and .... turned it down. I wanted to spend the winter down south, and didn't want to sacrifice that. Might have done it as a remote gig, but , naw, would have turned that down.

 

[REWahoo]

I am 9 months into ER and was contacted last week to do a 3 month contract. Sounded interesting, went for the interview, got the offer and .... turned it down. I wanted to spend the winter down south, and didn't want to sacrifice that. Might have done it as a remote gig, but , naw, would have turned that down.

+1

Once you have been retired for a while you figure out w*rking is highly overrated.

 

[Walt34]

Once you have been retired for a while you figure out w*rking is highly overrated.

I'm in razztazz's camp. If somebody offered me $5 million for a day's pay I'd probably take it, but then they'd figure out I have what we used to call an "attitude problem".

I might take a gig as a Playboy photographer for a week or three but have noticed they haven't been calling lately either.

So I'll continue to just sleep late and take up space.

 

[W2R]

+1

Once you have been retired for a while you figure out w*rking is highly overrated.

I think our forum member Khan said something along the lines of, "I'd rather sell a kidney!", didn't she? Honestly I couldn't agree more.

 

[rodi]

I still have to get kids to school, and made a choice to take an 8am Italian class a few mornings a week - so the sleeping in thing hasn't happened for me.

That said - no boss, no work travel, no BS power point presentations, no meetings, no performance reviews. All very big reasons why I'd really hate going back to work.

 

[truenorth418]

Two years into retirement I was approached to do a temporary, on site consulting assignment at the HQ of a national restaurant chain. It was basically going back to work on a full time basis for what turned out to be about 9 months. The location was interesting to me, they put me up in a nice condo complex with a nice car, paid for me to fly home once a month, and they paid me well. So basically they checked all of my boxes.

Still, it was a tough decision for me to take the assignment since I was enjoying retirement, but I figured I had nothing to lose so why not. It was a good experience, but I was glad when it was over, and I doubt I would do something like that again.


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[H2ODude]

It's been three years now, the longer I'm gone the more impossible to go back. Gun to my head? Pull the trigger.

I was thinking about this today. DW and I are in Tanzania visiting DS, his wife, and new grandson, at his home looking out over a beautiful view while he's at w**k. His w**k managing a big USAID project as consulting engineer always seemed pretty neat to me. Then today he texted me to email a document on his personal computer to him at w**k, which meant I had to use his Outlook (for first time in 3 years as I do Mac). I took the opportunity to browse some of his inbox and just shook my head. Deliverables, time tables, HR issues, mandatory webinars, administrative BS, O M G. It was like an injection of the "Retirement is Woooooonderful" drug! So no, I ain't goin' back.

 

[unno2002]

[FONT=&quot]I still wake up around 4:45 AM. If they're interested, do breakfast for the wife & daughter (both working…) Tinker around the house, tend the garden.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The library opens at 10:00, if/when I feel like it I pedal over, & if they need something done I don't mind, I'll do some volunteer hours. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]At the chapel, help with set up / clean up for fellowship meals.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Do I want a fixed time schedule job? No. the deal killer would be an obligation to be at some particular place at a particular time, and do whatever arbitrary assignment someone has selected for me.[/FONT]