Question about the crowd here

[kcowan]

25 years in megacorp, early golden handshake with immediate small (42%) no-COLA pension.
10 years as change consultant/corporate executive
5 years into ER living on small savings and proceeds from large house sale

[citrine]

Female, 32
Executive Assistant in Pharma company/Artist
13 more years before semi-retirement.

[tightasadrum]

Many different routes to FI in this group, from having arrived to just starting out. I'm a veteran who enjoyed about four years of fun, then 26 years of mega-corp, and the last six underemployed or consulting. Not sure I know what FI really is anymore after some of the doom and gloom things coming out lately, but I think I'm close enough try something different next year. RE is probably not the correct term, since I'm 61, but I believe it will be good not working everyday.

Welcome aboard.

[Sue J]

I'm not military either. I'm just recently back in the part-time workforce, having been a stay-at-home mom for over 20 years. I'm working specifically to finish earning my 40 quarters worth of Social Security credits that were incomplete when I left work to raise a family, socking away the cash toward retirement and crossing my fingers that SS will still be there when I get to 62.

My husband works for a local government and in 6 years will have 30 years of service and a pension.

I found this board while searching for an answer to a question a few months ago. At first I just read and absorbed all the knowledge, experience and HUMOR. Now, we are looking toward retirement, not as the BIG UNKNOWN, but as something that can be accomplished in reality. Popular media makes it seem like if you don't have huge wealth you'll end up living in a box, eating cat food.

We don't have the huge portfolio or big wealth that many here have accumulated. But what I've learned here is that there are real people, retiring and making it work. Some have a lot, some have a lot less, but if you make it a point to live below your means, reduce your expenses and work with what you have, retirement can be done and can be done well.

I enjoy reading about how others are living in retirement and I love reading people's stories about their military career or their years in Megacorp. My Megacorp was more like a minicorp, but so much of it was just like the movie "Office Space". We even had "Milton" character, but ours was a female.

[bssc]

You probably noticed because the military types have all the good stories. My corporate life is quite quiet, which is quite fine with me.

[Texas Proud]

You also make the mistake of thinking we all are retired...

I am not there yet, but hope to be in 5 to 6 years..

[firewhen]

White-collar employee who saved like gerbils. Spent what we needed to maintain our chosen standard of living versus what we could afford to spend had we chosen to. No pension, no retiree bennies, only nest egg to rely on.

[clifp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bssc You probably noticed because the military types have all the good stories. My corporate life is quite quiet, which is quite fine with me.

Hi Tech stock options, plus good saver and investor.

Got to agree that even though I had a pretty fun corporate job, no way can I compete with "night helicoptor rescuses from a submarine with 100' foot waves flooding the boat" Movies and TV series about Silicon Valley are instantly forgetten. (They've made movies about Silcon Valley yawn) while shows about the military are big hits.

[bssc]

The day they make a movie about my MegaCorp means that something bad happened. I don't want to see movies. I know the curse, May you live in interesting times.

[Janet H]

Musician - forced to live cheaply to avoid real job. Income went up, expenses didn't (much), FIRE in 2 years!

[kumquat]

Stumbled into MegaCorp by blind luck, (make that good planning). Got stock options that multiplied by 8-9 times in the last 2-3 years. Damn, wish Canada had a military. FWIW, damn near joined US military in Viet Nam era, thought it was right and someone should do it. Didn't, no regrets.

[calmloki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by twaddle Nope, we've got a few tech options millionaires, a few business owners who cashed out, a few investors who played the market just right, a few who inherited their money, etc. The only common thread is that we're sick of the rat race.

I fix toilets and re-install doorknobs for a living - but you're right - getting to the point i don't even want to do that for myself anymore. 57 and just a little more and then a little more and then... The early part is fast escaping !

[USK Coastie]

Retired July1,2007 from a diverse career of different jobs. 21 years active duty/reserve in USAF/USCG, heating mechanic, boiler operator, and Facilities Management in Hospitals. Never earned more than $60K/yr.

[Cb]

There are even a few of us 'retirees' with still-working Old Ladies...

Cb
PS: In my own defense, we're FI, she's just 'running up the score' a bit, to borrow a phrase from Nords.

[Barbalooh]

It's so fun reading about everyone. I don't know where I'd fit in the fix...maybe I'm just an interested free-loader. Came from a military family, father 20 years, ret. Major with second career...I traveled a LOT, lived pretty adventurous life, jack of all trades Master of none for 40 years, no big $ perks, inherited just enough to invest, sold family home and am now 59 and live ER frugally and appreciate the important things in life, but miss the BS, friends and honor of the old time military life. Just wanna fish and enjoy nature mostly, have lots of quirky interests that keep me busy. Only child will make me a grandma in the spring, for the first time Late bloomer here. Good to meet ya'll...Barb in Dallas.

[youbet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice Makes sense - FWIW, I'm type 2 - maybe it should be part of peoples sig line? 1 = retired miltary 2 = wall street guy 3 = white collar uber-saver in his late 40s early 50s 4 = other government pension plan does that cover it?

Layered on top of the personal career backgrounds is martial status.

We've got the always single, divorced, dinks, married with children, the whole shootin' match posting here. It's often helpful to know someone's situation to understand their comments and positions on FIRE issues. An RE type doing it on their own may feel differently about an investment strategy than an RE type with a working spouse making six figures!

[Moemg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice Makes sense - FWIW, I'm type 2 - maybe it should be part of peoples sig line? 1 = retired miltary 2 = wall street guy 3 = white collar uber-saver in his late 40s early 50s 4 = other government pension plan does that cover it?

5- Burnt out nurses

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbet ... is martial status.

Now there's a Freudian slip!

[youbet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords Now there's a Freudian slip!

Oh boy........ That's the kind of slip that could get a guy shot...

Let's see:

marital = of or pertaining to marriage.

martial = inclined or disposed to war

Gee......same letters.....just rearrange them a little bit......big trouble!

[dessert]

Not in my case, but I would think someone could be both marital and martial all at the same time.
Good catch Nords.