Unexpected Detours on Road to Retirement

[Geoffrey]

My plan to retire in July 08 took an unexpected detour yesterday when I visited my Japanese dentist. She informed me that I have certain dental issues that will take an estimated 15 months to resolve (I need a couple of implants). I've decided I need to have this done in Japan because my game plan is to retire in a location where I don't feel comfortable having the procedure performed (the Philippines). I can only stay in Japan as long as I work, so it looks like my retirement will be postponed by about 9 months.

Has anyone else received an expected setback to their retirement plans? If so, how did you handle it? Having to work an extra 9 months is a psychological setback, so I intend to try to lessen the impact a little by loosening the purse strings and spending a more freely. Since we already have an adequate nest egg, I figure we could "waste" my salary during the final 9 months. I've never really spent freely before . . . don't know whether it will provide the psychological boost I need to get through the extra time.

 

[W2R]

Sorry to hear this. That has to be extremely disturbing.

Perhaps it is time to think twice about retiring to the Philippines, if you don't feel comfortable getting major dental work done there. Health care, including dentistry, is usually a pretty big concern for retirees. What if this had happened a month after ER?

Will the extra 9 months' nestegg allow you to retire in a location where you feel more confidant about local dentists and healthcare, perhaps? It could be a blessing in disguise.

 

[dex]

Sounds like you are doing the smart things - getting physical check ups. Use the time to check up on other aspects of your planning. I think it is fortunate you found it now.

 

[Moemg]

I was planning on retiring in my early 50's when my husband died suddenly . I was thrown for a loop and decided to continue working part time .I could have made it financially but since his dying left a huge hole in my life I decided to continue working for the income and the social aspects. It was a good decision and at 59 when I finally retired I knew I was really ready financially and mentally .

 

[USK Coastie]

How about getting the work done in Thailand? It might be worth the air fare for a couple of trips/travel jaunts to get it done there and leave earlier.

Perhaps Billy or Ashika will chime in stories of dental work in Thailand.

 

[Geoffrey]

Thank you all for the sympathetic replies. This is not a BIG setback for me, just a disappointment. There are many things worse than having to spend an extra 9 months in Japan -- we love Japan. The only downside is that I have run out of gas with my job and my boss is a micromanager, which makes the days spent in the office tiresome. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts in the dental work . . . I'm convinced my dentist's estimate of the treatment time is reasonable (much of healing time). I'm just trying to come to terms with the extra 9 months, i.e., trying to give it a positive enough spin so that it doesn't get me down. We've lived in Japan for 7 years, living very frugally. I thought that perhaps if we changed the dynamics, i.e., spent freely for the last 9 months, that the extra time might seem more like fun than a prison sentence. Anyway, this just proves once again the old adage, "life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

i have a tough time giving people directions because i don't like to wait in traffic. if the light turns red and you are at the corner, turn right. otherwise keep going foward for another three blocks and then turn right. at the next major intersection, if you catch the arrow, make a left. otherwise go through the intersection and turn left where you can.

ps, once you make that turn, find a good periodontist or dds in the philippines where you can get regular cleanings so that you don't undo the work you are having done in japan. good luck.

 

[TickTock]

We've lived in Japan for 7 years, living very frugally. I thought that perhaps if we changed the dynamics, i.e., spent freely for the last 9 months, that the extra time might seem more like fun than a prison sentence.

I dunno. If it were me, I'd worry that spending freely would undo the frugal habits. OTOH, if spending freely makes you happy, you might want to reconsider ER, and if it doesn't make you happy, you'll be more resolved that ER is right.

 

[RetireeRobert]

Just make darn sure those dental implants are well-established, healed up, "working right" before you are out of touch with the Japanese Dentist for follow-on care. You trust your dentist, but I think I would get at least one second opinion from an implant specialist before proceeding. I am not sure what can be done if a dental implant anchor does not "take".

 

[imnxpat]

My plan to retire in July 08 took an unexpected detour yesterday when I visited my Japanese dentist. She informed me that I have certain dental issues that will take an estimated 15 months to resolve (I need a couple of implants). I've decided I need to have this done in Japan because my game plan is to retire in a location where I don't feel comfortable having the procedure performed (the Philippines). I can only stay in Japan as long as I work, so it looks like my retirement will be postponed by about 9 months.

I've been in the Philippines for over 2 years, Geoffrey, and maybe it's luck but I have a great dentist. Did something happen to turn you off on dentists here?

 

[Orchidflower]

Yeah, I got a big unexpected setback to my future life of fun and frivolity. My mother had a stroke, so I had to move from my new adopted home in Chicago (lived there years before) and move to a much smaller area in Illinois to take care of her. Been here 3 years so far.
Ironically, I have met another lady in the same position like me here: moved from another area to take care of an aging parent, also in sales and dying to get back to work (she has been here 5 years). What can you do? I think there are probably many people in my situation really around the country.
Hopefully, the fun and frivolity will still be there when I am out of here. I do plan to whoop it up ALOT!

 

[Meadbh]

Yeah, I got a big unexpected setback to my future life of fun and frivolity. My mother had a stroke, so I had to move from my new adopted home in Chicago (lived there years before) and move to a much smaller area in Illinois to take care of her. Been here 3 years so far.
Ironically, I have met another lady in the same position like me here: moved from another area to take care of an aging parent, also in sales and dying to get back to work (she has been here 5 years). What can you do? I think there are probably many people in my situation really around the country.
Hopefully, the fun and frivolity will still be there when I am out of here. I do plan to whoop it up ALOT!

OF, I admire you. I hope your mom appreciates the sacrifice you have made. And I hope that when your Mom no longer needs your help, you are able to achieve your dreams.

 

[two4theroad]

We retired at the end of 2006 with plans to tear up the roads traveling. We went to Vegas and Calif in the spring, then Reno Tahoe in June 07. While we were there my mom (67) was taken to the emergency room with chest pain. She recovered somewhat but can no longer take care of her rental properties (her income) or do any significant labor.
We have been tied down since then because she used to watch my grandma when we travel but now has a dissecting aortic aneurysm. She may have surgery soon as it is getting larger but the doctors are not very positive about the outcome. It is too close to the nerves near her spine and may paralyze her. They were hoping that it would stabilize and surgery could be avoided but it does not look good.
Granny (90) is getting weaker and more forgetful daily. I have to supervise her medications and eating as she forgets and takes it too often or not at all. She needs help bathing and is not able to care for the house or get her own food. We may have to take her to the nursing home soon as I am not able to lift her when she can't get up from bed or toilet by herself.
We flew my dad in from California to take a vacation in Colorado in the fall that we had already planned but I do not know when the next one will be.
We see no relief in sight soon but are thankful that we are not working now and able to care for both of them.
2fer

 

[Geoffrey]

imnxpat,

I would trust a good dentist in the Philippines to take care of my routine dental needs, but I am hesitant to have implants done there. There may very well be a dentist in the PI that is fully capable of doing implants, but I'd rather put my faith in my Japanese dentist. In addition, we need to stay in Japan until June 2008 (when our eldest daughter graduates from high school), so I may as well have the treatment started here. Rather than retiring in July 2008 (as originally planned), I'll have to wait until July 2009 if I follow the proposed treatment plan. This has been a little tough for me to swallow because I was really warming up to the idea of retiring in 6 months, but I'm trying to put a positive spin of this. Living in Tokyo has been good, it's just my job I have grown tired of. But, I have nearly 800 hours of vacation time on the books, so I could take one day off per week for the next 18 months (if I can convince my supervisor to swallow that). A four day work week, coupled with a more liberal personal consumption plan could make the last 12 months much more palatable. If I don't try to put a positive spin on this I'll just get depressed!