TopDown
Dryer sheet aficionado
Hi, I'm 54, single (divorced), and seriously planning on retiring Jan 1, 2010. I've been a Federal employee for over 35 years. My CSRS pension will cover my daily living expenses and I plan to save my very small TSP for a rainy day and/or RMD's at 70. One flaw in this scenario is if my future COLA's don't keep up with inflation. A couple more years of work would be more fiscally responsible but I don't want to leave in a pine box either.
I started a list of things to do when I retire. It is woefully short and actually has some things on it that I may not enjoy in reality (or is that actuality?). My friends assure me I will have no trouble filling my days and I'll wonder how I ever found the time to work!
My daughter (still single and no children) has made her home in Juneau. I am close to one brother and his wife; they live a couple hours and a ferry boat ride away from me. My newest best friends are a family in Coquitlam, BC and a family south of me. The majority of my friendships were made when I worked in Anchorage. Like me, these people have scattered. Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Pennsylvania. We keep in touch by phone and email. For the last 5+ years I have managed an office in NW Washington. As the boss I am friendly but not 'good friends' with the staff. I've always enjoyed my personal time and used it, needed it, to recharge. (This is my way of saying I don't have any close friends where I live now...if you need me to spell it out .)
So, stay in this town or move to a warmer, less expensive location ... where I know no one? Leave what I am familiar and comfortable with ... Why? I've done this before but I was going for something. Guess I've answered that question for now at least.
Discover I really miss the interaction I have with the staff and public after I retire? Miss that I'm not making a difference anymore? This one truly worries me. I work with some very good people who are vibrant, smart, full of life. They've helped keep me young. I'm afraid my personal/alone time in retirement will be too much of a good thing.
I'm a lazy procrastinator and have been successful at work because I had to. In retirement I don't have to be successful at anything. Maybe that is what really scares me. But that pine box scares me more.
If anyone is still reading I welcome any comments to my post and thank you in advance.
I started a list of things to do when I retire. It is woefully short and actually has some things on it that I may not enjoy in reality (or is that actuality?). My friends assure me I will have no trouble filling my days and I'll wonder how I ever found the time to work!
My daughter (still single and no children) has made her home in Juneau. I am close to one brother and his wife; they live a couple hours and a ferry boat ride away from me. My newest best friends are a family in Coquitlam, BC and a family south of me. The majority of my friendships were made when I worked in Anchorage. Like me, these people have scattered. Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Pennsylvania. We keep in touch by phone and email. For the last 5+ years I have managed an office in NW Washington. As the boss I am friendly but not 'good friends' with the staff. I've always enjoyed my personal time and used it, needed it, to recharge. (This is my way of saying I don't have any close friends where I live now...if you need me to spell it out .)
So, stay in this town or move to a warmer, less expensive location ... where I know no one? Leave what I am familiar and comfortable with ... Why? I've done this before but I was going for something. Guess I've answered that question for now at least.
Discover I really miss the interaction I have with the staff and public after I retire? Miss that I'm not making a difference anymore? This one truly worries me. I work with some very good people who are vibrant, smart, full of life. They've helped keep me young. I'm afraid my personal/alone time in retirement will be too much of a good thing.
I'm a lazy procrastinator and have been successful at work because I had to. In retirement I don't have to be successful at anything. Maybe that is what really scares me. But that pine box scares me more.
If anyone is still reading I welcome any comments to my post and thank you in advance.