Reason you retired ? Poll

[ABQ2015]

I wanted to retire by 59 1/2 but waited to 62 increase my retirement income another $20K. While I could live on less, the extra money meant more travel and a cushion in case things went south (market, health, etc.). By 62, my sedentary job was taking its toll as my weight was getting out of control. I felt like my work performance was slipping as I no longer had the energy, concentration, or motivation. And I was not embracing the new work culture that came as a result of a reorganization. Finally I had enough money to fully enjoy my retirement and it was time to go.

 

[Dtail]

I pleaded Insanity, so actually It's a mental institution. I still run a small hedge fund from inside.

Well with the typical 2/20 structure, you won't be getting any clients from this site.

 

[ransil]

Not retired yet but my reason is to have some fun and travel before i die, see too many people hit 65 and die, I might be that guy but I'm gonna have some me time before that.

 

[flintnational]

Planned - The plan since college was to FIRE at 55. I got out at 53 10/12. Darn, missed it by 14 months.

 

[Winemaker]

Isn't it a law that you get half hour unpaid lunch for eight hours?

Either way, I don't think you could pay me enough to work at a place like that.

I never had a scheduled lunch break in 35+ years. Or a break. I ate on the run always; 3 sandwiches, dozen cookies, yogurt, maybe a candy bar, half gallon water everyday, and don't remember eating any of it.

That's why I cook and make wine; to savor every taste and flavor.

 

[Teacher Terry]

My ex was blue collar and always had 30 minutes lunch and 2-10 minute break. Union or no union.

 

[NW-Bound]

I chose: "Had enough of : workgroup / task / manager / company".

I was working part-time as a contractor, and already had plenty of time for travel and leisure. I also would pick only the projects that would match my experience and expertise, and where I could really make a meaningful contribution to benefit my employer, and which provided me with a job satisfaction as well.

It could be a win-win situation, but megacorp redtape proved too much at the end. So, I bailed because I did not need the money and the aggravation was more than the fun of the work.

 

[Gunny]

Hated HQ

Was fat, dumb and happy as a FED living and working in Alabama. But my detachment was closed and I was moved kicking and screaming to DC. For ten months I was miserable with the early and long commute, traffic all the time, HQ politcal BS. Early retirement was offered. I qualified. I'm back in Alabama.

 

[Midpack]

Not retired yet but my reason is to have some fun and travel before i die, see too many people hit 65 and die, I might be that guy but I'm gonna have some me time before that.

Odds are against it unless you already have a known cause.

More than 84% of us live to 65, IOW only about 16% die by age 65
78% to 70,
70% to 75,
58% to 80,
42% to 85,
25% to 90,
10% to 95,
2% to 100

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr66/nvsr66_04.pdf

 

[brucethebroker]

Voted RIF, even though it was voluntary. Tried to get work, even at a much reduced income, but to no avail.
Retired 18 months and never been happier.

Great recession forced semi-retirement on me. Could not be happier.

 

[DrRoy]

Good financial decisions over the years.

+1. Planned and had enough.

 

[Col. Klink]

I retired because work is spending your finite time doing something you would not likely do by choice with people who are likely unhappy because they HAVE to work. When you have enough $ to pay for the finite amount of time you have remaining, many on this forum, like me, chose to retire

 

[Dawg52]

1 and 3.

 

[Bir48die]

The growing expectation that my life was the company's to own. Though it was a great place to work in general these things drove me away:

The need for me to be accessible 24/7
With mergers territorial bickering between divisions of the company
Stupid decisions by our president that were reactionary and not well thought out

The last stupid decision that was made on my behalf by the president then allowed me to give them a nice 18 month notice and then to reorganize the division prior to my exit. No one thought I'd stick to my decision at the end. I did.

 

[ransil]

My old neighbor died last week at 65, he was healthy.
Boss 54 has cancer at the moment.
Guys desk im sitting in died at 56, he was a smoker .

Wife and i are healthy at the moment.

Odds are against it unless you already have a known cause.

More than 84% of us live to 65, IOW only about 16% die by age 65
78% to 70,
70% to 75,
58% to 80,
42% to 85,
25% to 90,
10% to 95,
2% to 100

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr66/nvsr66_04.pdf

 

[aja8888]

PIcked OTHER

I had to start saving for retirement all over again at 50 years old due to a California style divorce. Plus, I had to finish raising my two teenage daughters at that time as they were handed off to me.

So I moved to Texas for a job, and started from "ground Zero" at 50 with a 14 and 16 year old daughters. I literally had nothing left after the split except a 1989 Ford, some old furniture, about $40K in cash, and two beautiful daughters with many costs in their future. We lived in a two bedroom apartment for starters.

Well, I made it to retirement (not with millions in the bank though), but slogged hard for 15 years and put both kids thru college with no outstanding loans. Actually, looking back, I'm not sure how I did it.

 

[EastWest Gal]

Electronic health record

I know many physicians who quit hospital rounds when our hospital EHR started, and others who retired.

 

[CRLLS]

1 and 2 here. RIF was happening. It was either me or him. I chose not to re-apply for the j*b. Was without a job for about 4 years. Then took a PT consulting job. Retired again Jan '18.

 

[nativenewenglander]

We had the money to retire, although I still work at my home business 10-15 hours a week. It has tax benefits to our situation and keeps me busy when not engaged in sporting activities, like skiing, hiking, biking, fly fishing or canoeing. Just picked up some new skis and boots last week, our new kevlar and carbon fiber canoes arrived yesterday.

 

[Carpediem]

Well, I made it to retirement (not with millions in the bank though), but slogged hard for 15 years and put both kids thru college with no outstanding loans. Actually, looking back, I'm not sure how I did it.

Amazing inspirational story! Well done and congratulations.

 

[38Chevy454]

Worked full time since 15, except for part time during school. Worked my way through college, so I had definitely had enough and was working to my plan. So options 1 and 3 for me.

 

[ihippychic]

.

I had always planned to retire at age 55 and made financial decisions accordingly. Although I was financially able, as age 55 approached, I began to hedge... thinking I might work a few years beyond age 55.

Ironically, a few weeks before my 55th birthday, I began having major problems with my disabled son's day care. He had attended that same day care facility throughout my corporate career with no problems [it was a God-send.] But ironically, a few weeks before I had originally planned to retire, I could not in good conscience keep sending him to that day care... so I retired at my 55th birthday as I had originally planned.

In a way, we both retired. My son and I enjoyed being retired together, doing whatever we wanted to do, road trips, vacations, or just sleeping late and vegging out. Six years later, my son suddenly and unexpectedly died at home during a seizure. If I had still been working, he would have died at day care.

God works in mysterious ways.

.

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[Mdlerth]

Even roosters wait until sunrise

I've been sleep-deprived my whole life. Surely six decades of waking up at 4:30 is more than enough.

The first casualty of my retirement: the alarm clock. I will get up when my body says it's time, not when some machine tells me to.

 

[gcgang]

I chose to retire as any extra earnings/savings wouldn't move the needle enough to bother with.

What does RIF mean?

 

[6miths]

It was planned but definitely knew that I would be well on my way to the 'had enough' category when the date came so it all worked out very well.