3 Years Into Retirement

[pacergal]

Congratulations.
Time does go so quickly, enjoy every day!

 

[COcheesehead]

I appreciate all the good wishes.

 

[BruinBones]

Congrats. I also retired 3 years ago this month (hard to believe). We endured the pandemic, a hurricane that damaged our house, and the deaths of my father and father-in-law within 3 weeks of each other. Still, DW and I are grateful and believe we are living are best life right now!

 

[Dtail]

Going on 6 years this month for DGF and me. We couldn't be happier. Will never work again under any circumstances.

 

[walkinwood]

Congratulations!
As an older friend recently said - your #1 job is working on on your health (mental & physical) and your relationships.

Enjoy your good years & try to extend them as far as luck & effort will let you.

Good luck to you.

 

[tmitchell]

Congrats! And thanks for the update. I'm just at 1.5 yrs and can definitely echo the idea I could have gone sooner. I was 54 but could have jumped at 52, and that was sort of my plan until covid, at which point I figured a couple more years of working from home wouldn't make much of a difference. Still stand by that and now happy to have the extra buffer.

I'm still sorting out how safe I feel spending, and am likely being too conservative since my plan is to Die with Zero. Since 2020 "they" have been calling for doom but here we are with S&P climbing. Go figure...

I'm not having a hard time figuring out how to keep busy, but the social part is still a little rough since everyone I know is still working and I don't live in a particularly social town. Making lots of friends with authors & podcasters at this point lol. I still have voices telling me I need to "do something that matters." Maybe that will come. Or not.

Keep enjoying yourself & thanks again!

 

[COcheesehead]

I still have voices telling me I need to "do something that matters."

I’ll tell you my experience about “doing something that matters” and this is my own personal experience not meant to cast a shadow on anyone else.

About two weeks after retiring from owning/managing/being at the end of where the buck stops of my business, I took a “what the hell” job working at a winery - we live next to an AVA with 36+ wineries. I thought it would be fun and last two weeks at most. However, it took me in another direction, part tour guide for my newly chosen home that we recently moved to, part social butterfly, part fulfilling my inner wine geek.

Flash forward a couple months, out with a friend who has known me for years. At dinner she “scolded” me for not volunteering somewhere were I could help an organization with all my years of business experience. I kinda felt bad for a few days, she was right. I am not paying it forward.

I returned to the winery a few days later and relayed my story to a co worker 15 years my junior. She set it all straight. She said “you worked your whole f…n life, you deserve to have fun”. Frankly that is all I needed.

I created six figure income jobs for people, gave them health insurance, 401ks, company cars, respected and appreciated them. Its my time now. I did my part.

My role now is to entertain people at the winery and love my wife and dog. I am in the 4th season of working in the wine industry.

 

[ut2sua]

I just passed my 3 year anniversary.
The money part has been pretty easy.
The what to do part has been pretty easy.
The only hard part is I now realize I have 3 less years to enjoy the best years of my life.

Congrats!!!

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

Congratulations on 3 years. It does go fast. I can still remember my exit interview at Megacorp, turning in my badge and walking out with a pile of papers talking about all the wonderful retiree benefits I had to look forward to.

Retired from Megacorp. 9 months ago.
Wonderful retiree benefits were frozen about 12 years prior to my departure date. However, I was a diligent saver so happy with the outcome.
I am enjoying my well earned retirement at age 66 and am blessed and grateful.

I wish you a full, happy and healthy retirement in future years.

 

[COcheesehead]

You’all warm my heart. Thank you.

 

[Bigdawg]

out with a friend who has known me for years. At dinner she “scolded” me for not volunteering somewhere were I could help an organization with all my years of business experience. I kinda felt bad for a few days, she was right. I am not paying it forward.

My role now is to entertain people at the winery and love my wife and dog. I am in the 4th season of working in the wine industry.

I would tell that so called friend to go F themselves. You do you. You are still providing value.

 

[tmitchell]

I’ll tell you my experience about “doing something that matters” and this is my own personal experience not meant to cast a shadow on anyone else.

About two weeks after retiring from owning/managing/being at the end of where the buck stops of my business, I took a “what the hell” job working at a winery - we live next to an AVA with 36+ wineries. I thought it would be fun and last two weeks at most. However, it took me in another direction, part tour guide for my newly chosen home that we recently moved to, part social butterfly, part fulfilling my inner wine geek.

Flash forward a couple months, out with a friend who has known me for years. At dinner she “scolded” me for not volunteering somewhere were I could help an organization with all my years of business experience. I kinda felt bad for a few days, she was right. I am not paying it forward.

I returned to the winery a few days later and relayed my story to a co worker 15 years my junior. She set it all straight. She said “you worked your whole f…n life, you deserve to have fun”. Frankly that is all I needed.

I created six figure income jobs for people, gave them health insurance, 401ks, company cars, respected and appreciated them. Its my time now. I did my part.

My role now is to entertain people at the winery and love my wife and dog. I am in the 4th season of working in the wine industry.

Appreciate this perspective, thank you!

 

[53anddone]

Congrats!

I am at my 5 year anniversary retiring at 55.

Money part has been easy (Net worth has increased 16% since I stopped working).

Keeping busy has also been easy thanks to a lot of work on the house and a busy travel schedule.

But life does throw you curveballs - I got diagnosed with prostate cancer 10/22 and spent the first half of this year getting treatment. Thankfully it had not spread but it was a reminder to that nothing is as important as your health. You cant win the game if you're dead!

 

[brett]

Retired for 12 years. Changed our lifestyle, traveled extensively. We are both health and have lots of travel plans on our bucket lists.

Two of our friends retired and the same time and also downsized. Immediately after he became very ill. He has been ill for the past 10 years. Sometimes a few days in bed. Lots of pain.

It made us realize how fortunate we are. Investment returns are not at the top of our thoughts. We are in our early 70's and trying our best to eat and live healthy in order to enjoy as many years as we can in good health. Without good health we have nothing.

 

[COcheesehead]

Congrats!

I am at my 5 year anniversary retiring at 55.

Money part has been easy (Net worth has increased 16% since I stopped working).

Keeping busy has also been easy thanks to a lot of work on the house and a busy travel schedule.

But life does throw you curveballs - I got diagnosed with prostate cancer 10/22 and spent the first half of this year getting treatment. Thankfully it had not spread but it was a reminder to that nothing is as important as your health. You cant win the game if you're dead!

Yes, could not agree with you more. My wife keeps things in perspective. She is a two time breast cancer survivor. Moments are precious, enjoy them.

 

[Koolau]

Yep, every day is a gift. Use it wisely.

 

[maestro]

Congratulations, Cheesehead. I am 5 years in, and back in my first year of retirement in 2019, followed the miserable advice for my age to go 60-40, bonds/equity. My BND investment is a disaster, so I get your 'avoiding bond funds', reflecting as a Monday morning QB. Totally sucks and wondering if I can ever get above water again. Some advice good, others have 'hidden' caveats.

 

[11522914]

Congrats Cheesehead.

I recently passed 4 1/2 years.

I've become inefficient, lazy, absolutely hate setting an alarm clock, play too many video games, watch too much tv and take way too many naps.

God I love retirement [emoji16]

 

[COcheesehead]

Congrats Cheesehead.

I recently passed 4 1/2 years.

I've become inefficient, lazy, absolutely hate setting an alarm clock, play too many video games, watch too much tv and take way too many naps.

God I love retirement [emoji16]

I bow in your presence.

 

[street]

Yep, every day is a gift. Use it wisely.

AMEN!!!!

 

[1242Vintage]

Congrats!!!!

I’m 3-years into retirement too. Best decision I ever made!

The way I see it, ditching the work stress and focusing on improving my health (losing weight and improving fitness) has added years to my life.

And the best part, wife and I are enjoying many carefree honeymoon trips … Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Costa Rica, and Belize this year

 

[CatinKS]

Retired at 59 in 2022. A neighbor who had previously retired asked how I enjoyed my new life, my response, "This is pre-school for Heaven" Life is good, no alarm clock. BP went down and my enjoyment is at a high level. Taking on new roles, as my wife's bookkeeper for her self-employed business, and volunteering as a Transport Specialist for Red Cross. If anyone wants to get out and enjoy seeing the world on someone else's gas dollars, it is very rewarding. LOL, when others ask what I'm doing, I say bootlegging blood across county lines, sounds more daring!

If smokey and bandit would have put Red Cross on the side of their vehicles, no sheriff would have stopped them.

 

[beachfire]

Congrats!

We Retired 5 years ago at age 53. Still can’t believe how great it feels. Wether it is sitting on the beach mid week, no longer feeling that Sunday afternoon “have to work tomorrow” thing, even mowing the yard feels better than being on conference calls or chasing work deliverables.

That said, we did take a bit of risk as upon retirement we relocated to a beach town where we did not know a soul. Luckily, we have established a fabulous social network and have more options to do stuff than we are able to juggle. By nature I am rather introverted and DW is more outgoing. So we get to pick our spots and engage in stuff as we like.

While making sure your money supports a lifestyle you are happy with is critical, I agree with the idea that you and spouse also need access to social stuff or activities that you BOTH enjoy. It is a problem that I am very thankful for having the opportunity to tackle.

 

[pc95]

Sequence of return risk scared me a lot so I did much research on it prior to retiring because I knew I was pulling out at a market high which if managed correctly is OK. If managed poorly, can be a problem

What were your conclusions from your research?

 

[COcheesehead]

What were your conclusions from your research?

Everyone should have a strategy. There are many ways to manage it. I didn’t like the idea of just stashing cash because at the time, it paid nothing. I ultimately went with an individual bond tent per Kitces. See link below. I lucked out because bonds rose in yields rapidly and now they pay us about 145% of our income needs.

https://www.kitces.com/blog/managing-portfolio-size-effect-with-bond-tent-in-retirement-red-zone/