7 years retired

[Jerry1]

Today marks 7 years of retirement. It’s been a pretty good time. Unfortunately, I did have a significant health issue about half way through but I’m doing better and I’m still so very thankful that I didn’t have to deal with my health while still working. There are many people who do have to do that and it’s a blessing that I could focus on my health knowing my finances were okay and my health insurance solid.

I don’t have any great stories or moments to share, but it’s been great just being who I want to be and doing it when I want to do it. I’ll be 64 tomorrow and my daughter was nice enough to play the Beatles song in my honor. We also had dinner together tonight and she made some lemon pies that were delicious. A pretty good day.

We’ve taken a couple driving trips but my main entertainment has been golfing in a league and with some friends. We’ve also been able to spend a good amount of time with our grandkids the oldest now 18. I also have a few friends that I meet for breakfast pretty often. I spend time on this forum and I enjoy participating as a moderator. We survived the pandemic and we said goodbye to DW’s mom and my dad as well as a couple friends. The market has done us well and the finances haven’t been an issue at all. I did finally drop my FA after the ‘22 melt down. Probably spent too much the first couple years but that’s all evened out at this point.

Not sure what the next 7 will look like but one thing we’re focusing on is what our next home might end up being. Not sure if we’ll try to stay in our current house longer or move into a more manageable setting, like a condo. Stay tuned.

 

[audreyh1]

Congrats! And Happy Birthday.

Yes I played that Beatles song for DH, and I got it too when I turned 64! I remember for DH that we spent several days at the lodge in Amicalola Falls State Park in North Georgia which is a beautiful setting. Somehow he was very surprised when I played the song for him first thing in the morning.

 

[Dtail]

Congrats on your retirement.
Some similarities for me, as also am 64, in our 8th year of retirement. Unfortunately also lost my dad. Had some health issues, but more of the sports related type. Spend a decent amount of time on this forum.
Retirement is great overall.

 

[flyingaway]

Congratulations on your 7th anniversary of retirement. I lost my father 1.5 years ago. Hope we all will have good retirement to enjoy.

 

[street]

Congratulation Jerry!!! I like your low-key retirement days doing what you like to do are very special.

 

[MarieIG]

Sounds great to me - and - Happy Birthday Jerry!!!

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

Fantastic Jerry and I wish you many more happy retirement years.

 

[pacergal]

Happy Birthday
And congratulations on 7 years!

 

[Koolau]

Congratulations, Jerry. It's amazing how quickly the time passes. Here's hoping for great health going forward.

 

[pjigar]

Congratulations. As they say, No news IS good news.

 

[53anddone]

Similar story - retired at 55 7 years ago. Managed to get diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022 but so far have come out just fine.
I will travel 103 days in 2025 doing the things I love - some with my wife and some with friends. (One thing my wife and I have learned since I retired that time apart is also important!).
Money is not an issue - Net Worth up 37% since I stopped working and have put two kids through college.
Life is good, no complaints and glad I quit when I did.

 

[kilgore]

Being who you want to be says it all. Congratulations!

 

[Rambler]

I don’t post much anymore, but I lurk from time to time. I’ve been retired 12 years, and just turned 63. The first 3.5 years were great, and we did a lot of the stuff we wanted to do. Then wifey got sick (and better within a year). Right as her issues were getting under control, I got my first bout of cancer. Right before 5 years had passed it came back. Fought it off with radiation. In the meantime we had a couple of major moves, COVID, and this past year, another bout with a different cancer, and even though I surgery with clear margins, it was more advanced than originally thought, so I’m going thru a year of immunotherapy to ensure it doesn’t come back. Honestly, I’m glad I retired so young, because I may have ignored some of the issues due to the high stress, go-go-go nature of my last job. At least I got a really good three and a half years before our health caved. We intend to start traveling again this year, in-between my three week cycle of cancer treatments. And even more than that when I am done in September. Moral of the story? Pay attention to your health, and if the money bucket beats out the “stuff we gotta put up with at work bucket”, then retire and enjoy life while you can.

 

[Morricol61]

Celebrated my 64th just a couple of days ago too. This is my 7th year of retirement and I am a very happy little vegemite. We are days away from moving house too. We are headed interstate down to the far southern coast of Australia. This move is for a cooler climate and more places to go and see. We've travelled all over the country, especially Queensland so it's off to explore more of the southern regions and coastlines.

 

[SlowlySaving]

Congrats on the 7 years! Sounds like life has been good to you over all!

 

[Koolau]

Celebrated my 64th just a couple of days ago too. This is my 7th year of retirement and I am a very happy little vegemite. We are days away from moving house too. We are headed interstate down to the far southern coast of Australia. This move is for a cooler climate and more places to go and see. We've travelled all over the country, especially Queensland so it's off to explore more of the southern regions and coastlines.

Congratulations on 7 years. I envy you your youth!

Here's hoping your move goes well and that you enjoy the new location. Keep us posted on your new adventures.

 

[HL SAT]

I don’t understand your acronyms: what is DW? What is FA? Spell it out

 

[REIJM]

I don’t understand your acronyms: what is DW? What is FA? Spell it out

* Acronyms, abbreviations and Slang Frequently Used on the Forum *

 

[aja8888]

Congrats, Jerry on the 7 years and wishing you many more! Go to Costco and get you one of these strawberry yogurt sundaes like in my avatar. You will be glad you did!

 

[MarieIG]

I don’t post much anymore, but I lurk from time to time. I’ve been retired 12 years, and just turned 63. The first 3.5 years were great, and we did a lot of the stuff we wanted to do. Then wifey got sick (and better within a year). Right as her issues were getting under control, I got my first bout of cancer. Right before 5 years had passed it came back. Fought it off with radiation. In the meantime we had a couple of major moves, COVID, and this past year, another bout with a different cancer, and even though I surgery with clear margins, it was more advanced than originally thought, so I’m going thru a year of immunotherapy to ensure it doesn’t come back. Honestly, I’m glad I retired so young, because I may have ignored some of the issues due to the high stress, go-go-go nature of my last job. At least I got a really good three and a half years before our health caved. We intend to start traveling again this year, in-between my three week cycle of cancer treatments. And even more than that when I am done in September. Moral of the story? Pay attention to your health, and if the money bucket beats out the “stuff we gotta put up with at work bucket”, then retire and enjoy life while you can.

@Rambler Best wishes to you and your DW, that your treatments go smoothly, and that you are both able to enjoy some quality time both at home and while traveling.

A buddy of mine, who was approved for immunotherapy (he almost was not due to his age, but his DS who is a doctor was campaigning pretty hard for him) is doing very, very well.

 

[nafddur1]

I remember seeing a couple 25-year retired boomers here recently, that I joined last September. I took a corporate early retirement package with a nice vested, non-contributory ESOP way back in 1994, to avoid a location transfer that just wasn't right for my family at that time. Being only 44 and with college coming up for our 2 kids, I worked a couple part time jobs for 5 years after taking the early retirement package, and then retired full time in 1999, when the education expenses were 100% finished and paid for. My wife however, to solidify her pension, worked for an additional 13 years before retiring at 62 (in 2012). Fortunately, we both have no medical issues - other than the routine minor eye, skin, dental, hearing, etc. things we can all expect by 75 - and have no financial concerns at all, we relocated to VA from our Boston area 8 years ago to be closer to family, have enjoyed regular travel adventures, and are still enjoying retirement life! Watching grandkids out making their own lives, some getting ready for or currently in college, and 2 of the 6 even starting their own families (we just welcomed our 3rd great grand), is fantastic. Especially enjoying our family's past wrestling background, I'm currently getting ready for a senior night dual meet (at Gonzaga College HS in DC) tonight, and the end-of-season tournaments over the next few weekends.

Sorry for the self-serving bragging, but I just want to let other boomers know how great retirement can be even after several decades.

 

[Koolau]

I don’t understand your acronyms: what is DW? What is FA? Spell it out

Welcome HL SAT. May I suggest that you introduce yourself here:

Hi, I am...

Introduce yourself here! (But hey -- start a new thread, so we can see your post!)

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