I've been happily early retired for ten years

[Lisa Lisa]

Hi! I'm a 66 yo Minnesotan who early retired about 10 years ago. I navigated a relatively small portfolio (not "fat"!) and the ACA along the way. I enjoy portfolio management, FWR and healthcare questions and discussions.

 

[rodi]

Welcome to the forum, Lisa Lisa.

Like you, I retired early 10 years ago on a not-fat portfolio. This forum has helped me navigate ACA, getting a good medicare plan for DH (I have 2 more years), helped me learn and apply my learnings about asset allocation, withdrawal rates, etc...

And you can find discussions on random stuff like dishwasher pods, induction stoves, travel destinations, etc... I love this forum.

 

[braumeister]

Welcome, and you'll be fine here. I think most of us were lucky enough to find this forum before retiring, but not all. Like you, I was happily out of the rat race for nearly ten years before stumbling on the E-R forum and I've been enjoying it immensely ever since.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Welcome to the forum, Lisa Lisa.

Like you, I retired early 10 years ago on a not-fat portfolio. This forum has helped me navigate ACA, getting a good medicare plan for DH (I have 2 more years), helped me learn and apply my learnings about asset allocation, withdrawal rates, etc...

And you can find discussions on random stuff like dishwasher pods, induction stoves, travel destinations, etc... I love this forum.

Already saw the induction stove convo - big fan!

 

[Winemaker]

Congrats, Lisa Lisa! I, too, retired unofficially this month, 10 years ago. I had shoulder surgery then, then after my rehab and release from doctor in October, I never went back other to give my 2 week notice. what a blessing!

 

[yakers]

Hi, retired 16 years ago@57, decent pension so dollars aren't so critical but managing the portfolio is a hobby.
Wonderful rabbit holes on this site are the Life After Retirement and Other Topics forums.
But best are the financial discussions: smart, experienced, friendly and helpful in the 'real world'

 

[pjm-7]

Welcome. I also retired 10 years ago at age 56. It has been fun. On my 10th anniversary in June I spent the morning pulling weeds at a community garden. I was grinning with every weed I pulled.

 

[MarieIG]

Welcome to the forum Lisa Lisa!

 

[skyking1]

Welcome aboard Lisa.

 

[jim584672]

Welcome.

I'm joining the 10 year club this year.

 

[pacergal]

Welcome to this amazing forum!
Lots of interesting things to be discussed here, hope to hear more from you along the way.

 

[Koolau]

Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your inputs.

 

[Dash man]

Welcome aboard, Lisa Lisa! I’ve been retired a bit over eleven years, having retired at 56, turning 68 in two weeks.

 

[NeilDH]

Looking forward to learning from -you-, LisaLisa, as I’m in my rookie RE year at 54.

 

[2retireearly]

Hi, I also retired at 56, 11 years ago. Then I was enticed to go back, as a contractor, working my own hours, for a couple of years, summers off. I used ACA for a year, was burned when I went back for part time, then used my company's Health Care, that only a few of us early retirees were given. This site has been such a life saver at times...helped me know how to write up a great 'essay' to get out of IRMAA, helped me decide to do the ACA for my first year, vs my company's health policy, gave me plenty of reading material to see how others are navigating their early retirements, in their 50s. I was so glad I found this group 11plus years ago. And I still love it, now that I am no longer in early retirement, but in just regular retirement. Welcome!

 

[Texas Proud]

Welcome... you will find a vast majority of subjects and opinions here...

It is funny... I really did not know when I retired... but downloaded my SS report recently and see that is was 10 years ago... not sure which month though... but that was my last year making a decent salary...

But, four years ago I ran and won a spot on a water board and am bringing in a few thousand each year... but I find it fun and would do it anyhow... heck, sometimes I do because Texas has a max amount you can earn in a year and I hit it last year...

 

[Retired Expat]

Hi! I'm a 66 yo Minnesotan who early retired about 10 years ago. I navigated a relatively small portfolio (not "fat"!) and the ACA along the way. I enjoy portfolio management, FWR and healthcare questions and discussions.

Hi Lisa and welcome. I am 13 years in and loving it. Although not even FRA yet. Was a Normal to Lean ER but all these years later would say if not FAT FIRE at least pudgy or overweight FIRE now. Funny since for the first time in many years am not FAT or overweight myself.

More exercise and eat healthier in Retirement! Hadn’t expected that !

 

[Redbugdave]

I am also retired 10 years. 66 now. Money is no issue. For me, the idea of work involves trading your time for money. However...being retired...I cannot see trading my most valuable asset (time) to give up the freedom I worked hard to get.

 

[athena53]

Hi, Lisa! I also retired 10 years ago at 61, so not so early, and haven't looked back. It was a bit scary at the time (got tired of toxic politics) but the market has been kind, my spending is sustainable and my net worth has increased. My travel has exceeded my wildest dreams.

I've also learned SO much from this Board. I've been investing since I was young but here are lots of different topics here- health, travel, setting financial priorities, bargains in areas that aren't all that important to me. Good people here.

 

[nafddur1]

I'm seeing a lot of 10 year retirees here, and just wondering what the longest retirement length on this site might be? I took the early retirement offered to me (mainly to avoid another location change and family move) 30 years ago this year - back in 1994 when I was 44. But I worked a couple part time jobs for 5 years until our kid's educations were 100% finished and paid for. Then in 1999 (exactly 25 years ago next month) I retired full time.

 

[Koolau]

I'm seeing a lot of 10 year retirees here, and just wondering what the longest retirement length on this site might be? I took the early retirement offered to me (mainly to avoid another location change and family move) 30 years ago this year - back in 1994 when I was 44. But I worked a couple part time jobs for 5 years until our kid's educations were 100% finished and paid for. Then in 1999 (exactly 25 years ago next month) I retired full time.

We just heard from unclemick this week. IIRC he retired at 49 and I think he said he was now 83. That's probably not our record here, but it's gotta be in the top 1%(?) I'm middling at almost 19 years now. One thing is certain - retirement years go much faster than w*rk years though YMMV.

 

[Dtail]

We just heard from unclemick this week. IIRC he retired at 49 and I think he said he was now 83. That's probably not our record here, but it's gotta be in the top 1%(?) I'm middling at almost 19 years now. One thing is certain - retirement years go much faster than w*rk years though YMMV.

He was my guess too. He might be #1 for active posters. Only starting my 8th year.