Low 50s, and am I "retired"? Well, I'm now not working hard!

[audreyh1]

I really had things I wanted to do in my personal life that work interfered with. This made the transition a joy and it felt like liberation and I went straight to doing all those things and didn’t look back. The advice “have something to retire to” is very appropriate otherwise you may well find yourself floundering.

It still took me about six months to decompress from all the work stress, so expect some time for that. I didn’t try to figure everything out during that time or set up grand long-term plans. In addition to plenty of the desired travel I let it be a time of experimentation and discovery.

 

[NeilDH]

I had pretty much designed my own current assignment and was the technical expert (and was recognized as such.) So when Megacorp decided they wanted me to do something else for which I was not qualified IOW my #1 C@reer Anchor was unceremoniously cut.

My end didn't exactly come like this but somewhat did. DW and I had considered the voluntary buyouts the first time they were offered five years earlier; I wasn't ready to let go because I was at the top of my game. But you know, if you eat chocolate *all* the time, soon you get sick of even that. Plus, with support increasingly cut, I was doing more rudimentary things on top of my higher-level job, and it was getting stupid and I exhausted. So it finally became easy to end it -- I discovered later, even easier than I thought.

I really had things I wanted to do in my personal life that work interfered with.

This is so funny because I also have thought this was the case for DW and me. It's such a great way to say it. We had things in our lives besides the j*b that were slowly growing and taking up time and energy, whether we wanted them to or not (and many we wanted to). When we needed to decide what to cut, the j*b was it.

The truth also is, I didn't make a conscious decision to "retire" (though DW definitely used the word). What I decided to do was really the result of a series of questions and answers. Do I want to stay in this j*b anymore? No. Do I want a new, "normal" j*b (I worked second shift in a dynamic business, and a common next step for my peers was to go to a 9-5 job)? No. Do I want supreme flexibility with my schedule, finally? Yes. Do I want a new boss of any kind? Not really. Do I like doing my own thing(s)? Yes (even if I have to figure that out yet). Do we have enough money, possibly forever? Looking like it. Ergo, stop w*rking -- maybe forever.

 

[FLSUnFIRE]

I just turned 50, retired ~3.5 years. No one blinks and eye when I say I'm retired which is my stock answer -just a matter of fact. Some acquaintances even just confirm/ask, "You're retired right?" It was a big nothing burger... I feel I failed by retiring too late and didn't get to shock anyone! Occasionally, I get a congrats but that is a rare occurrence. I suspect a few think I got lucky somehow (I am lucky but no magic windfall or super high working income) and way overestimate my financial position (which isn't bad but far from "rich" when considering what can be withdrawn safely).

Otherwise, retirement is great and I vacillate between savoring complete freedom and taking on commitments. I do find I accomplish more during days when I'm already committed compared to completely free days that allow the opportunity to indefinitely procrastinate things I want/need to do.

 

[mydogwantsmetoretire]

I semi retired at 48yo. I am now 51. I personally have had issues with the transition. Going back to part time has been therapeutic. Plus, DW wants to work until she drops dead. Here is the kicker, I've made more money retired than I ever did working. Naturally, picking good investments has made it work. I'll continue to work, but I may adventure out to seek an alternative I purpose. That may be all I need. Thanks for sharing your journey.

How did you make more?

 

[brydanger]

So it finally became easy to end it -- I discovered later, even easier than I thought.

What I decided to do was really the result of a series of questions and answers. Do I want to stay in this j*b anymore? No. Do I want a new, "normal" j*b (I worked second shift in a dynamic business, and a common next step for my peers was to go to a 9-5 job)? No. Do I want supreme flexibility with my schedule, finally? Yes. Do I want a new boss of any kind? Not really. Do I like doing my own thing(s)? Yes (even if I have to figure that out yet). Do we have enough money, possibly forever? Looking like it. Ergo, stop w*rking -- maybe forever.

Love EVERYTHING about this!
Good for you!!!
L-I-V-I-N

 

[RxMan]

Congrats to the OP. It sounds like retirement is going well for you so far. I’m 50 years old (turn 51 next month) and I’m starting to wonder about my timetable. My guess is around 4 more years of working give or take will be enough to give me enough of a nest egg to have peace of mind regarding my ability to fund a retirement.

I was out of work for over a year. That financially stunk but I did start freelancing which has been a great experience. When I finally started a full time contract role a couple of months ago, I decided to continue to freelance on the side. I’m working a lot but I’m enjoying it mostly.

The freelance work will give me an avenue to partially retire down the road. I could quit my full time work and do whatever amount of freelance work I am comfortable doing during retirement. It can be unpredictable workloads but when you aren’t relying on it to pay the bills it doesn’t matter as much.

I’m confident that I will enjoy the freedom of retirement and the lack of a strict work schedule that hinders travel and freedom to explore hobbies and activities that interest me. What I am worried about is procrastinating because of a lack in the structure of my time. I’m also worried about missing the mental engagement that work provides.

I know that God has blessed me in this life. I also believe that I am still here for a reason. I pray that I’ll discover that reason or somehow fulfill it without realizing it. That’s all I really want out of retirement and life in general: to fulfill my purpose and hopefully leave a positive mark on this world. Everything else is just gravy (interesting figure of speech to use coming from a guy that doesn’t even like gravy).

 

[mydogwantsmetoretire]

My end didn't exactly come like this but somewhat did. DW and I had considered the voluntary buyouts the first time they were offered five years earlier; I wasn't ready to let go because I was at the top of my game. But you know, if you eat chocolate *all* the time, soon you get sick of even that. Plus, with support increasingly cut, I was doing more rudimentary things on top of my higher-level job, and it was getting stupid and I exhausted. So it finally became easy to end it -- I discovered later, even easier than I thought.


This is so funny because I also have thought this was the case for DW and me. It's such a great way to say it. We had things in our lives besides the j*b that were slowly growing and taking up time and energy, whether we wanted them to or not (and many we wanted to). When we needed to decide what to cut, the j*b was it.

The truth also is, I didn't make a conscious decision to "retire" (though DW definitely used the word). What I decided to do was really the result of a series of questions and answers. Do I want to stay in this j*b anymore? No. Do I want a new, "normal" j*b (I worked second shift in a dynamic business, and a common next step for my peers was to go to a 9-5 job)? No. Do I want supreme flexibility with my schedule, finally? Yes. Do I want a new boss of any kind? Not really. Do I like doing my own thing(s)? Yes (even if I have to figure that out yet). Do we have enough money, possibly forever? Looking like it. Ergo, stop w*rking -- maybe forever.

Love the simplicity of the last paragraph. It cuts through so much of the other iterations we focus on when it really comes down to some basics.

 

[mydogwantsmetoretire]

Congrats to the OP. It sounds like retirement is going well for you so far. I’m 50 years old (turn 51 next month) and I’m starting to wonder about my timetable. My guess is around 4 more years of working give or take will be enough to give me enough of a nest egg to have peace of mind regarding my ability to fund a retirement.

I was out of work for over a year. That financially stunk but I did start freelancing which has been a great experience. When I finally started a full time contract role a couple of months ago, I decided to continue to freelance on the side. I’m working a lot but I’m enjoying it mostly.

The freelance work will give me an avenue to partially retire down the road. I could quit my full time work and do whatever amount of freelance work I am comfortable doing during retirement. It can be unpredictable workloads but when you aren’t relying on it to pay the bills it doesn’t matter as much.

I’m confident that I will enjoy the freedom of retirement and the lack of a strict work schedule that hinders travel and freedom to explore hobbies and activities that interest me. What I am worried about is procrastinating because of a lack in the structure of my time. I’m also worried about missing the mental engagement that work provides.

I know that God has blessed me in this life. I also believe that I am still here for a reason. I pray that I’ll discover that reason or somehow fulfill it without realizing it. That’s all I really want out of retirement and life in general: to fulfill my purpose and hopefully leave a positive mark on this world. Everything else is just gravy (interesting figure of speech to use coming from a guy that doesn’t even like gravy).

Like this a lot! I am 53 and can quit at any time but thinking about purpose and what is next.

For someone that is a type A planner, what I am finding out is that it ok to not have everything planned out exactly. It has taken me therapy to get to this point as the “what is the the worst that can happen” is not really bad at all.

So might just turn in my notice soon and let the path rise to meet me.

 

[NeilDH]

The freelance work will give me an avenue to partially retire down the road. I could quit my full time work and do whatever amount of freelance work I am comfortable doing during retirement. It can be unpredictable workloads but when you aren’t relying on it to pay the bills it doesn’t matter as much.

I’m confident that I will enjoy the freedom of retirement and the lack of a strict work schedule that hinders travel and freedom to explore hobbies and activities that interest me. What I am worried about is procrastinating because of a lack in the structure of my time. I’m also worried about missing the mental engagement that work provides.

Thank you for the congrats. I think you are creating a nice transition into FIRE with that freelance work. That can get you that mental engagement you speak of (I get it) but also give you time to just sit and enjoy life sometimes or a lot of the time. Or be active enjoying life, of course. Finding purpose I did also seek, and still feel I do need to seek, without getting too nutty about it. I think I’m finding it doing my own thing in the advocacy space; I hope it’ll help some people, and I’m having fun with it at least. (I do have to make sure I don’t make myself -too- busy with it.)

 

[CO-guy]

Thank you for the congrats. I think you are creating a nice transition into FIRE with that freelance work. That can get you that mental engagement you speak of (I get it) but also give you time to just sit and enjoy life sometimes or a lot of the time. Or be active enjoying life, of course. Finding purpose I did also seek, and still feel I do need to seek, without getting too nutty about it. I think I’m finding it doing my own thing in the advocacy space; I hope it’ll help some people, and I’m having fun with it at least. (I do have to make sure I don’t make myself -too- busy with it.)

I agree about the benefits of freelance work. Also, beyond compensation, I get so much more validation/appreciation as a freelancer. I just returned from a (rare) on-site project last week. From my arrival the afternoon before to my departure the next day, I was treated like a VIP. Lodging, transportation, meals and other logistics were all taken care of, so I didn't have to think about anything but the project at hand. This was a multi-billion dollar company and the CEO took me out to dinner the evening before and then personally introduced me to the project group the next morning. All meals, snacks, etc. were catered for the group and once the project wrapped on Friday we were taken out for a celebratory dinner, with lawn games, live music and drinks.

At my rinkey-dink former employer, I'd get a nasty email from someone's admin for leaving pizza crust crumbs on the meeting room table or not properly disposing of the boxes.

 

[NeilDH]

I agree about the benefits of freelance work. Also, beyond compensation, I get so much more validation/appreciation as a freelancer. I just returned from a (rare) on-site project last week. From my arrival the afternoon before to my departure the next day, I was treated like a VIP. Lodging, transportation, meals and other logistics were all taken care of, so I didn't have to think about anything but the project at hand. This was a multi-billion dollar company and the CEO took me out to dinner the evening before and then personally introduced me to the project group the next morning. All meals, snacks, etc. were catered for the group and once the project wrapped on Friday we were taken out for a celebratory dinner, with lawn games, live music and drinks.

At my rinkey-dink former employer, I'd get a nasty email from someone's admin for leaving pizza crust crumbs on the meeting room table or not properly disposing of the boxes.

That's great about that freelance project!