What the Happiest Retirees Know: 10 Habits for a Healthy, Secure, and Joyful Life (2021) by Wes Moss

[imjustawarrior]

She will be happy to have 40 year old kids living in the house since High School ?

Strange enough, our kids have lived with us since the beginning of their lives. You might feel differently about your children if you had them live with you before High School.

 

[Car-Guy]

I agree with about half of these to varying degrees. Many are NOT required/needed to be happy, IMO. Some (like NW) I strongly disagree with. Sure many folks get by okay on a ~750k liquid NW, but that's because they have no choice. Maybe they don't really understand/appreciate what a higher NW can bring to them in retirement.

 

[Markola]

^^^ I had the same reaction. Certain others of these are debatable, too, especially churchgoing and not having even a low interest mortgage.

 

[FD1000]

I agree with about half of these to varying degrees. Many are NOT required/needed to be happy, IMO. Some (like NW) I strongly disagree with. Sure many folks get by okay on a ~750k liquid NW, but that's because they have no choice. Maybe they don't really understand/appreciate what a higher NW can bring to them in retirement.

$750K wouldn’t make me happy because I have much more, but let’s be realistic. Many people on this site have portfolios exceeding a million dollars — yet fewer than 10% will have that amount by retirement. Starting retirement at age 65 with $750K is still a solid position, especially for living comfortably in at least half of the country.

 

[Car-Guy]

$750K wouldn’t make me happy because I have much more, but let’s be realistic. Many people on this site have portfolios exceeding a million dollars — yet fewer than 10% will have that amount by retirement. Starting retirement at age 65 with $750K is still a solid position, especially for living comfortably in at least half of the country.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

[Ballhawker]

I get my German handling yayas with a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan SE. Appearance, size and amenity-wise, there’s not much difference with an X2. I feel like I’m ahead in the bargain but, heck, I wouldn’t rule a beemer someday. They are nice cars!

I've been driving a 2015 VW GTI for the last 6 years and loving it. Awesome German engineering, practical and super fun to drive too!

 

[Koolau]

I've been driving a 2015 VW GTI for the last 6 years and loving it. Awesome German engineering, practical and super fun to drive too!

How has reliability been? I think I heard of some VW issues back in that time frame. I know VW has received kudos for handling for quite some time on many models. Enjoy!

 

[GenXguy]

My only car is over 19 years old now. It makes me happy to keep driving it. Miles are close to 60,000. The tires are only 2 years old.

 

[Gumby]

^^^ I had the same reaction. Certain others of these are debatable, too, especially churchgoing and not having even a low interest mortgage.

My involvement with my church makes me happy. But I agree it may not be for everyone. I'm also quite happy owning my house free and clear.

 

[Markola]

Church never stuck for me, and so far I take the other side in the unresolvable mortgage/no mortgage debate. My exploding property taxes and insurance are slowly making my fixed P&I payments a moot point anyway.

 

[Ballhawker]

How has reliability been? I think I heard of some VW issues back in that time frame. I know VW has received kudos for handling for quite some time on many models. Enjoy!

Thanks! It's been very reliable! I've performed routine maintenance and it's never given me a single problem. I'm at 92,500 miles and the original brake pads are still good, which was shocking to me in a good way.

This model even won the Autoweek best of the best award and Motor Trend car of the year award for 2015. I keep thinking maybe I should trade it in but when I look around nothing really compares.

 

[Koolau]

Thanks! It's been very reliable! I've performed routine maintenance and it's never given me a single problem. I'm at 92,500 miles and the original brake pads are still good, which was shocking to me in a good way.

This model even won the Autoweek best of the best award and Motor Trend car of the year award for 2015. I keep thinking maybe I should trade it in but when I look around nothing really compares.

Sounds like a fun car.

I remember the days I always "rowed" a 5 speed. Never had to worry about brake pads either. Rarely used the brakes. Never replaced a clutch or throw-out bearing either. Those were fun times.

I'd like to (maybe) have a Miata (since DW won't let me have a C-8 ).

 

[Teacher Terry]

I think social connections and financial security are very important to happiness in retirement. Actually, my third marriage was my happiest for many years until he changed and became a habitual liar and sex addict.

I know more people in unhappy marriages than happy marriages so I don’t think being married is the key to happiness. I think having the right people in your life is and for some people that is their spouse.

The Social Security fairness act changed my financial situation since the divorce for the better and it definitely has made me happier. Luckily, I’ve always had a lot of good friends and even though many have died, I have made other friends along the way.

I think for many people Church is a great social connection and a way to meet people. There may also be comfort in the belief in religion and God.

When I first moved to Reno, I was all alone and gradually all three of my adult children followed me. Now only one remains with his wife and I see them about once a week, and we have become very close.

My youngest son lives in Vietnam and I hate that he lives so far away, but he has never been happier in his life with both work and love so I am happy for him. I now only see him once a year.

I think everyone needs some purpose or meaning to their life and I have found this through helping others. However, this can be a slippery slope and you have to be careful not to become too enmeshed. I’ve also really enjoyed the travel I have done and the part-time consulting work. Adopting rescue dogs has also made my life infinitely better.

There is truly no one size fits all in this world. I also think one of the biggest indicators of happiness at any age is your health.

 

[Markola]

^^^ Thanks for sharing your wisdom learned from your life experience.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I have to say that when I was married and our house was paid for it was a very good feeling. However, when I divorced and I bought a condo, the interest rate was 2.75 and although I put a significant amount of money down so I would have a payment of less than 500/month I didn’t want to pay cash for it. I took a 30 year mortgage so that obviously will never be paid off. It doesn’t bother me at all because it’s so small and such a low interest rate.

Last year when I bought my car, I was going to pay cash, but they offered me a 2.9 interest rate so I took a four year loan. I paid for half the car in cash and have a low payment.

When I was younger, I wanted to have everything paid off in retirement and then life changed in unexpected ways and I changed my mind about that too. The only thing I haven’t changed my mind about is that I definitely like to own and do not want to rent.

One of the reasons is that I love to decorate my home exactly how I like it. You can’t do that in an apartment. Also in an apartment you don’t have any control if they’re going to sell and you’re have to move. I’ve also found older condos to be much more soundproof than apartments.

 

[brett]

Agree with all of that but I will add a few things that may just be a result of those 10.

-be happy in your own skin and be thankful for what you have

-stop striving for more..or to be the best or get the best...what is with people who are constantly asking others what is the best hotel, the best this, or the best this or that. It is a question that we have never understood since so much is determined by personal preference.

-never understood people who view their net worth, and how it compares to others, as some sort of status symbol or an indication of their success in life. And brag about it incessently. Or think about it every waking minute? Is being in the top 1 percent, 5 percent, really a reflection on you as a person?

-never understood people who act, buy things, etc because this is what they believe is expected of them by their friends. Try just being yourself and doing what you want, not what you think others expect of you or what you feel is necessary in order to belong or 'fit in'

 

[griffithee]

several members of the forum have read YMOYL. I’m a big fan myself. I think one of the greatest lessons from that book is the fulfillment curve. Fulfillment curves n the Y axis, Income on the X axis. Once you hit the peak of fulfillment you are golden. I think fulfillment is a better definition of well being than happiness. I can get happy with a nice bottle of Bourbon. YMMV.

 

[Koolau]

several members of the forum have read YMOYL. I’m a big fan myself. I think one of the greatest lessons from that book is the fulfillment curve. Fulfillment curves n the Y axis, Income on the X axis. Once you hit the peak of fulfillment you are golden. I think fulfillment is a better definition of well being than happiness. I can get happy with a nice bottle of Bourbon. YMMV.

Goodness! Over 20 years since I've read YMOYL! Maybe more. Helped me set my mind on FIRE.

 

[Gary Smith]

Agree with all of that but I will add a few things that may just be a result of those 10.

-be happy in your own skin and be thankful for what you have

-stop striving for more..or to be the best or get the best...what is with people who are constantly asking others what is the best hotel, the best this, or the best this or that. It is a question that we have never understood since so much is determined by personal preference.

-never understood people who view their net worth, and how it compares to others, as some sort of status symbol or an indication of their success in life. And brag about it incessently. Or think about it every waking minute? Is being in the top 1 percent, 5 percent, really a reflection on you as a person?

-never understood people who act, buy things, etc because this is what they believe is expected of them by their friends. Try just being yourself and doing what you want, not what you think others expect of you or what you feel is necessary in order to belong or 'fit in'

Thanks Brett. One of the better posts I have seen in my short time here. For me now it is all about prioritizing and maintaining my health. Health certainly trumps money in old age.

 

[Gremlin]

several members of the forum have read YMOYL. I’m a big fan myself. I think one of the greatest lessons from that book is the fulfillment curve. Fulfillment curves n the Y axis, Income on the X axis. Once you hit the peak of fulfillment you are golden. I think fulfillment is a better definition of well being than happiness. I can get happy with a nice bottle of Bourbon. YMMV.

I agree. The fulfillment curve in YMOYL really resonated with me and had a huge, positive impact on my life.