I recently had an hour lone Zoom video call with a friend who is thinking about retirement in a decade or so. She is planning ahead, as she puts it, continuing her practice of overthinking things. Much better to overthink that not plan at all. Thinking about that call, inspires this weeks Sunday five.
- Are you retired?
- What is the best thing about retirement?
- What is your greatest concern about retirement?
- If money, or health insurance where no object, when would you retire?
- What is the hallmark of a successful retirement?
My Answers (because I won't ask you anything I won't to myself.)
- Are you retired? No, my spouse is.
- What is the best thing about retirement? Flexibility in schedule.
- What is your greatest concern about retirement? Not having good health to enjoy it.
- If money, or health insurance where no object, when would you retire? For me this would have been about age 60.
- What is the hallmark of a successful retirement? Personal Happiness.
Please share your answers in the comments.
1. Yes, I'm starting my 4th year of retirement now in 2021.
ReplyDelete2. Best thing about retirement is that my life and my time are my own.
3. Greatest concern would be outliving my retirement funds. But having good health is an important concern too.
4. I took early retirement at 60. I would have preferred "Freedom 55" in a perfect world but since I was at the peak of my earning power then, I held on for another 5 years and socked more money away.
5. The hallmark of a successful retirement? Personal fulfillment. Retirement is our reward for enduring the workforce for 40 or more years.
My parents retired the first time in their mid 50's.
Delete1 - semi; I lost my job on 6/30. no luck finding something else yet.
ReplyDelete2 - I get to do what I want!!!!!
3 - making sure I keep my health up
4 - someplace with a beach
5 - being able to try new things; read; create art; be open to all possibilities
shit, I misread #4. I just got my first social security payment since I reached the "retirement age" requirement. I thought I'd have my previous job til I dropped dead.
DeleteAt one time I joked that they would find me decomposing at my desk, but working till I die is not attractive to me anymore.
DeleteTTTT, if I got another job, I don't know if I could now stand the 9 to 5 grind. I get up when I want, I take a nap when I want, I can choose to do something or nothing. I get my daily chores done. I am not spending $$. I miss several of my co-workers though; we keep in touch via e-mail.
DeleteAre you retired? Yes
ReplyDeleteWhat is the best thing about retirement? Um... not working? No, honestly, the freedom to do what I want when I want and to not become that competitive work person I loathed.
What is your greatest concern about retirement? The fact that no longer have much effect on the growth of my bank.
If money, or health insurance where no object, when would you retire? I retired at 57. I would have retired at 50 if it weren't for health insurance worries in the States.
What is the hallmark of a successful retirement? I'm not quite sure. Oen thing can be not having that feeling that life is over because you no longer have career-driven purpose. That's really difficult for many.
Health insurance is what keeps my on the job for another 32 months.
DeleteAre you retired? I am not. Carlos is on disability because of his eyesight, but he still does translation work from home.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the best thing about retirement? Free time, no bosses.
What is your greatest concern about retirement? Yeah, probably staying healthy.
If money, or health insurance where no object, when would you retire? Money no object? 18; and I would have traveled the world, and then back again..
What is the hallmark of a successful retirement? Contentment.
Contentment, the hallmark of a life well lived
Delete1. No, sadly.
ReplyDelete2. I cant wait to have my life and time in my own hands. No more awful co-workers, bosses, or work related stress. No terrible commutes or ties or Sunday night blues. it will be absolute freedom (from work, anyway.)
3. Mostly worry my health will decline and I wont be able to enjoy it the way I want to. We dont worry about money, per se, as we've planned for retirement our whole career, and can live very simply, as needed, but I know nothing is 100% guaranteed in life so, occassionally, I have a scary thought of "What if something happens to our pension?" But theres nothing more we can do to secure our future so I try to push those thoughts away.
4. Big Surprise: Now! I can get on Jeffrey's health insurance any time, so the only reason I'm still working is because I cant collect my pension until I'm 55 - in 5 Years and 4 months. UGGH!
5. Enjoying your time doing the hobbies and activities (and books and comics and music and movies and collectibles etc etc) you've spent your life cultivating an interest in. Nothing baffles me and breaks my heart more than to hear people say "I dont want to retire. I wouldn't know what to do with myself." That's just sad.
Sean
www.idleeyesandadormy.com
I have been lucky the last dozen years to work for a very nice person.
Delete1) Oh yes!
ReplyDelete2) Being far away from certain wretched persons I used to work with.
3) Being bored.
4) As soon as I could-given money & health ins. concerns, that's still what I did
5) Yes, being happy. That strikes me as the ultimate measure of a successful retirement. If you;re retired an d unhappy, then you need to rethink some things.
PS: I've been retired for 2 years now, and have just now gotten over the Sunday night blues. Amazing how long those hung on, even after the cause for them disappeared.
ReplyDeleteAnd now you get all of this time with MEEEE!
DeleteInteresting.
Delete1. Not retired.
ReplyDelete2. I'd have said spending more time at home, but 2020 kind of took care of that. But I suspect not being tied to A schedule or deadlines.
3. It's mostly about the benjamins. Making sure we have enough to live decently without working - which includes healthcare costs.
4. If $$ weren't an object: 55.
5. Setting your course - on your own timeline.
A long way to go when you are still in your 30's!
Delete1. I call my self semi-retired because I only work part time.
ReplyDelete2. No schedule to follow
3. Having enough money to travel.
4. About 8 years ago although I'm sure I'd still do something productive.
5. Good health, happiness and peace of mind.
There is some trade association stuff I'd like to do in retirement, I am really not interested in chasing consulting work (though I would go back to Hawaii for a couple of weeks of work - if they can pay me.)
DeleteAre you retired? no
ReplyDeleteWhat is the best thing about retirement? not working
What is your greatest concern about retirement? it will not happen for me.
If money, or health insurance where no object, when would you retire? in a few years.
What is the hallmark of a successful retirement? contentment.
You will make it, we need you
Delete