for those of you who have retired-do you wish you had left sooner or stayed on longer?

Question

Assuming that health wasn't a factor-do you wish you had retired sooner, waited longer, or was the time right for you.
I ahve my time in for a half pay pension-I can stay 4 more years and get 2/3 pay, but I'm not sure which way to go.

Answer 1

Interesting. You certainly have a decision to make, huh?

I was "retired" one week before my 65th birthday. I worked for the "largest travel company in the world" - one who, over six months, outsourced over 5000 jobs to places like India, Manila, Mexico City, etc. In my place of employment, 450 lost their jobs....in one day!!!! I had not planned to retire until I was 67 or 68 because I loved what I did; it was exciting and offered many opportunities for travel. I had been at it for over 30 years. But, when the axe fell that fateful day I said "that's it, I'm done with it". So, I took the severance package, applied for SocSec and retired.

That has been almost 2 years ago and NOT ONCE have I regretted the decision nor looked back longingly. What FREEDOM I have. What a wonderful luxury to have ones time be ones OWN time. I only set the alarm clock if I have an early morning flight heading for someplace wonderful. I can stay up until the wee hours (always been a nightowl) and for the first time in many, many years, I actually am not sleep deprived!

The first year, I traveled....took a 2 month roadtrip around the U.S. and 4 cruises.... I sold a little on Ebay, read the books I never had the time to read, laid out in the sunshine with a cool drink and the squawking geese around me. I made spur-of-the-moment decisions to do something - and did it!

This year, I have taken a no-brainer small job at a local pharmacy. I work when I want to and average about 20 - 25 hours a week which gives me "walking around money". I luxuriate in the freedom of being totally independent with no "boss" or "supervisor" or "company policy" or anxiety.

I am in my golden years and am enjoying every minute of them. I am genetically blessed with good health, take no medication (except for Ibuprofen for the annoying arthritis in my hands), have plenty of energy and vigor. I realize that, sooner or later, something healthwise is going to lay me low....so, no moss grows on my feet now. My goal is to grab life and run with it until I can't do it anymore - then quietly accept my limitations and have good memories and stories to bore my relatives with.

So, go for it. Life is short. Money is meant to be enjoyed. You don't need to save it - your children can make their own. Use your pension and SocSec to do those things you have always dreamed of..go to those places you have always wanted to see.

My next adventure is a 35 day trip on AMTRAK in March - solo. I plan to see the places in our country that I haven't seen before or for a long time. I have been single for 25 years and enjoy the pace of solo travel......

My trip will take me from the East Coast through the mid-west, southwest, up the West Coast and across the top of our country....

I say, retire......

Good luck!!!! And, Go for it.

For Tom P......I can't mention the name here....I'd probably get sued. But, there is only one....perhaps Google? Works for me.

Answer 2

I decided to retire at 62 but I didn't want some pension plan controlling my money. At the time there were some awful things happening with pension plans that left retirees penniless. I withdrew my entire pension and reinvested it in stocks and mutual funds of my choosing with me as the sole owner so I could do with it what I wanted. That was eight years ago and it is doing just fine. I decided in my miserly way to try to live off Social Security and found out with a little down sizing I could do that also. This helps me in my taxes and allows me a few benefits I would not otherwise have had. So much for retirement under the classic methods.

Answer 3

isn't it a horrid dilemma? the thought of retiring is so tempting but if you don't have enough money to enjoy your life then what is the use?
if you are in a job that you enjoy, or at least don't hate, then i would say stay. 1/2 pay to 2/3 pay is a big difference, and if you can hang in there for the four years then you will be able to enjoy retirement even more.
as seniors we hope to do some travelling, but gosh its expensive to travel. i'm not talking about fancy cruises or going around the world, just travelling in our own continent, is expensive. by staying on the job for another year we will increase our pension by roughly $150.00/month. thats a fair penny to have. so we have decided to hang in there for the year and then retire.
its a tough choice but the way i see it is this - we will continue to do community volunteer work throughout the year, but not as much as we do now. retirement is supposed to be your time to enjoy life.
i hope your retirement is everything you want it to be, and wish you good luck!

Answer 4

I retired at 55 and money and medical are no problem. I think I made it till the second time it snowed and I looked at my wife and said "I'm going back to work". I work with a group and I help the elderly fix things around their houses. I do their yards, (church groups help) Get the snow cleared, help them grocery shop and do what it takes to keep them home longer. I also started building an addition to my house with my brother. He passed away from cancer two years ago in November. He had planned to retire in December, but we got the outside done and I've almost finished the inside.
I would say you may want to stay 4 more years if your in good health and you enjoy the work. Which ever way you go plan to get busy when you stop working because you'll love the work when you don't get paid for it!

Answer 5

It was the right time for me to retire. I had the age + years, the pension pay was good, and I felt I had nothing more to offer or learn on the job.

If you really need the money, stay the extra 4 years. If you can live comfortably on half-pay pension, then retire. Of course its entirely up to you.

I also came out because so many of my boomer friends were dying ( staying in to get that extra money) and I decided tomorrow was not promised to me and seized the day.

OOo Outta here can I come with you on the Amtrak trip?!!

Answer 6

I left a little bit early, because the company offered me a deal I could not refuse. 34 weeks of paycheck for not working. As well as buy back all my sick time and my vacation time. I ended up with a pile of money, and did not have to start using my SS money for nearly a year. And I had a 401K plan, too, which we used to remodel our home.

It's just now that I am feeling a bit of a pinch because the SS is my only source of personal income. However, my husband is paying for our groceries and household expenses.

I am happy to sleep in as late as I want, to go out for walks when I feel like it. I found that you have to do some volunteer work and take up some hobbies in conjunction with other people. You have to get out of the house.

You will have to decide for yourself, whether you can live on half pay pension, or hang in there for 2/3. For me, it was right to go. It may or may not be right for you.

Answer 7

1. The Rock will never return to WWE. Anyone hoping for him to return is wasting their time. i agree, he used the WWE for his movie career and was over rated 2. If WWE hype Batista's retirement more than HBK's, that would be a disgrace. most definitely, Batistas best match is still worse quality than a shawn michaels match against someone like koslov 3. Currently, Boreton will not be as good as Cena, let alone Stone Cold. no way 4. HHH's nose is only 4 inches shorter than Eiffel Tower. you always make comments about HHHs nose in everyone of these you write... it gets old and isnt that funny 5. It will not be surprising if The Rock goes to HOF earlier than The Undertaker. i bet undertaker gets inducted the year after he retires 6. The younger talents will finally main event Wrestlemania after Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and Triple Nose retire. again with the nose... but no, cena will still have the spotlight, followed by edge and orton. in a few more years itll be dibiase vs rhodes for WWE championship 7. Some users saying at Wrestlemania 25 Jeff vs Matt would be close with Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker in terms of quality was freaking ridiculous, especially the fact the other match was a match for ages where the other one was...u know. no match will ever be as quality as that, its pathetic how people actually think that 8. Believing Taker could carry Kozlov to a legendary match like he did with Batista at Wrestlemania 23 is even more ridiculous. would never happen now that koslov became a jobber after his first loss 9. Perhaps their match at Wrestlemania 25 was the last 'match for ages' Undertaker n Shawn Michaels would ever give the fans in their illustrious career that is quite possible but i hope not, most likely for taker but i doubt HBK, he'll make his last match one to remember, taker doesnt have the best quality of matches, but just his presence gives a completely different feeling 10. If HBK really retires next year and Vince still got his brain intact, he will hype the retirement like there is no tomorrow. he should, itd be the biggest loss to the WWE yet!

Answer 8

How old are you now and how is your health? Can you live on half pay. I retired last year with full benefits, which were about 2/3 of what I made and I feel it was the right decision for me. Cut backs are certainly required by most of us when we retire.

Answer 9

I wish I could have worked longer but it wasn't to be. I had a botched foot surgery that kept me from returning to a job I loved. Lots of positive things happened in my life since then, & I'm now living closer to my family, have a wonderful man in my life, so I can't complain. I keep busy, despite some limitations, & life goes on. As for your decision about retirement, I'm sure you'll make the right choice.

Answer 10

Stick around for 2/3. The more money you have, the more you can do in retirement.