How many more years before you retire?

[mackb4]

Well thanks to the railroad retirement age being currently ajusted to 60 yrs.of age, I have 23 years to go.I've got 15 in and I will be 37 in July.My wife won't be 60 until 3 years after I turn 60 ,so she won't collect her half of what I get until then.But I'm putting into a 401k that the NS set up for us,and hopefully it will allow me to retire at 60 with no worry.My house gets paid off in 9 years (or less).At that time I'm planning to build a 50x50 garage with a full room above to relocate my layout and collection.At that time my wife will get the old train room to do as she pleases.And hopefully I'll have one son started in college,and the other in his last year of High School at that time.But for now I'm just counting the days [:-^].But to use a quote my Mom said her Grandad use to say, "Don't wish your life away,enjoy it everyday and believe you can live forever ".[^]

[MartyE]

I figure I got 25 good years in me yet. I need something to keep me busy and the works interesting. Hopefully I can slow down a bit though.

[Anonymous]

Before I can read all the "Coffee Pot" post's.............................Tim

[johnsgg1]

About two - more or less. I'm 56 and have spent the last 35 years in the Active Army. I'll have to retire when I hit 30 years as a Warrant Officer, that'll be Jul 08. My pension will be good and should be enough to get by on. We also have some IRAs and Mutual Funds to use when the time comes.

Because of being in the service we have no roots and no house paid for, but the appreciation on our home in Springfield, VA is fairly substantial. Plan on retiring to the Carlisle, PA area. We'll be closer to kids and grandkids.

[c50truck]

47 here... Never will retire, too much to do. Never worked a job in my life for retirement or a pension plan. I'm too independent. My wife and I have enjoyed 27 years of marriage with the same goal. Ten percent is yours to keep!!!! So keep it!!!!! We've given up a lot through the years, but we are set for the next 27 years.

Social Security? I realized when my Grandparents passed away while I was still in school the program was bunk. The math never made sense.

I guess that is why I love the Pacific Northwest. Up here I was raised to look to no one to look after you. Be prepared for the worst, and enjoy every day on this earth.

Rod L

[Anonymous]

Retired 5 years ago at age 50 from the fire service (feel like 100)
wife retired a few months later on an "early out". Both of us were
Gov't employees. No mortgage, kids grown and gone, grandkids,
we don't need to work (yet), no debts, we squeeze the pennies, so
we can do "cash and carry". We travel a bit, all our toys were payed
for before we quit working. I actually bought trains and parts back
in the 70's and 80's and boxed them up with "do not open until
retired" on them! Really! She had done the same. We do OK on
our combined pensions. Have a couple of investments that are
for when there is only one of us. Things might change if fuel keeps
going up. Wife works a couple of days a week at a local beauty shop
as a hobby because she can hang out with her buddies. (Kind of
like us working at a hobby shop. ) Basically health is OK. Some
small problems but OK. No one knows the future.

[pbjwilson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pbjwilson

This topic is bummin me out.

Nice goin Dave. I thought you were an OK guy until you posted this topic. Now I'm ready to take a long walk on a short pier. And on a monday as well. Dave, you are banned from the forum. Do you here me BANNED!

[Anonymous]

Hi guy's

[Anonymous]

Well I'm presently 50 years old and would love to retire tomorrow but the mortgage is the major determining factor so it looks like at least another 15 years for me as well unless I can find a way to shorten the payoff on the house. It should of been paid for in another 4 years but thanks to an "EX" wife and refinancing to get her out of my hair I've got 15 years to go on this mortgage now. My wife is younger and will hopefully work longer so I can retire before she does. God willing I live that long.
George G

[Demon09]

Judging as much as I just started college this year, and seeing the substantial student loan debt, and future plans for a family, and undoubtedly a mortgage (not to mention the pitiful social security plans being thrown around), I probably can't retire 'til im 80 or more........ so I forsee about/at least 62 years of hard work ahead of me.

(unless of course I happen to meet some cute young girl studying as a law student or business major while I'm in college that will go on to rake in over 6 figures a year![:D])

[zwbob]

I just had my 30 year anniverary with the company, but the earliest we can retire is age 55 so its six more years for me. So far it looks good financially for me to go at 55

[overall]

I have about 14 more years until I can retire unless I get my house paid off early and can start saving more in one of my collection of mutual funds. My retirement job will be to volunteer more at the local railroad museum or become a driver for the crew van that works around Nashville taken crews to and from trains.

George

[danrunner]

Retire?

As I am under 40, I will not ever be able to retire, given the current situation with government, politics, social security shortfalls and soaring health care.

I will work until I die. That's the new reality for my generation.

[tbwilson4]

I cant retire ever-I have too many trains on layaway with my local dealer.....

[CB_Fan]

I retired from International Paper at age 61 in 1992, though I did some contract work for them off and on until 1999 (training -- doesn't that sound good!). This gave me a lot more time to enjoy model railroading, though I find I can't buy everything I want. In addition to the limits imposed by a fixed income, I'd have to get a new, larger house (have one spare bedroom about full with layout and shelves) and that's not a priority for either me or my wife. Retirement also gave more time for other things such as spending time with my wife, church, volunteering, traveling and just enjoying the great food and other attractions in our Gulf Coast area -- and thankfully, no major damage from hurricanes.

[laz 57]

I have six more years, then I'll be 55.
I will have 28 years in teaching shop class. I will have had enough.
Thats why I married a younger woman. Seriously, I will find work either with a school district doing maintenance work or a contractor or lumber yard or hardware store, or something else to fill my time. Or maybe be a full time house husband?
laz57

[jonadel]

Retired 5 years ago at age 56 from 32 years of teaching with no regrets. Our retirement pension plan (IPERS) is one of the best in the country, managed very well. Could we live on it? No. However, when I am able to collect SS (soon) and with a TSA that I contributed to for 25 years we'll be OK, I hope. If only the politicians in this country would figure out that the health care industry is driving this economy into the ground we could all breathe easier. My wife still works and I'm on her health insurance policy or I would still be teaching. Good to have a younger spouse who enjoy's her job!

I have two part time jobs (on my terms) that I really enjoy, supplies money for vacations and toy's. I do look forward to re retiring and travelling with NO obligations.

Jon

[ChiefEagles]

Retired Nov 03. Been too busy since. Pro Mariner tries to make me work full time and so does Roseyville. That means two full times. [:(]

[csxt30]

QUOTE:
My Mom and Dad are in their late 70s and 80s, ill health. Mom is in IC and will go up to visit for a while in 2 weeks to assist in any way I can. their faith is strong and neither one is afraid to die. Really puts me to shame. They've been good role models to me despite shortgivings which we all have. They have so little, yet so much, if you know what I'm trying to say. If I have 1/10th their outlook, things will be alright, retire or not retire, good health or bad. And, I might add, neither is afraid to die.

Dave: A lot of here will be praying for your Mom in IC now. Check out Heb. chapter 11:1 Definition of faith !
Thanks,

[donl409]

With any luck , this November. Will be 58 1/2 with 34 yrs on the job (local utility co). My wife is a teacher and with a new job as a founding faculty (opening a new school) she'll have lots to do for a few more years to keep her busy. Teaching for her is a passion , not just a job so I'll become a house husband.

[mitchelr]

I am finishing up my 30th year in the school system so that makes me ELIGIBLE to retire in July. PRACTICALLY, I have a son in college for 1 more year and about 3 more years left on the mortgage. FINANCIALLY, the Maryland Teacher Pension System is so pitiful that even after 30 years, I will only bring home about 40% of my highest salary in a pension. REALISTICALLY, I'll need to work about 12 more years until I am eligible for Social Security and Medicare ( if they still exist) because my portion of the health care costs for insurance and prescription plan will eat up about 25% of my pension. Right now I still enjoy my job. When it gets to the point where I don't enjoy it anyore, I will move on to something else.

Mitch[swg]

[FJ and G]

Allan's quote: "Then again, I may find a wealthy widow at some point, and all those plans could change! "

As you get older, more and more possibilities.

--------------

My Mom and Dad are in their late 70s and 80s, ill health. Mom is in IC and will go up to visit for a while in 2 weeks to assist in any way I can. their faith is strong and neither one is afraid to die. Really puts me to shame. They've been good role models to me despite shortgivings which we all have. They have so little, yet so much, if you know what I'm trying to say. If I have 1/10th their outlook, things will be alright, retire or not retire, good health or bad. And, I might add, neither is afraid to die.

[jefelectric]

I retired at the end of december 2000 and have been enjoying it ever since. I have been doing some part time work for my former company, CAD and some IT work, but have told them this is the last year. It takes to much of my play time away. I enjoyed my work most of the time but find it has lost the attraction it once had. My wife still works so travel is limited, but we do travel some each year.

[csxt30]

Paul : We're gonna ' miss Dave !! Though I came up with a good solution for you, just take a long walk to your local hobby shop & treat yourself to a couple new trains, instead of the pier thing !! [:D][:D][:D] I could have retired in another year, but I got laid off too much on the RR in the 80s & now trying to make it another 6 years !! I think I'll need more vitamins !! [:D] Oh, do they still make Geritol ??!!
Thanks,

[IRONROOSTER]

Well, let's see, my youngest graduates from college in December, the house is paid off in 2 years and I'll be 62 in 3 years (eligible for early Social Security). Plus I live in Northern Virginia where house prices have gone totally nuts so I can sell out, buy a bigger basement and have money left over. So in 3 years for sure, maybe earlier I'll retire.
Enjoy
Paul

[pbjwilson]

This topic is bummin me out.

Nice goin Dave. I thought you were an OK guy until you posted this topic. Now I'm ready to take a long walk on a short pier. And on a monday as well. Dave, you are banned from the forum. Do you here me BANNED!

[Anonymous]

At my current age, I have about 35 years left before retirement, but no telling what will happen within that time. I don't expect to ever marry or have any kids in my lifetime, so I will try to enjoy life as much as I can, though I have alot of trouble of simply going out from time to time. The way expenses keep going up so much it makes one wonder if we can even afford to live.

[okiechoochoo]

Already retired, at 53, in 2001 after 32 years same company. Got pension and 401K. Now 58 so Social Security will be here in under 4 years. The wife retired last December after 32 years at her company. She was 52. Nothing sweeter than doing what you want when you want. We have lived in the same home for 33 years so it is paid off, and never had kids so we weren't burdened with that college expense stuff.
My advice, is get out while you can and enjoy life. There are no guarantees how long you will be here.

[Anonymous]

I could retire in a few more years--small pensions from the newspaper I used to work for (which I receive now), plus a bit of state retirement, plus Social Security--but I plan to continue working somewhere for as long as I'm able. I don't want or plan to stick with the job I currently have past this year or perhaps a bit longer, and will probably relocate one more time if the right opportunity presents itself. I've been working to "downsize" my life--and spending--a bit in recent years so I figure a part time job, perhaps teaching a couple of classes at a community college or some such thing, will keep me active, able to support myself in reasonable comfort, and allow me to work at a more relaxed pace.

I have all the trains I will ever need to keep me very active in the hobby, and am slowly selling off some of the items that will see better use in someone else's hands rather than staying stored away in boxes, but I still do buy new stuff from time to time.

Then again, I may find a wealthy widow at some point, and all those plans could change! [;)]