Are You Retired Yet?

[FJ and G]

Just curious how many here have all those hours to work on the railroad.

I retired from USMC about 12 years ago but found my meager "Gunny" pitance to be pitiful. But I've been looking at wilderness cabins in the West at $99K and have dreams of going there in as little as 2 years (daughter finishes BA).

Why should I work when I can work on the railroad????

[Takasaki Matt]

26 years to go, unless I win the lottery that is.  Dreams, at this stage, are just that!

 

[tangerine-jack]

I've already got my 20 year letter for military service, just can't afford to retire at this point.  Maybe next year, or like Matt, hitting the lottery would do it.  I actualy have LESS time now than I did 20 years ago, but more outside interests. 

[Jetrock]

Still working, although I do sneak in the odd hour for working on the railroad--if I follow the "traditional plan" of retiring at 65 I still have another 28 years behind the plow, but I have no intention on working that long, unless it's doing something particularly snazzy. Fortunately, I have several plans for particularly snazzy career moves already in the works...and we'll see what happens in 28 years.

[Anonymous]

FJAnd G---- Tangerine Jack

I have been retired 5 1/2 years now and enjoy my railroad , their is times it's to hot out side to run my trains , the basement is cool and thats where i have another track to run my trains and have an ICE TEA and stay cool.  BEN

[GP-9_Man11786]

Retire? I just finished college and am starting a new job. Yet I still have evenings for the railroad.

[cacole]

Yes, 26 years in the U.S. Army and an additional 16 years as a civilian instructor at the U.S. Army Intelligence School at Fort Huachuca, Arizona; retired from the civil service job in 2002 and am now busier than I was when I had a job to go to.

 

[Anonymous]

Not retired, but on disability. Still have no time for much of anything.... and no money to do it with, either. :(

[cabbage]

I probably will never retire... I work 4 days a week and have 4 days rest. We call this 'continental hours' here in the UK. Curiously enough Head Office in Berne works 9 to 5 -5 days a week.

I do have enough money to retire and the next house we get will prpbably be the last one. However I still feel active -despite the fact that I have grey hair!!!

regards

ralph

[Anonymous]

Semi retired here - swapped the 4 hours a day drive and  8 hours a day office  for 3 days  in the local DIY store . I earn  less than my expenses used to be but no hassles , no driving and more time for my hobbies.If i havent got it I cant spend it  but I get by.

[mopacforever]

I have 1 year, 4 months, and 2 days left to hit my 20 year mark in the military, but whos counting?  I will have to work after retirement and will try to do something I enjoy from now on.  I would like to settle down somewhere so I can start building my layout.  I spend my time now super detailing my fleet.

Barry 

[gallopinggoose]

Both hubby and I retired 2 years ago, he had been working for the British Railways for 34 years and they laid him off so he took early retirement too (at 54).  Luckily we can both afford to be at home and don't know how we had time to go out to work!!

He spends his time working on the garden railway or in the house depending on the weather, I do some voluntary work for a local museum type of thing called the Living Archive and we just did a project about the railways around here during the time of live steam. It was very interesting if you want a peek go to http://www.myrailwaymemories.org.uk/ I transcribed most of the interviews and helped put them on the website.  I also work on the garden railway in the garden part though!

[Tom The Brat]

Financial planner says at the rate I'm going, I should be able to retire in 199 years

[vsmith]

Am I tired? Yes with all the stuff going on at home? constantly....

 

Am I retired? No, no way,  can't, I'm an Architect, man! When we retire, we usually retire feet first into a pine box retirement home in a picturesque location 6 feet under ground...

 

I'd like to "retire" in the traditional sense, Heck I'd retire tomorrow if I ever won the Lotto...So far its not in the cards though, I'm 42 and just refinanced the house with a 30 year loan, so barring any lucky breaks, I'll be working till I'm 72. Depressing now that I write it....

 

 

 

[kstrong]

No, but cheerfully taking contributions to my retirement fund. Any takers?

Later,

K

[emipapa]

Hello Everyone, I retired in March 2001 after 34 years in the Fire Service, started as a line Firefighter and retired as a Deputy Fire Chief. Now I want to know where I found the time to work and do everything else that I do. Ron

[ttrigg]

Just curious how many here have all those hours to work on the railroad.

Why should I work when I can work on the railroad????

I've retired twice and didn't care for it that much.  US Army for 23 years, Silly Service for another 20, got 100% disability from the VA.  When the wife gave me permission to totally retire (2001) it took me about 90 days to complete all those nasty little tasks that had always been "put off till tomorrow." Then I got bored stiff.  Noticed that the wife and I were having too many "discussions", so I went to Wal~Mart to look for a part time job pushing a broom.  Ended up working in sporting goods and still having fun, we've not had a "discussion" since.  Not the best paying job in the world, but retail NEVER pays very high (at the store level anyway.)  The Wal~Mart medical coverage is GREAT!  We are seeing the same doctors in the same hospital we saw while in Silly Service, same co-pay, but the premiums are one third what silly service premiums were.  Last year they paid $480,000 for the wife's cancer treatments, all the bills were paid in 5 days or less, no questions no hassles.

Like I said, I've tried the retirement thing and didn't like it, don't think I'll try it again.  I still get 20-30 hours per week to "work" on the railroad.  After I do the dishes, mow the lawn, vacuum the house, clean the bathe rooms, etc.

[jhsimpson62]

Retired twice. 1991 from US Navy with 30 years service. Worked part-time for 13 years (3 days/week). October 2005, retired agin and moved south. Am now working on a railroad in between household chores. Highly recommend it!!!!

[Tom The Brat]

I had a friend many years ago, "Reginald," who retired from the company I worked for. He took a trip to England to visit family and old friends. Then I heard that he was sick. Then I heard that he was very sick... People were wondering how much longer he would live. One day, he showed up at my desk. He didn't look well at all. "Tom, here's some advice. Never retire."

Then he bought the computer store in town. 15 years later, he was still running it. Haven't heard of him for a long time now.

I think there is a lot of wisdom in his advice.

[bscroggi]

YES!!!

June 8 was the last time I stepped into a classroom after 37 years of teaching. Have I left the school yet? No, and as a matter of fact, I'm sitting in my office (at school) writing this. I'm just trying to ween myself from the building a little at a time. I wonder if I should be home working on the hundreds of kits I've accumulated over the years?

[tangerine-jack]

Ttrig, you gotta move to a new State!  I've got so much to do I feel that work is really a waste of time for me.  I've got the garden RR, a small HO indoor, Lionell in the room over the garage, Mopar hot rod, '50 plymouth resto, British motorcycles,  swimming pool, a great beach, local attractions etc etc etc.  When do I have time to work?????  Just can't afford to retire right now (I have my retirement/discharge packet in my briefcase at all times just in case of emergency), but I'm working on it, oh yes, I'm working on it.....................

[Dennis Paulson]

  OCT 1st .........41 years in the power plants , had enough fun , going to stay home now , play with the trains , save on gas money .

[Anonymous]

Yes, but not bye choice.

I do enjoy staying home and playing with the trains.

Have Fun: Jeff

[grandpopswalt]

Yes. Retired full time in 2002. But I worked part-time (20-30 hours) for a couple years before that.

 

If I could find a job that was interesting and that would allow me to come in when I wanted to, I'd gladly go back to work for a few more years. Most retired folks I talk to say pretty much the same thing; " I miss interacting with other people on a regular basis ". So unless you volunteer and are out there every day, you might want to think real hard about about taking full retirement.

 

Walt 

[Don H]

I'm working on it!  Have 11 working days left.

[Anonymous]

Many, many years to retirement, actually I plan to never retire unless I have to, even if I win the lotto, I would still work (admittedly less hours), but then again I love what I do, and  I have noticed in my line of work (medical) that retirement can dangerous to your health.  I havent ever seen a good study on the subject, but from what I have seen, those who retire with no new occupation that demands their time, attention, requires them to think, and get up in the morning, ie a "job." Such as a serious hobby they commit to it like it was a job -this group often says they cant see how they ever had time to work...., of the rest many soon seem lost  and their future appears bleak, in my opinion, they seem to pass away soon (6 months to 2 years after retirement), or else start to show real signs of decreased mental capacity within that same time frame....  I believe we are designed to work our entire lives (for pay isnt required), once we quit our bodies sense we are no longer useful and give up.  Over the last 8 years I have seen this played out repeatedly, with exceptions of course (but I believe those exceptions had I hobby they didnt tell me about).  Of course those on this forum would be in the "employed" group as this hobby definately meets the requirements....

[Railfan1]

I plan to retire in 30-35 years...

[Anonymous]

Yes I retired in Oct of 05 and loving every minuite of it.  Don't know where I found the time to work on my RR and play.  I spent 43 years working  now its time to play.  I've been in the rail insustry all that time and thats why I love trains.  Later RJD