How many more years before you retire?

[FJ and G]

Discussing w/wife when I can retire (to have more time to play with trains), and I've got about 20 more years to pay off the house (age 69), when it becomes feasible to retire (although retired in '95 from USMC, but get too little $$$ from them except perhaps to buy a Beep or Peep or 2).

I enjoy work but it takes away from my hobby (although it does, admitedly, fund it).

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Cost of everthing from gas to electricity goes up so much every year, and social security is no guarantee for us baby boomers so sadly might never be able to afford retirement) [:(!]

[cnw1995]

Candidly, don't think I'll be able to either - coming along at the tail end of the boomers. As someone who abhors debt, buys used cars, etc. I keep trying to get my mind around the concept of never paying off the house either - which I know doesn't matter as long as the interest is a tax-deduction - I'll be in my 70s. which I may not even see. So to me, that means why wait to play with the trains? or have a layout? Within current fin. strictures of course.

[Jumijo]

I seriously doubt that I will ever see retirement. I have 3 small kids at an age where most of my friends have kids in college or beyond. Besides, my old man and his old man both dropped dead before age 50. No reason to think I won't do the same (less than 7 years to go [xx(]). So with that in mind, I should hurry up and buy some more trains!

Jim

[Anonymous]

Retired one year ago. Certainly have to watch the $$$ closer now, but it's possible to do. Glad I bought all those switches, track and so on prior to retirement though!! Well I'm off to the soup kitchen for lunch, but I'll check back later.[:D]Ralph.

[palallin]

I expect to be hauled out of the classroom in a hearse. I already own the house/property I live on, but I do have a monster student loan to deal with. Like Jim, My boys are 5 and 8 when the son of one friend of mine has already graduated college. My younger boy will graduate collegeabout 18 years from now, all else being equal, at which time I will be 60. I suppose I'll have more hobby time then, but an O27 caboose will probably cost $799.95 by then [:)]

[boneheadbassboy]

GO FOR IT!!!!!
I have been retired 9 months now .I would not every go back.My wife retired after 30 yrs at the age of 51 .That was 4 years ago.I retired at the age of 56.
Sure you do have to watch the pennies and adjust some things.But what you give up in one thing ,you gain in so much more.
We stay active.Travel about 2 months out of the year.Did have to give up pulling my travel trailer.Still have it for short trips .Now have 6 grandchildren.And do I play with my trains.OH YES!
If you retired from the service don't you have some cost like ,medical, taken care of?
I retired from the Postal Sevice(?) and with Regan's law I don't get Social Security even though I have enough credits to collect.

So I guess what I'm saying is Do It. They can replace you at work,but you can't replace the memories you could,ve had with your friends and family if you weren,t at "That Job"


Boneheadbassboy
Not working and lovin' it

[Brutus]

I could retire in about 22.5 years with full retirement from work, but it depends on my 401 K fund, debt, actual social security available in the future, etc. I've got a few friends who have retired recently in their mid 50's to early 60's. My father-in-law retired a couple years ago due to hip replacement. He was an airplane mechanic. My Dad just retired a couple years ago as well on disability due to Agent Orange related diabetes mellitus and PTSD. My mom went out and got a job at a school to help them out.

There's really nothing in the bible about retirement, so don't know what the big deal is about. I think I'd always be working on something for somebody, whether I was being paid or not. Maybe taking care of grandkids etc.

[darsenau]

Not sure, maybe 4 or 5 years. I'm 72 yrs old, drive 65 miles daily each way to work. although I am able to work from home , so I do that when the weather is nasty.

I enjoy the work, and seem to be appreciated there, so until it becomes a drag, I'll continue.

[FJ and G]

Quote: "Not sure, maybe 4 or 5 years. I'm 72 yrs old, drive 65 miles daily each way to work."

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Gee. I'm not going to feel sorry for myself.

At a previous job, our magazine designer commuted to Arlington VA about that distance and he was your age or a bit older. One day he fell asleep and nearly went off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which is pretty high. He found a bus that took a lot longer but that worked until he finally did retire (when he was no longer appreciated by the new editor, I might add. That's also about the time I decided it was time to jump ship).

[Roger Bielen]

The first time, 4 years ago at age 56. I got bored and went to work part time in a totally unrelated field. With the house being paid off in 18 mo. I'll think about retiring again and if the wife'll let me go by myself, she plans on working longer, go ride a few of the trains I've left on the list.

[thor]

I 'retired' about three years ago - I'll be 59 in July - but not with a pension or any other visible means of support. I'd had it with the school system(s) and wasn't about to give in, so I just plain quit.

As far as any money goes its odd jobs, buying and selling (and I'll never get rich at that because I can't put the screws on people) but I'm technically a 'house husband' so I don't really need much money and what I get I use to defer my wife's having to hand any out.

I just fixed a neighbors bike, took two days of trouble shooting to locate what was caused by three seperate problems, charged him $75 and felt bad about that! Thats what I mean about not getting rich...the various shops I canvassed were asking anything from $250 to $500 and that was after I'd located the problems and could state what needed doing. I cant do that to a guy thats given me jumpstarts and done welding for me!

Oh well. I've never had any money my whole life anyway, don't miss it either.

[Dr. John]

Hmmm. Retire?

Not too many ministers I know ever fully retire. Most stay busy doing mission work, filling in as interim pastors for churches between pastors, etc. As to full-time work, I guess I have about 20 years left, give or take a couple. Hopefully I will have more flexibility at that time for travel, grandkids, and hobby interests too.

[DCmontana]

Retire??? I thought about it last year, but I am enjoying the job I have now a lot. I would like to go back to the classroom for a few years before I retire. I have a three year old son and a daughter that is a freshmen in high school. I am 62 and probably can last until I am 70. My health is good and love working with kids. I am in a smaller school district now and get to know the kids a lot better than before. Taking the trains to school at Christmas is as much a treat for me as it is for the kids.

[darianj]

For me, retirement is at least 20 years ahead. My son is only one and the house is won't be paid for for a long time as well. It's way in the distance for me....Unless I hit Power Ball. In that case I'll stay on my job just long enough be insubordinate[:D]

[pbjwilson]

I figure I'll be up a ladder painting til I'm 75? The bones and joints are hurting me pretty bad already though. Take lots of vitamins and supplements to keep my joints moving. I don't really know if they help, but I keep taken 'em.

It's all good though. I'd go nuts if I didnt have a job to go to every day.

[Anonymous]

I'm looking at another 22 years. The first twenty went by pretty fast. The house will be paid off in another 12 years and both of our children should be out of college in 15 years. I'll probably work part-time or consult for a few years after my official retirement.

[Anonymous]

I got "early retirement" at 54, 10 years ago. Had worked over 30 years for Scott Paper Co, which was bought-out. Although I loved my job, I love retirement even more. I've always had many hobbies and interests, which is a key factor to "retirement bliss". My wife, 62, still works(it's HER hobby). Joe

[More to restore]

I am 39, so at least 26 years I reacon. That takes much too long to wait for, so better start playing with those trains right now![:)]

[Anonymous]

By the time I would get to I am sure there will be no such thing as Social Security. It will all have been used up by the Boomers. It is running close to the edge now and the boomers are just begining to retire. Yes, I pay into it and so I am supporting the retirees of today but I fully expect I will never see a penny back. So, have fun.


Bitter.... no not really, realistic. Just remember to keep those trains nice for me when you are gone.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

In 3 years I'll have the points for a full retirement, if the market continues without a total failure, in 5 our investments / retirement should match our current annual income. So with that, plan to retire in 5 years and I'll be 55.
Jim

[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! [;)]

[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]

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.

[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!

[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

[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,

[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.

[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.

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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.

[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]

[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.