[bird72]

What I haven't seen mentioned..... One must REDEFINE themselves. It can be a slight identity thing to go from "Fred the Shop Manager" to.. what? Take classes. explore somthing new. I got certified in Fitness training, and that is my new "defined". It could be geology and rock stuff, anything. Or cars, hey... And like someone said, jobs can consume us. Then what?

Another thing, which in the end was good, was realizing how much work stress I was under and didn't know know it. We were always behind and overworked.
It took me three months to deaccelerate and get my physiological levels down to calm.

[HoovDaddy]

Originally Posted by bird72

It took me three months to deaccelerate and get my physiological levels down to calm.

Right, even though I still work, it's different. I don't have any timelines, very few responsibilities, and unlike adults, the kids appreciate me being there.

[Riverbird455]

For me it's 8 days and a wake-up.... next Friday. Have been saving and planning for many years, and it is time. My wife will hit full pension in 7 years just before she hits 60. I am 60 1/2, and am excited about retiring. We have big yard and 9 veggie gardens, we work our tails off all weekend when it is not winter, now I can get things done during the week now so we can go and have fun on weekends if we want.

There are probably a bunch of you out there that have a parent who is from the generation that absolutely refuse to talk about moving into senior living. My dad is 90 and is still in the house he built in 69, he just cant keep up with maintenance and is in total denial about it. Stubborn 'ol Norwegian, love him to death, and he has always been my best friend. I owe it to him to help him out and get it fixed up and do a lot of cleaning. He is looking forward to seeing me more, even though I am going to nag him about downsizing. Its going to be a lot of work.

Oh yeah, and plan to do some work on my car.... I found a tiny rust bubble just in front of passenger rear wheel flare, I think that might be a bad spot to find rust.

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by bird72

What I haven't seen mentioned..... One must REDEFINE themselves. It can be a slight identity thing to go from "Fred the Shop Manager" to.. what? Take classes. explore somthing new. I got certified in Fitness training, and that is my new "defined". It could be geology and rock stuff, anything. Or cars, hey... And like someone said, jobs can consume us. Then what?

Another thing, which in the end was good, was realizing how much work stress I was under and didn't know know it. We were always behind and overworked.
It took me three months to deaccelerate and get my physiological levels down to calm.

Great post and I agree 100%. Nothing is static. Life is always changing. Who you were for decades is not who you are now, at least not 100%. It's on you to enjoy the rest of your time on this planet, whatever that entails. Go for it!!

[jerry455]

I work at the GM Tech Center also. I work in Legal involving product litigation preparing exhibits for trials and that is pretty stressful. I will be 60 this summer and my wife and I have been talking about retiring lately. She is 4 years younger and would retire tomorrow if I let her. That sounds like a great part time job working at a high school auto program. We have been talking to our financial planner about it lately. They are coming up with some plans for us.

[5th TA]

Congratulations to all those who are enjoying retirement. This is a very personal decision and everyone’s circumstances are different.

I retired from the IT industry in August of 2018 after 42 years at age 64 1/2. My last job, I started on the ground floor of a company with less than 20 employees in 2003, it grew to over 1500 when I retired. Unbelievable growth from a company privately owned, eventually sold to venture capitalists. I had planed to retire at 66. For the last 4 - 5 years I typically worked 65 hours a week, was on-call 7x24. I would typically work 10-12 hours during the day and then go back to work at least four nights a week for clients that had 11PM -4AM service windows. While I loved the technical aspect, really liked many of my clients and most of my coworkers, I was burnt out. I was well paid but extremely stressed out and my quality of life was poor. It got to the point I had little social life. I had reached the point in my life where hours were more important than dollars.

Once Retired I had a lot of catching up to do. The first was to spend time with my best childhood friend. While working I would attempt to make plans only to cancel because some work related emergency came up. Once retired we got together every week. Unfortunately after five months his health took a turn for the worst and he passed away. I feel fortunate that I retired when I did because we had some great times during that short period.
I also had to deal with some illness but have been cancer free for a year and a half giving me a real appreciation for life. I have since lost more friends, relatives and a coworker.

Life should be a balance between making an adequate living and still enjoying life with family and friends.

[JUDGE3]

Retiring this coming may 19th ! i'm 60, been at Beechcraft now textron aviation since 9-24-1979. 42.5 years and thats plenty, can't take no mo'. don't want no mo'.

I have every friday off vacation until my retirement date.

most likely use the cobra ins until jan 2023, then the affordable health care act fits in quite well. met with a health ins broker just last friday and was pleasantly surprised.

myself and my wife are blessed in that we are both very active and have a lot of hobbies. love the great outdoors and camping and hiking trails. especially the national parks. we have a lifetime membership at the company fitness center and don't pay a dime after retirement.

ordered a jacuzzi hot tub for a retirement gift to myself should get it any day now. very much enjoy the simple things, having coffee on the patio summer mornings and watching the birds and enjoying looking at the garden.

and I am already ecstatic realizing I can finish my Trans Am clone on my full time and enjoy it.

56 working days left!