[The Champ]

I retired from full time employment in 2018 at the age of 64. Just didn't want to work 5 days a week anymore and couldn't work out a deal with my employer for a 4 day week. Why didn't I want to work 5 days a week? Four major surgeries between 2006 and 2017 (3 time cancer survivor).

Found myself a very good paying 3 day per week outside sales position (sales is what I did). After a year and a half, we went on a trip to Italy and before we left I decided I didn't want that job anymore, so I gave my boss 30 days notice and filed for my SS. After returning from Italy I lasted about 6 weeks before I took a position 2 days a week driving shuttle for a local GM dealership.

Did that until 2021. Bought my new Cadillac with the employee pricing perk and then found a better position as a Logistic Service Rep for a medical service courier. Higher pay, paid holidays, PTO and the ability to participate in the company 401K. Worked 2 - 3 days per week until last Dec 31st when I retired again (for the most part). I'm now what they call 'Exteme Part Time'. I've worked 5 days all year....

My wife retired last June. That is when we first started drawing on our 401K/IRA money.

Since the end of the year, we've vacationed in Myrtle Beach, SC in January for our 52nd wedding anniversary, MCAS Yuma, Arizona in the middle of March to visit our grandson (back in the states to attend a Weapons Technology Training in Yuma - he's a Marine Osprey Crew Chief stationed in Okinawa). Branson, MO in early April for a week of shows and golf, back to Yuma to see our grandson graduate (top of his class) in late April, even knowing that we'd only get to see him for 3 - 4 hours, so we booked a side trip to Palm Springs, CA and just got back from a week in Nashville, TN for CMA Fest.

In July we'll be spending July, 8 - 12th at the Iola Old Car Show (the show is the 10 - 12th, but we rented a lake cabin).

September we'll be back in TN for 3 nights early in the month than a week in the Black Hills of SD the last week.

As it stands right now, I know of 4 more days that I will work the rest of this year, and 5 days I'll work in 2026. In February (I turn 72) I'll need to decide if I want to totally retire from my arduous work schedule.

My part time work (on my terms) in retirement has helped allow us the ability to travel.
-
All though I have some chronic health issues (diabetes and chronic kidney disease - complicated by the loss of 1 kidney to cancer), I'm still pretty healthy. I was told by my Nephrologists over 4 years ago that I'd be on dialysis within 2 years. It appears my work efforts to keep myself healthy are paying dividends. I average 4 -5 miles per day walking, golf, downhill ski. I keep my weight around 150 and blood sugars inline through my activity levels and diet which makes my current health team happy.

I'm hoping for at least 10 more good travel years and after that I might have to slow down a little.

[rustyrelic]

I am 63 and opted to go down to 20 hrs/week. I work from home, and at 20 hrs my wife and I are still fully covered by company insurance. ACA or open market insurance cost is at least one major reason to continue working. While it is not game changing money, the effective swing to fully retired and buying insurance is over $50,000 a year. We have saved and ought to be just fine with some fun money to spend on travel, etc. Right now we are working to convert some 401K money to Roth to avoid future taxes on Required Minimum Distributions and to provide better control of our savings. Probably one of the two of us will take SS early and the other will wait until at least 67, but perhaps 70. I think the biggest trigger for full retirement will be the condition of my parents who are in their late 80's. They have entered the no-go part of retirement, meaning they dont leave the house much expect for church and doctor appointments. Depending on the amount of in home care we can provide/arrange/oversee will be a big driver.

If we all knew our expiration date making plans would be much easier, but I think more horrifying. Nobody gets out alive.

[george kujanski]

My situation is similar to poncho-mike, career-wise also. I enjoyed my job so I kept working after retirement age, and then my company offered a buyout, so I took the buyout and then contracted with them for a few more years. My wife retired way earlier than I did.

Didn't file for SS until I reached the max benefit, and recently my contract was terminated, so I am officially retired.
Thankfully, I'm pretty healthy.

Sure, retire early if you can, especially if you hate working. The roadblocks are: you need to be able to exist on your income and, very important, have medical insurance. If private insurance is too expensive, you may need to wait for Medicare eligibility at 65.

BTW, as we get older, sh!t happens, so don't avoid checking your health. In our area, there is an organization named LifeLine than does Ultrasound screening of your bod for a cost of about $150. Very reasonable to detect carotid artery issues, extremity issues, etc. Saved the life of a friend of mine when they detected an Abdominal Aortic Aneurism that was ready to pop. They called an ambulance right there.

Good luck to all!

George

[JUDGE3]

Retired at 60 (almost 64 now)

If your replying to this thread you know that time is flying by now.

you can't get your time spent working back, and time spent working into retirement age feels like it quadruples the time lost.

43 years at mfg job I have watched every version of retiree since I was 18 and studied them closely. The common theme is how quickly age gets here and to get out as soon as you can.

[71GP76TA]

I'm 57 and have been "semi retired" (LOL) for several years. As a business owner I really don't work... but average about 4-6 hrs a day 5 days a week tending to my business. I'd like to pull the plug and move out of California to a state that is not a liberal cesspool. My business partner wants to wait another 5 years. Even though I don't put in a lot of hours. The business needs constant tending to and I have a hard time getting away for vacations.. etc.. The car business has a lot of stress and headaches.

BTW - I own a used car lot. I deal with all the purchasing and reconditioning. My business partner deals with sales.. paperwork.. etc. He is down to working 4 days a week. We have 2 sales people.. 1 full time and one part time. We also have 2 full time mechanics... 2 detailers... and my 81yo dad helping me drive cars and run around.

[burd]

Got out when I was 51. Best thing I’ve ever done.

[tooski]

Originally Posted by burd

Got out when I was 51. Best thing I’ve ever done.

Same for me. About 6 months before my 52nd bday. Earliest retirement date was based on years of service plus age. I worked 12 hr shifts, basically 3 on 3 off. By the time I was in my mid 40's the shift work and the 12 hrs were taking a toll. Most of the guys I worked with were the same. As RocktimusPryme stated, I found that throughout my career the earlier one retired the longer they lived. Even the 8 hr day workers. Too many times I've seen guys work until mandatory retirement instead of retiring when they could only to die a couple of years later.
I've also read/heard that when you retire time will seem to slow down. Not for me. The years are just ripping by.

[beemergary]

Never planned on retiring but after40yrs. at same placed was forced to move. paid into ss for 43 yrs. 70 mi. round trip for 25 yrs. Got within 1/2mi. from work one morning and said I am done. Since have had some serious health problems. Lucky to be alive. So that would have cost me allot of lost work time. At 75 yrs. I consider myself a workaholic but no paycheck and no naps.

[locomotivebreath]

Originally Posted by JUDGE3

Retired at 60 (almost 64 now)

If your replying to this thread you know that time is flying by now.

you can't get your time spent working back, and time spent working into retirement age feels like it quadruples the time lost.

43 years at mfg job I have watched every version of retiree since I was 18 and studied them closely. The common theme is how quickly age gets here and to get out as soon as you can.

This ! I lost my dad at 64 to cancer . I was there when he passed and I don’t recall him ever mentioning that he wished that he had worked a few more years ! I’m 47 now and lord willing can retire at 60 and I’ll have 37 years of service with my company . My wife also receives a separate pension based on mine . Shel’ll get a half sum of what I ever bring home on it . I pay a much higher rate into it in lieu of SS and I want to enjoy every penny that I can of it . I work on call , nearly ALL holidays and weekends and spend more time in hotels than our house . No way am I staying ! I can’t understand the guys that do , it’s like they are institutionalized . I can’t wait wait for the novelty of know I’ll be home on any Saturday of the year and can plan whatever we want . I’m really trying to get things in order now . So many people are just bad with their money . That’s why resorted a low option GTO - frugality lol

[Skidmark]

If you take SS at 62, you can still make about 23k a year without penalty. I may do it. So id still work about 3 days a month. Thats 3 more than i want to. Lol

[Formulas]

I fully retired at age 56, 10 years ago, ... Some people are apprehensive to big changes, .. I sort of like or have been accustom to big changes,

I have a friend that's trying to employ me as a manager for a small transportation route at a VA hospital when things are staffed and flowing good he just wants me to go there and check up on thing's get an eye on op's do a final interview for new hires, would have to drive the route to fill in a blank if that happens, He says 1 day a week no specific hours for 500.00 a week and i have a hard time getting excited over it, ..

I like to go to bed or wake up knowing my next day i am going to do only exactly what i wish

I worked for a well known aerospace company with a corporate pension and 401k worked as much overtime i could stand many weekends and holidays went on as many per diem trips as i could some up to 8 months at a time ... some out of country with the intent of sacrificing more early life for latter life income it boggles my mind when i think the last 20 or so years of my life i will be getting paid from the 35 years of life i worked

[77 TRASHCAN]

Locomotivebreath,
Yes!!! Too many folks NEVER make plans!!! ANYone that works somewhere, that has some sort of retirement plan NEEDS to be a part of it, regardless of how much you contribute. Contributing as much as possible is the best plan.

[locomotivebreath]

The sad cases are guys that I know that had to take in grandchildren or they got suckered into the college scam paying for kids that either dropped out or received useless degrees that they can’t do anything with .

[Ben M.]

Due to cancer and some pretty disastrous life situations, I plan on being at my desk until I die. You guys who are 15-20 years older than me don't know how good you have it compared to the ones coming behind you...

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

Due to cancer and some pretty disastrous life situations, I plan on being at my desk until I die. You guys who are 15-20 years older than me don't know how good you have it compared to the ones coming behind you...

Did any of your Pontiac cars survive all the"life" you've been through???

[71GP76TA]

After reading what some of your guys deal with and have dealt with in the workforce... I feel very fortunate......

[SRR]

As long as I stay in Ca. I'll never be able to retire even with a pension and SS. You guys that can retire should! At 68 years old I still work full time and am lucky to be fit and able to do so. I hate my job but I still do it well and it's close to home. I would love to pack up and move to TN. The cost of everything here in Ca. is just outrageous and only getting worse. I took SS at 62 because I didn't want to be one of those people who checked out before I collected.

[form74]

Retirement starts at 62, I waited to my 65 birthday so I could get Medicare.

My IT job had rotating shifts and I got sick of the later shifts and the weekend shifts.

[Skidmark]

Originally Posted by SRR

As long as I stay in Ca. I'll never be able to retire even with a pension and SS. You guys that can retire should! At 68 years old I still work full time and am lucky to be fit and able to do so. I hate my job but I still do it well and it's close to home. I would love to pack up and move to TN. The cost of everything here in Ca. is just outrageous and only getting worse. I took SS at 62 because I didn't want to be one of those people who checked out before I collected.

You should move to TN or the like. I've never understood why anyone would live in CA or NY. They are both too expensive. You'd probably live like a fat cat in most places in the SE US. Espescially if you bring your CA pension with you. I'm guessing family ties keep most people put.

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by Skidmark

You should move to TN or the like. I've never understood why anyone would live in CA or NY. They are both too expensive. You'd probably live like a fat cat in most places in the SE US. Espescially if you bring your CA pension with you. I'm guessing family ties keep most people put.

The absolute best hot rod parts Facebook marketplace on the planet. SoCal marketplace/craigslist is bonkers compared to everywhere else. The weather. Mexican food. People also generally assume that all of California is San Francisco prices. Its not. I lived in the high desert. Gas was stupid, but honestly, everything else wasnt all that much different than Indiana where I moved to. So where you are leaving from specifically in California will have make a big difference in how much financial impact there is.

For me leaving wasnt so much about money, but more about thinking that entire southwest corner of the country doesn't have enough water to support its population long term. Didnt want to be holding property when the water runs out. I was also sick of the desert, but now I find I miss the blue sky and dry sheet metal. I loathe the rust belt. Ive lived a lot of places. Everywhere has its pros and cons. Except Kuwait. Kuwait just sucks.