[Charlie Brengun]

I'm 47, when I grew up and during my early years of my career retirement age was 65, it then moved up to 67 and for a couple of years now has been tied to life expectancy. It is now predicted to be 72 by the time I get to 67..

I don't think I will ever retire under a government scheme here..

[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

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

I've got 2 still and have sold off everything else and my spare parts stash minus some super useful rare engine stuff. They're waiting for machine shop time and engine\tranny swap space with a buddy who has a day job. I don't push him because he's got dozens of cars and a paying boss. I get my car fix working on more modern stuff for me and the wifey and if it gets wrecked or I sell it I have zero attachment to it vs. my Lemans. The one thing I didn't sell or get rid of? My 1200lb tool boxes - I can still do work for friends for trade.

And contrary to popular opinion, as much as California has aspects that suck I am financially better off here than I was in TN. And no rusty sheet metal or rotten cars with nice mountain weather has been worth it for my physical and mental health! My sister lost her house in Texas last year because of taxes going up and up and up and insurance rates going up there (her insurance and tax are 4X what I pay here in California). I miss the Texas of my childhood and TN of 25 years ago.

Basically if you're going to retire, better have a (mostly) paid off place to live or a hell of a pension\savings. Also having a community of people you can call on or rely on and staying active. My parents are in their 70s and have been enjoying retired life for almost a decade and I am so glad that they got to do that. My dad still cuts the lawn at church and the elderly folks who need assistance 4-5 days a week and he gets 24-28 thousand steps a day. As he puts it, he's in the best shape of his life since his cross country days when he was in his early 20s.

My house will be paid off in 20 years at least, if things hold out that long I'll think about retirement...

[jhein]

Retirement is complicated. Some people keep working because they need the money, that's obvious. Others do it to stay physically and mentally active or for the social contact. All of that has merit depending on your circumstance.

For me, I'm retiring the moment I can do so with a reasonable financial buffer. One thing I know is that the older you get, the faster you get old and I don't want to spend my older years working. OTOH, I cut back to part time about 5 years ago so I only work 2 days a week. It's easy to get used to 5 day weekends.

We actually have enough money to retire right now, but my wife is only 55 so she can't access her 401k money yet which makes up about 30% of our savings. I turn 60 in about 3 weeks. So the plan is to retire once my wife turns 59 1/2 when we can access all of our money. Plus, by then we should have even more savings so that we'll probably have more income in retirement then while we're working.

[LastoftheThinkers]

I am nowhere near retiring, but I see many people from my church in their late 70s and 80s still working. Not because they have to though.

[71GP76TA]

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.

CA has its pluses and minuses. Depends on where you live. CA as a whole??? The negatives are starting to outweigh the positives. The only thing keeping me here is my business. We'll probably move to Idaho when the time comes.

Tons and tons of people are moving from CA to TN. I know of 6 people personally that have. In due time... TN will be ruined....

[locomotivebreath]

Originally Posted by 71GP76TA

CA has its pluses and minuses. Depends on where you live. CA as a whole??? The negatives are starting to outweigh the positives. The only thing keeping me here is my business. We'll probably move to Idaho when the time comes.

Tons and tons of people are moving from CA to TN. I know of 6 people personally that have. In due time... TN will be ruined....

Yeah , same as Florida , people move in to take advantage of the prosperity but don’t embrace the way of thinking that created it .

[Steve Barcak]

Me? Am in good health and watch my diet, do not drink or smoke. I exercise, monitor my BP, etc Am wanting to live a long healthy life, Lord willing of course. I live a very modest/basic/simple life. I also study health, diet, longevity etc almost daily.
Besides my Pontiac passions, I love snowboarding here in Az and the southwest. An Az ski area was open 6 months with last season from Nov- June 1! It's great exercise and a real thrill. Eastern Az is nothing like the hot deserts of Phx and Tucson. We enjoy 4 seasons here, not 2.
I also love traveling, road trip and have toured every state in the main US ( except Montana so far) with my Pontiacs. Many places have visited more than once. 2 Pontiac powered road trips over 10,000 miles with my longest time on the road at 7 weeks in my 72 GTO 455HO. Love the adventure, going places, meeting people, etc.
Another passion is serving in childrens and youth ministries at a few churches. As I do not have kids of my own, I feel it important to give back to the younger generations. I really enjoy it.
I quit working when I was 45 with 26 years of seniority. I let them keep the retirement to build.
For close to 20 years, I lived off of my 'fat' ( aquired Pontiac parts, real estate sales, etc ), ran drag races, car shows, etc. Now, am retired and working on my Pontiac Heaven museum project here in Az. Am doing it basically alone and could use help. Hoping there are some Pontiac or car people out there who may want to help build and grow the museum project here.
Am on 12+ acres on historic hwy 191 about an hour south of I-40 here in Eastern Az. It's nothing like Phx here- no extreme heat, dust, crowds, etc. It's rural high country with forests not far away.
A nice lake is less than 5 miles away and has no HP restrictions allowing me to run my Pontiac powered boats any day I care to.
I've run an annual car show in the nearby town's city park for 16 years now- open to all brands.
Started the first Pontiac parts yard/collection in 1993, started the 2nd in 2005. By 2023, I finished combining everything to one location and now am down to around 275-300 Pontiacs after peaking out at around 550 in 2005.
Now with everything moved and in one locaton, am working on my property and Pontiac collection. Land is paid for, permits approved, I've bought a 9000' steel buldng for the museum and has been delivered.
In the near future, planning to erect the buildng and start to finish many of the Pontacs have started restoring. Plus dozens of others waiting ther turn. Every year GTO collection, many Firebirds/Trans Ams and Full size. Everything is 1955-1981. This includes some very specal and historcal Pontiac powered race cars and the worlds only known complete original Mickey Thompson HEMI Pontiac engine.
Will also be getting back into drag racing wth a front motored AA/Fuel dragster, a blown altered wheelbase '65 Tempest Funny car and a few hot street/strip Ponchos using both roots and Pro Chargers.
I've always done most of my own work including- engine building, designing, fabriacting, machining, welding, body work, paint, susp, pretty much everything except upholstery.
There is so much to do here, I know I will not finish all in my lifetime and understand that. I want to leave plenty for future generations to learn and enjoy. Also, I enjoy teaching people these skills too. There is such a need here for help.
Finally, my end dream, besides planting the Pontac Heaven museum, is to get into land speed racing at both ElMirage and Bonneville.
I've loved Pontiacs since I was about 7 and never tire of them
If anyone would like to visit, tours are avail by appt, plan ahead.
Am also looking for vol help on the museum project, crewing on race cars, restorations, equip help, erecting building, etc. I can use help in any capacity- few hours, half day, full day, weekend, a week, a month, etc. There is also the possibility of someone living on the acreage with a trailer, RV, etc.

Another dream is to have a car related ministry. I have named it "Arrowhead Ministries" . With so many Pontiacs here, and connections to the aftermarket, a ministry could build/restore a Pontiac and auction/sell it off to charity. This would be separate from the Pontiac Heaven museum and is only a thought at this time.

Always looking for people who may want to get involved in different capacities. Even as board members, etc

Contact me- [email protected] message me on the Pontiac Heaven facebook page or see me at my space in the midway at Norwalk in July.
Best to all-

[Keith Seymore]

Twice for me, now (I didn't get to pick either time). I'll be 64 in August.

First in 2019, after 40 years with GM. That one was a surprise.

I wasn't ready (financially or emotionally) so I was off for a couple months and then back to work at Nissan.

I was with Nissan 6 years until they didn't renew my contract (not a surprise, considering the news). May 1st was my first day home.

This time I'm ready so we are giving it a go.

The only difference I can see at this point (almost two months in) is that I do everything I used to do but it all takes longer.

Go out to lunch? Used to take between 30 and 90 minutes. Now? All day.

Put gear lube in a Ford nine inch? All day.

Mow the lawn? Used to be a couple hours. Now? All day.

Grease the chassis on the Chevelle? All day.

I guess work really does expand to fill the time available for its completion.

K

[BB70]

Pulled the trigger at the end of last year. I should be ok, I get a 1k raise in the SSI check in 3 months when the house is paid off.

The only thing messin me up is remembering trash day. hehe

John

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

I'm a 37 year old millennial. What is this retirement thing you're all talking about? LOL

[b-man]

Originally Posted by nUcLeArEnVoY

I'm a 37 year old millennial.
What is this retirement thing you're all talking about? LOL

It’s that thing you should already be saving and preparing for now.

You do not want find yourself old and broke, unfortunately I know people in my age group (65) who couldn’t come up with $5,000 in an emergency. These same folks haven’t saved a dime for retirement, have zero savings and will be working until the day they die. They may even end up homeless before that.

Myself I retired from my job in medical device manufacturing (22 years) as soon as I could afford it, 2-1/2 years ago. House and vehicles paid off, collecting a modest life insurance annuity presently and will collect Social Security as late as possible, between 67 and 70, I haven’t decided yet.

I have enough set aside to do some home improvements/repairs and continue working on my project cars. Being involved in some kind of hobby combined with social interaction can extend your life and keep your brain functioning

You can’t get those years back, retire as soon as you possibly can. Live beneath your means so you are able to save and invest for that most vulnerable time of your life - old age.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by nUcLeArEnVoY

I'm a 37 year old millennial. What is this retirement thing you're all talking about? LOL

I have a feeling that you're being at least a little sarcastic, and I get the joke!

But just in case I'm wrong, plus a million on what b-man said.

[PontiacHO]

Retired last year at 66. Unless you have a solid “plan B”, hobby, volunteering, traveling, caregiver, and-or something to wake up to and stay occupied then retirement ain’t what it’s cracked up to be. I try to exercise, have set chores, tinker with the Firebird, help with grandkids, and knock down the honey do projects everyday. Even then there’s the idle times that I’m not good with. I would have worked longer but after 44 years on the job I was “encouraged” to retire via budget-salary restraints within the organization.

[JUDGE3]

I laugh at all the "financial advisor" advertisements and there's even an annoying tv program with 4 guys on for 30 min every sunday evening here.

stayed with the same job since 18 in 1979. in those days most all retirees I witnessed were thrilled to have their home paid for and no other debt and so happy they no longer have to work and can relax and play golf when they want.

to hear these "finance" guys talk now, how dare you even think retirement if you don't have a vacation home and can go to the Bahamas every month with 5 million in the bank. they make it sound so difficult to retire. silly to me.

[burd]

Originally Posted by nUcLeArEnVoY

I'm a 37 year old millennial. What is this retirement thing you're all talking about? LOL

Hope you’ve been saving, it comes before yiu know it. And if yiu do it rite, yiu can get out in your early 50’s.

[gobrdgo]

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.

I’m a Maine country boy and I got stuck in CA because I met a girl going to college in CA. I’m now 50 and just a couple years ago managed to get out of SoCal and move to a little ranch in the Central Valley. It’s still Ca but I have acres to breathe on and a big barn. It took me 30 years of living in hell in Orange County. Kept my SoCal job as I can’t retire yet but I’m doing the best with family here and my “good” job.

[71GP76TA]

Originally Posted by gobrdgo

I’m a Maine country boy and I got stuck in CA because I met a girl going to college in CA. I’m now 50 and just a couple years ago managed to get out of SoCal and move to a little ranch in the Central Valley. It’s still Ca but I have acres to breathe on and a big barn. It took me 30 years of living in hell in Orange County. Kept my SoCal job as I can’t retire yet but I’m doing the best with family here and my “good” job.

I'm in the central valley and can't wait to get out.... When I moved out here from the bay area 20 years ago it wasn't that bad.. though it wasn't that great..... Now??? I hate it...

[GTOLiam]

Originally Posted by b-man

Myself I retired from my job in medical device manufacturing (22 years) as soon as I could afford it, 2-1/2 years ago. House and vehicles paid off, collecting a modest life insurance annuity presently and will collect Social Security as late as possible, between 67 and 70, I haven’t decided yet.

I'm coming up on retirement at an early age, going to pull the pin around 58, and doing some research on taking SS. Would you mind sharing why you held back taking when you retired at what sounds like 62 1/2?
Tax benefits? Keeping yearly income low for ACA? Guaranteed investment at 7-8% each year you wait versus higher but risk prone market? Pushing out the bottom lower income years in the 35 average?
Whenever I run the numbers in those Monte Carlo retirement type of simulators, I'm always better off taking it early at 62.
Thanks!

[george kujanski]

I also held off till I got the max SS benefit, but was still working in my career, had medical insurance also, so didn't NEED the SS benefits at the time. Yes, they say the benefit grows 8% a year if you hold off so that's my story. So now I get the max benefit, my wife gets her benefit too, and we have 401k/403b retirement funds and some other investments. YMMV.

George

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

... for the higher monthly payout, you will have to LIVE until approx 78 years old to come out ahead

That's how the math worked out for me too. It was either 78 or 80 to be "more overall money"
That was with waiting until 70 to draw.
Figured I could do more with the money sooner , than later.
And no guarantee living to 80 , or SS still being a liquid entity 18 years from now.

If I would have had a high paying job that I enjoyed , and wasn't a health hazard , I would stay with it a lot longer.
All of my careers have been mediocre paygrades and health hazards.

My Dad got forced into retirement at 70 as a fire chief.
Then commuted to another state as fire chief for another 5 years.
He loved his job and made mucho grande