How many of you are retired?

Tim G's current thread "How many of you are still working?" got me to wondering about the likely follow-up question to that inquiry, namely "How many of you are retired?"

So let's find out. If you would like, please select one of the poll answers above, and let's see what develops as the pattern for us as a group.

Maybe that will also contribute to a discussion of some retirement issues that arise when one is facing decisions about taking that next big step, and even some advice from those of us here who are already "veterans" of the retirement process.

Retired is what I myself am now, and have been for the past eleven years, after spending the previous thirty-five years as a university librarian at the University of Florida. So perhaps I am one of the individuals who can offer a word or two of advice.

For example, many of us who are already retired may have, as I did, experienced particular features of entering into and developing retirement that were a bit of a surprise, that hadn't been expected, and maybe not seen or discussed much, if at all, on retirement planning sites, or in retirement planning books, pamphlets, etc.

In other words, things learned by actually doing it, being retired. Things that just sort of "popped up" along the way, that we may not have anticipated, and which now it might be useful to share.

But for now let's just see what the overall retirement picture looks like for us as a group. Please do "vote" in the poll, and then let's go from there.

BTW, this subject may not be all that off-topic, as one's PCa situation is likely a significant factor in the when and how of our personal retirement plans. This fact is even noted in one of the poll choices above.

So, how many of us are retired, getting there, thinking about it, etc.?

Fully retired, though busier than ever. A decade ago, while I was still working my wife (the mover and shaker) I, and a handful of local activists saved the last large open space in our densely populated small town. It was a challenging and educational 2-year struggle engaging shifting alliances and lots of pulling of leavers within the town, state agencies, our congressman, alliances with strange bedfellows, active and passive aggression from unexpected places. All in all a great time - way more fun than I was having in my day job.

Now that I'm retired, my wife and I are both members of the town subcommittee that oversees the property - monthly public meetings, grant applications, land, forestry, and pond management issues etc. That town position also gives me keys to the barn and the awesome authority to identify and clear invasive brush, mow and maintain trails, monitor wildlife, and train volunteers to do likewise. I wear another, but related hat, as a director and treasurer of a small non-profit land trust in which we've built a fund for maintenance, equipment, educational programs etc. on the property.

I'm having a great time - even though I now have a couple of sometimes contentious meetings each month - something I thought I'd be done with when I retired. Am now wrestling with the challenge of finding younger people who are willing to become my generation's replacements. It seems that everyone under 60 is fully occupied ferrying kids and grandkids to adult-managed events.

Jim

I will retire to the eastern sierra tomorrow to shoot fall colors

Will retire in 3.5 years at 62.

Been 100% retired for about a year now. Past few weeks, been thinking about getting a part-time job!!

Will retire in one year.
I will spend my time with family, on getting good (I hope) at Photography, learning to play guitar, reading, working out, and enjoying time at my Florida home . God willing.

InTheShop said...

Pratoman said...
Will retirevin one year.

Is that how they say it in NY?

Fixed it, wise guy 😂

Well, I became medically retired at age 56, something I never thought could happen to me. I am 66 currently, and still unable to work, so been retired for 10 years.

Had I not became ill, I hadn't planned on retiring until I was about 70. I enjoyed what I was doing at the time. Still have lunch weekly with my last boss, still friends. I was his Chief Financial Officer, up to my neck with numbers, finance, and major computer operations.

Been fully retired for 7+ years after teaching US history to 8th graders for 33 years. Took early retirement at 58 as my wife is 9 years my junior and carried the insurance until I hit Medicare this last March. Haven't missed it a bit and anxiously waiting for this spring when my wife will retire. Let the endless summer mode begin!

No one has said it so I will. I was tired yesterday and today I am retired.

Gee I get no respect atoll...check out the very first response to this thread...was I just trolled...smiley face...no mo gee

Well! This thread's topic is clearly one that struck a chord, and has generated a very good response!

So far, as of now, 10:30 AM Tuesday morning, there have been 39 replies, with close to 60 % indicating full or semi retirement, and another 15 % about to get there. And there has been, again so far, one hardy soul who says he will never retire! I also find it revealing that as of now there has also not been a single vote in the poll for PCa being a controlling factor in anyone's retirement planning.

I also note some trends in the responses so far. There is a consistent feeling of satisfaction in the posts, that retirement has turned out to be a very good thing, with several individuals going on to describe, with obvious satisfaction, their current activities in retirement.

For example,

Bohemond - Your account of your involvement in local ecomanagement activities is close to amazing, with how active and productive you have been. How commendable! Yours is a classic model of what an "active" retirement can be!

VinceInMT - What struck me especially about your account is how well thought out your plans are, having even the details well in hand. This fact also applies to a number of you.

But so many of you are all echoing the sentiment: I will be doing this, I will be doing that. You know where you want to go, and your plans for getting there are nicely falling into place.

So many posts also have such a feeling of anticipation, almost a feeling of "I can't wait to get there!" Excellent!

Perhaps reltnie best sums it up: "Let the endless summer mode begin!" Except that "summer mode" will now be year round!

And not to worry, Logoslidat. Being retired and living in Hawaii, with endless surfing at one's fingertips, or, that is to say, at one's toetips, would be for many the ultimate definition of the endless summer and a fabulous retirement!

So it would seem that from the discussion so far retirement is a very agreeable thing, and a thing avidly to be pursued and enjoyed!

More power to you all, retired or about to be!

A follow-up: As I suggested in my OP, I believe I will pursue, write up, and post something about some of the unanticipated things that showed up both early and later during my own retirement. Something like that may be of help to those still contemplating or planning for retirement.

But I'm afraid it won't be right away. Being here in Gainesville, north central Florida, I'll need to be keeping an eye on Hurricane Michael for a while. As of now, it's predicted to move through the Florida panhandle, west of where I am, but that could change. If it keeps going at its current rate, it should stay on the predicted course. But if it slows down, it could start wobbling, and then take off in any direction.

So as soon as I post this it's out into the yard to start picking up and storing lawn chairs, secure the trash can area, pick up any loose branches, etc. Just to be safe. Then run off to the store to buy a couple of plastic water jugs, batteries. etc. Again, just to be safe. All that in addition to the usual errands, and a few other things that happen to have come up.

So I'll probably be gone for a couple of days or so. But see you all again maybe Thursday or Friday!

81gy..you are correct as 99% of all my posts reflect...tho there are those pesky lines spoken by George Clooney in the opening scenes of the movie The Descendants...goggle you will see what I mean...if you are so inclined...smiley face