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What does retirement mean to you

slobake

slobake

resident ... something
Aug 6, 2011
1,904
25,886
Somewhere to the left of "Whoopie"
smowles01.wordpress.com
#1
My wife and I have been talking about retirement. For me it means having more choice about what I do with my time. If and when I do retire I will probably be as busy or busier than I am now doing what I choose to do. My wife teases me and says that I don't have time to go to work anymore.
I look forward to spending hours wood shedding. Writing music and fiction, blogging, spending more time with family, helping the poor and other spiritual pursuits. I also told my wife I would have a lot more time to work on our house, she really liked that.
Right now I don't know how we are going to swing it financially but I have faith we will find a way when the time is right. We are debt free and do our best to live that way. I think that is a good start.
What would retirement look like to you?
 
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#2
I'm not sure yet. I tend to focus a lot on my work, which I enjoy...and will probably delay retirement for at least a couple of years. I enjoy working on cars, but my body tells me that horsing transmissions and cylinder heads around was a better plan for my 30's then my 60's. I do plan to spend more time with music, but practice isn't something I enjoy, so that may not take as much time as I think.

I do keep in mind that one needs to plan activities and interests for retirement. I belong to some groups which have a lot going on and which I can support with volunteer activities.

There's an old saying that the guys who spend their time sitting on the porch and fishing tend to disappear in a very short time. The ones who are busy and doing stuff all the time live for years.
 
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#3
For me it's spending a lot of my time on TB when I can be practicing music, practicing music. training Kung fu (exercise, stretching, breathing, meditating, all probably more important than the actual techniques themselves especially @ 58), watching TV, cooking.
 
#7
Retirement looks a lot like my life as it is at present, except I plan to travel more. I think the Mrs.and I could take a month off for the Caribbean when it's cold here, and maybe take a month off to enjoy Michigan in the summer.

Other than that, I imagine I'd have to do something to get me out of bed everyday.
 
#13
Bloodhammer said:
Anyone know a good way to invest money so that it's a possibility?
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I'm somewhat diversified. I have a pension that will hopefully be there if we continue to fight for it. I have social security that will hopefully be there if we continue to fight for it. I have also been pounding money away into a couple 401k options in case we're a bunch of quitters that don't fight for what we're entitled.

Plan D is hunt the two legged prey by night and grow fat on its abundance.
 
#14
slobake said:
Right now I don't know how we are going to swing it financially but I have faith we will find a way when the time is right. We are debt free and do our best to live that way. I think that is a good start.
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I sold my business and retired early at 58 so I could go out and play a little before I croak. My wife is a lot smarter than I and had the foresight to start investing/planning for retirement back when we were in our 20's. At the time I thought she was crazy but her foresight paid off. Slobake, I know you are 61 from other threads I have read. You need to immediately find a good financial advisor who can guide you for retirement. You may want to interview 3 or 4 different advisors and pick the one you are most comfortable with. Better late than never. Just sayin.
 
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#15
Stewie26 said:
I sold my business and retired early at 58 so I could go out and play a little before I croak. My wife is a lot smarter than I and had the foresight to start investing/planning for retirement back when we were in our 20's. At the time I thought she was crazy but it paid off in the long run. Slobake, I know you are 61 from other threads I have read. You need to immediately find a good financial advisor who can guide you for retirement. You may want to interview 3 or 4 different advisors and pick the one you are most comfortable with. Better late than never. Just sayin.
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Thanks Stewie that is good advice. We are doing just that. We actually have been talked to several people over the years. I have noticed that some advisers tend to push a particular product. When that happens I am very wary.
We are in pretty good shape but not wealthy by any means. I don't like revealing too much personal info on line. ;)
 
#18
slobake said:
Thanks Stewie that is good advice. We are doing just that. We actually have been talked to several people over the years. I have noticed that some advisers tend to push a particular product. When that happens I am very wary.
We are in pretty good shape but not wealthy by any means. I don't like revealing too much personal info on line. ;)
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Yes, I agree and stay away from those types as they are looking out for their own interest more than yours. I found the best advisors don't sell anything but their advice. They only get paid a small percentage of the upside of the investments they recommend.

EDIT: BTW, Financial advisors are not to be confused with stock brokers. IME, some of the stock brokers I have worked with in the past were just legalized crooks.
 
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#19
SteveC said:
Retirement means being able to not HAVE to work and still be able to live comfortably and do things you want - travel, lay around, do something based on interests, etc.
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Not gonna happen. The most i've ever had in my bank account is about 2000$ and that was late last year.

I'll "retire" when i'll be at whatever age the government starts paying me a pension. If i make it that far.
 

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