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What does retirement mean to you
- Thread starter slobake
- Start date
A medical crisis pushed me into considering early retirement. I'm 56, but not ready to kick back. I've been doing that when I've been feeling good, but I look forward to getting engaged in something once again.
That is because Social Security payments are suppose to come from a specific funding source by law while welfare come come from the general non specified government funds. And because of increasing lifespans and fewer actual workers paying into social security it must fall, its just math. Not unlike the Ponzi schemes, it just has the advantage that people did not rush in to invest looking for a fast payout so the collapse is in slow motion and is less noticeable.
It also gives the government time to react like it has by raising the age for social security eligibility and putting Federal workers who had guaranteed pensions thus no need for Social Security retirement insurance into the system In effect adding a few more payers now (actually 1984), but then also adding even more receivers down the line so it just delayed the collapse of the Ponzi. They are after state government workers now, who for the most part have the gold plated pensions that the Feds had before 1984 to get their money to kick the can further down the road. Also they are after the Bill Gates money, the earnings over $117,00/year but then that will destroy the image of a base security trust fund and turn Social Security into welfare in people's eyes. With societal changes since FDR's time that may be possible now.
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I have no anticipation of ever retiring - just a smaller proportion of each day spent money-seeking activity. I think it is very good to have something you NEED to do each day,people to see, places to go. Definitely looking forward to downsizing on my home now that my youngest child says she is not coming home from college for the summer.
My 54 yr. old wife will be eligible to retire in 6 years from being a school-teacher. She got this idea that she wants to get a plasma-cutter and table, and start creating a side biz. for profit and mental/physical exercise. She wants to start NOW - has been ordering books & DVDs and discussing with me a lot (was toolmaker for little over decade). And eyeing scrap metal and stuff people have set to the curb.
I've ordered a second set of welding mask and gas welding googles 
so I can teacher her some basic arc and gas technique with my "our" current gear.
We really need strikeout for text back.
My 54 yr. old wife will be eligible to retire in 6 years from being a school-teacher. She got this idea that she wants to get a plasma-cutter and table, and start creating a side biz. for profit and mental/physical exercise. She wants to start NOW - has been ordering books & DVDs and discussing with me a lot (was toolmaker for little over decade). And eyeing scrap metal and stuff people have set to the curb.
I've ordered a second set of welding mask and gas welding googles so I can teacher her some basic arc and gas technique with We really need strikeout for text back.
Lie to me, lie to me!!
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It can be adjusted to fit lifespans and costs. You may not like how it's adjusted, but the earlier we start the less drastic the changes needed to fund it will be. It is only as doomed to failure as we allow it to be.
I agree it was not designed for retirement. It was insurance for those who exceeded the life expectancy and could not work. Later generation's who started to get retirement benefits when wages were frozen during WWII then started to see social security as part of a retirement playing golf
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With the absolute death of the defined benefit pension, incomes flat for most of the middle and working class, and as a result an underfunding by employee contributed plans, there's not much other choice but to remedy the funding gap in the system to ensure that there's an option to fall back on.
Employers have stolen retirement from the American worker.
It must really suck to work in a profession that you dream about retiring from.
My father told me a Confucius saying when I was young and I stuck with it.
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life".
I live for what I do. I have passion for what I do. I will do it until the day I die.
My worst nightmare is to retire and live in "The Villages"
My father also said, "It isn't about the money, it's about a happy and fulfilling life"
My father told me a Confucius saying when I was young and I stuck with it.
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life".
I live for what I do. I have passion for what I do. I will do it until the day I die.
My worst nightmare is to retire and live in "The Villages"
My father also said, "It isn't about the money, it's about a happy and fulfilling life"
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That's great, but our society would crash tomorrow if everyone were to choose a job they love. There's only so much demand we'll ever have for entertainers and astronauts.
and that is the problem with a lot of people. They think you have to have a high profile high paying job to be happy.
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Well, don't worry.
There are plenty of people that buy into the old, go to college, get a good paying job with benefits bs and never pursue their true passion in life. Or they have no passion or the skill to do anything but being a little cog in the corporate wheel.
Some don't have a sole, over-riding passion but they have many interests. So they gladly buy into the "old, go to college, get a good paying job with benefits bs". Then they have the funds needed to pursue their multiple interests. It works for them just fine.
Sometimes dealing with a "passionate" person puts one at a disadvantage from a business or functional standpoint. E.g. collectors in many genres understand a dealer who is passionate will never actually sell them "the best available". The best available is in the dealer's personal collection. LOL! Sometimes passion turns to PITA(for others), control and overbearing "expertism" - I personally prefer peeps who are well-rounded with gently elevated points of higher interest.
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Guilty as charged. Like Loverboy sang I'm "working for the weekend."
I don't disagree with you about the ideals you're suggesting. I'd prefer to live in that system. Unfortunately, this one's fairly entrenched and it'll sting a lot if shift it too quickly.
I feel extremely fortunate to be able to do what I do.
Am I rich? no
Do I have a good retirement package? No, and I don't care
Could I be making big money and bennies working for a big corporation? Heck yeah
I will be doing what I do for as long as my eyes, hands and health allow.
I love it and my customers appreciate my passion and are extremely loyal.
To me it's pretty simple. Retirement=WANTING to..., not HAVING to...
Retirement and one's ability to retire is also directly related to an individual's lifestyle wants and needs both before and after the actual "retirement" date.
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Retirement and one's ability to retire is also directly related to an individual's lifestyle wants and needs both before and after the actual "retirement" date.
Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass
