RETIREMENT: IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

[Crewleader]

RETIREMENT: IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

By Frank Kaiser

Boomers often ask me what it’s like to be retired.

I tell them I haven’t a clue.

“But,” my huckleberry friends rejoin, “Retirement’s an American prerogative, right? The reward for a productive life?”

Apparently, these whippersnappers see a stall full of horse muck and fully expect to find a pony in there somewhere.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” I declare, wondering if I was ever that naïve.

“But,” they stutter the stammer of long-held dreams shattering, “What about lying by the pool reading all those books you never had time for? Lollygagging with old friends around the 19th hole at Pebble Beach? The occasional jaunt to London or Maui?

Ha!

http://www.suddenlysenior.com/FULLSTORY.HTML

[yourout]

1. The middle class retirement dream is quickly disappearing......I envision working into my 70s...

whether I want to or not.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Dennis Hopper, is that you?

And I quote: "Get real!"

--p!

[monmouth]

3. As a retiree I applied for a part-time job as a recept. Woman told

me she received 150 or so resumes via fax and computer. Most retirees want a part-time job to pay for medical insurance, like me. Work if you can and save everything you can. Downsize a year or so before you retire and make a budget. When you don't have to worry about bills retirement is a joy. You can sit at your computer, log onto DU and read some words of some very fine writers....

[NGinpa]

4. If you are middle class and ever want to retire,

work for the federal government (and/or some state governments) for 25 or 30 years. They are just about the only ones with define benefit pensions, which give you a secure, worry free retirement.

[luckyleftyme2]

5. been retired for 10 years

I retired at 62 after a heart attack. for the first year I done nothing as I felt like chit.but I exercised daily and watched my diet.after about a year I took a job dropping off paper bundles to paper boys. 2hrs a day 5 days a week.
this gave me $100 bucks a week in spending money,and my wife had her own business working out of our home.
I done this for about a year.it was fun because my first job was as a paper boy.I was 7 and it was for the same local paper which printed mon-fri.
THEN I went to work in a convenience store for 16 hours a week. you see you need something to look forward to. you need people to talk to. and they pay you for it.
Now you must remember knowing you can tell them to kiss your ass anytime you want to quit puts a whole new outlook on work. it becomes fun.
I worked part time until sept this past year. I had 5 days a week I could do anything I wanted to(almost) I was down to one boss and if I felt like I was spending to much time fishing ,hunting,working on my boats or out hiking I would immediately take her out for lunch,take her to yard sales shopping etc. (my daddy
clued me in at an early age) keep mama happy or no one
is happy!
you have to keep active or you will lose your health fast. you adjust your budget to fit your means. I have a camper on a lake (seasonal)MY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP IS NOW A 6CYL 2 WHEEL DRIVE RANGER. I gave up golf as I couldn't afford
the camper lot,the boat gas and the green fees.so something had to go.
I find that I still can do most of the things I want to but it takes longer.
We have cut our spending to what we need. and we probably avg. two nights in a motel a month.
I live in the new england and have friends all over the usa. we've made several trips to ga.,fl.,new orleans,nashville etc.
this year our big trip will be branson., mama loves country. we're on auto pilot in tenn,nashville pigeon forge,dollywood etc. so she says branson this year.
I know its cheaper down south but mama won't leave the grandkids. and I WON'T GIVE UP SALMON,TROUT OR DEER HUNTING IN THE FALL.
NO matter what your retirement income is they'll always be something you can't afford to do-so make the best of it.
A night around the campfire with good friends is priceless.the look in your grand kids eye when he catches his first fish is priceless,the smile on his or her face when they set on your lap and you let them steer the pontoon boat is priceless. as they get older you take them water skiing or tubing.
If you do it right you'll be remember long after your gone. and you know they will do the same for theirs.

[old mark]

6. Retired last may...

...at 59. Had had 2 heart attacks, quad bypass in '03, went back to work.
Had to have pacemaker installed in '05, went back to work.Retired last may because I could no longer stand the harrassment and miserable people at my job, just put in my paperwork and left.
I have had a pretty good time so far, doing several things I never had time to do, spending more time with my wife and dog.
I always loved flea markets, yard sales, etc, so I am setting up to sell online for a little pocket money. I have about a ton of stuff bought over the years just for this purpose.

I have always hated work and loved being home, and my only regret is that the days go by so fast.

Mark
(61 in August)