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Same for me. I'm supposed to be able to collect a pension at 55, but I am not holding my breath on that one. The problem is you can't convince 99% of the grasshoppers to change their ways. It's kind of like trying to get an alcoholic to change...it never works unless they really want to.
Having bailed out of the system 10 years ago and now being almost 63...I had better find a way to generate some money. My dad used to laugh at me when I was a happy go lucky teenager. He referred to me as the lazy grasshopper and that I would pay for my prancing and dancing and fiddling away....He was right. He was lucky enough to die early- apparently I am prone to long life...which I never expected. I assumed if my dad died early that would also be my fate.
I have two choices...first to stop neglecting my health and worsening it almost intentionally. Secondly re-utilizing my musical skills and get out and play again for profit...thirdly - take my art more seriously and start to liquidate my work. My estranged wife says that I have wealth but am too cheap to spend it...It would become a project. How do I liquidate what I have created and built up over a life time? It would mean being a business person.....I am horrible with business. I just don't have the killer instinct and am not much of a closer. Oh well- all I realize is that the future is bleak unless I make a last ditch effort.
A rare, honest post . My unemployed friend in his late 50s who I referred to in an earlier post never says stuff like this.
It was easy back in the day....I was the blonde blue eyed musician and artist...People especially woman thought I was going to be a huge success and rich. I did not understand the business end of things and time passed and I aged. Woman were always willing to support a good looking player- It was a status symbol to them. Also being a good lover helped a lot. There was great entitlement in my youth....The world was mine for the taking...and yes - I took. It was fortunate that a kind woman bore my children..without my adult kids I would be a total loser at this time.
What it was - was this immortality and perpetual youth that I toyed with. Near the end I find that I am human after all - who would have known...My sister who has been around the world a few times tells me I always lived like a rich man....a king with no gold or throne....Oh well - at least I now realize that I lived what they call a charmed life...for that I am thankful and I had better get out of bed and have a shower....LOL
The tone of so many posts is that there is some choice to be made; either you go for the life of adventure, or save for retirement.
You can do both. From high school I spent 9 years in the navy; went to war, spent 6 months attached to the Colombian navy, 6 months attached to Philippine navy, gunboats in Vietnam, hydrofoil project. Got out pursued a career in sales, flew sailplanes, owned sailboats, sailed across the Gulf of Mexico alone, licensed charter boat skipper, licensed homebuilder, certified mechanic, chartered a small tugboat once and rode out Hurricane Mitch in Florida. I've been to 49 states and 18 foreign countries. Finally got married when I was 45. I'm 67 now, and no one but me saved for my retirement.
The problem I see with people is they are just too afraid to take their foot off the base. They would rather die on first than take a chance getting thrown out stealing second. I've been thrown out a bunch of times, and it really ain't all that bad.
I get to talking about something that happened long ago in another country, and people tell me all the time how lucky I am to have done all that. They just don't get it. Anyone can have a life who wants one. They're free!
I've suggested the perfect solution for this guy: the Foreign Service or USAID. There's also the Peace Corps, but of course you'll earn virtually nothing, so that is an option that may be better suited for retirement years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Listener2307
The tone of so many posts is that there is some choice to be made; either you go for the life of adventure, or save for retirement.
You can do both. From high school I spent 9 years in the navy; went to war, spent 6 months attached to the Colombian navy, 6 months attached to Philippine navy, gunboats in Vietnam, hydrofoil project. Got out pursued a career in sales, flew sailplanes, owned sailboats, sailed across the Gulf of Mexico alone, licensed charter boat skipper, licensed homebuilder, certified mechanic, chartered a small tugboat once and rode out Hurricane Mitch in Florida. I've been to 49 states and 18 foreign countries. Finally got married when I was 45. I'm 67 now, and no one but me saved for my retirement.
The problem I see with people is they are just too afraid to take their foot off the base. They would rather die on first than take a chance getting thrown out stealing second. I've been thrown out a bunch of times, and it really ain't all that bad.
I get to talking about something that happened long ago in another country, and people tell me all the time how lucky I am to have done all that. They just don't get it. Anyone can have a life who wants one. They're free!
Or some people choose to travel and take a RTW trip for a year but the really smart ones have a plan for when they get back. But the OP hasn't been back to tell us what he wants to do.
I know a man who worked at a job he really wasn't all that crazy about, but it paid a pension after 25 years or so, so he just stuck it out. Every day, same place.
Then he retired! Because he had been smart and watched his health he signed up for a Round The World freighter cruise. Picked up the ship in Houston and went completely around the world on a working freighter. He said they even let him work a little. They had a swimming pool, gym, stateroom with a view - the whole bit. he talked about it for months.
Now, that's thinking. He still travels. I don't think he likes his wife all that much (I don't either....) so he goes a lot of places by himself. I think he has a pretty good life.
Having bailed out of the system 10 years ago and now being almost 63...I had better find a way to generate some money. My dad used to laugh at me when I was a happy go lucky teenager. He referred to me as the lazy grasshopper and that I would pay for my prancing and dancing and fiddling away....He was right. He was lucky enough to die early- apparently I am prone to long life...which I never expected. I assumed if my dad died early that would also be my fate.
I have two choices...first to stop neglecting my health and worsening it almost intentionally. Secondly re-utilizing my musical skills and get out and play again for profit...thirdly - take my art more seriously and start to liquidate my work. My estranged wife says that I have wealth but am too cheap to spend it...It would become a project. How do I liquidate what I have created and built up over a life time? It would mean being a business person.....I am horrible with business. I just don't have the killer instinct and am not much of a closer. Oh well- all I realize is that the future is bleak unless I make a last ditch effort.
It sounds like what you really need is a partner who is good at the business end of things...Of course, I realize finding a trustworthy business partner may be tough.
Interestingly, my friend who's in his late 50s also has a happy-go-lucky personality. His mom told him he was a "good time Charlie" when he was 12. I think he took it as a compliment at the time, but I think she meant it more as a warning. Based on my reading from several different sources, it turns out that this personality type tends to run into trouble as they age, not just financially, but also health-wise because they never think that bad stuff can happen to them, and so they don't take reasonable precautions.
I know a man who worked at a job he really wasn't all that crazy about, but it paid a pension after 25 years or so, so he just stuck it out. Every day, same place.
Then he retired! Because he had been smart and watched his health he signed up for a Round The World freighter cruise. Picked up the ship in Houston and went completely around the world on a working freighter. He said they even let him work a little. They had a swimming pool, gym, stateroom with a view - the whole bit. he talked about it for months.
I know a man who worked at a job he really wasn't all that crazy about, but it paid a pension after 25 years or so, so he just stuck it out. Every day, same place.
Then he retired! Because he had been smart and watched his health he signed up for a Round The World freighter cruise. Picked up the ship in Houston and went completely around the world on a working freighter. He said they even let him work a little. They had a swimming pool, gym, stateroom with a view - the whole bit. he talked about it for months.
Now, that's thinking. He still travels. I don't think he likes his wife all that much (I don't either....) so he goes a lot of places by himself. I think he has a pretty good life.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ariadne22
That's a great story.
I've looked into freighter travel. It's not exactly cheap--runs about $120 a day. Still, I'd love to do something like that one day.
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. My unemployed friend in his late 50s who I referred to in an earlier post never says stuff like this.
) so he goes a lot of places by himself. I think he has a pretty good life.
