another retiring in 1 year thread! (state, retiree, place, government)

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

Start cleaning out your house before you think you need to. Not necessarily before you retire, but don't wait and try to do it in a couple of weeks.

Good advice. You can more easily take advantage of tax write offs for donations if you start early, too. For example, we just donated about 200 books to the local library book sale. I haven't read them in years (some were in a book case I haven't opened for a decade!) so no way will I pay $$$ to move them to a new house. Time to start letting things go.

[loveautumn]

As I recall, Pennsylvania is much more retiree friendly when it comes to taxes than Virginia, so please check out their retiree tax requirements (if you haven't already).

I'm planning on retiring late 2012 as well, and trying to get medical and dental things taken care of between now and then, while I'm still on my employer health insurance.

I heard that 10,000 people A DAY turn 65 in this country...wow, SS & Medicare are going to be swamped with paperwork from us boomers so I guess we should give ourselves plenty of extra time to deal.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by loveautumn

As I recall, Pennsylvania is much more retiree friendly when it comes to taxes than Virginia, so please check out their retiree tax requirements (if you haven't already).

Maybe, but to be honest I think VA is more tax friendly than PA. FWIW, the property tax rate in Gloucester County VA is $0.58 per $100.00 of assessed value. IMO that's pretty low. Not sure how much it would be in a corresponding county in PA, but on the Pittsburgh forum I know the posters there routinely complain about the high taxes in PA. So yes--do check it out! Also, look for tax relief programs. The county I live in (Loudoun County) has a tax relief program for seniors. I'm not sure if other counties in VA have that, though.

[Rtom45]

For example, we just donated about 200 books to the local library book sale. I haven't read them in years (some were in a book case I haven't opened for a decade!) so no way will I pay $$$ to move them to a new house. Time to start letting things go.[/quote]

At the College where I work, several groups have a trash to treasure sale coming up in a couple weeks. The proceeds will benefit the United Way. We have already begun packing boxes of books to be donated for the sale. Like you, we probably have 200 to 300 books, many of them haven't even been looked at in years. We're also looking for anything else that may have value so that we can donate them also. Not only will we be helping a good cause, we won't have to move those things when we sell the house.

[Johanna25]

It is specifically in regard to taxes on pensions and social security (not property taxes) that Pennsylvania is better to retirees. My Dad, who had to settle the estates of three siblings that died in Pittsburgh, remarked that it was cheap to retire in PA, but expensive to die there.

[Rtom45]

We're one step closer! Had the realtors in yesterday and signed contracts to sell our current home. Pictures will be taken today and house will be on the market before the end of this week. We'll be retired at the end of July and have built in some protection so we don't have closing on the house before then. Once we have a firm offer, we'll be looking at homes in Roanoke, VA. We've already done lots of homework and we know whats available in Roanoke.
Can't what for the new adventure to begin!

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Rtom45

We're one step closer! Had the realtors in yesterday and signed contracts to sell our current home. Pictures will be taken today and house will be on the market before the end of this week. We'll be retired at the end of July and have built in some protection so we don't have closing on the house before then. Once we have a firm offer, we'll be looking at homes in Roanoke, VA. We've already done lots of homework and we know whats available in Roanoke.
Can't what for the new adventure to begin!

And looking at a post-retirement move is, indeed, a grand adventure. Enjoy and don't look back!

[daydreamin71]

Originally Posted by Rtom45

We're one step closer! Had the realtors in yesterday and signed contracts to sell our current home. Pictures will be taken today and house will be on the market before the end of this week. We'll be retired at the end of July and have built in some protection so we don't have closing on the house before then. Once we have a firm offer, we'll be looking at homes in Roanoke, VA. We've already done lots of homework and we know whats available in Roanoke.
Can't what for the new adventure to begin!

Very exciting! Congrats, and have fun!

[skydiver_jim]

Originally Posted by Rtom45

We're one step closer! Had the realtors in yesterday and signed contracts to sell our current home. Pictures will be taken today and house will be on the market before the end of this week. We'll be retired at the end of July and have built in some protection so we don't have closing on the house before then. Once we have a firm offer, we'll be looking at homes in Roanoke, VA. We've already done lots of homework and we know whats available in Roanoke.
Can't what for the new adventure to begin!

Congrats! I too will be retiring (from the Federal Government) this year, in September (116 days, but who's counting?). My wife and I have been talking about this and preparing for a while. Thanks to many on this board for your voices of experience and knowledge; it has helped out tremendously. Getting excited about the next steps, but nervous as well.

Like some, I plan to give my employer 90 days to effect a transition. That means I send my application for retirement at the end of this month! Our performance cycle runs July - June, so I can tell my supervisor that my goal for next year is not to be there!

I'm really looking forward to this!

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by skydiver_jim

Congrats! I too will be retiring (from the Federal Government) this year, in September (116 days, but who's counting?). My wife and I have been talking about this and preparing for a while. Thanks to many on this board for your voices of experience and knowledge; it has helped out tremendously. Getting excited about the next steps, but nervous as well.

Like some, I plan to give my employer 90 days to effect a transition. That means I send my application for retirement at the end of this month! Our performance cycle runs July - June, so I can tell my supervisor that my goal for next year is not to be there!

I'm really looking forward to this!

Makes me chuckle, especially as a former state government employee and current retiree.

Transition? I gave my employer six month's notice in the expectation that there would be provision for some succession planning and training before I vacated my position. It never happened. As a result, I just left!

But by all means, look forward to the freedom, peace and tranquility.