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I was living all the time before retirement at age 61, I can assure you. My work was part of life, not separate from it. But in addition to work (and before retirement), I did all of the following:
1. Learned to fly small private airplanes. Ex-wife and I flew our own plane to Alaska, to the Carribean, and many other places.
2. Learned to ride bicycles (I mean really ride). Ex-wife and I rode from Seattle to Los Angeles along the great Pacific Coast in three weeks, averaging 75 miles a day.
3. Learned to ride motorcycles, both street and dirt. Had many incredible adventures.
Work included many challenges met, and the respect of colleagues earned. And no, it was certainly not all joy and rapture, but I can't imagine foregoing those work experiences, anymore than I can imagine foregoing the three numbered major hobbies.
I find it so sad that anyone can say "retirement is the point when you can live". Our entire lives are forliving! And that includes learning how to earn one and taking our place in the world in that way. What a sense of satisfaction to have made one's way, not on the public dole, not from largesse from mommy and daddy, but on our own (at least for males, as that is the male way).
Most people don't live with that mindset. I is an individual. I'm speaking to the masses.
Most people don't live with that mindset. I is an individual. I'm speaking to the masses.
Most people I know do live with that mindset. How is it you claim to be speaking "to the masses"? How do you know how the "masses" think? What data supports your view of the "masses"? Would the "masses" be happy to know that your are their spokesperson?
I figure my wife and I can retire in about 8-9 years, before we hit 60. And if you think I'm going to spend that time puttering around the house or arranging golf foursomes, you're out of your mind. I have way too many interests that are interfered with by the need to earn a living and pay my children's tuition.
Most people I know do live with that mindset. How is it you claim to be speaking "to the masses"? How do you know how the "masses" think? What data supports your view of the "masses"? Would the "masses" be happy to know that your are their spokesperson?
Yes for me too. The topic is earl retirement not holding off your life until you retire. I don't know anyone who has ever said, "I won't do that until after I retire" unless it involved something that had to do that required more time that needed to be spent on the job like traveling for a greater length of time or something along those lines.
I was into acting while I was an insurance claims adjuster. I did my rehearsals and line studies on my time after work. And performances were on weekends and evenings. Work never stopped me from persuing that interest. I just utilized my free time for what I wanted to do the most.
I think the majority of people do that. It's that when they retire, they can do what they want when they want and they don't have to work around anyone else's schedule.
I would guess that the most people live with that mindset. Anyone who puts off all the things they want to do until they retire had better retire early or else they may never get to do those things.
Yes for me too. The topic is earl retirement not holding off your life until you retire. I don't know anyone who has ever said, "I won't do that until after I retire" unless it involved something that had to do that required more time that needed to be spent on the job like traveling for a greater length of time or something along those lines.
I was into acting while I was an insurance claims adjuster. I did my rehearsals and line studies on my time after work. And performances were on weekends and evenings. Work never stopped me from persuing that interest. I just utilized my free time for what I wanted to do the most.
I think the majority of people do that. It's that when they retire, they can do what they want when they want and they don't have to work around anyone else's schedule.
I would guess that the most people live with that mindset. Anyone who puts off all the things they want to do until they retire had better retire early or else they may never get to do those things.
Bada Bing! point on!
I agree yes there were things we did not do that I am absolutely going to do when I retire. It would have involved time and resources better spent at the time on home and family. Now that I am nearing retirement I have more time and money to do things I want so I am living as I go. If I waited until I retired to learn to golf so that I could do Pebble Beach or one of the classic links in Scotland I might never get to enjoy anything. I might even die before I get there so I plan to do things as I can. Yes life will change for me at retirement. There will be a finite line in my life where I am working one day and done the next. I might and that is still up in the air take a part time job to ease out of the workforce and to cover home improvement expenses while I make my home very appealing to buyers.
I find myself thinking and reading a lot about retirement lately. For the record, I'm in my early 50's. Today, I read an article where the guy had a somewhat interesting perspective on retirement - especially early retirement. I'm interested in what actual retires think of his perspective:
(Moderator warning - the material on the URL'ed link could be construed to some people as a sales pitch so before opening it note that. While it may contain some useful information for some people, others may find it to be a sales pitch so know that before clicking).
I don't buy what you are trying to say and I disagree with you. if people want to retire early and can afford it, more power to them. There are a lot of things to do in life and after 30 or 40 plus years of working people should be able to them if they want. I don't think most of us need to read something like this in order to make an intelligent decision.
Show me a person with no mortgage, little debt and a fixed retirement income stream over six figures who is still working and I bet that person loves their work. Otherwise and even if they did you are probably looking at an early retiree.
I think "Early Retirement is a Waste of Life" is one of those your-mileage-may-vary situations. I was a shiftworker in an industry (broadcasting) that for years has been automating and using fewer and fewer employees to do the same work. Jobs in my industry are now scarce. If I continued working, I would be taking a job from a younger person who needs it.
Also, for over 30 years my husband and I routinely worked nights, weekends and holidays. It's fine if you can do what you love on weekends, but when your "weekend" is Tuesday and Wednesday, and you're never home in the evening, your options are limited. We had to skip most family and social events unless we could arrange a vacation day or take an LOA day (without pay). We spent many Thanksgivings eating off paper plates in a TV control room. I'd say that was a "waste of life," too.
Retirement has been wonderful for us. As soon as we had the financial means, we were outta there. We liked our jobs, don't get me wrong, but we also love having complete control over what we do with our time.
On the other hand, our internist is in his mid-70s and still working. He loves what he does and has no intention of quitting. He's a good doctor and there is, and always will be, a demand for his services. More power to him, I say. We're both doing what we want to be doing.
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