Retirement (55, move, spouse, social security)

[LoveBoating]

Are you fully retired now or are you semi-retired with a part-time job? What do you do with your days if you no longer have to "clock-in" or just "go to work (on salary)? Do you do what a lot of retiree's do......travel, travel, travel??? If you work part-time, what do you do with the time you are not working?
If you aren't retired yet, do you look forward to retirement?
As for myself, I'm 57 and am now looking very, very forward to retirement. When I do retire, it won't be from a company, I will have to draw SSI. Why do I look forward to retirement? So I will no longer have to hear words like, "laid-off", terminated/fired or company closing down. I won't have to "try" and get along with a boss that I don't like and co-workers that I really don't like. I won't have my job description change to duties that I don't want/like. When I get up in the morning, I can "do what I want" and not have to hurry around (sometimes) to get ready for work. I won't have to think about that "dreaded" Monday morning after a nice relaxing or exciting weekend.
I remember when I was in my mid to late 30's, those retirement years seemed so, so many years off.
Unlike myself, my wife doesn't mind going to work and thinks she will continue to work into her 70's......yea, right.
Believe me, I'm pretty sure that I can find all kinds of things to do if I'm not working or only working part-time. There is always watching Dr. Phil, Opray, playing games on the old computer, doing some fishing or whatever.
Tell the Forum what you plan on during during your retirement or if you even want to retire.

[Racelady88]

I am 41, and semi-retired/self employed. Like yourself, I hated all of the tension of uncertainty in the workplace. I also hated the office politics.

I went to school and became certified as an animal massage therapist. I have a background in horses, and I find this work very rewarding. Occupational hazzards include being bitten, stepped on, kicked, or thrown into a wall. When working on dogs I am sitting right on the floor, and again being bitten is always a risk.

When I am not working I am usually on this blasted computer, or out hiking with my dog. My husband would like for me to spend more time doing yardwork......

[Marks]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

Believe me, I'm pretty sure that I can find all kinds of things to do if I'm not working or only working part-time...Tell the Forum what you plan on during during your retirement or if you even want to retire.

I'm 43 and working full time. I can't wait until I can retire (bad word we retire tires not people ) I will be "unemployed" and I will love it. Many people will say, "Oh, you'll go crazy not working" I don't believe so. Like you said, "Believe me, I'm pretty sure that I can find all kinds of things to do...." and that is the truth!

I will finally look forward to doing all the things I don't have time for now.

[Fox Terrier]

I'm 55 and have started looking for a place to live with a couple acres that I can pay cash for after selling my house here. I am very much looking forward to retirement. My plans are to work very part time (enough to pay for food and utilities until I start getting social security), ride horses, read, read, read!, and volunteer time to an elementary school, teaching children my favorite thing, reading!

[Waterlily]

I'm in my mid 50's and I'm retired but my husband still works. We are looking forward to a future of hopefully long retirement. We'll have a couple of retirement incomes. My husband could retire anytime but he wants to work a while longer.
The biggest problem would be that we'd have to pay for health insurance if he wasn't working.
We may want to move somewhere else and pay cash for a home. We're kind of undecided about that.
I find plenty to do since I'm not working. I enjoy reading, keeping the house clean, going places,gardening, and playing on the computer. I'd like to do more traveling but that's something for the future.

[silverwing]

Originally Posted by Areyouserious?

When I hit 60 years old I'm gonna trade my wife in for two 30 year olds and start over again, lol.

Reminds me of the quick-witted wife's response to her husband's remark that he was going to trade her in for 2 - 20 year olds: "you aren't wired for 220."

Things I don't want to do....<snippage>

Oh hell, that's hilarious I have to send that list to my 56 year old spouse.

I think the first thing we'll do when we retire is catch up on about 10 years of sleep. We both work the graveyard shift now; those hours add to the aging process IMO

[BlueWillowPlate]

Not working right now, but want to when we finally relocate.
However, I don't think I'll ever work full time again--not unless we have a live-in housekeeper/maid, which I do not see happening in the near future.
Husband can't retire for probably another ten years.
He might end up being one of those guys who never retires.
Health insurance is definitely a concern, too.

[LoveBoating]

Believe me, with some of the crap that happens where I work, if I could retire today...NOW, I sure would!!!!

[Redrover]

I just turned 61 on Monday and my husband will turn 63 in January. The only reason either of us wants to retire is to be able to move to North Carolina. If we could move tomorrow and continue what we are doing here in Texas, we would. We both really like working although doing it for fewer hours would be just grand. We are still working for two reasons (unless you count liking to work as a reason, then it's 3): insurance until SS kicks in and of course beefing up our retirement savings. Since we're both going to live forever we just don't want to run out of money. Once we do retire and move it is highly unlikely that either of us would be able to replicate the income we now make so socking it away now is critically important.

[MMUSMM]

Originally Posted by Evey

I am 41, and semi-retired/self employed. Like yourself, I hated all of the tension of uncertainty in the workplace. I also hated the office politics.

Y'all got problems... NOT.

Restrictions on Shore Leave: Any movement on this issue?
http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/PRINTMMV/MMVmarstev1.html

Access denied
Most seafarers are worse off since the introduction of a new code on maritime security. Jim Jump summarises the results of a new ITF- commissioned survey

An ITF survey has found that seafarers have been landed with extra work and responsibilities since the International Code for the Security of Ships and Port Facilities came into force in July 2004. But they are receiving no extra pay or training for the additional duties. (including a requirement by the ISPS on how to shoot people)

The ISPS code has also created problems with shore leave, according to the ITF survey, with particular difficulties being experienced by crews in US ports or by those seeking US visas.

Even the right of access to ships by seafarers’ trade union and welfare representatives is being made harder because of the way some port officials are implementing the International Maritime Organisation’s code.
http://www.itfglobal.org/transport-i...ti23access.cfm