Retiring this year (vacations, place, vacation, years)

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by njmike

Janet, The next 3 weeks will be over before you know it. I've always had to wear "business attire" (shrts and ties) to work. Now I don't have to and that's a savings in itself--no more dry cleaning, replacing worn or old clothes, etc. Also I'm saving on lunches, gas money, getting haircuts every month. It doesn't sound like much but it does add up over time.

I laugh at it but now I'm getting "senior discounts" at the supermarkets which adds up also. There are ways to save without going overboard.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'd welcome a senior discount!

I am so looking forward to leaving the stress and deadlines behind me.

[sweetana3]

I just found out we qualify for the senior 30% discount at Goodwill. I love to buy woolens for rug hooking and we both scout out simple clothes like new tshirts and polo shirts. Last week I saw a handmade quilted jacket. Too small but well made.

We still are having issues like "what day is it" and "why not wait until Monday" since we both just retired. House has not gotten any cleaner.

[miruca]

janetvj - good luck on your last few weeks! How fun and exciting that it is almost here for you. Your comments on curbing travel are probably a sobering reality I have not yet faced. I traveled over 40,000 airmiles last year, and this year I have four trips planned. It is prohibitively expensive to get "outside" of Alaska unless one is located in Anchorage. Once outside, however, the relatively low airfares are like being in a candy store. I'm fine living here as long as I can get out multiple times a year - that may prove to be a challenge in retirement.

Our retirement system offers a 10% bonus if we stay in state - unfortunately, that doesn't equate to even one ticket out....so it is not much of an incentive.

I think retirement may be like returning to those college days with a very limited budget. How did the inbetween time go by so fast?

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by miruca

janetvj - good luck on your last few weeks! How fun and exciting that it is almost here for you. Your comments on curbing travel are probably a sobering reality I have not yet faced. I traveled over 40,000 airmiles last year, and this year I have four trips planned. It is prohibitively expensive to get "outside" of Alaska unless one is located in Anchorage. Once outside, however, the relatively low airfares are like being in a candy store. I'm fine living here as long as I can get out multiple times a year - that may prove to be a challenge in retirement.

Our retirement system offers a 10% bonus if we stay in state - unfortunately, that doesn't equate to even one ticket out....so it is not much of an incentive.

I think retirement may be like returning to those college days with a very limited budget. How did the inbetween time go by so fast?

Thanks miruca! I'm very excited about retiring, but that's making my last few weeks seem like torture. And I can't just coast; there's too much going on at work right now and it wouldn't be fair to either my co-workers or management to do that. So I'm trudging along, but I can't help counting down the days.

I've never been to Alaska but I'll bet it's beautiful. I'd love to visit, but as for settling down permanently I need to be someplace warmer. I really want to relocate further south, but I'll have to see how things go.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

[East Coast Wanderer]

I've decided to do some volunteer work to keep me busy. I have free time (NOT for work though) and this will give me something to do and will get me out of the house.

[taurus430]

Originally Posted by njmike

I've decided to do some volunteer work to keep me busy. I have free time (NOT for work though) and this will give me something to do and will get me out of the house.

Hi NJMike, I'm in NJ also. I think I'm going to try volunteer work also as I've been out of work a year now and going buggy.

[East Coast Wanderer]

Originally Posted by taurus430

Hi NJMike, I'm in NJ also. I think I'm going to try volunteer work also as I've been out of work a year now and going buggy.

Taurus, I grew up in Newark, Jersey City and in Union Beach but am now living in Pennsylvania. I've been retired since the middle of February and was climbing the walls not having something different to do so I volunteered at the Scranton Cultural Center as an usher.

They have some great concerts and shows which I would get to see for free whenever I'm ushering.

[taurus430]

Originally Posted by njmike

Taurus, I grew up in Newark, Jersey City and in Union Beach but am now living in Pennsylvania. I've been retired since the middle of February and was climbing the walls not having something different to do so I volunteered at the Scranton Cultural Center as an usher.

They have some great concerts and shows which I would get to see for free whenever I'm ushering.

njmike, I will retire the end of the month. I also grew up in Newark in the 50's, west side near 14th ave.

[East Coast Wanderer]

Originally Posted by taurus430

njmike, I will retire the end of the month. I also grew up in Newark in the 50's, west side near 14th ave.

I moved from Newark to JC around 48 or 49. I did work in Newark at the bank on the corner of Broad and Market, across from the Pru building.

[East Coast Wanderer]

I'm really getting into this retirement chapter of my life. Tomorrow (Saturday) I'm ushering at the Philharmonic show, Sunday it's the ballet and Monday it's the Jeff Beck concert. Of course I won't usher at every show but 2 or 3 times a week won't hurt.