Countdown to Retirement: How fast or slow does it come?

[akck]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

At two years there are only a potential 104 Mondays. Knock off holidays and vacation time, if available, and you're down to the low 90s. You'd be surprised how quickly they evaporate.

I worked 45 years, beginning at an early age, and 25 of them for the organization - our former state - from which I retired. My Social Security was healthy enough for me to retire at age 62 as were my vested pension and life-long medical and dental coverage. My wife worked for the state for 15 years and because we're old-timers, was also fully vested. It all combined to make earlier than planned retirement possible. Another two years and I likely would have been on the raw edge.

I agree that there are not that many working Mondays left. I reached one other milestone at 2 years. At about 5 years, I mentally estimated I could take early retirement up to 2 years before normal retirement, which probably caused the first 3 years to drag. So now if work gets bad for any reason, I feel I can quit at any time.

What would want to make me leave? As the baby boomer wave of retirements hits, many of the higher ups are retiring. I know of one retirement two steps up the food chain retiring this summer and my boss can retire at any time. Who knows what the person who replaces them will be like? I know it won't be me. The new boss could be the second coming of Attila the Hun. Knowing I could leave at any time, makes staying till the end much easier.

Like you, we both have a vested pension and retirement medical benefits. My wife, who took care of the kids and started working later, just vested in the medical benefits. Having double coverage takes a lot of the worry out of medical expenses.

[RockyCity]

Wonderful stories. Much appreciated. I recently ran into a friend of mine who brought up the time we attended a MLB game. Although it seemed like it was a couple of years ago, it was actually 2006. Then I begin to recall things I did in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by looking at some old calendars, and boy does time fly. I anticipate the last few years I have left before retiring will fly by as well. For me I think the key is to enjoy living life at "the present" as some have touched on. Luckily for me this can be achieved even with my current employment which at times can be a challenge. I'm grateful that the big prize we call retirement awaits as it will be the driving force to finish the last few working years strong. Have a great weekend everyone (for those still working) and those who are retired enjoy your retirement!