How old were you when you REALLY retired? (years, wife, school)
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I was laid off at 56 and decided I was done. I didn't do any sort of work for about four years, then I started a small online business that is fun and gives me a little extra income.
I stopped working at 55 because my husband who had already retired wanted to volunteer in Africa. So we went for two years while he trained teachers. When we came home I did not want to get a job, so I didn't. We'd had his work pension for several years already. My first pension kicked in at age 60, the other two at 62 which I am now.
Our jobs now are to travel around the world and enjoy life.
I was "retired" a couple months ago, by mutual agreement with my former employer. I'm 58. Since I've saved and invested my entire life, I can comfortably stay retired.
My parents retired at age 55 and never looked back. They felt that they had enough activities to keep them busy. I guess that you could say that I'm semi-retired. Hubby will be retiring in a few months, but we also own rental properties. There will always be some sort of upkeep to be performed on those for the rest of our lives or until we decide to hire a handy-person to do the work for us.
A surprising number of folks say, "I'm retired", but, still work part-time or a few days a week. In their mind, they may be "retired", but, by definition, that's "semi-retired". Of course, a lot of other people simply "Retire in-place" and spend the last years of their 'career' simply drifting along with the actual 'workforce' (like Wally, in Dilbert).
Don't laugh, a coworker's mother started in the Peace Corp when she was 68 and ended her two year commitment just after her 70th birthday. She said it was the "most useful and productive" years of her life. That was quite a few years ago so I do not know their current age restrictions (if any).
However, the Peace Corp has a new, much easier initial application process and you should be able to fill out the forms in only an hour. So, maybe it really is something to consider.
From our experience in Uganda the ones who are 50+ and retired get the most satisfaction out of their experience and are least likely to quit before their 2 years is over. We didn't do Peace Corps, but a somewhat similar - VSO (which actually has more volunteers than the Peace Corps). One couple we knew were over 70.
Plan on being 62 when I do. I have a good bit of a pension, but I have a daughter in HS and I want to ensure she gets the best college we can afford. So, I will work till she is out and debt free of college.
I was 49 when I physically retired from the U.S. government with a small initial pension! We got rid of everything we owned and moved to the Philippines, our roots so I would not have to work ever again!
later on down the road, I started collecting my other pensions and life is now grand, home paid off and no more debts!
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