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The poster you are defending made the first outrageous insult that early retirees at 55 were quitters with meaningless lives. The poster you are directing your strong words to is absolutely right that as a retiree he has a meaningful connected up to date life and that is an on point response to the insulting accusation that was first made.
Nowhere did I read that the poster accused all early retirees of being anything at all. He or she was describing a certain possible outcome, one that most of us have witnessed. I think the great mistake in responding to that poster was the same one you made, namely feeling it aimed at all and then taking it personally.
To make an analogy, I was a high school teacher. If someone posted about burned out high school teachers who had given up and were just going through the motions, I would not take it as having anything to do with me unless it was explicitly stated that that was the way all, or even most, high school teachers were.
Think about it this way, and I'll paraphrase to make it even plainer:
Poster A: I enjoy my job.
Poster B: I don't believe you - you're a liar.
I find that extremely objectionable. There was an alternative path available, namely to point out for the record that there are many retirees of all ages who are, in fact, up to date about technology and who are knowledgeable about world events. One can do that without accusing the poster of lying. One can even object to the possible implication that the poster is meaning to describe everybody, again without any accusation of misrepresenting his or her own feelings about work.
Nowhere did I read that the poster accused all early retirees of being anything at all. He or she was describing a certain possible outcome, one that most of us have witnessed. I think the great mistake in responding to that poster was the same one you made, namely feeling it aimed at all and then taking it personally.
To make an analogy, I was a high school teacher. If someone posted about burned out high school teachers who had given up and were just going through the motions, I would not take it as having anything to do with me unless it was explicitly stated that that was the way all, or even most, high school teachers were.
Think about it this way, and I'll paraphrase to make it even plainer:
Poster A: I enjoy my job.
Poster B: I don't believe you - you're a liar.
I find that extremely objectionable. There was an alternative path available, namely to point out for the record that there are many retirees of all ages who are, in fact, up to date about technology and who are knowledgeable about world events. One can do that without accusing the poster of lying. One can even object to the possible implication that the poster is meaning to describe everybody, again without any accusation of misrepresenting his or her own feelings about work.
I believe you lack reading comprehension, I know exactly what he said and what you said. Both of you are insulting, and what business is it of yours anyway? I don’t care about your moronic explanations. You do not have a right to correct me or anyone else. If you want to be idolized, read to the forth graders, but do not lecture me. However, I suspect that you find yourself in the same situation as that poster, and my reply hit a nerve.
Why not let him/her answer for themselves. I don’t care how insulted you are or not. You have not idea what he is thinking by making those comments. Get over yourself, but if you cannot well bless your heart.
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Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,886 posts, read 58,541,065 times
Reputation: 46455
Quote:
Originally Posted by txfriend
I believe you lack reading comprehension, I know exactly what he said and what you said. Both of you are insulting, and what business is it of yours anyway? ... Get over yourself, but if you cannot well bless your heart.
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Oh, this will go far... I have that 'all into themselves' poster on "Ignore" (one of 3 from 22m readers) Works well for me.
I had a friend who took the pay-out from his telephone company job instead of the pension.
At first it was great. There was a lot of money.
Then his health started giving him problems - and costing money.
Then the stock market tanked.
Then real estate.
Then his irresponsible daughter dumped a child on them.
Now, he is 75 years old and works as a jailer.
He wishes he had taken the pension instead of the pay-out. But it seemed like so much money!
I have another friend who once was a millionaire. Armstrong company. Back in 1999.
But he never sold the stock.
Armstrong went bankrupt. When it emerged in 2006 my friend lost all his equity, just like GM stockholders did.
It's a mine field out there.
Then your friend did it wrong. My husband took a buyout from the telephone company with 30 yrs. at 48 yrs. old.(2010).
We invested it with an advisor and have not touched it. It has grown about 37%. We traded in our 2200 mortgage payment for a 400 one. Part of the buyout was incentive packages that included a year salary and 1000.00 a month for 4 yrs on top of the lump sum. We have med. and dental for life. My hubby took another job at 40,000 a year. His choice to take the buyout was based on not wanting to do the job 1 more day and our desire to move out of NY.
If we were to take a 3-4 % distribution at 59 yrs. old, it would already be higher than his pension payment would be at the same age. They also have to contribute to their medical now. As a retiree, my husband keeps his Blue cross blue shield with no contribution until medicare and then BCBS becomes our secondary ins.
Without a doubt it was the right decision for him. There were many who took the buyout and bought mercedes and bigger houses. They did run through their money and have nothing for retired years. You have to know if you are a disciplined person or not. If you cannot control your spending then the buyout is not for you. Alot of these same people had no money in their 401k as well. That should have told them something.
We have a beautiful home, buy a new car as needed (usually every 5 yrs.) and take a nice vacation every year. We take 2 trips a year back to NY to see family. We live very comfortably.
I believe the decision to retire early rests on each persons ability to plan right, spend accordingly and level of responsibity.
I believe you lack reading comprehension, I know exactly what he said and what you said. Both of you are insulting, and what business is it of yours anyway? I don’t care about your moronic explanations. You do not have a right to correct me or anyone else. If you want to be idolized, read to the forth graders, but do not lecture me. However, I suspect that you find yourself in the same situation as that poster, and my reply hit a nerve.
Why not let him/her answer for themselves. I don’t care how insulted you are or not. You have not idea what he is thinking by making those comments. Get over yourself, but if you cannot well bless your heart.
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What arrogance. Is there something you don't understand about public internet discussion forums? They are places where different points of view contend. We, as posters, have opinions about the matters under discussion. It is each poster's "business". Why do you bring up so many irrelevancies? I have no desire to be idolized by anyone - that is just a fantasy of yours, as you grope for ways to lash out and be insulting.
Why would I be "in the same situation" as the other poster? He/she is still working and I am retired. How is that "the same situation"?
Then your friend did it wrong. My husband took a buyout from the telephone company with 30 yrs. at 48 yrs. old.(2010).
We invested it with an advisor and have not touched it. It has grown about 37%. We traded in our 2200 mortgage payment for a 400 one. Part of the buyout was incentive packages that included a year salary and 1000.00 a month for 4 yrs on top of the lump sum. We have med. and dental for life. My hubby took another job at 40,000 a year. His choice to take the buyout was based on not wanting to do the job 1 more day and our desire to move out of NY.
If we were to take a 3-4 % distribution at 59 yrs. old, it would already be higher than his pension payment would be at the same age. They also have to contribute to their medical now. As a retiree, my husband keeps his Blue cross blue shield with no contribution until medicare and then BCBS becomes our secondary ins.
Without a doubt it was the right decision for him. There were many who took the buyout and bought mercedes and bigger houses. They did run through their money and have nothing for retired years. Youhave to know if you are a disciplined person or not. If you cannot control your spending then the buyout isnot for you. Alot of these same people had no money in their 401k as well. That should have told them something.
We have a beautiful home, buy a new car as needed (usually every 5 yrs.) and take a nice vacation every year. We take 2 trips a year back to NY to see family. We live very comfortably.
I believe the decision to retire early restson each persons ability to plan right, spend accordingly and levelof responsibity.
Excellent. No one can argue with your point, which I believe is summarized by what I bolded. There is also the issue about the size of the buyout itself. One poster's story of buy-out "failures" among people he knew involved a very small buy-out incentive, $23,000 cash if I recall the post correctly. I think his point was that it is possible for people to get stars in their eyes when money is dangled and fail to do a proper analysis. Your husband obviously did not make that mistake, so the two of you are enjoying the fruits of clear thinking and good planning and discipline. Congratulations.
Just to clarify, I am not being offered a buyout. This is a simple retirement decision based upon eligibility options and weighing the pros and cons of taking a reduced amount at an earlier age vs delaying collecting. If I delay in addition to giving up 5 years worth of lost income which will be eligible for COLA I will be relying on my part-time job and wife's income entirely. We live debt free and plan to move down to a smaller and less expensive community which will also reduce her commuting time so that is not a huge issue. I've run the numbers and if I invest the early pension for 5 yrs conservatively it pushes the delayed advantage out to 17 yrs or age 77. I will certainly be reevaluating the situation as I get closer to 55 and also plan on continuing my research and planning.
My primary purpose for this thread was to see if anyone had direct experience with taking the early pension option and making a leap into a different field of interest and what their experience has been like? I do not hate my job, but it has become a very limiting career and more stressful one largely due to legislative changes and politics. One of the characteristics that is the nature of the job and outside of my control is an inflexible schedule which literally dictates every minute of my work day. This was not as much of an issue when I was younger, but it does make it increasingly more difficult and stressful as I get older due to needing more regular access to restrooms. I had four bouts of kidney stones this past year along with a couple of diverticulitis flares. Waiting several hours and strategically planning to use the restroom during those times was "challenging."
Just to clarify, I am not being offered a buyout. This is a simple retirement decision based upon eligibility options and weighing the pros and cons of taking a reduced amount at an earlier age vs delaying collecting. If I delay in addition to giving up 5 years worth of lost income which will be eligible for COLA I will be relying on my part-time job and wife's income entirely. We live debt free and plan to move down to a smaller and less expensive community which will also reduce her commuting time so that is not a huge issue. I've run the numbers and if I invest the early pension for 5 yrs conservatively it pushes the delayed advantage out to 17 yrs or age 77. I will certainly be reevaluating the situation as I get closer to 55 and also plan on continuing my research and planning.
My primary purpose for this thread was to see if anyone had direct experience with taking the early pension option and making a leap into a different field of interest and what their experience has been like? I do not hate my job, but it has become a very limiting career and more stressful one largely due to legislative changes and politics. One of the characteristics that is the nature of the job and outside of my control is an inflexible schedule which literally dictates every minute of my work day. This was not as much of an issue when I was younger, but it does make it increasingly more difficult and stressful as I get older due to needing more regular access to restrooms. I had four bouts of kidney stones this past year along with a couple of diverticulitis flares. Waiting several hours and strategically planning to use the restroom during those times was "challenging."
I think what is confusing everyone is the highlighted statement. To my untrained eye it seems as you are taking a buy out of the pension. Pensions usually are for life and come in monthly income to the pensioner.
I am happy you are so fulfilled working your job....so HAVE to wonder WHAT THE HELL you are doing browsing a retirement forum????!?!?!?!
SOMETHING brought you here.....
He's posting venemous, derogatory, anti-retirement statements on a retirement forum. Of course something brought him here. I'll give you a hint: it's an eight-letter word that begins with a t and ends with a rolling.
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