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Happened again. A co worker I knew for oh...25-30 years that retired in 2010. After a few years doing this and that, he got bored and was hired back as a contractor to manage a project (construction side, maybe 6 weeks) a few years back. Spoke to him at the time at length maybe 2 years ago, about retirement, why he came back etc. He loved being retired. Great pension. In charge of his life. No money issues. Just liked being around his work friends, and the extra money. Spoke to him about 3 weeks ago, had decided to take on another project I would be associated with...great money, easy work....
Died yesterday.
No details as yet, but not yet 70 for sure. Intellectually I know it's statistically insignificant, but my gut reaction is "Retire ASAP". I can. What am I waiting for? (Rhetorical....., I KNOW what I'm waiting for).
I assume everyone not yet retired but close, gets that feeling??
Well, none of us knows when the Reaper will come for us. All you can do is keep yourself in the best physical shape that you can, I am a big believer in exercise as the sovereign remedy for almost anything.
But your friend came back to work because he wanted to, he chose to manage that construction project instead of play golf, or fish, or whatever other recreational activity he would do if not working. He was getting what he wanted out of life till the end. There are worse outcomes.
I have posted up about my sitch here, how I like my job, it's not really hard for me but it is challenging enough that it keeps me engaged, I like the money, I like socializing with my co-workers, who for a change are a real peer group. Your sitch is similar.
Me, personally, I would be nuts to retire voluntarily before I hit 60 later this year, the pension goes up sharply per year until then. Even experienced and maybe even "revered" engineers like us can stay on full time or part time at our old jobs, but, we are a damn hard sell to a new employer. Could of course retire, take the health benefits, and go contracting.
But, for example, my lawn is pretty overgrown, has been raining the last couple of weekends. If I was retired I'd cut it today. But in the grand scheme of things, obviously this is not so important to me, because I could have taken a day of vacation, and I didn't. I preferred to come in and be an engineer, do the real work I was cut out for, rather than use myself as a yard man.
Happened again. A co worker I knew for oh...25-30 years that retired in 2010. After a few years doing this and that, he got bored and was hired back as a contractor to manage a project (construction side, maybe 6 weeks) a few years back. Spoke to him at the time at length maybe 2 years ago, about retirement, why he came back etc. He loved being retired. Great pension. In charge of his life. No money issues. Just liked being around his work friends, and the extra money. Spoke to him about 3 weeks ago, had decided to take on another project I would be associated with...great money, easy work....
Died yesterday.
No details as yet, but not yet 70 for sure. Intellectually I know it's statistically insignificant, but my gut reaction is "Retire ASAP". I can. What am I waiting for? (Rhetorical....., I KNOW what I'm waiting for).
I assume everyone not yet retired but close, gets that feeling??
I'm not seeing the problem here. He was doing exactly what he wanted. He loved being retired, but also loved being around friends, doing the projects, etc.
How does this mean you should retire now. And, what will happen when you retire? what will you do?
Found out that an old church friend who I haven't seen in a while is 102. Father-in-law is 89. Mom just celebrated 86th birthday two days ago. We all know someone who died too young and is still living a long life. Hard to base retirement decisions on stuff like this.
Working in an office or out on the golf course, when it's your time it's your time. He was happy, doing his thing, that's the most important part.
So get busy being happy-fishing or golfing or sitting in your cube farm or digging ditches!
I think we can come to two conclusions. You should retire as early as you can. You should work as long as you enjoy work.
I vote for working as long as you enjoy it. Might be that you retire from your current job and start your own business or go to a start up company. The idea is to do what you enjoy.
I am not considering financial factors in the answer.
PerryinVa, two thoughts - what did he die of? (I know you do not know yet, but maybe you can let us know when you find out - I'm just curious)
and as an aside, perhaps he did not like retirement as much as he said he did. People do not always tell the truth about such things. People keep many thoughts to themselves.
Last edited by matisse12; 05-11-2017 at 03:08 PM..
It might not have anything to do with work. My sister knew one who died recently of breast cancer and she never ever worked. She lived off an inheritance. She was not quite 60 yet.
Happened again. A co worker I knew for oh...25-30 years that retired in 2010. After a few years doing this and that, he got bored and was hired back as a contractor to manage a project (construction side, maybe 6 weeks) a few years back. Spoke to him at the time at length maybe 2 years ago, about retirement, why he came back etc. He loved being retired. Great pension. In charge of his life. No money issues. Just liked being around his work friends, and the extra money. Spoke to him about 3 weeks ago, had decided to take on another project I would be associated with...great money, easy work....
Died yesterday.
No details as yet, but not yet 70 for sure. Intellectually I know it's statistically insignificant, but my gut reaction is "Retire ASAP". I can. What am I waiting for? (Rhetorical....., I KNOW what I'm waiting for).
I assume everyone not yet retired but close, gets that feeling??
We are all individual samples however the vast statistics state what they state.
It's all gambling but the odds are well known and constantly updated.
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