Retiring
 

Anyone ever regret retiring too early?

At first no, was 53 when i retired, worked 35 years for the bell system but after 4 years of hunting and fishing I found myself becomig bored I was looking for something of meaning to do, you know a part time job went to work for a bd. of ed. driving a bus 2 hrs in morning 2 hrs in the afternoon but after 5 years of being around kids I'm on my way to the villages can't wait for round 2

My 55th birthday was my first day of retirement. I never regretted it, never missed the job of 32 years, never missed the people with whom I worked. For me a whole new world opened up. At last I had time to do the things I wanted to do instead of the things I had to do. I have plenty of time to play but I don't think I'd like to play all the time so I volunteer. It's still work but it's something I choose to do on my own terms.

bump

I would retire immediately if my condo sells and move to TV. I choose to work in the meantime, so I don't have to look at the four walls as there is nothing to do in the northeast.

A lot I think depends if one enjoys what they are doing, as oppossed to hating their job or do what they are required to do. Doing what one wants to do is always the best option especially playing. There are some people who really enjoy working as they feel they have comraderie with their co-workers and feel a sense of purpose. If one does not need the money, one would do better by volunteering to get a sense of purpose and come and go at your own schedule.

With that being said, I think once one has found TV, they want to start their retirement immediately. With so many activities and nice people to hang out with.

Bottom line is, if I could have retired early, I would have done so and not regretted it for a second. Most everyone I met has said that retiring early is the best option.

Retired the second time at 52 and NO I have no regrets.

In order to be happily retired you need interests. This applies no matter when you retire. I was busier after I retired than I ever was when I worked, and that was in the northeast. I had a co-worker whose biggest fear was retiring and being one of the old men at the mall, sitting all day and watching people walk by. That co-worker definitely needed to work as long as possible and develop some outside interests.

Retired at age 58, wife retired at age 54. Neither of us have one iota of regret. I highly recommend early retirement.

Retired at 50 now 53 way too busy playing to have regrets

Retired two years ago at 53 years young. At first, I missed getting up in the cold mornings and working among the ice and snow :cold:. Being abused repeatedly on the jobs by the powers to be. :bowdown: Now, I'm getting use to staying up as long as I want. Doing what ever I feel when I want to. I look at each day as a blessing, so fortunate to be able to retire at such a young age with relatively good health. I had a very close friend work 25 years, and unexpectedly passed at 48 years young. This really opened my eyes to what is really important in our lives. Remember, each day you remain on the job is a day of your life that you trade off for cash...and a day you can never get back. :wave:

:agree::bigbow:

I retired 4 years ago after 38 years of work. My husband retires day after tomorrow after 43 years - Army and VA. It took him a while to decide he was ready, but when he did that was it! We are packing up, movers come on Monday and we will be permanent Villagers by the 21st. We both keep our options open for part time work in the future, but maybe not!

congratulations! i retired 3 years ago accidentally due to federal cutbacks. turns out I'm happy as a clam. (not sure why clams are happy. do they sleep in too?)
Miss Kitty soon to be in Gilchrist. Welcome...what village will you be in?

I retired early from very stressful work after 35 years. When my finance guy came into my office late one day and asked if I heard of the Actuary Tables corps use, and than explained them, I set my goal on getting out. I was shocked by them. It basically says those that worked later in the ir years have a high probability of dying younger! That's how they reduce pensions in the long run. I saw to many I knew retire at a late stage than shortly died thereafter. One of the best advice I got. :)

I envy all of you. We closed on our home in September, spent one week in it and haven't returned since then. My home-watch person (who is great) has spent more time in my house than my wife and I. We also have great neighbors that keep an eye on it.

We're really looking forward to that early retirement -- we need about 2 more years to qualify for medical benefits, and hopefully the CA housing market will come back a little so we can sell our house.

From my perspective, the early the better. I don't believe we'll have any regrets retiring early.

No !!!...I like retiring. I've done it three times..this time I think I finally got it right. :a040:

The first time I retired I was 35. I had made some money from selling a large real estate investment. One day I ran into a woman I had dated in high school at the country club. She told me I was too young to retire. A few months later I found myself playing a lot of golf with 75 year olds, which was fine, but I wanted another challenge so I went back to work. I retired a second time in my early forties and bought a motor home and drove all over the country. A young lady starting an IP practice needed some help so I started working again. After that I worked a few more years but gave it all up at 52. Why work when one is only keeping 31-1/2% of what one earns? I have NEVER regretted hanging it up.

Great responses and very appreciated as I'm trying to make a decision.

Roaddog - ir years?

Later in their years.. Sorry .
Again, the later that you work, the sooner you will die based on the tables. Look them up.. GE started it, all followed suit.

No regrets
 

Retired at 50. Wish I had done it at 45. Now 58 and you would have to put a gun to my back to get me back to work. I may even fight you for that gun.:wave:

I retired at age 52 a year ago and enjoying every minute of it!

WOW everyone retired so young. I retired the first time at 50 after 30 years at Megacorp and became very bored after about 6 months. So went back to work for another Mid Size company for 14 years and retired again this year. But I really loved what I did. Looked forward to going to work every day. Been about 8 months now and the headhunters are still calling. So far not interested, but one had a really challenging opportunity that did peak my interest. He even agreed to my outrageous money demands. It involved a lot of international travel which I did once before and grew tired doing. So after a few discussions I decided as fun as it sounded, to stay retired. Soon as the house in VA sells, we will be on our way to TV.

Hi Miss Kitty! Much luck to you! We are in Hadley. Have had the place for a little over a year - coming back and forth. Really looking forward to being able to stay!

Retiring
 

Never looked back.

As my kids say, "we are living the live

I decided at 48 that I was tired of traveling so quit working.
That was in 2002.
11 years have sped by!
You only go around once.

Retired at 58 --2 years ago after working 40 years ---moved here 2 days later ---do not have time to regret it !!! toooooo busy ---

:MOJE_whot: :1rotfl:

I was able to retire at 57. If it was not for the VA medical benefits- I would have never even thought about it. Hubby (who is already retired) begged me to do it. It was a great decision, Took me months to not sleep after 6AM!!!! I now can linger around in bed till 8AM, read the paper (which I NEVER had a chance to do) in the morning and plan my day.

I can now go on trips without begging my boss for time off!! I am free!!!

I have been working since I was 15 (lied about my age) and feel that life is too short!

How many times have we heard about someone that finally retired, started to receive SS benefits and died a few months later???? Not me. I have 4 years before I am 62. If I drop dead now, it's all worth it!!

I have been able to travel all over the world while in the Navy and after and have done so much in my life, I always tell my family that if I were to die today- it would be okay!!

If that sounds morbid, then I am sorry. Only speaking the truth.
:MOJE_whot:

Thank you for your service

My plans are to retire next year, after 37 years with the railroad. I will be 57 and move to the villages, and start enjoying life. Can't wait to start dancing the nights away!

C'mon down!! I've been retired since 2001 from the same railroad with 35 years service. Since I retired, I don't know when I had time to work.

(Thanks for the calendar)

Greg, did you receive the 2013 railroad calendar?

Yep. Thanks.

You are very welcome!!

I hate being retired, I had my own business in the North East (where there is plenty to do TBNTV) I had a great gig that I built up over the years and paid myself 100+K a year (no railroad or company pension for me). I got kidnapped and was brought down here to TV kicking and screaming, and to all of you with the thousnads of posts, I still refuse to drink the Kool Aid. Not everybody goes GaGa over Tv. And we're not abnormal either.

Who kidnapped you and brought you to TV kicking and screaming?

Bill :)

My hubby and I are both 64 and plotting and planning our escape from the real world.
We like the villages much better!
We were hit hard by the recession and have finally rebounded. Hopefully by age 66 we can join you all.
We found the lot and house we want to build. Put down our $7500 deposit, only to find that VA mortgages don't fly there.
We are looking for plan B. Have a nice down payment in excess of 20%, but don't qualify for Conventional Mortgages due to some losses in 2007. I am just hoping we can figure this out before we lose our deposit. We really want to build on our lot and will be so dissapointed if things don't fall into place. Most of you sound as if it was easy cheesy to get there. Wish that was the case for us. But.....better late than never, I guess..