Posted on 09/12/2007 5:28:35 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
That is the way I look at it. I am 50 and I am down to working only 11 weeks a year. "Retirement is a good way to die." Paying taxes and working to death, on the other hand, is a crappy way to die.
Gotta’ keep workin’ to pay the taxes, tolls and “user fees”.
I have noticed that a lot of people tend to die within 5 or so years of full retirement (no job of any kind). Even if they don’t, they seem to lose their edge rather quickly.
I think the key to retirement is to do something else—even if its part time. Its got to be something you enjoy. If it feels too much like work, and you can afford to, you should look for something else.
If you choose to do nothing, you lose your sense of purpose. After that, you degrade both physically and mentally quite rapidly.
Yeah, they are going to have to work longer to support the ILLEGAL ALIENS on social security and medicare.
“At sixty, I found myself unemployable. When the unemployment compensation ran out, I opted for early retirement. Age discrimination is real and prevalent.”
I know where you’re coming from. I got laid off from IBM in May (most of the people they laid off were over 50) and am still searching for work. I really don’t want to go back to IT because I’m tired of being outsourced but it seems as if employers think that what you did for most of your working career is all you can do. The funny thing is most of the employers I talk with mention how unreliable a lot of the young guys are (I saw that at IBM) nowadays.
She attempted to "retire" several times, but darn it if those "young things" intended as replacements never seemed to work out--they just couldn't do the job like she could
She finally retired for good at age 85, and lived until 93. Bless her, I remember her horrified exclamation at the suggestion that the office enter the computer age..."Why a computer couldn't possibly remember those 250 customer names like I can!"
I WISH I could retire by 55. My dad retired at 51 and he works part time. He gets to go fishing, play golf, and hang out at the pub with his buddies. That’s the life!
Your story reminds me of a patient I had once. He “retired” in 1967, the year I was born. But he said he got bored and started working again a few years later and was still working in the 1990s.
No. I manage a portion of a local (but national) Garden Center. I’m the Perennial Manager, so I cover everything from Spring annuals through Summer perennials to Fall Pumpkins and Mums to Christmas Trees and Poinsettias. Houseplants, too. I really like it. :)
I would tend to agree. Anyone that has passion for what they do in life, no matter what it is, usually lives a longer life...unless they’re hit by an SUV or crash their plane. :(
Go, Granny, Go! :)
My father in law is 85 and works 25 hours a week or more delivering flowers; and he’s the driver!! He’s up every day at 5:00, walks a mile before work, drinks a glass of wine each night for dinner. But he’s a piker compared to my mother in law, who gets up every day at 4:00 and makes sauce and 3 home made pizzas before breakfast.
I think there is another twist to this.
I know many who have, and I intend to, “retire” from my high stress corporate position at 55 or so and take up a second career doing something I enjoy. Not sure exactly what that will be at this point, but in 25 years of working in technology, I’ve definitely scratched off a few of the possibilities.
Precisely. You also need something to work towards or for. If there is no goal, the whole exercies becomes meaningless.
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