Retirement: Good or bad for you?

[Fozzer]

What do you reckon?....>>>

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... e-ill.html

Personally, I was given the opportunity to retire in 1984, at the age of 50 years, which I grasped with open arms!
I was able to live on my company retirement Pension for many years, when my Government; "Old age Pension" was added to it, at the age of 65 years.

To me, the absolute glory was, the first morning of waking up, and suddenly realising, with enormous joy, that I was never going to have to go to work from 9 'till 5 every day, for 5 days every week, amongst all sorts of people who I didn't really like, ...for ever more!... ...!

For the whole of my working life I made a special point of collecting all sorts on interesting and fascinating hobbies, etc, in preparation for my future final retirement, with the result that I have had a zillion different things to occupy my mind, and keep me happy and amused, every single day!

"Boredom" and "Stress" are never words which appears in my dictionary!... ...!

So far, I have spent the past 30 years in excellent health, and enjoying ever second of my "Retirement"... ..!

So...what about you?!....could you cope with; "Retirement"?.... ...!

Paul..playing with lots of toys!....(I wasn't designed for; "Work"!).... ...!

Pop round to my place if you are bored!... ...!

[expat]

I have to say, I am looking forward to that time, although I am not wishing the years away to that time of course. I am 45 and plan to retire at this time at 60. My wife and I have already started to talk about what we will do. Anyone who misses work upon retirement, I feel really sorry for them that their life meant nothing more than work. I can ALWAYS, ALWAYS (did I say ALWAYS) find something to do instead of work, however as I am self employed, priorities are also a must.......

Matt

[Howellerman]

I am envious, Paul.

I started working, seriously, when I was 12, running paper routes back when kids could do them on their Stingray bicycles. Busboy, fast-food cook, whatever - I was always working, 'cuz if I didn't I could not get the things I wanted in life. Opened my first checking account when I was 12, bought my own bicycle when I was 12, basically got hitched up to the work-wagon very early.

Now at age 60, which was my original target retirement date way back when, I am stuck with 6 more years. Part of this is a self-inflicted wound: got married late in life and had kids late in life, yet would not change a thing. However, my enthusiasm for work wanes with every passing day, despite the fact I have a high-paying high-tech job, the respect of my peers, and flexibility - as I write this I am home waiting for an appliance delivery, "checking email".

My son, who is a strapping 16-year old, has not worked a day (although he has done community service), and for better or worse, that is how I wanted it - in retrospect I have been working too damned long already, with miles to go, and I did not want him to have to do the same. Work will be waiting when his time comes (I hope - the global economy is being run by a bunch of crooks, liars, and thieves).

So, I am looking forward to retirement, that's for sure. Like you I have amassed a number of skills and hobbies, and have no concern about being "bored". My friends that have retired are gloriously happy, to the point I feel like whacking them to wipe the grin off their face!

As long as you have your health and your wheels (legs) are good, you are good to go! Keep on keeping on, Paul.

JKH

[Apex]

The article says I might regret it? Hah! Let me say it like this: I could write a book entitled "23 Years Before the Accounting Firm Mast". Chee, I'm not kidding, for 23 years I worked for a CPA firm, public accounting, just part time, mind you (that was all I could take), I saw everyone come and go, from those who lasted one day to those who lasted years, with the best co workers not lasting very long, and the idiots never leaving. I used to share stories with certain trusted fellow co workers that would put us on a plank if the bosses ever heard us talking.

I quit 10 years ago next month, and continued to work at home for the CPA tenants who rented space there and the one sane Firm partner. What a relief to get back onshore. The CPA tenants are all sane and easy to work with. Notice I said "with", not "for". That's the diff these days.

The problem with the Firm was that I had to balance my nerves against 5 partners, each of whom had their own quirks about accounting, and against the tax staff and accounting staff.

So I had to play politics whenever I needed to get things done my way. I had the unique position of doing client write up accounting and was also in charge of selecting accounting software (a most ugly task) whenever a given software company went under, so I had to report to all tax and accounting staff members, some of whom were just fine, and some of whom. . .

And everything I learned onboard I taught myself, whether it be accounting stuff or computer stuff. My degree in accounting was just a piece of paper, you learn by doing, not by going to school.

So yeah, my retirement is just fine by me. Now if I may be excused, I have plants to water. They don't give me any guff.

[Bass]

At age 20 i went to sea some years in the navy. After a few month i began to think, oh boy, how i would like to wake up NORMAL, looking around, saying to my self, you can do whatever you like, without having anyone asking stupid questions on none related matters.......

I can do that TODAY ( my wife can interfere, but she knows when to be quit ) AND I LOVE IT

[Apex]

And speaking of retirement, get this: My late neighbors directly in back of me, Mr & Mrs Bates (Rod & Babe, yep, really), both born in 1900, retired in 1956 to Miami from Boston, bought a 1957 Ford, top o the line, and passed away in 1996 and 1997. They went to church each Sunday, the food store whenever, and that was about it. He was an engineer of some sort.

They were plant people, their back yard was a tropical paradise just filled with stuff. They both were fairly skinny, heck, Mr Bates coulda passed for Mahatma Ghandi, looks and all, and they smoked & drank beer like any other youngsters. And I do not remember either one of them EVER being ill.

The last time I was in their house was 1994. It was like stepping through a time warp, everything was EXACTLY like I remembered it from when I wuz a little kid.

Incredible.

Mr Bates sold the '57 Ford in about 1990 or so, I wish I knew the mileage, it would have been very low. He kept it garaged all that time and really babied it, but apparently
sme problems finally turned up that he didn't or couldn't deal with.

That was their retirement.

[Fozzer]

And speaking of retirement, get this: My late neighbors directly in back of me, Mr & Mrs Bates (Rod & Babe, yep, really), both born in 1900, retired in 1956 to Miami from Boston, bought a 1957 Ford, top o the line, and passed away in 1996 and 1997. They went to church each Sunday, the food store whenever, and that was about it. He was an engineer of some sort.

They were plant people, their back yard was a tropical paradise just filled with stuff. They both were fairly skinny, heck, Mr Bates coulda passed for Mahatma Ghandi, looks and all, and they smoked & drank beer like any other youngsters. And I do not remember either one of them EVER being ill.

The last time I was in their house was 1994. It was like stepping through a time warp, everything was EXACTLY like I remembered it from when I wuz a little kid.

Incredible.

Mr Bates sold the '57 Ford in about 1990 or so, I wish I knew the mileage, it would have been very low. He kept it garaged all that time and really babied it, but apparently
sme problems finally turned up that he didn't or couldn't deal with.

That was their retirement.

Now there's a couple of happy retirees!....... ...!

Born in 1900. Retired at the age of 56, and went on to enjoy another 40 years in happy retirement...

..that's what life is all about!... ...!

Paul.... ...!

"They were plant people, their back yard was a tropical paradise just filled with stuff"

My house is full of "toy stuff" to gladden the heart of every School boy, young and old!.... ....!

[C]

Being in my early 30s, I'm looking forward to my first retirement (and pension) in a few years just before I'm 40! Then again, in my current job, I'll happily carry on until 65 if they let me!