57 years old today; retirement too soon?

[handsfull]

Originally Posted by cop414

...... I do miss the clowns but not the circus.

You just won the one-liner of the year award! Love it. I may have to use this one in the future, for it describes my time in the military perfectly - LOL.

[BNA/LION]

Originally Posted by HL65

Happy Birthday! As for retirement if you can afford and wouldn't be bored out of your mind go for it!

No, but I did at 49 and I was "bored out of my mind" Maybe just scale back to part time if your company will let you or consult would be my advise.

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Its never too early to retire as long as you can afford to do it.

That is one of the best sentences I've ever read. Would you mind if I used it as my forum signature?

[GMTMasterII44]

I'm far from retirement age myself (32 yrs old) but my father retired at age 50 and he never looked back or regretted it. He had more time with our family after living out of suitcases for decades of his life, taking red eye flights just to see sporting events, staying in hotels around the corporate offices to travel back on weekends, etc. best decision of his life (and on the other end it was nice to have him around more as his son.)

As others said, if you can do it financially you definitely will not regret it

[Kevan]

even if you can't afford it... you could always sell a watch!

Perhaps employment isn't that bad !

[Gaijin]

This is the best decision for you and your daughters! Kudos to you. I retired at 47. I was bored after 9 months but I am single with no kids. I got bored after 9-10 months and now I teach public school in Japan. I make peanuts but I love it. My 2 month summer vacation I volunteer at a shelter for abused, poisoned, attached , abandoned and injured dogs in Thailand .

[Rock]

I think you need to have 'interests' in which to invest yourself in retirement.
If you are the sort of person who has always really enjoyed work then you may find retirement lacks all the things you enjoyed in work.
I have friends who live to spend money on themselves and they just can't function without a big regular income.
I retired at 59 and would regard the ideal as a two/three day a week job that I really enjoy. Just haven't found it yet.

[1William]

I retired at 49 with 30 years in Law Enforcement and have two daughters, who at the time, were 8 and 12. On the 27th of this month it will be 2 years. It has been the best two years of my life as I have been able to enjoy my family and do things like exercise and be involved in other activities I enjoy. The key for me was being able to financially handle it and with my pension and my wife's salary we do well. For me, time is the most important thing and spending it with family and friends is the best!

[Ian Macdermott]

I retired at 55 and have never regretted it

Just make sure you have plenty to do and keep active.



Oh and Happy Burthday.

[scottIN]

I 'retired' at 31. Had enough in investments to live comfortably. Within about 2 years, was bored out of my mind (single, no kids). And it's probably different at that age because all of your friends are working and there's nobody around all day. How many times can you go to the beach by yourself? Or go out at night when you're buddies have to get up for work the next day? So I ended up going back into what I was doing part time, then full time, then bought the company. Now I work probably 60 hours a week and love it.

[sfc rick]

Retired at 44, got hungry for more money and invented a few products playing around and marketed them to the big box stores. Then had a couple of hearts attacks and handed the business over to a large corporation. Truly retired now just playing everyday and enjoying every sunrise!

[Headshrinker]

Thank you all for your birthday wishes and your sound advice. I am going to slow things down, and perhaps retire sometime early next year. Now I have to encourage my wife to do the same, but she still enjoys her work.

[dba]

Originally Posted by cop414

. . .I do miss the clowns but not the circus.

Originally Posted by handsfull

You just won the one-liner of the year award! Love it. I may have to use this one in the future, for it describes my time in the military perfectly - LOL.

People used to ask me why I became a cop. I'd tell them that as a kid I always wanted to run away and join the circus, but I was too afraid. Now the circus comes to me everyday. Being a cop was like being on stage at the Jerry Springer Show.

Retirement however, is the best job in the world. Those of us that were able to retire at a younger age because of our public service or military service, I think are some of the luckiest people in the country.

Those of us that started in the 70's, 80s, and 90s are fortunate indeed for the times in which we did what we did. I certainly wouldn't want to start out again in this day and age.

[NIN10DO]

I work as hard as I do to retire as early as possible.

If you're financially secure and able to do so, I'd say it's a no brainer.

Ask yourself this: On your death bed, which will you regret more? Not working enough or not spending more time with your family?

[GradyPhilpott]

I do not think that I've ever had a boring moment in my life that wasn't because I was trapped in some boring event, like a horrible lecture or something like that.

Certainly, in retirement I haven't been bored. I've had enough of some activities and moved on to other activities, taken breaks, or added activities to my list of things to do.

Thankfully, I don't need a job to fill any voids left by work.

It's the same with loneliness. I hear people talk about loneliness and I can only guess what they mean. I'm never lonely.

I was in boot camp at MCRD, San Diego, Casual Company, recovering from a fractured fibula. It was my 18th birthday and I was sitting on a long bench, where we were allowed to sit when we weren't being harassed by the drill instructors, polishing a trash can with a wad of duraglit. Suddenly, I was gripped by the weird feeling while thinking of my folks and old friends. I thought that this must be what people call homesickness and it quickly passed.

I really am the luckiest man in the world.

My internal reality is infinitely interesting.

[daveathall]

I retired at 57 and can afford to do so but I got bored so took up a small part time job for 4 hours a day 4 days a week to put some structure back in my life, it seems to have worked.

[gmh1013]

Im 58 .....will turn 59 in Oct and i retired at 48. I Should have kept working till 55 and then retired but i was counting on interest rates to stay around 5 percent....the lowest i thought could happen/go was 4.....and we could live off CD's and never touch principle amount. Money flies when all you have is a little S.S. etc. It always takes more money to live than what you think.

[CDNWatchNut]

I'm with the majority here. Unless your work is your true passion, retire as soon as you feel you've earned your way and can afford to do so. I'm turning 50 this month. My plan is to retire at 57 from my current work, but I feel like I will also want to do part time work, perhaps within a motorcycle related business, as bikes and anything to do with bikes are my real passion. Somewhere in those early years, before I get too old, a motorcycle adventure around the world would be a dream come true.

[cop414]

I miss the clowns but not the circus.

Originally Posted by handsfull

You just won the one-liner of the year award! Love it. I may have to use this one in the future, for it describes my time in the military perfectly - LOL.

I have to give credit where credit is due, that line belongs to "Rags" aka Chuck, sorry Chuck that I didn't give you the credit right away. Great line!

[East Bay Rider]

This guy retired at 30 by being cheap.
www.mrmoneymustache.com

[utc66]

I can retire in 5 years at 55, but I think I would like to have a couple part-time jobs plus continue doing music gigs.

[joeychitwood]

I retired at 56. It wasn't the plan, but a TBI forced retirement. I can honestly say I've never had a day when I wished I was back at work in the ER. Don't wait until you're too old to do all the things you can and want to do now.

I'm leaving this morning on my third motorcycle trip of the summer. So far this summer, I've spent 22 days on the road, and I love every second of it!

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

Don't wait until you're too old to do all the things you can and want to do now.

So far this summer, I've spent 22 days on the road, and I love every second of it!

[Rolex addict]

If I could retire, I would. Plenty of cycling and other fun activities to keep me busy.

[Rags]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Its never too early to retire as long as you can afford to do it.

I'd retire in a NY minute if I could afford to..Life is much too short so enjoy every minute that you can.

[Rockrolex]

I retired at 70 after 44 years practicing law. I've now been retired for about 20 months and love every minute of it. I don't miss my old firm in the least. We do a fair amount of travelling and when we go, we usually stay longer than in the past when I was working. When we are home I take courses, play on the computer, read, or just plain relax.

I'd say if you can afford to, do it now. But as someone said, it costs more than you think to live in retirement. So be prepared for that.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Tools

Girls get more expensive as they get older...

If I was you I would be looking for a second job..

Good one!