Hugh, in Hindu thought, you are entering the fourth stage of life, moksha, where enlightenment is obtained. It's the time to look back on what you have done and what you have achieved and reflect on the wisdom gained. It is the payoff for all your hard work--the destination phase of life's journey.

Too many people get stuck in the previous, acquisitive stages and never reach enlightenment. They die worrying about money, as if it is some sort of measure of their worth as a human. I think that's why so many Americans are unhappy.

I've lost so many friends and family lately--to accidents, cancer, other diseases--that I worry about money far less than I worry about time.

If your career in the biz doing safety is anything like working on shows you spend WAY more time with cast and crew than you do with your family. What I've seen on my end is that people are retiring and missing the camaraderie, pace and accomplishment of seeing the finished product.

Personally I can't wait to retire. I fish, golf, hike and have other hobbies that are neglected due to the hours we work. The week just takes it out of me and I have a hard time just finding energy on the weekends to have fun, mostly just pacing myself to recharge my batteries to hit the ground running on Monday.

Maybe finding something that you can volunteer a few hours a week, just to get out and mix socially.

It's funny, I worked with a set decorator who recently retired and is Vegan. He thought since he cared so much about animals he would volunteer at an animal rescue/ shelter. Saw him a few weeks ago and asked how it was going. Said he quit doing it, all he was doing was hanging around a bunch of angry Lesbians.

Now that is funny. ^^^

Animal rescue freaks are in a class by themselves. And I’m an animal lover.

If ya split a huge bunch of humans and canines into groups based upon sex....

How many groups will be bichez?

:)

Let's be frank, most if not all of us married up. I've met some of you losers and it isn't pretty. Frightening, honestly.

Hugh and Donna spent a few days here at Casa De Pepe a year or so ago in their RV and I can tell you without reservation that those two are as connected as they come, wonderfully so.

The fact that Hugh was able to marry Donna begs discussion of BF and Unicorns. YMMV.

My work colleague retired 6 months ago... "sick of this $hit and of working with the other guy (who is a pain)"...
Now he's sending me feelers to see if we need help (we do), I think he's cleaned his shed, fixed up his house and is bored out of his mind and tired of Honey-dos. I'm gonna try to give him some honest work if we can swing it with HR and all the computer crap that needs to happen to reinstate him... It happens ! I think my hobbies will keep me busy enough, but he wants to escape his wife's rule, I get that...

Good advise from all, thanks. Yeah I traveled a whole lot and made good coin (not as good as some of you may think) besides living in the Los Angeles area is expensive. I'd move but my son and his wife are expecting their first baby in six months and they live only a mile away. Thinking about it some more, I'm not going to pursue consulting, if it drops in my lap and is extra fun (like spending a few weeks in Prague (I love Prague), I'll consider it.

I divorced up.

Wow, you dudes are old!

Good luck to all, in whatever activity you old farts end up enjoying in retirement.

Beautiful.

Sounds like you are in good shape. Take something that would be fun if it falls in your lap. You may need to put out a few feelers for that to happen so people who hire people will remember you are alive.

My financial guy keeps telling me I could retire a bit early. I am skeptical at 56. My wife is 6 years older and she would love that. At least that is what she says now. The skepticism comes from worrying about health coverage. I'm a type 1 diabetic and insulin ain't cheap. For those who retired well before Medicare kicking in, how do you manage getting and keeping health insurance?

I don't accept projects unless I can buy a 1 43 scale model of the car I'll be working on ;)

If the choice is mine I've no plan to just stop working and retire but to just become more selective on what projects I accept which I hope will give me more free time to do retirement things.

So much good advice, not much to add other than to ask a question. Do you guys really need such a big land yacht? Selling up and renting or down sizing would free up a lot of cash for worldwide travel

I've easily spent most of my disposable income on world travel, luckily my wife shares this mindset too and having someone to share the memories with make where we go, what we see all the more special

That's it entirely.

I retired 4 years ago, 51 now, started Tru6 as a fun venture and it's sort of gotten out of hand but in 4 years I think I've worked 3-4 days.

Seriously, doing stuff like this is so terribly fun, I can't even tell you:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/967934-restoring-3-bar-grille.html

Outside of Tru6, so many other completely different and fun big projects that I am working on as I can. I don't think Indian gourmet hot dogs are doing to be a thing though. Sure, a chicken vindaloo hot dog with a paneer center would be fantastic, especially with Indian condiments attached to the outside of the package, but a lot of hoops to jump through to bring a food to market.

People who retire with enough money to travel the world for years, and do so, have my utmost admiration and respect. Motion is one of them. I am not.

People who retire and do nothing but sit around or do small things here and there, I just don't understand.

I can’t imagine going to work when I already have the best job ever (retirement). YMMV

I can afford to do this at seven days from 63.

Please come cap me in the noodle at sub 75 if I sound like this.

[QUOTE=Captain Ahab Jr;10548215

So much good advice, not much to add other than to ask a question. Do you guys really need such a big land yacht? Selling up and renting or down sizing would free up a lot of cash for worldwide travel
[/QUOTE]

"Need" is a relative term. We will go out to the beach every few weekends and a week at a time to a place like Zion or the Grand Canyon, and a month or more at a time on an extended trip at least once/year.

If you only use one once or twice a year, definitely rent. My payment on my new Winnebago is about that of a mid-priced Lexus. Its definitely not economical, but its probably cheaper than driving and getting a decent hotel room every night. Also, pulling over for lunch in your own kitchen, and getting a piece of trim while you're stopped is also nice.;)

Those first seven will be something, I'm sure!

Hugh, feel your pain. "retired" from the day job 4 and half years ago at 45. Ran my own business before I left and continued to after I left. Hired some great staff to help it run at a high level. Earlier this year got an offer I couldn't refuse. I took it. Plenty of $$ for the hours. The best part is, because I don't need it, I can leave any day... So far it has been fun to be back at it, but when it isn't fun anymore, bye bye and back to my coaching my staff as my only gig.

Cheers

Grandkid a mile down the road coming in six months is going to eat up a lot of your time, and the urge to travel will abate some. You will know just exactly what I am talking about in a year or so.

If you don’t know what to do , why not spend some of your free time thinking about it ?
No deadline for an answer .....

Yes Hugh, the money's good. You can't buy time, though. There is a bumper sticker under a magnet on my fridge which says "NOW IS ALL YOU HAVE." It all boils down to what you would rather do. You may still prefer to work, but Jeff and I are suggesting you learn to prefer not.

Supe, I'm beginning to realize I was myopic and I thank everyone for the reality check. Part of it was my ego, I used to fly around the World and visit many very cool places (and some that kind of sucked) courtesy of my employer. I have to admit to bravado, I did enjoy posting "Anyone in *** many times. And I met a lot of great Pelicans around the World.

I think the reason I started this thread is because I REALLY don't want to go back to working in much of any capacity. Its not the money, although that is hard to ignore....

Retired for 2 years now after 42 years in manufacturing management. I would consider myself a worker bee (long hours, little sick time, periodic vacations). Enjoyed every workday. I like to build things, lots of things. But it is still called work and not vacation.
Timely thread with good input, not to be repeated here - but a few personal observations.

*** it's a shock to go from WOT to retirement, but it gets easier over time
*** it's a financial shock to leave a good paycheck and benefits behind
*** age discrimination is real when you're over 60
*** pensions will never be seen again for the generations behind me
*** Medicare with a supplement can be affordable with decent healthcare provided
*** having a fun hobby (building Pcars) can really abate boredom
*** !!! grandkids are a WILDCARD and can bring a deep level of satisfaction to life in retirement

Regards....

Yeah, I married up for sure, I met Donna at the night MBA program at Cal State Northridge 37+ years ago. Tip to you single guys, you won't meet quality women in bars. If she and you are going to school at night, BOTH of you KNOW you're working to improve your lot in life.

I never wanted to be divorced, but I did want to quit. I don't work here anymore...

If you could budget to take your wife abroad once in a while, that seems to be the thing you really want to do, not consult. That was the only justification you made for consulting.

My folks used to go abroad using an independent tour company. It wasn't extravagant, but they made friends and memories.

This board is full of folks who "figured it out...", and yet we are all unique :).

Well....I think I figured it out....but mebbe not ;)

Great thread for the perspectives!

Hugh....I was "the guy" that got a call at 3am or anytime to "fix it"... the system, or whatever....

...because my world-wide corps were basically "dead in the water"....

I was at the top of the "game".... but it was never about the $...

THAT ego trip was hard to satiate...at first :(.

I've gotten back to nature...and do wtf I want to...like always....but the pay sux now....and I just don't care...

11 years in now...best job ever ;)

This pretty much sums it up. Especially the g-kids part. I thought I’d be doing all kinds of things but I just can’t seem to tear myself away from the little curtain-climbers.

Great post!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1565092002.jpg

For me, retirement is reliving ages 6 to 10 but with experience and money.

Shooting, fishing, summers were the best....
Never worked a damn day...rode around and drove garden tractors....

Oh hell yes....just like the good ol' daze....'66-70 :)

Don't have to be home by dark or eleven-thirty (R.Pryor ;)) either!

Outta here....

^^^^ :)

If it is only for the money, it will not be worth it, as others have pointed out.
However, if it is to pass on your skills, thru mentor-ship (either to a person or a startup business) this can be rewarding.

So, forget all the other advice, peer deep into your soul.."Why would I want to?"

Haven’t read the whole thread, but if money and the missus aren’t compelling you to go back to work, why?


If you just miss doing something on occasion is there a charity you can help out, do some volunteer work? Will give you something to do that’s less stress than work, but more fulfilling than tinkering at home.

Grimm, wow and wow!

Shaun, like one radio money guy says, its your second childhood, without adult supervision.

That's funny Hugh, on my match.com profile I say, "I sometimes need adult supervision." Truer words were never spoken. I have way too many cool projects going at once.

I think the best thing about retirement is you get to explore your passions without boundaries. But then, see above. :)

Best part so far is cooking. And travel. And custom 911 stuff. And writing a screen play.

Here's my take, however worthless it usually is: obviously if money or the lady aren't compelling you to go back to work something else is. I think you may be missing the status. Going from a comfortable and respected position of authority and experience to no position at all is jarring.

What I've done is translate the value of performing my career the to the value of it being the revered mechanism that put me where I am today. It is done. It did it's job.

And it did its job very well.

Getting advice from others is all good and fine but you need to always ask yourself. You only get one life and you have no more time to waste doing anything you don’t want to do. Some people love what they do and don’t ever want to retire. My dad was forced to retire @ 70, (age), and wanted to keep working as a fill-in but cancer got in the way.

Most people do some job all of their lives that they would quit tomorrow if they came into a pile of $$. Hence, the concept of retirement. My older sister worked a job she hated all of her adult life and took early retirement in her 50s and moved to the mountains of northern Italy, where she is a bicycle racing journalist and does a lot of traveling and skiing, etc. She is stretched financially but very happy, it seems.

Another sister is back in school in her mid-50s, switching careers after getting burned out on medicine and the partnership she was in. She absolutely doesn’t have to work anymore but can’t imagine what she’d do otherwise? She has an empty nest and has always worked. We were talking recently about the fact that neither of us really loves traveling anymore, finally at a place in life where she could travel extensively and not really interested. I’m the same.

The point is that I get the impression that a lot of people just do what they think they are supposed to do in life, (or what others tell them to do), without fully examining what makes them happy. I’m glad for the people on this thread who have figured it out for themselves but I don’t want what any of them have, personally. I don’t want to golf, live in an RV, (unless it’s parked in Malibu or Big Sur), I don’t have kids or grandchildren or wish I did, I don’t want to live in airports and hotels, etc., etc...

I don’t have the answer for you but look within, not from others. They don’t know you like you do.

I think that this was written for your benefit:

https://laist.com/2017/04/17/tinder_translations.php

You sure yer missus didn't do that fer ya ;)?