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 ;)?