I worked my last Friday ever

[T Brashears]

End of August for me. Already started moving tools to my buddies shop!

 

[Cranky]

Spent most of the day helping my replacement put together a work schedule and transferring all my customer contact info to his phone so he doesn’t have to manually enter everything. We’ve been working together for the past few months so the transition should be pretty seamless. Next week I will be representing my employer at the Minnesota Trucking Association summer conference, traveling home on Thursday. Next Friday will be my first day of retirement. I’ve had a job of some kind since I was 12 years old so it’s going to be strange to wake up and have no sense of purpose other than to drive my wife crazy.

****’s about to get real…

It felt great to know that I didn't have to 'go to work' anymore when I retired!!!

 

[Ray70Chrg]

Congratulations! nothing beats retirement. 6 saturdays and a sunday. Come sept. I will be retired 23 years. Loved every day.

 

[1KoolBee]

9 months and I was back to work.
Congrats and good luck.

lol , well I’ve retired once already too, im shooting to make it for good this time!

 

[Cranky]

Congrats I guess, I dont think I could do it. I would go crazy sitting home. I have a friend who is retired and doesnt even know what day it is. And your wife will find plenty of work for you if you bother her enough.

My X always found something for me to do whenever I started working on something for me! Glad she left me in 2017!!

Congrats!

I'm thinking about going in 2026. I have to admit, I mentally struggle with the idea of living on a fixed income, and how much is enough. Would be easier if you knew when you'll kick the bucket.

My X left me over 8 years ago and even though 'all' she wanted was the money, I'm still doing ok. The best part is that I'm still way too busy and happier than ever!

 

[Cranky]

Congratulations! nothing beats retirement. 6 saturdays and a sunday. Come sept. I will be retired 23 years. Loved every day.

19 years for me.....one of the best things I've ever done.

 

[68gtxman]

 

[Hey-O]

Congrats on reaching a milestone without 6 people carrying you home........ LOL . I never took a class in high school on retirement or economics, like most of us, I be self taught. LOL...... Again, Congratulation!!

 

[68sprtsat383]

Congratulations

 

[68BabyBlue]

Congrats!

I'm thinking about going in 2026. I have to admit, I mentally struggle with the idea of living on a fixed income, and how much is enough. Would be easier if you knew when you'll kick the bucket.

If you're experiencing this struggle, it means you're giving the matter some serious thought. Many people don't, and regret it later. When my primary care doctor told me to plan on longevity, I consulted my elder law attorney. She gave me the green light three years ago, and I pulled the trigger shortly after. It's turned out well.

 

[The Rebel]

Congratulations on your retirement!

I was able to pull the trigger almost a year ago after going over my finances and getting a part time job as a flower delivery driver.

My biggest adjustment is all the free time l now have and looking for things to do after doing the daily grind as long as I can remember.

 

[Hey-O]

If you're experiencing this struggle, it means you're giving the matter some serious thought. Many people don't, and regret it later. When my primary care doctor told me to plan on longevity, I consulted my elder law attorney. She gave me the green light three years ago, and I pulled the trigger shortly after. It's turned out well.

I started saving for retirement the day I got married. I made a comment on economics in high school or lack of. The girls dominated Home Economics and boys dominated shop. Instead of taking the logical step of getting boys into Home Ec and girls into shop, we had a traditional gender stereotype problem. As a result we have at least two generations of adults with a disturbing inability to feed themselves, run a household, hang a curtain rod or save for retirement.

 

[HawkRod]

Congratulations on your retirement. For me, it has been 5 years now.

The big "hurdle" most of us face retiring is that we have had beat into our heads to build our nest egg. But how much is needed? So yeah, you put together models and plan out how much to spend per year.

But, it is still really hard to start pulling from the "nest egg". Mentally, for me, that was hard as now I'm not building it any more, but draining it instead. But no one is going to shovel money into your grave when you go, and even if they did, you won't get much enjoyment out of it.

My feelings are to retire when you can and go for making some great memories doing the things you enjoy.

 

[BSB67]

If you're experiencing this struggle, it means you're giving the matter some serious thought. Many people don't, and regret it later. When my primary care doctor told me to plan on longevity, I consulted my elder law attorney. She gave me the green light three years ago, and I pulled the trigger shortly after. It's turned out well.

Thanks. Im very fortunate for my current health. My family’s elder history is a mixed bag. Everything from mid-70’s to late 90’s. My wife is 4 years younger than me, and long life history in her family. My fixed income may need to last for 35 years for her. When I look back 35 years, I cannot wrap my head around what 35 into the future might look like.

 

[68BabyBlue]

I started saving for retirement the day I got married. I made a comment on economics in high school or lack of. The girls dominated Home Economics and boys dominated shop. Instead of taking the logical step of getting boys into Home Ec and girls into shop, we had a traditional gender stereotype problem. As a result we have at least two generations of adults with a disturbing inability to feed themselves, run a household, hang a curtain rod or save for retirement.

The ultimate irony of my life is that the concepts I learned in law school were the driving force behind my spending the last 18 years of my career at the wheel of a tractor trailer. The stable cash flow enabled my nest egg to grow untouched until it was feasible to start drawing from it. Many paths exist to the finish line, but they often aren't clearly visible.

 

[Hey-O]

Congratulations on your retirement. For me, it has been 5 years now.

The big "hurdle" most of us face retiring is that we have had beat into our heads to build our nest egg. But how much is needed? So yeah, you put together models and plan out how much to spend per year.

But, it is still really hard to start pulling from the "nest egg". Mentally, for me, that was hard as now I'm not building it any more, but draining it instead. But no one is going to shovel money into your grave when you go, and even if they did, you won't get much enjoyment out of it.

My feelings are to retire when you can and go for making some great memories doing the things you enjoy.

X2, Saving enough for the things you do or the lifestyle you live is the key, not some unrealistic dream.

 

[BSB67]

But, it is still really hard to start pulling from the "nest egg". Mentally, for me, that was hard………

This. And the ongoing mental barrier/spending concern that might follow that could impact retirement enjoyment itself. I.e. the fear of not having enough, verses not having enough.

I’ve read that my illness is not uncommon.

 

[AR67GTX]

Congratulations. Probably 6 months down the road you will wonder where you ever found time to work.

 

[HawkRod]

This. And the ongoing mental barrier/spending concern that might follow that could impact retirement enjoyment itself. I.e. the fear of not having enough, verses not having enough.

I’ve read that my illness is not uncommon.

I agree.

But here is my thought: Plan respectably. No, you can't foresee the future so the spending model will be flawed. So be it.
Then enjoy the money while you have good health an vigor to make some great memories. If later in life I have to work at Walmart as a greeter, so be it. Retiring when I'm too old to enjoy it makes no sense to me.

 

[Cranky]

I agree.

But here is my thought: Plan respectably. No, you can't foresee the future so the spending model will be flawed. So be it.
Then enjoy the money while you have good health an vigor to make some great memories. If later in life I have to work at Walmart as a greeter, so be it. Retiring when I'm too old to enjoy it makes no sense to me.

The biggest thing that can hurt is a spouse that decides she can do better by herself and all she wants is the money. Rathole it but better yet, buy gold and rathole that!