lphilpot

+100

If / once I reach retirement, I will be outtathere, never to willingly return. Not that I'll be inactive, nor stop "doing things" by any means, but the whole point of retirement (well, maybe 99.44% of the point) is to put that part of my life so far away that I'd ideally never think of it, nor remember it again. Unfortunately that won't happen, but one can always try! I've seen others who retire and within a year are back at their same job, this time as a consultant... and these are folks who don't need the money, either. I cannot fathom why. Different strokes, I guess.

Smogsteve

I notice a trend here, many of us started as paperboys'. I think this is where my love affair with the bicycle began. Schwinn Stingray and 40 lbs of papers in cloth bags hanging from the handlebars. then 4 years with a grocery store. Clerk at an auto parts store to get through college. 1 year as a high school teacher (lowest paid job I've had since). 37 years as a Union carpenter, carpenter forman, superintendant, project manager, carpenter again. Now 5 months into retirement I wonder how I ever had time to work. 2-6 hours on the bike, 1-2 hours at the gym, golf, bowling, dance lessons, naps. Life is good.

zonatandem

20+ years as a printer (newspapers and job shop), 16 years as a mailman.
Also done sales, interior designing, designing, free lance writing, tandem consultant, proofreader, etc.
Variety is the spice of life!
Retired for 18 years . . . like that 'job' the best!

ModeratedUser150120149

Why go back to work, or not quit? Dig out a book on Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs. Under different names that has been republished over the years. But his is the classic work.

Then you will understand why. Plus, you will have an inkling why so many people fall apart after retiring.

Note that by definition "retirement" means to stop working, not to stop working for money. Many people stop working for money but continue to work .

Wogster

For a lot of people, there job is their identity, their entire life revolves around their job. They often don't retire, by choice. They feel they have no identity, so they go back to work, because it's all they know. If they have health issues that prevent them from working, they often end up pushing up daisies on short order.

Other folks look at retirement as the opportunity to do the things they couldn't do, when they were working, like go on that cross country bike tour they have been wanting to, for the last 20 years or get under 100 on the golf course, or spend some quality time with a fly rod in a remote bush stream.

Then there is the rest of us, finances make retirement impossible....

Work, hmm, started off as a paperboy, then did lawn maintenance for 3 years, then IT for 32 years, 14 of that self employed, which required working part time at something else to pay the bills, which included a retail clerk for 5 years, a courier for 3 months, and truck loader for 3 years, then rural mail carrier for 2 years, also did census taking for 3 months, and office grunt for a few weeks. Now shopping a resume back in the IT world..... Hoping for somewhere decent, where I can get a decent salary until they retire me. Unfortunately at 52, I am too young to retire, and too old to hire.

MickeyMaguire

This is so true. I know a lot of people that retired and fell apart quickly because they became sedentary. I plan to never retire. As a photographer and writer, it will be easy to remain plenty busy enough. I'd also like to do some more adventurous trips taking pictures along the way.

lphilpot

I understand there are those who can't retire, for numerous reasons. Who knows... I may be one myself, despite my current hopes. I was referring to those who can, do and could have earlier in life if desired, but still some back. I guess I've never been so spectacularly good at what I "do" that I wanted to associate myself with it, as it were. Working is a necessary (for most of us) phase of life, but if/once that neccessity passes, I'm ready to move on for good. Not to inactivity, but to being able to choose for myself instead of it being chosen for me, in one way or another. For me at least, returning to the same job from which I just retired doesn't fall in the category of freewill. Once again, YMMV.

Dan Burkhart 

Just couldn't pick one thing and stick with it, eh?

dannwilliams

I still have a few years until retirement, but here is mine: delivered papers from age 10 until 15. Nothing will ever compare to buying my first bike with MY OWN money! Carpenters helper for a few years, furniture store for a year. Meat Locker for a few years, property management for a year, back to the meat locker. Truss plant for a year, back to a different meat plant for 9 years. Retail meat market since 2000, now a meat dept manager in one of the members only warehouse stores. My plan is to "retire" at 60 by stepping back to part time. I would be able to maintain benefits but gain quite a bit of personal time. I don't think I could completely retire all at once, so plan to ween myself off work! I am 51, and I do look forward to the expansion of personal time!

Gerryattrick

I was a "desk jockey" for 43 years when working in IT/HR and later as a self-employed business consultant.

Since retiring I volunteer in a community bike workshop getting my hands dirty, with no paperwork, no office politics, have a boss who says thanks, switch off at 5.00 pm, and I love it.

rebel1916

Nowhere near retirement, but I spent 14 years as a member of the bargaining unit with a chemical company, and am now working as a corrections officer. I have a degree, but I don't think I am gonna go anywhere else. I have my schedule set up so I basically work firefighters hours, the money is good, and I just ain't an office kind of person.

qcpmsame 

USMC, then I worked in grocery stores after I got out of the Corps to pay for my wife's and my college. Worked off shore as an engineer, taught hard sciences for 3 years (physics, chemistry, biology, coached XC,) worked as an iro worker and carpenter while going to law school, returned to engineering (permanently after graduating, never looked for a career in law or sat for the bar exam.) Work in engineering as a Quality Engineer/Civil Engineer for NAVFAC and USACE construction projects totally in the field on the sites. Doing testing, inspection, calculations for analysis of testing and all the review and approval of submittals, etc. Not a desk jockey even during the surgeries and kidney disease. That may change as the company needs someone as the office engineer now. We will see where this leads. Committed to remaining an engineer for my lifetime, hope to do some education and volunteer work when I retire.

Another paper boy for my first job, paid for my Bottecchia and got some college done before the USMC enlistment with what I earned throwing papers, as well as a wife from the route.

jdon

I-Like-To-Bike

Don't count on getting much from Social Security even with 40 quarters. My wife (age 62) with just 40 quarters of work only draws $231/month SS with no Medicare deduction. In your case the Government Pension offset can reduce your monthly SS check by 2/3rds. See https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf

I have over 40 SS qualified quarters earned from work while in high school, college, and Army service, but the last year I paid into SS was 1976 when I only made $6,000 a year. I also have 36 years of government work since and paid 7% of income into retirement pension account, earning a decent pension check that I have been getting since September. My SS check after Medicare deduction and the Government Pension offset is only $187/month.

Retirement is pretty dang good as both my wife and I are enjoying good health. I bike every morning to the hospital everyday with my wife. She does volunteer work while I exercise and swim in the heated pool. The ride is 12 miles R/T. Later in the day I bike ride to my favorite haunts in town including the library, food shopping and casino. In the evening the wife and I enjoy DVD movies from the glory days of Hollywood from Netflix and the library on our large TV.

lenA

Ever try Snake Alley? :-)

I-Like-To-Bike

Sure. I've taken many pictures of other cyclists riding up it. Me, I take the longer less steep route.

Zinger

I didn't last too long as an Ironworker myself....my choice. I can do about anything out of skyclimbers or with a safety belt on but not-so-graceful guys with sinus problems (affecting balance) and severe toe out should not be walking beams.

Yet another paper tosser. Man this is a gathering place for ex-paperboys.

CraigB

Closest I came to the trades was as a project manager for a custom home builder, which I did when all the architecture jobs disappeared in '08, just before my 54th birthday. Did that, and absolutely hated it, for over 3-1/2 years, until a couple of weeks ago when I took a job as a senior plan reviewer for the State of Indiana Building Commissioner's office.

CommuteCommando

First job in high school was washing dishes at Denny's. Factory work from out of high school, starting in chemical plant opperation, then working up to journeyman machinist at 35. Then I got talked into "bettering myself through education" and got parked behind a desk. Am fortunate enough to work for a company that is lenient about me spending time in the machine shop.

One of those who will never be able to retire.

This applies to most who workt he big box home improvment stuff. Does no one know what a 1/4-20 means any more?

Frankfast

Does no one know what a 1/4-20 means any more?[/QUOTE]

Yea, have a bunch of 1/4 20 taps in a tool box along with 12/24s and 8/32s. Want some?

Frankfast

Spent 43 year in the construction trade. Started as a union carpenter and ended up as a construction super. And guess what? Today was my first full day of retirement. Took my Steamroller for a twelve mile ride into town to the bank and post office. Returned and put a new 12-29 cassette on my 11 speed. Then watched the Yankees-Red Sox. I think I'm in heaven and I ain't even dead.

lenA

Congratulations!

Cougrrcj

Congrats! Now you can do something 'fun'. Me? I'd like to restore WW2 aircraft - even as a volunteer. I want to retire to a warmer climate and near a restoration facility or museum.

lenA

Looks like a Martin D-15 keeps you busy too

Zinger

I assume you are aware that the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) has operations in Arizona and Midland/Odessa Texas (can be cold in the winter but rarely freezing). My dad used to belong to them. He was a gunner on A20s and A26s and his brother on B17s.