My 2 Week Vacation Real Eye Opener. Not Ready For Retirement ???

[menotyou]

Are you sure they want you closer???

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Are you sure they want you closer???

They don't want me next door close, that's for sure. His parents live less than 2 miles away and it drives my daughter crazy because his mother thinks that they should be at her beck and call. She called them last Saturday to tell them that she had bought a new dining room set and that they needed to come over NOW to pick up the old one.

The plan is I will move in to their townhouse and they will buy a new house fairly close by.

 

[OldManAllowance]

Got to agree..the drive goes both ways. I see that now with my own kids. Can't speak about your situation..but I would consider this very carefully. I'm fine with being 1.5 hrs away from my kids...Don't need to be there every day..being apart has made us stronger and to enjoy our company that much more. The birds have flown the coop!

 

[cachsux]

They don't want me next door close, that's for sure. His parents live less than 2 miles away and it drives my daughter crazy because his mother thinks that they should be at her beck and call. She called them last Saturday to tell them that she had bought a new dining room set and that they needed to come over NOW to pick up the old one.

The plan is I will move in to their townhouse and they will buy a new house fairly close by.

"Mommmmmm!!!! Grandpa is correcting my spelling again!!!!!"

 

[over9five]

"Mommmmmm!!!! Grandpa is correcting my spelling again!!!!!"

"Mommmmmm!!!! Grandpa neg repped me again!!!"

 

[cachsux]

"Mommmmmm!!!! Grandpa neg repped me again!!!"

After kicking him in the shin for his job in the military I wasn't going to be that cruel. But glad to see you can be Robin to my Batman.

 

[moreluck]

After kicking him in the shin for his job in the military I wasn't going to be that cruel. But glad to see you can be Robin to my Batman.

Batman and Robin - Out of Line Live - YouTube

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

"Mommmmmm!!!! Grandpa is correcting my spelling again!!!!!"

"Mommmmmm!!!! Grandpa neg repped me again!!!"

After kicking him in the shin for his job in the military I wasn't going to be that cruel. But glad to see you can be Robin to my Batman.

The Dynamic Duo? Hardly. You need to look no further than aj's avatar to find the dynamic duo.


(I won't comment on the stupid youtube video)

 

[moreluck]

(Upstate)

But, in reality, you did!!

 

[downtime8763]

I retired last March at 55 with almost 37 yrs and love every minute of it. Have been helping a couple for local farmers work ground,drive grain trucks and wagons, started pt with the local twp fixing road signs,painting ect and ran shuttle at the local fair. Plus grand kids fishing and oh spending time with the wife of 35yrs. If you want to be buzz y it's not a problem and if to just say NO.

 

[brownmonster]

I washed and waxed my truck tonight after work. Had to set up lights in the driveway to finish. Not enough time to get chores done and still enjoy the weekend. I don't think I'll be bored when I retire. I have stuff on my list from 10 years ago that I haven't crossed off yet.

 

[Catatonic]

I have stuff on my list from 10 years ago that I haven't crossed off yet.

How important are they if they have not been done in 10 yrs?

I am determined to NOT start obsessing on things that were not important before I retired.

Check back with me next year.

 

[brownmonster]

How important are they if they have not been done in 10 yrs?

I am determined to NOT start obsessing on things that were not important before I retired.

Check back with me next year.

Apparently not that important. When I retire I might start edging the lawn with a scissors. Sometimes I do a small chore, put it on my list and then cross it off. Gives me a sense of accomplishment.

 

[anonymous6]

I almost retired in 2007 and then again in 2010 and my current plan is 2013.
When considering retirement in 2007 (buy-out), I was awakened to the same concerns that you expressed. The buy-out offer was poor so I stayed on but I read a book by Ernie J Zelinski - The book is How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Get from Your Financial Adviser. It is on Amazon for $9 (link below).
http://www.amazon.com/How-Retire-Happy-Wild-Free/dp/096941949X/ref=la_B001H6SY7M_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347457461&sr=1-1
Read it and carefully consider and go through the thought process he talks about in the book.

The main thing is that when a person retires, they must replace three things that they got from their job:
1) A sense of community
2) A structure in daily routine
3) A sense of purpose

Using the advice in Zelinski's book, I listed all the things I enjoyed doing in the past, what I enjoyed doing now and what I wanted to do in the future.
I decided I would get into motorcycles and I wound up with 3 and enjoyed myself but "motorcycling" just did not do it for me.
Community - yes, Structure - not really, Purpose - no

I turned 55 October 2009 with 37 years and in 2010, UPS offered a buy-out again but my group was excluded and so I ran the calculations and decided that I would work an additional 18 months to recover the money I was denied in the buyout.

In early 2010 I realized I had not found that "something" that would create a sense of purpose in my life.
Again, I revisited the list of all the things I enjoyed doing in the past, what I enjoyed doing now and what I wanted to do in the future.
This time, I gave considerable thought to the Community, Structure and Purpose in making my selection.
I came up with Photography.

I investigated the business of photography and developed a 3 year development and business plan.
Set up a business and a website - Commitment
Joined 4 Photography clubs - Community
Developed a commitment to post one photograph per day - Structure
Set up a Photography processing station in my house - Structure
Enter contests - Structure
Photography jobs - Weddings, Senior pictures, Pet pictures, Portraits, etc. - Structure and purpose
Posted my images on facebook to bring a little pleasure to my fb friends each day - Structure and Purpose
Conduct photography walks and workshops - Structure and Purpose
I teach Photography at a local college in the Continuing Education program - Structure and purpose.

I am busier now than I have ever been in my life since college and I feel very comfortable with the transition into the next stage of my life.

I know this was a bit long-winded but there is no magic solution, you have to make it happen and it is a process.

Get busy planning, thinking it out, put your plan into action, measure the results and get ready for retirement.

funny, I have this book. need to re-read it. good avice ...thanks.

 

[DS]

Maybe we should have a post of the month thread,because this one would be my choice.
Other than getting out alive,I never really thought about it before.
This thread has shown me that it would be
beneficial to have a plan.

 

[TechGrrl]

Maybe we should have a post of the month thread,because this one would be my choice.
Other than getting out alive,I never really thought about it before.
This thread has shown me that it would be
beneficial to have a plan.

I always suggest checking in with your local Red Cross or United Way for volunteer opportunities. UPS retirees from any job are generally welcomed with tears of joy and open arms.

Lots of demand for elder care type volunteer opportunities; Meals on Wheels, escorting folks to Dr. appointments, helping with groceries, lawn care, etc. Ditto for acting as mentors/stand in grandparents to little kids.

 

[moreluck]

Fidelity: This is How Much You Need to Save for Retirement | Fox Business

 

[anonymous6]

Maybe we should have a post of the month thread,because this one would be my choice.
Other than getting out alive,I never really thought about it before.
This thread has shown me that it would be
beneficial to have a plan.

I'm glad this happened now instead of after I retired.

 

[brownmonster]

Fidelity: This is How Much You Need to Save for Retirement | Fox Business

If you don't have a pension or a boat load of stock.

 

[upsoldtimer]

I retired close to one year ago. Lucrative pension and full benefits at 55 just too good to pass up. I have been very busy ever since but should there ever come a time that I were to get bored, choosing to work rather than having to work would be the big difference.