topic Re: Question to those who are retired in Community Chat

Question to those who are retired

SeaMaiden — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 15:43:46 GMT

What was your age when you quit your last job for good and retired?

I was 58 in the year 2013 and had just had my double knee replacement. I took the summer off of my job of 25 years to have the surgery and recuperate. I was suppose to return in October.... but by the second month off, I knew I did not EVER WANT TO RETURN TO WORK. 25 years was just enough! I called my boss and told her the news.

It was a very hard decision to make. I spent a good week debating all the pros and cons. My rational mind told me "YOU HAVE TO WORK"... ...My practical mind said QUIT!. I worked for a small family owned store. Not a corporate setting. Now it has been almost 4 years since setting step into that store. I had both my hips replaced over those years as well.

Things are good. I have a routine but not one that is structured to the point of me feeling stressed or the like. I love that I can decided what I want to do and when... and when it snows I do not have to worry about driving in the snow to get to and from work. I do not really care what the weather does now. If I do not feel well, I do not have to call in sick. I can eat my supper early... about 4-5PM instead of getting home from work at 8:30PM and having to eat supper at 9 or 10PM. Much less stress. Not dealing with the public or with people to me is a true blessing. Customers use to drain the life out of me everyday... It was very stressful. I do not miss that at all.

Now 61, retirement is going OK. Still working on myself and finding more joy and peace within myself. I think that is a process that will never end.

Re: Question to those who are retired

meallen616 — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 15:50:49 GMT

I am 65 now and retired,

Re: Question to those who are retired

kitty60 — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 15:52:20 GMT

I pretty much "retired" at 52. We had sold our business and while I had a part time job for a couple of years after that we decided to make a major move so I left that. I love the freedom to do what I want with my days, I am involved with church and volunteering but I have done a few part time things that I can control. Never do I want to go back to the daily grind that controls me.

Re: Question to those who are retired

SilleeMee — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 15:52:55 GMT

I didn't quit. They forced me into retirement due to a progressing disability. I was only 46.

Re: Question to those who are retired

gmkb — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 15:53:06 GMT

I, too, was 58 when I last was employed. Even though I liked my work, I never looked back and have enjoyed retirement.

Re: Question to those who are retired

Suziepeach — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 15:56:57 GMT

I was 49 when I retired. I could tell it was time, I could give no more of myself. I never looked back either.

Re: Question to those who are retired

reiki604 — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:00:08 GMT

I retired at 61 a year and a half ago when the office I was working out of moved from 5 minutes away to over 2 hours away. The position was restructured to give me more than double the staff to manage and iincreased my responsibility with no additional compensation. I decided it was not worth it and have never looked back. I have a better relationship now with some of the people I worked with so I still get the gossip from the job. The phrase not my circus, not my monkeys really hits home at those times. Even after a year and a half, I still feel I'm on vacation!

Re: Question to those who are retired

sweetee2 — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:01:57 GMT

I'm also 61. I left my job after 18 years to take care of my dad. It was 5 years ago last November. Never look back, never been back. I was a Tailor at a high end department store. Very high stress, horrendous work load. Right now I would have been working 10 hour days and 40 days in a row. When my dad's MS was too the point he needed 24 hours care, I said H yes, it's got to be easier than what I was doing.

Re: Question to those who are retired

cotton4me — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:04:09 GMT

I had planned to work until I was 70 but ended up retiring early at 61. It was challenging for me because I loved my job and wasn’t ready to retire. However, my home life required me to quit. It took me a while to get used to retirement and find my niche but now I love it. I’ve developed new hobbies. I spend my days doing things I enjoy, things that enrich my life. I enjoy being physically active so I spend a lot of time outdoors hiking in the woods. Now that I’m not sitting at a desk all day I’m actually healthier and happier.

Re: Question to those who are retired

Suziepeach — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:05:24 GMT

To retirement- a closet of what to do's when you want to do them or not .

Re: Question to those who are retired

SeaMaiden — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:07:13 GMT

@cotton4me You are happier and healthier.... I love that! That is how I feel as well.

Re: Question to those who are retired

twinny70 — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:11:38 GMT

I was forced to leave my job of 30 years at age 53 (15 years ago. I was diagnosed with a neurological disorder & could no longer type. DH left his job of 32 years a year later at age 55. The first 3 years were rough as I needed lots of medical care. Things are going great now even though I live my life one day at a time. We travel a lot, enjoy our 3 beautiful DGC & love doing nothing some days. Never did we plan to leave our jobs so early, but God had other plans for us.

Re: Question to those who are retired

Allegheny — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:15:19 GMT

When I retired I was one month shy of 56 and has worked for the same agency for over 37 years. My work environment was changing, within a year we would be changing locations, my boss of 17 years was also retiring, I wasn't up to working for the new supervisor although I knew her for years. I was tired of the office politics and was losing my enthusiasm and becoming negative. It was time to go.

While I miss being part of a team, I certainly enjoy all the things that come with retirement.

Re: Question to those who are retired

nana59 — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:16:17 GMT

I retired at the age of 52 to babysit my new granddaughter. Toughest job I ever had-best job I ever had....she's 14 now, and I still miss giving her those "sink" baths!!

Re: Question to those who are retired

pattypeep — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:25:10 GMT

I retired with full benefits at 63. It wouldn't have benefited me financially to continue to work. That being said, I absolutely loved my job. If I had had the same Dept. Head that hired me, I probably would have worked until I died at my desk. The Dept. Head that was there when I left was an impossibility to work for. That made my decision for me and I've never looked back. That was eight years ago last spring. Love, love, love retirement and I keep very busy.

Re: Question to those who are retired

kyreb — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:27:13 GMT

I am currently on FMLA with hubby who just had a double lung transplant! He is doing good and we are so grateful for the second chance at life. I am almost 61 and plan to retire at 62. Part of me thinks I should not got back to work - hubby needs lots of dr appts, ect., and start doing what we want, but I didn't realize how much I would miss work - will maybe not work but my co workers - they are are my family. I have a very stressful job and part of me wants to call it quits, but the practical part says to work another year, be eiligible for SS, not mess with health insurance right now (have fabulous health insurance thru work) Please share your thoughts on this

Re: Question to those who are retired

abbeythe 8th — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:34:34 GMT

I retired from teaching when I was 55. I loved what took place in the classroom but the lesson plans, correcting tests and quizzes, calling parents, writing recommendations and the political BS with the BOA, were exhausting. In addition we purchased a vacation home in Italy and I wanted to spend more time there.

If I had the kind of job that I could actually leave when I left the building, I probably would have worked longer.

I love retirement.

Re: Question to those who are retired

QVCkitty1 — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:35:56 GMT

I retired in 2011, 2 months shy of turning 62. I worked per diem for 4 more years, each year a little less, till I just said enough. I love being retired. ❤️

Re: Question to those who are retired

number one queen — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:36:00 GMT

At 56 I had a bad fall,laying me up for a year almost,consequently I didn't heal right and ended up with both knees replaced too. I had to apply for disability and continue to have problems. I have not returned to work and I do feel exactly like you! I am not feeling guilty,as a nurse for 38 years, who worked off shifts her whole career,I can do things differently now.Now close to 64 it was the best decision I've ever made with my husband. Yes sacrifice was made but peace was worth it.

Re: Question to those who are retired

LonestarBabs — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 23:17:58 GMT

I don't think I'm really retired, just taking a sabbatical. I've never worked for one company for longer than 9 years, so no company retirement plan and gold watch for me. One job I was laid off 2 months before I was eligible for the pension program. I'm in marketing, often in tech, and things just kept moving quickly as jobs and companies transformed. 18 months ago I quit my job of just over 3 years (where I hated every minute of it) to take care of my elderly mother and work on my PhD. I don't miss corporate America but know that at some point I will have to resume employment -- don't look forward to that. I'm 58 BUT my PhD is in Applied Gerontology (the field of aging) and many career opportunities exist for people who are not Millennials.