Community Chat

[Lindsays Grandma]

@PA Mom-mom ...To be quite honest, my whole life would make a good book or movie.  I had so many experiences and ups and downs, some bad and others amazing.  Even some of my acquaintances, close friends and brief encounters are note worthy.  Oh, and no, I never had to sign an NDA so I am as free as a bird to disclose whatever.  The problem is it would take a very long time plus I wouldn't know where to start.  It would be fun though, now see what you did...you put that thought in my head and knowing myself, it will keep popping up to remind me.  

[Lindsays Grandma]

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@irbrenda wrote:

Nope.  Husband and i are still working, 73 and 71 respectively.   I am a court reporter since 1973, federal, state, and self-employed!  Seen it and heard it all!   I had an incredibly interesting career and for whatever reason, I just can't cave in to believing I'm this old!   Still run 7 miles daily without fail for over 40 years and work out.   So mentally, I'm not 71.  However, i look in the mirror and say, "Who the heck is that?"   I think the daily stress I face keeps the brain cells kicking!  

So, as they say about us!   Old court reporters don't die!  We just go off the record! 

Maybe soon.  

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@irbrenda ...You are an amazing woman, there are women out there years younger than you who can't do what you do.  You are keeping yourself young and fit. Many of us when we look in the mirror nowadays say the same thing as you do, we feel young until the mirror tells us otherwise.  As a court reporter I have no doubt you have seen and heard it all.  Keep doing what you are doing for as long as you can, you should be proud of yourself.

[PA Mom-mom]

@Lindsays Grandma  Well, no time like the present. Get going!

[irbrenda]

Thank you! Hope I can continue for years! Love my career. I think that’s a very big role in wanting to continue. The young reporters entering the field today need a lot of pampering and guidance, and I found once they’ve been doing.a 2-hour job, they’re ready to go home! Us old timers never had computers and software to create daily transcripts and I think that is part of what made this job such a challenge. These youngsters have no idea how to function without a cell phone, computerized software and computerized steno
Machines. Life was still easier back then. Nothing like doing stuff manually to get it right! I am up to date though with all
the new technology and still prefer “old school” everything better. I’m even A+ certified in computers. So
I do know what I am talking about. Do I feel like grandma in the courtroom or at a deposition? Sure do! Age is age. But when I put a transcript together, the attorneys look like Einstein! Proper punctuation and English grammar! I’ve read transcripts from the newbies and it’s frightening! They’re lucky they have auto-correct and spellcheck. And THEY STILL DINT USE IT!!! Lol.

[Lindsays Grandma]

@PA Mom-mom ...Oh, how I envy you...traveling to foreign countries, the one thing I regret never having done.  Ireland, Germany (my mother's birthplace), England.  I am so sorry about your one granddaughter having severe health issues.  I love that you have family living on a farm with cows, goats and chickens, what a great place for children to live.  Your life sounds very interesting, never mind me writing a book, how about you?

[seaBreeze]

Age 62.   Was not my choice, my company moved to Ohio...no one wants to hire you at 62 unless you're the only applicant.   Found a few part time jobs to keep resume active.   Now I am a Hospice Volunteer which is at least helping mankind instead of my bank account.

[Jacie]

I was very lucky, I was 52. Had fun for about 8 years then to a part-time job within my state's park system. Don't make beans but I have the time of my life when I'm there! So fun! No responsibilities or managing others like my previous high profile HR job. 

[madzonie]

Hubby & I retired in 2004. He was 58 and I was 57. It's been 15 years and we've loved every day...no regrets!

[Annabellethecat66]

I don't know if it's called retired although I did stop working.

It was exactly 46 years ago.  When my oldest daughter was born.

I stopped working.  My boss kept asking me to come back so I did for maybe 2 months and then I decided I wanted to stay home, so I turned in my notice.

My husband was very, very happy when I decided to quit for good.  

He never wanted me to go back to work.  After my girls started school I asked him if I should get a job.

He said, "No.  It would interfere with us traveling.  He said I had a job.  That of a wife, a mom and a homemaker".

I was 27 years old at the time.  So, I never went back to work.  

[birdQ13]

Retired 5 years ago at age 55 after putting in a 30-year increasingly intense career with local government. I left when I had maxed out my good benefits. I saved and paid off debt and went thru an exhaustive helpful budget/forecast exercise with my financial advisor to be sure we’re ok. It’s complicated. DH (also 60) is working FT but downshifting to 4days a week later this year. Occasionally I miss socializing and getting more dressed up and some of the old mental challenges...but overall my retirement is very good. I’m exercising, cooking healthy, some limited eldercare downstate, traveling a lot to wonderful places, reading more with a local book club, doing a lot of art museums, & volunteering. I have looked for the “right” part-time job but can never get them to commit to just weekday hours and I want to be with DH on the weekends- maybe later. Another realization for us is we’ll probably not move away from our urban/suburban home due to proximity to excellent health care providers.