Community Chat

[cotton4me]

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@kyreb wrote:

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

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@kyreb

Oh my goodness, your husband has been through a lot.  I’m glad he’s doing well.  I can understand why you’d think about retiring a little earlier. Sometimes you have to think about the practical, medical benefits and SS.  Only you know your financial needs, if it’s feasible to retire earlier than expected.  I understand missing your co-workers.  That was the hardest part for me, and my husband.  I’d worked with some of the people for 30 years, seeing them through marriages, childbirth, divorces, graduations, etc.  We spend more time with our co-workers than our families.  I’m still in contact with some of them and we get together occasionally for lunch.   Whatever you decide, I wish you and your husband all the best.   

[FrostyBabe1]

45. I had always planned to retire at 50. Circumstances, some great, some not, allowed me to retire even earlier. I couldn't be happier. 

[twinny70]

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@kyreb wrote:

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

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Hugs & prayers to you & your DH.  You are between a rock & a hard spot like we were.  I was diagnosed with CIDP & was wheel chair bound for 5 months.  My DH also took FMLA several times to save his job.  I had great health insurance & my first year's medical bills were $300,000 & that was 15 years ago. I also had lots of medical appointments & still get infusions every 6-8 weeks.  You are close to SS age, so another thing to think about. Your DH needs you, you have great insurance.  I think that you need to do what feels right for you.  Wishing you both the best of luck.

[heart of savino]

I retired at 62  after 40 years of working received a great pension took social security at 63 have full medical  from my working place have savings and tdas.

enjoying every minute of it.I feel like i just hit the lotto.

[juperier]

I was 62. I hadn't really thought I would retire that early. But all the things going on at the time made it a very good option at the time. Don't regret it one bit.

[hoosieroriginal]

I was 61.  I was sick of my job and went on vacation for a week, came back and put out an email giving my two weeks notice.  While on vacation I set up my Social Security (widow benefits) and got Obamacare started.  Never looked back - worked part-time for a couple of months last year (at same job) but decided I didn't even want to do that.  Lovin' life!

[Kitlynn]

I retired when I was fifty eight also and I love it!!! We own our own business but I had always worked for another company. We stil own our business which my husband runs. I love doing what I want when I want or nothing at all. I turned sixty in December and like you I really like not having to go out in the cold and snow!! We live in CO so it is really great to just be inside watching it snow and enjoying a good book.

[Tinkrbl44]

@SeaMaiden

These comments remind me of one of my favorite quotes, which has many applications .....

" One of the most important skills in life is knowing when to leave the party .....  "

[pattypeep]

My bff who worked with me at my "old" job, went in for knee replacement surgery, took her allotted FMLA leave, then two weeks before she was to return to work, sent in her notice "BTW, I won't be back".She knew when she had enough. LOL

[Moonchilde]

I was 66-1/2 when I retired from my final job, where I'd worked for 18 years. Like all my jobs (in healthcare), the hours required me to get up at 5 am and that was getting increasingly difficult, especially if I was sick or just didn't feel well.

My office was a veritable snake pit of snarls, one-upmanship and attempts at domination, with disinterested management and penny-pinching, regulation-bound employers - the way of the industry these days. I was ecstatic to be able to quit. I'm getting enough sleep for the first time in decades, and even with health issues, 90% less stress.