Question to those who are retired - Page 6

GinzTonic · ‎10-08-2014

Wow , I am surprised at some of the young ages here of retirees . I am 50, have been working , saving & planning since 26. Not thinking retirement is in the near future. High cost of living and healthcare is scary

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@ShowMe wrote:
I retired at the age of 67..... Worked 50+ years and was ready. Was a secretary in a law firm..... And had my fill of attorneys...... Which included having been married to one for 15 years.

Loved being retired up until 2 years ago when I found out I have cancer. That was a hard pill to swallow. Never thought I would end up having to take life saving treatments the rest of my life.....every other week. It hasn't been an easy time for me. I live alone and have had to do so much on my own.....but God has placed some very wonderful folks into my life by being a neighbor, a chemo buddy, etc. This has helped me a lot to cope. Also have a great support system on these boards. Some have been with me since the beginning of all of this.....and I really love them a lot.

Just wish I had more energy and could do more things. Think I would enjoy retirement once again. Oh, I love not having to set the alarm, going to bed when I want to.....except for when I have a treatment or doctor's appointment the next day. Have been fortunate enough to have my laundry done and apartment kept clean for me. Used to love to cook....but not so much now......find it hard to eat what I've fixed.

Really, I love being retired.....no more traffic to battle with each day.... And when it snows or we get ice, don't have to drive in that any more. Many good things about being retired.

@ShowMe

I too, as you are aware, have dealt with several life and death medical issues. Cancer has not been one I have dealt with, and hopefully never be in that position. Can relate to fatigue to the point it was physically difficult to even stand up and keep my balance.

With heart attacks in combination with Anemia, and Aspiration Pneumonia with my 1st heart attack, it was hard for me to believe I would ever fully recover, I was wrong. It took months for most, and well over a year for year.

This has pretty much ongoing since 2002. I recover close to my max, and BOOM, another major health setback, some again taking many months working to recover. At no time did retirement enter my mind. My total focus on recovering both physically and mentally.

Yes, there are many things I could, and still not am able to do as I did in my past. My youngest sister(2 years older than myself) died of liver cancer in 1989. She fought it for the last 3 years of her life. She was only 52 years old when she died and I watched how difficult it was for her, but that is as close to cancer as I can relate.

As I mentioned in a thread to Angelpuppy, at times when things mentally seemed tough, I would write down things I CAN DO and also those I CANNOT DO, the positives for my greatly outweighed the negatives. That and always being an optimist, were/are my best friends. I live each day for that day and do as much as I am able on that one day.

Thanks for telling your story and we here in our home are sending you our best wishes.

hckynut(john)

ShowMe · ‎09-06-2010

@hckynut wrote:

@ShowMe wrote:
I retired at the age of 67..... Worked 50+ years and was ready. Was a secretary in a law firm..... And had my fill of attorneys...... Which included having been married to one for 15 years.

Loved being retired up until 2 years ago when I found out I have cancer. That was a hard pill to swallow. Never thought I would end up having to take life saving treatments the rest of my life.....every other week. It hasn't been an easy time for me. I live alone and have had to do so much on my own.....but God has placed some very wonderful folks into my life by being a neighbor, a chemo buddy, etc. This has helped me a lot to cope. Also have a great support system on these boards. Some have been with me since the beginning of all of this.....and I really love them a lot.

Just wish I had more energy and could do more things. Think I would enjoy retirement once again. Oh, I love not having to set the alarm, going to bed when I want to.....except for when I have a treatment or doctor's appointment the next day. Have been fortunate enough to have my laundry done and apartment kept clean for me. Used to love to cook....but not so much now......find it hard to eat what I've fixed.

Really, I love being retired.....no more traffic to battle with each day.... And when it snows or we get ice, don't have to drive in that any more. Many good things about being retired.

@ShowMe

I too, as you are aware, have dealt with several life and death medical issues. Cancer has not been one I have dealt with, and hopefully never be in that position. Can relate to fatigue to the point it was physically difficult to even stand up and keep my balance.

With heart attacks in combination with Anemia, and Aspiration Pneumonia with my 1st heart attack, it was hard for me to believe I would ever fully recover, I was wrong. It took months for most, and well over a year for year.

This has pretty much ongoing since 2002. I recover close to my max, and BOOM, another major health setback, some again taking many months working to recover. At no time did retirement enter my mind. My total focus on recovering both physically and mentally.

Yes, there are many things I could, and still not am able to do as I did in my past. My youngest sister(2 years older than myself) died of liver cancer in 1989. She fought it for the last 3 years of her life. She was only 52 years old when she died and I watched how difficult it was for her, but that is as close to cancer as I can relate.

As I mentioned in a thread to Angelpuppy, at times when things mentally seemed tough, I would write down things I CAN DO and also those I CANNOT DO, the positives for my greatly outweighed the negatives. That and always being an optimist, were/are my best friends. I live each day for that day and do as much as I am able on that one day.

Thanks for telling your story and we here in our home are sending you our best wishes.

hckynut(john)

John,,,,thanks for your very kind words. Believe this is the nicest post you have ever made to me.

I know you and your dear wife have been going through quite a bit here lately. And, it amazes me how strong you are.

No matter what our physical ailments are, it is always difficult for the one going through it. I always feel that I have gotten stronger with each difficult thing I have had to go through. Am sure you feel the same way.

Good luck to you and your dear wife......ShowMe.....

Catiele · ‎08-20-2012

I had to retire when I was 56yrs old. I had an enlarged heart. My doctor said get the papers and I will sign them. I can honestly say I was in shock. I knew that I was always tired and was short of breath. It's quite a few years later and I have to say and I have always liked being retired. Life keeps changing as we all know.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

I walked away from my job at 57, to be a caretaker for my husband and my mother, and have never looked back.

I worked my job strictly for the paycheck and health insurance; I never wanted a career. Once my husband received his service connected disability that provided health coverage at no cost for me, I gave my notice.

I truly feel I am exactly where I'm supposed to be, doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, which is enjoying every day with my family.

chiclet · ‎03-19-2010

I am 66 and have not worked in three years. I have worked part time since age 55. I have never said I am retired and never think that way. I just think I am taking time off. I feel that saying retired means I have given up. I know that is not the case with others just me. I guess in my crazy mind working means young and alive and retirement means old and near the end.

winamac1 · ‎12-29-2010

I have spoken to others who are retired.

I'm not yet retired. I have around 5 more years to work, and I'll probably hang it up voluntarily and do something I really want to do. I'm still very young.

I fully believe that those who are retired who have a lot of interests and hobbies are extremely happy. I know from conversations wtih others, if they don't have hobbies and a lot of things to do...they are miserable. That concerns me for myself so I probaly will always be doing "something" job related.

"friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel"

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

About 3 years before I retired I had fallen at work and broke my ankle - it was cared for by the workman's comp doctor and he had botched it terribly. I could barely walk and walking was very painful. I had, on my own seen a renouned foot & ankle surgeon and he said he could reconstruct the ankle but I would have to be non weight bearing for 4 to 6 months and then would need several months rehab.The hospital refused to hold my job for that long so I contacted an attorney who negiotiated with their attorneys that they would "help me" to get SSD so I could retire, and they would give me health insurance under COBRA until I got medicare. In the end they turned my case over to Binder & Binder to do the SSD part which was fine with me.I got the SSD and retired at age 58. Had my surgery and my ankle is much improved now. However, they still use that same horrible doctor for their workman's comp cases.

LonestarBabs · ‎06-26-2011

@RedTop I understand your situation and applaud you for being a caregiver -- it is a difficult, and often thankless, job. I, too, stepped away from my job to be a caregiver. I had a career but had been thinking that it wasn't all it was first thought to be and I needed to make some changes for the remaining chapters of my life.

I quit my job, sold my house, moved back to the family home to care for Mom, and focused my efforts on finishing my PhD. I signed up for health insurance through the university's student plan -- good coverage at a great price -- and am making progress. I don't look back but it took me some time to accept that I am where I am supposed to be right now. I will resume employment at some point, but it will be different. I have no spouse so the path is my own.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@winamac1 wrote:
I have spoken to others who are retired.

I'm not yet retired. I have around 5 more years to work, and I'll probably hang it up voluntarily and do something I really want to do. I'm still very young.

I fully believe that those who are retired who have a lot of interests and hobbies are extremely happy. I know from conversations wtih others, if they don't have hobbies and a lot of things to do...they are miserable. That concerns me for myself so I probaly will always be doing "something" job related.

I think you are not understanding that frequently the reason some retirees do not have outside interests etc after they retire are health related. Some are just too sick or too depressed to get out. Some have no money. I doubt people want to just sit in the house all day - I think they have factors out of their control.