I retired about 12 years ago. The obsession? How am I going to make it on my puny income? It stays the same as the cost of living rockets skyward. Were it not for my lady partner I'd be in a one bedroom govt. owned apartment complex with a family of nine overhead.
Obsession about retirement.
- Thread starter Alfred_B
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people in france get more vacations and many retire earlier. best of both worlds it seems. we work too much in the usa
I get 6 weeks vacation. Too much time away I get backed up on administrative work since there is no secretary running reports, billables, getting signatures, etc...
In a way id rather not have a person doing my work, more chances for mistake that needs correcting.
In a way id rather not have a person doing my work, more chances for mistake that needs correcting.
Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
Why not try to enjoy life now instead of waiting for age 67? Have a job that you like, travel and enjoy things while you physically can. Instead of waiting for an age when you are decrepit and near the end.
I do try to enjoy life now. But my job often completely consumes my discretionary free time. By 7PM when I get home, it's time to fix something and get to bed. (today was the well pump, tomorrow the car) Jobs are not easy to come by and competition is steep. I did get turned down for both recent local job openings!
A few years ago, I was owed 32 weeks vacation time. At which point, I stopped counting. Last real vacation was before the Sep 11, 2001 attacks. I went to Italy. I was called home early and I had to pay for the changes to come home early. That will teach me...
Our flight department consists of one pilot one mechanic and 7 aircraft. To say we are understaffed is the understatement of the year.
It's a really good thing I love flying and that I get to fly often... Because I don't really love working on them all that much (my main job)
Here is a fun day at work! Flying the boss' glider in Germany.
Why not try to enjoy life now instead of waiting for age 67? Have a job that you like, travel and enjoy things while you physically can. Instead of waiting for an age when you are decrepit and near the end.
I do try to enjoy life now. But my job often completely consumes my discretionary free time. By 7PM when I get home, it's time to fix something and get to bed. (today was the well pump, tomorrow the car) Jobs are not easy to come by and competition is steep. I did get turned down for both recent local job openings!
A few years ago, I was owed 32 weeks vacation time. At which point, I stopped counting. Last real vacation was before the Sep 11, 2001 attacks. I went to Italy. I was called home early and I had to pay for the changes to come home early. That will teach me...
Our flight department consists of one pilot one mechanic and 7 aircraft. To say we are understaffed is the understatement of the year.
It's a really good thing I love flying and that I get to fly often... Because I don't really love working on them all that much (my main job)
Here is a fun day at work! Flying the boss' glider in Germany.
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Darn happy I retired early at age 53, am now almost 55.
Have much more time to serve my community, help friends out and also not have to deal with
rush hour traffic. Absolutely hate it.
Most people don't know how much rush hour driving stresses you out until you
don't have to drive in it anymore!!
Have much more time to serve my community, help friends out and also not have to deal with
rush hour traffic. Absolutely hate it.
Most people don't know how much rush hour driving stresses you out until you
don't have to drive in it anymore!!
I am not obsessed with retiring but I look forward to 3 1/2 years from now when I could retire if this place goes under.
Ideally I would wait 7 more years. I don't mind my job and barely consider it full time anymore. never over 40 hours and 4 day weeks in summer. The first 20 years I worked tons of overtime.
I think the reason there is so much retirement discussion is all the baby boomers and if you believe the statistics most are totally unprepared.
Ideally I would wait 7 more years. I don't mind my job and barely consider it full time anymore. never over 40 hours and 4 day weeks in summer. The first 20 years I worked tons of overtime.
I think the reason there is so much retirement discussion is all the baby boomers and if you believe the statistics most are totally unprepared.
I like working and see no reason to stop, I have a ton of down time and a lot of fun.
Right now I'm collecting rentals, at the rate I'm going if everything keeps moving along I'll be FI somewhere in my late 30's, so I could chose to do something totally different and not care about the money. Or just sit back and cut my grass and do some hobbies instead.
But I don't really think about it to much, a lot can change and quite frankly I still very much enjoy work. Even if I won the lottery I'd still be heading to the job sites in the morning.
I don't get the obsession with retirement, if you hate your job that much change it, life is to short to be miserable for most of it.
Right now I'm collecting rentals, at the rate I'm going if everything keeps moving along I'll be FI somewhere in my late 30's, so I could chose to do something totally different and not care about the money. Or just sit back and cut my grass and do some hobbies instead.
But I don't really think about it to much, a lot can change and quite frankly I still very much enjoy work. Even if I won the lottery I'd still be heading to the job sites in the morning.
I don't get the obsession with retirement, if you hate your job that much change it, life is to short to be miserable for most of it.
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Not sure. I maintain balance in my life and mostly live for today. I used care about past and future but now just enjoy present. Much happier.
My wife/I do manage to save 8% of take home for retirement and will have paid off home. Not much else thought into retirement at age 42.
My wife/I do manage to save 8% of take home for retirement and will have paid off home. Not much else thought into retirement at age 42.
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I like working and see no reason to stop, I have a ton of down time and a lot of fun.
Right now I'm collecting rentals, at the rate I'm going if everything keeps moving along I'll be FI somewhere in my late 30's, so I could chose to do something totally different and not care about the money. Or just sit back and cut my grass and do some hobbies instead.
But I don't really think about it to much, a lot can change and quite frankly I still very much enjoy work. Even if I won the lottery I'd still be heading to the job sites in the morning.
I don't get the obsession with retirement, if you hate your job that much change it, life is to short to be miserable for most of it.
I was in a similar situation; I enjoyed my job and I had quite a bit of flexibility with respect to taking time off. That said, after 32 years I was ready to move on. I'm considering a couple of part-time job opportunities, volunteering with my wife at church, and spending more time in the garage. I also hope to increase the number of weekends I spend instructing at HPDEs.
I like working and see no reason to stop, I have a ton of down time and a lot of fun.
Right now I'm collecting rentals, at the rate I'm going if everything keeps moving along I'll be FI somewhere in my late 30's, so I could chose to do something totally different and not care about the money. Or just sit back and cut my grass and do some hobbies instead.
But I don't really think about it to much, a lot can change and quite frankly I still very much enjoy work. Even if I won the lottery I'd still be heading to the job sites in the morning.
I don't get the obsession with retirement, if you hate your job that much change it, life is to short to be miserable for most of it.
I was in a similar situation; I enjoyed my job and I had quite a bit of flexibility with respect to taking time off. That said, after 32 years I was ready to move on. I'm considering a couple of part-time job opportunities, volunteering with my wife at church, and spending more time in the garage. I also hope to increase the number of weekends I spend instructing at HPDEs.
Originally Posted By: bradepb
I think the reason there is so much retirement discussion is all the baby boomers and if you believe the statistics most are totally unprepared.
Agreed and in Canada stats show over 50% are not prepared.
The message here is that when one can put cash aside for retirement they should.
I think the reason there is so much retirement discussion is all the baby boomers and if you believe the statistics most are totally unprepared.
Agreed and in Canada stats show over 50% are not prepared.
The message here is that when one can put cash aside for retirement they should.
Originally Posted By: edwardh1
people in france get more vacations and many retire earlier. best of both worlds it seems. we work too much in the usa
This is one of the reasons EU countries are having a harder time recovering from the 2008/09 market correction.
Greece is a prime example.
people in france get more vacations and many retire earlier. best of both worlds it seems. we work too much in the usa
This is one of the reasons EU countries are having a harder time recovering from the 2008/09 market correction.
Greece is a prime example.
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Originally Posted By: Cujet
Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
Why not try to enjoy life now instead of waiting for age 67? Have a job that you like, travel and enjoy things while you physically can. Instead of waiting for an age when you are decrepit and near the end.
I do try to enjoy life now. But my job often completely consumes my discretionary free time. By 7PM when I get home, it's time to fix something and get to bed. (today was the well pump, tomorrow the car) Jobs are not easy to come by and competition is steep. I did get turned down for both recent local job openings!
A few years ago, I was owed 32 weeks vacation time. At which point, I stopped counting. Last real vacation was before the Sep 11, 2001 attacks. I went to Italy. I was called home early and I had to pay for the changes to come home early. That will teach me...
Our flight department consists of one pilot one mechanic and 7 aircraft. To say we are understaffed is the understatement of the year.
It's a really good thing I love flying and that I get to fly often... Because I don't really love working on them all that much (my main job)
Here is a fun day at work! Flying the boss' glider in Germany.
Wow, you are living the dream of millions.
Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
Why not try to enjoy life now instead of waiting for age 67? Have a job that you like, travel and enjoy things while you physically can. Instead of waiting for an age when you are decrepit and near the end.
I do try to enjoy life now. But my job often completely consumes my discretionary free time. By 7PM when I get home, it's time to fix something and get to bed. (today was the well pump, tomorrow the car) Jobs are not easy to come by and competition is steep. I did get turned down for both recent local job openings!
A few years ago, I was owed 32 weeks vacation time. At which point, I stopped counting. Last real vacation was before the Sep 11, 2001 attacks. I went to Italy. I was called home early and I had to pay for the changes to come home early. That will teach me...
Our flight department consists of one pilot one mechanic and 7 aircraft. To say we are understaffed is the understatement of the year.
It's a really good thing I love flying and that I get to fly often... Because I don't really love working on them all that much (my main job)
Here is a fun day at work! Flying the boss' glider in Germany.
Wow, you are living the dream of millions.
Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
What is behind the American obsession about retirement? I've lived in many countries and nowhere else people are so worked up about retirement as in the US. Elsewhere, people enjoy their lives throughout, not until they reach the pension age.
In part, some other countries have a shorter work week with more vacation and far less chance of getting laid off. It is much easier to enjoy life while working in those conditions than it is for many in the US of A.
What is behind the American obsession about retirement? I've lived in many countries and nowhere else people are so worked up about retirement as in the US. Elsewhere, people enjoy their lives throughout, not until they reach the pension age.
In part, some other countries have a shorter work week with more vacation and far less chance of getting laid off. It is much easier to enjoy life while working in those conditions than it is for many in the US of A.
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Cujet,
How do you manage 7 aircraft with only 1 A&P mechanic ?
Working an enormous number of long days. Not taking vacation, and so on. Working on Christmas, Thanksgiving, labor day. I work constantly.
This past spring, I worked 4 separate 36 hour days. (that's all day, all night, and all the next day. +
I also have to travel quite a bit.
Cujet,
How do you manage 7 aircraft with only 1 A&P mechanic ?
Working an enormous number of long days. Not taking vacation, and so on. Working on Christmas, Thanksgiving, labor day. I work constantly.
This past spring, I worked 4 separate 36 hour days. (that's all day, all night, and all the next day. +
I also have to travel quite a bit.
Originally Posted By: Cujet
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Cujet,
How do you manage 7 aircraft with only 1 A&P mechanic ?
Working an enormous number of long days. Not taking vacation, and so on. Working on Christmas, Thanksgiving, labor day. I work constantly.
This past spring, I worked 4 separate 36 hour days. (that's all day, all night, and all the next day. +
I also have to travel quite a bit.
Not to be a downer, but if one of the retired snowbirds brings the flu downthere, and you catch it, what do you do? or your employer?
also this does not give you much room for error, but there is such a thing as being tired...
P.S. kuddos for you for doing what you like.
but my last 2 employers that not acknoledged my extras (28 and 36 hours), i left them and i know it hurt them at some point...
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Cujet,
How do you manage 7 aircraft with only 1 A&P mechanic ?
Working an enormous number of long days. Not taking vacation, and so on. Working on Christmas, Thanksgiving, labor day. I work constantly.
This past spring, I worked 4 separate 36 hour days. (that's all day, all night, and all the next day. +
I also have to travel quite a bit.
Not to be a downer, but if one of the retired snowbirds brings the flu downthere, and you catch it, what do you do? or your employer?
also this does not give you much room for error, but there is such a thing as being tired...
P.S. kuddos for you for doing what you like.
but my last 2 employers that not acknoledged my extras (28 and 36 hours), i left them and i know it hurt them at some point...
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
I get 6 weeks vacation. Too much time away I get backed up on administrative work since there is no secretary running reports, billables, getting signatures, etc...
In a way id rather not have a person doing my work, more chances for mistake that needs correcting.
If you cannot take vacation due to backups your organization, direct group or reports are setup very well or you don't share your tasks well is my findings. I used to be in a such a situation taking maybe 1 week vacation per year scattered checking email/running reports still away.
Finally I shared some burden with another colleague in same boat and we can backup one another and enjoy our time off disconnected. We both take 6 weeks off/year now disconnected.
I get 6 weeks vacation. Too much time away I get backed up on administrative work since there is no secretary running reports, billables, getting signatures, etc...
In a way id rather not have a person doing my work, more chances for mistake that needs correcting.
If you cannot take vacation due to backups your organization, direct group or reports are setup very well or you don't share your tasks well is my findings. I used to be in a such a situation taking maybe 1 week vacation per year scattered checking email/running reports still away.
Finally I shared some burden with another colleague in same boat and we can backup one another and enjoy our time off disconnected. We both take 6 weeks off/year now disconnected.
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