Your Biggest Retirement Regret?

[joekingcorvette]

I retired at 66 years of age and didn't work for over two years. I spent a lot of time hunting, fishing, and driving my Corvette and Honda Monkey. Now I work 8 hours on Monday, 4 hours on Tuesday, and 8 hours on Wednesday part time only. I work for a large car dealership in the lease department and love it. I have extra cash for my hobbies and do not tap into retirement at all. I missed the interaction with people especially in the wintertime. My wife works the exact same hours as I do only she works out of our home. If I want to take extra days off for vacation they are easily approved as well.

 

[Eddie]

I retired from my normal job and switched to a church jobs by joining several committees.

 

[Aredeeem]

No regrets. 6 years in. Enjoyed the various jobs I had but enough was enough. Crossing guard gig keeps me busy. Kids are nice and they make me laugh. It’s good medicine. We just had “Dress like you’re 100 years old Day.”

 

[k1xv]

I had a high stress career. Part of the time, I was in a crooked State government that wanted me to carry out its unethical directives. I wouldn't do it. I carried over PTSD into my early retirement. I'm over it now.

 

[slo town]

I had a really great career and officially retired at 52 after 28 years with the company, although I did do some ridiculously lucrative contract work until 55. Retiring early was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I say this because of the loss of income. I'm soon to be 71 and even after all these years I still wince at the money I left on the table. I'll never be able to afford that Porsche GT3 I've always lusted after.

Scott

 

[99Saturn]

Not doing it yet? I have some time to go (in my late 30s) but would be happy to be able to be be more present at home with my kids.

Other concern, guess it is not a regret yet, is saving too much/working too long. I've been thinking about what the right age/savings amount it to retire or to downgrade to something part time/less stress.

 

[slo town]

Since we retired, my wife has developed her own social group of lady friends, and she's still working part time to keep busy. I feel kinda left behind at home with the dog sometimes.
During our careers we almost automatically spent Saturdays doing things together. Now it seems more difficult to be on the same page.
Retirement is much better than work stress, but it's not without a few challenges.

Exactly my situation. My wife has developed a brand new network of mutual interest internet friends after her retirement. She just got back from a week in St. Petersburg after meeting some of them there. She takes two trips a year to hookup with them at various locations all over the country.

Scott

 

[wpod]

What I like about being retired is not going to work. What I miss about work is accomplishing something of a value for some one and I was able to seem lots of [ to me ] interesting things.

 

[sloinker]

I retired at 62 at the end of 2022. I had enough. When the supervisor , in the morning meeting, invited anyone in the department that didn't like the way he ran things to hit the road, I volunteered immediately. Was gone by 8 am. The plant manager and the maintenance superintendent were not pleased and did everything in their power to get me to stay. Didn't matter, I had had enough and wanted out after working a lifetime. First year was a little scary, as I needed healthcare, thanks ACA. Early SS, two small pensions and a decent rolled over 401k to annuity left me in pretty good shape. Such good shape the IRS got me a couple days ago for $4k. Next year should be a near push as I have adjusted my withdrawal schedule upward at the first of this year when I saw where I was headed. I am guilty of too much lounging and watching TV. I do work in the garage and yard when the weather is better. This means that for a good 4 months plus a year I am stuck in the house. I could do some more traveling and have done some more this year but I really enjoy my own bed and espresso machine. This has a way of tempering my travel enthusiasm. It has also become pretty expensive to travel, every time the wife and I venture out on a trip you can count on a couple grand+ being gone. It is nothing to spend a couple hundred bucks on lodging and another C note at least on food per day. Staying with relatives is OK but I am ready to venture on after a couple days. After a week I am ready to be back home.

 

[LazyDog]

I retire at 52 medical reasons and my only regret is been stuck here during winter months: Yes, I am a Lazy Dog that LOVES warm weather.

 

[shortyb]

I'll let y'all know in 47 more working days if I have any regrets. Only regret so far is that when I retired "early" from my current position in 2017, I was 55. Went back to work in same position (but not as a Sergeant/supervisor) after 10 months and kept on slogging, but was only able to receive retirement benefits until I earned $10K. Had I waited until I was 57, there would be no cap and I'd still get benefits year round. Of course the retirement board doesn't tell you that. Ironically, I still contribute to the retirement system even though my benefits will not increase when I finally pull the pin in May. Thank goodness I have a very lucrative pension from Va., along with my deferred comp program. We'll see what Social Security does to me tax wise next year when I file.

 

[slo town]

I'll let y'all know in 47 more working days if I have any regrets. Only regret so far is that when I retired "early" from my current position in 2017, I was 55. Went back to work in same position (but not as a Sergeant/supervisor) after 10 months and kept on slogging, but was only able to receive retirement benefits until I earned $10K. Had I waited until I was 57, there would be no cap and I'd still get benefits year round. Of course the retirement board doesn't tell you that. Ironically, I still contribute to the retirement system even though my benefits will not increase when I finally pull the pin in May. Thank goodness I have a very lucrative pension from Va., along with my deferred comp program. We'll see what Social Security does to me tax wise next year when I file.

Congrats in advance of your retirement!

Scott

 

[alarmguy]

No regrets, semi retired at 63, only reason I was hanging in there was two reasons, but the bigger reason was I have a life long investment income (as long as I keep the investment) and wasnt sure being over the threshold if the excesses would be held back by SS.
Turned out it wouldnt be, so then, the other expense was to pay the $1000 a month for health insurance until 65. I took a 25 hour a week job at a bank, they paid all my health benefits AND incredible amount of PTO which was amazing. I still cant believe it.
I actually like working with the public and I enjoyed the part time job, I like people. But at 65 medicare kicks in and at the same time the drive for profits at the huge national bank was first and foremost. My Monday to Friday off by 1 or 2 Pm everyday turned into 1 or 2 Saturdays a month, our branch working every third week at another bank that is open on Saturdays. So goodbye to that and I retired.

I think I can see how some might get bored. We LOVED our last home, it was really grand but the area wasn't as conducive to the retirement lifestyle, except for a beautiful 41 mile long lake, limited things to do. Also our community now 16 years old (we were one of the first) most of the older moved away, younger families and great people but involved with kids.

We solved that issue big time, moved the coastal area of the Carolinas. Great move, now with the kids on their own, smaller brand new home, incredible resort community, stupid inexpensive too compared to the northeast and most of Florida which I think is out of control. I made approx. 7 trips to Florida there before we found this place in North Carolina. Limitless things to do. Good move.

I tell anyone, IF and only IF you are worn and out tired, dont enjoy working. See if you can swing it at 62. I tell people waiting until 67 and you are gambling that you will live to 80 years old, as that is the break even point of the extra money you get waiting to full retirement, vs collecting FIVE years worth of SS income starting at 62. The key here is, you need to be careful and make sure you are comfortable paying the full cost of health insurance until 65/or work part time if you still enjoy working.

 

[nickaluch]

When I sold my business I was all in on retirement but it didn't go well. I was relatively young and all my friends still working. Cutting the lawn 3 times a week, drinking a few beers going out to the boat house alone got old quick definitely on a bad path. Took a civil service test to become a school custodian scored a 100. Offered a job in my local school district and I took it. 5 minute commute not killing myself love the kids free health insurance and a pension after 10 years of service. It gives me a purpose the only adjustment was realizing I'm not the boss

 

[shortyb]

What part of the NC coast? I'm a diehard OBXer seeing as I vacationed summers there since I was 12 (34 years in the same rental house too). My sister and I still go every year.

 

[frankbee3]

21 years working in a prison. I ran out the door that last night!!!!!!

Congratulations! I hope you have a great retirement.

 

[shortyb]

I'll never be able to afford that Porsche GT3 I've always lusted after.

Scott

View attachment 205456

Nice, but I'd take an ultra clean 330 over that. Know any good, well kept ones?

 

[ls1mike]

That I am not retired yet.

 

[alarmguy]

What part of the NC coast? I'm a diehard OBXer seeing as I vacationed summers there since I was 12 (34 years in the same rental house too). My sister and I still go every year.

Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle area, love it and best part is over the border to the SC side is a very short drive for the few things that we enjoy with the hustle and bustle. We are a few minutes from OIB, I love it, also have a boat that we launch at Ocean Isle take the intracoastal to the Shallotte inlet area, gosh the water there last August was Caribbean like, turquoise. I couldn't believe it, will find out this year if it's always like that. Ran out the inlet for the first time there. We only got the boat from our storage place at our SC home mid august last year.

Before moving here for at least 5 days every summer we would stay at Sea Watch, N Myrtle Beach border with Myrtle Beach. It was always our mini carefree low cost get away vacation without fail and then another main vacation other places, be it the mountains or various places in Florida or all three. More times then not, all three spread out over the summer.
It was a great way to chill and enjoy the summers. I guess I have never been much of a traveler in the sense of overseas vacations. Most I ever did was the islands a few times.

So last run of the year last year I took my dog and wife out Shallotte Inlet so they can experience a short run into the Ocean. My wife and dog previously only experienced the lake. It's a tricky but fun inlet. If I could post a video I would have, pretty wild with waves breaking on both sides between the somewhat narrow channel.
Photo shows the OIB water tower in the distance as we were heading back in.
The other photo shows the bulkhead and flag pole of the Inlet View Restaurant. You can see the incredible clean water in the boat engines wake. I don think it's like this year round but just the fact that it happens is awesome. I suspect it depends on incoming or outgoing tide from the intracoastal. Which would make sense.

 

[Bailes1992]

I'm still annoyed that at 31 I'm still not retired.