Comments on: What Does Retirement Mean To You?

By: Problemsolverblog

Problemsolverblog — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:30:41 +0000

I consider myself retired right now. I’m 42 years old and work as an instructor at an online college. In addition, I write a blog and books. This is exactly what I planned to do when I retired. My time is my own, except for when my first grade children are home from school. I do work that is meant to earn money a few hours a day, whenever I want and volunteer and do other hobbies the rest of the time.

I think it’s a false dichotomy to think that people have to work like crazy until they drop and then just do nothing. I don’t make a ton of money, but I have time to relax already. If I can do this until I’m 80 or older I’ll be happy.

By: Chiko

Chiko — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:24:22 +0000

To me retirement means to have the time and money to do as I please. I plan to retire by the age of 25.

By: Isabelle

Isabelle — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:21:58 +0000

Retirement – I retired last year and my husband retires in three months – scary stuff. He has always had a job he found exciting, worked at the same job for 30 years. To my surprise he is raring to go. For us, as for so many, it means freedom. Freedom to move and live where we want to, to travel, to become self sufficient in food – I already work a day a week for a charity and may well continue with something.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:57:58 +0000

Retirement means to don’t ever have to worry about money and to NEVER depend on a job! Retirement meaning live life the way you want and do the thing you truly love!

By: Mrs. Accountability

Mrs. Accountability — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:27:10 +0000

When I think of retirement, I think of getting away from my day job. I do enjoy my job, and the challenge of it, but it takes away from all the other fun things I like to do! Like gardening, blogging, knitting, sewing, etc. Hopefully my husband’s business will continue to grow and become successful, and I would be tickled pink to be the office manager and bookkeeper for our own business. I would need to keep “business” hours, but I’d be able to stay home and work in doing the other things I love that I can hardly find time for now! Hope you are feeling better soon!

By: Meaghan

Meaghan — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:39:27 +0000

I never really thought about this before (probably because it seems so far away right now!). I like your idea to stop working for money and start working for something the fulfills you emotionally. (I hope you feel better soon. Drink lots of fluids!)

By: mildred lane

mildred lane — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:11:02 +0000

I am 70 yo,single,senior,retired after 38 yrs of being a RN in nursing,debt free, retired at age 56. I prepared for retirement by subscribing to AARP when I was 40yo, continue to be frugal,401K, upgrading employment by continue education and changing jobs for more money and benefits. I was able to work week ends only and get paid w/ benefits for a 40 hr week which allowed me to do other part time jobs in nursing. The money that I earned was invested into buying fixer upers and selling them owner financed at higher interest than todays.I had 8 of these.Then I retired!!
I did the traveling, senior exercise groups,volunteering,soup kitchen,part time job at a resturant as cashier,visiting,and was soo unhappy!
I took the training to be a foster parent for infants only, learned a new trade,and along w/ this I started a government run day care 8 hrs/day that furnished toys,books,and food.With these 2 I added baby sitting for foster children who had foster babies and had to work.Boy was I happy!!
Then when I was 59 I adopted a 6 day old infant son who is now 11 yr old and life is great.

By: Stacey

Stacey — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:14:41 +0000

I’m with Brian – no one understand my dream to “retire” at 40. They think I want to stop working and start collect a pension/IRA distributions.

Our dream is to not “need” to work – but likely spending our days working part-time, plus volunteer work. We miss out on a lot of opportunities because of our 6-day work schedule.

By: Dave Ritter

Dave Ritter — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:10:01 +0000

FREEDOM! That should be the new definition of retirement! With the stresses and financial issues that most of us face daily, freedom from those stresses and issues should be the goal!

My personal goal is this: Done working for “the man” by age 55 at the latest. Survive with a four-legged chair of small govt pension, a 457, 2 Roth IRAS (me and wife) and SS (Whatever is left of it!)

Then, I will wake up every morning and do whatever I want! Work for a charity! Go golfing! Relax! Work at my church!

Freedom is the goal!!!!!

By: Rob O.

Rob O. — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:02:19 +0000

I’ve got a shade under 17 yrs in with my employer, so I do think of retirement from this job occasionally since it’s not too far out on the distant horizon.

The concept of retirement took on a different meaning for me when my brother, 6 years my senior, retired from the Air Force a couple of years ago. Seeing how he dealt with that change and what he’s done with the opportunity has really reshaped my notions.

And too, I just became a Dad last year, so that’s reshaping my future on a daily basis and shifted the perspective pretty dramatically.

Mostly, the appeal of retirement is that I’ll get to work on & for who I want, rather than need to. I will certainly want to DO something though – I need goals. I don’t think I could tolerate the old Norman Rockwell-esqe notion of retirement being spending all fishing and/or whittling on the front porch. I’d rather travel!