For the Recently or Soon to be Retired

Yes, I was looking forward to it. However, I was a downsize victim about 6-months before my planned retirement date. Not a biggie. I kinda felt a little off kilter for the first week, but it was all good after that.

Best thing I heard other retirees say (before I retired), "If I knew it would be this nice, I would have done it sooner!"
I can now agree.

I’m looking about 5 years down the road. I’d be retiring early so I’d be living on savings until I can start dipping into my retirement accounts.

The big issue is healthcare costs. If it weren’t for having to pay for insurance totally out of pocket I could probably retire now.

Ultimately my goal is to get to a place where I don’t have to care if I get laid off due to downsizing or automation, and when / if that happens collect my severance and say “see ya!”

But at my current rate of growth by the time I can access my retirement accounts (and get on Medicare) I should actually be better off than I am now since now I put so much away.

I do love compounding.

There will just have to be some lean years in between. How lean depends on how long I can hang on in my current industry. But 5 years and I should be set without much concern.

Shortly before my wife turned 62 last December and became eligible for SS, we realized that we could get by with both of us collecting SS.  I was 6 months shy of my "official" retirement age of 66, but didn't really lose much be retiring at 65 1/2.  The project they were about to put me in charge of would have taken its toll, about a 7 hour drive, twice a week.  That was a factor, also, because I know they would have begged me (and expected me) to just 'stay there' and come home every other weekend, to reduce travel time and increase work time.  12 hour days were also becoming "expected".  I knew it was time and I gave them 3 months notice.  I'm still grateful to the fellow employee that tipped me off in advance, he didn't realize that I was that close to retirement.

As the tattoo on the guy's arm says, "No Regerts".  Retirement has been great so far!

I'm looking at about 3 more years. I was "promoted" from Plant Manager to Sales and Marketing Manager a couple years ago. If it wasnt for that, I wouldve taken early retirement.
But after 35 years at the same company the thrill is gone. I'm trying to refresh my interest by taking on a personal challenge. But I could go tomorrow and be just fine. I worry about how well I'm set for retirement though. One fly in the ointment is that my wife is 10 yrs younger and has to continue working to pay her own medical at least. I fear her income will keep us in too high a tax bracket.

I "retired" one year ago at 60. I was a co-owner, so part of my payout is to continue getting paid as an employee/consultant (with insurance) until I can get medicare. I don't actually consult or work there. I could have stayed longer, and probably left some $$ on the table, but I'm a tiny bit ashamed to admit I can't gut working with millennials. Ok, I'm not ashamed at all.

I have no regrets, I wish I could have done it sooner. Keep busy. I'm in 3 bands right now (I play bass) and subbing for a 4th.

After 27 years at the same company as Quality Manager and finally as Director of Quality in a pressure cooker stressful position I was ready. I hated giving up the substantial salary and benefits but at some point it is just not worth it. I’m so much poorer but better off now! 

I would like to retire in 10 years but maybe what I really need is a nice long sabbatical..

Prolly this year. I had intended to wait a few but dr tells me I have inflammatory arthritis. At this point work is a struggle. I hope retirement is not

I've been fortunate in life that I got to retire twice. I made a fair bit early in my career, invested reasonably wisely, and called it a day at 43 (almost 44 truth be told). After five years of loafing, I was bored and started the FDP as a hobby business.  After 22 years of the FDP, I was pretty burnt out so called it another day, now at 69. We're more than set for the lifestyle we lead so I suspect I'll enjoy doing whatever catches my interest for the remaining years I have on this side of the Universe.

Jhawkr, I remember when I mentioned I had been at Alef’s Harley Davidson (different owner now) that was close to your work location in Wichita.

I've always (pretty much) been self-employed. I am/was a photographer for a range of magazines and commercial clients around the world. It was/is a very cool "job." Mostly doing stuff other folks were paying to do. Working in the adventure sports, travel, lifestyle, etc., themes. But as with much of the photography industry (never did weddings and any of that retail stuff), the age of the internet, digital, toasters and watches that take pictures (I didn't say they were good quality!!), not to mention phones, the photo industry has taken a big dive. You've probably noticed how thin many of the magazines (if you still get them) have gotten. Fortunately, my career covered most of the golden years of the photo industry, the publishing industry, and the adventure sports industries. So I got phased out rather than actually making a move towards a targeted retirement. I didn't want to give it up, but the handwriting was on the wall. Mind you, not much has changed for me. During the winters I always skied every day. Now...well...I still ski every day. Only now I don't have to come back with "the goods." Like some of you, I did not spend extravagantly (as I've mentioned elsewhere on the forum) and got my jollies from experiences rather than purchases. So I put the money away and invested in the financial markets. Did quite well over the years. I took Soc Sec early, as I wanted to be grand-fathered in, in case they pulled the plug. My days are full (never had the luxury of being bored), as with the skiing every day, having to tend my horses each day, plenty of chores, friends, family, and ranching stuff in the summer, I don't have much idle time. But I've never been one to watch, or go to, the movies, TV, or other sedentary pursuits. I'm fortunate to have a body and health profile that's been great to me and I can continue high-level activities. Sure...I get tired and can't wait to go to sleep at night. But man...I'm still having a blast. Just not making any income from my career. My ego took a hit initially, but I've gotten comfortable with it at this point. Counting my blessings...

I retired at age 69 after having worked 11 years for the State of Louisiana. At that age and with over 10 years I qualified for a pension along with my Social Security check. I was going to work until age 72 but since I had had chemo and Rituxan treatments, I was not sleeping well and one day decided to retire.

I do not regret  not hanging on for three more years. I must be such a slacker.

I *could* retire now if I wanted to (age 57), but I'm not sure what I'd do...go get another job I guess. I'm partially retired now in that I only work 32 hours a week, which I have enjoyed. 

I have a bunch of hobbies, but I suspect I'd quickly fall into the same pattern I follow on weekends, which is to get up around 7, sip coffee and enjoy the morning until 9, get cleaned up/dressed, then putter around the house most of the day alternating between getting wrapped up in  movies and doing the occasional chore. I never come close to getting done what I wanted to get done on weekends. 

As crazy as it sounds, I'm more productive when I'm busier. 

So when I do retire, I would probably look for a low impact job that's not super demanding just to give me some structure to my life.