Ed Kennell 46,633 #26 Posted 23 hours ago Congrats. Jim and Mike. Best wishes for health and happiness. Enjoy every day, you earned it. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 4,827 #27 Posted 14 hours ago On 7/30/2026 at 10:01 PM, wh500special said: Hard to think I’m getting old enough that it’s even on the radar. I have 25 years to go, and I think about it every day. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CCW 1,513 #28 Posted 11 hours ago Gotta say, retirement is the best job I have ever had. As many of you are aware we get to do nothing and if it isn't finished we pick tomorrow right were we left off. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 17,002 #29 Posted 10 hours ago 30 minutes ago, CCW said: Gotta say, retirement is the best job I have ever had. I really enjoyed most of the jobs I had during my working career and retired somewhat reluctantly. I’ve gotten used to it, though. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 46,633 #30 Posted 9 hours ago 42 minutes ago, Handy Don said: really enjoyed most of the jobs Same here. I retired with 42 years of service, only because I needed more time off for myself and my family. The day after I retired I continued working as a consultant for another 7 years.....on my own schedule 4 hours ago, adsm08 said: I have 25 years to go, and I think about it every day. Retirement is great, but I would love to have 25 years to go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Razorback 1,364 #31 Posted 9 hours ago (edited) Congratulations on your retirement! I am 63, will post 45 years with IBM on Monday. Retirement is looking better and better every day. This "workin' for a livin'" gets in the way of a LOT of stuff we want to do! Edited 9 hours ago by Razorback 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 4,827 #32 Posted 9 hours ago (edited) 13 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said: Retirement is great, but I would love to have 25 years to go. I probably have at least 55 to live. I'm just tired of having to get up and go to work every day, and my phone never seems to stop ringing for work at home too. I flagged 41 hours between 7AM Thursday, and 11:30 Friday, and most of that work was done in that time. Between 11:30 and 4 on Friday I did a clutch in a Focus, which pays another 9 hours. On the rare occasions I have actually had time to do anything I actually want to do this summer I haven't had the energy. Edited 9 hours ago by adsm08 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MainelyWheelhorse 2,909 #33 Posted 6 hours ago I’m in the same boat as @adsm08 with about 19 to go to 65 then whatever the age is for retirement is once I get there. Hopefully it’s still with Hannaford as it’s been the best job I had so far. Only time will tell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beap52 2,392 #34 Posted 6 hours ago I retired three years ago. Started working right after high school so after 52 years decided that was enough. Most of my career was self-employed carpenter/handyman. It was harder off loading the tools from my work truck than I expected. I suppose a fellow's chosen career seems to, in part, define who he is. I still do a fair amount of handyman work--mostly for folks who need help or organizations who are trying to do good for humanity. What has changed is, that when folks ask how much they owe me, I tell them to donate to their church, or charity of their choosing whatever the job was worth to them. We spend a good amount of our time helping with the three grandchildren. The youngest, special needs, takes a lot of papa's time going to therapies and hanging out because going with his family outings causes him stress. Kept him about 4 1/2 hours today while family spent time with some friends. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 9,086 #35 Posted 4 hours ago Congratulations on your retirement. You will be suprised to see how busy you will be. I retired 8 years ago. Spent the first month reading a stack of books I had collected before I got board enough to start in on other projects. Stay active and try to have a bit of fun every day. My wife and I play a game of cribbage just about every day. She is currently on a winning streak, so the fun factor for me is currently dimished..... 2 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ML3 2,403 #36 Posted 3 hours ago Congratulations both of you. I'm contemplating retiring sometime in the near future. I'm 55yrs old....I want out! My daughter has to finish college. Tuition & shes still on my healthcare plan. Thats my biggest concern/expense when retiring young. Also my girlfriend is 40yrs old & idk if shes ready for me to be home all the time?????🙄 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 17,002 #37 Posted 2 hours ago 25 minutes ago, ML3 said: Thats my biggest concern/expense when retiring young. Healthcare is a major factor as part of an overall plan. If you don’t already have a trusted fiduciary financial advisor, now is a great time to start shopping around. I wasn’t as prepared as I could have been. My spouse worked for three years after I retired (hers was more vocation than job) and we survived! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ML3 2,403 #38 Posted 1 hour ago 36 minutes ago, Handy Don said: Healthcare is a major factor as part of an overall plan. If you don’t already have a trusted fiduciary financial advisor, now is a great time to start shopping around. I wasn’t as prepared as I could have been. My spouse worked for three years after I retired (hers was more vocation than job) and we survived! I've had a financial planner since I was 26yrs old. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 46,633 #39 Posted 1 hour ago 31 minutes ago, Handy Don said: Healthcare is a major factor as part of an overall plan. I retired at 62.5 and used COBRA for 1.5 years. Still had to buy health insurance for 1 year before I was eligible for Medicare. Mrs.K is a few months younger than me. I asked my insurance guy what to do when I took Medicare and Mrs.K was not eligible? His answer...wrap her in bubble wrap. BTW, that one year that I had to buy health insurance cost 4X what I paid for my first house. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites