I have been pondering on this since I was layed off a few months ago. From websites and the AARP magazine they all seem overwhelming to me with so much to consider. They talk about pensions, Social Security, investing, and not to forget medical, dental and vision. There is also mention that your Social Security benefits increase the if you continue to work until then. On the down side your SS benefits will be affected if you have a pension plan which I think is unfair. After pondering all these things it made me realize that working until your retirement age, Lord willing, is not such a bad thing. There are a few years before I reach my retirement age now I just have to find a job that I will be happy with until then.
I would love to be able to work till "retirement" age. But, I made the choice to be a stay-at-home mom and put my career on the back burner. I was a programmer and figured that I could always go back to work whenever I wanted. However, here I am 25 years later and things have changed a little in the computer field!! The little bit I remember is so totally obsolete. I made the remark to my husband the other day, that I couldn't even get a job answering phones - with the complicated phone systems they have nowadays. And of course with the job market the way it is and the feelings toward hiring anyone over the age of 50 anymore. Oh well, I guess I've made a career as a housewife without even knowing it. Just wish it paid better!!
Mal in this environment we now live in tech changes so quickly you are always going to a class to stay current with the new tech. If you are interested in going back to work the first thing you want to do is look at what classes you need to take and start taking them, it does not take long to get current. Pick one subject or system and get good at that, you don't need to know them all. My field was accounting so I becames an expert in Excel everything else I just ignored it. I had no trouble find work. I am 70 and still work, self employed but I work and have no thought of stopping.
I don't want to work forever but Life seems to think otherwise. 70 to me seems like forever, way to long to be in a job. I started working when I was 14 years old, I lied and said I was 16, no one ever checked. I plan to only work till I am 67 the latest. As far as worrying about all the details I am pretty confident they will sort themselves out. I only hope I have the capacity of mind and body to be able to enjoy being elderly. I plan to live well into my 90's.
I'm self employed and I might want to supplement my pension, if I am able to, by continuing to do some occasional work. I would probably miss it if I stopped completely, but do intend to stop working 7 days a week. My father did not live long enough to retire and when my mother died she was only three years older than I am now. I have so many plans for retirement activities that I don't have time for because I need to earn a living. I want to do some more voluntary work, get out more and have more time to explore the area where I now live. I'm thinking of learning to play a musical instrument, take some practical art lessons, start some craftwork, join some senior clubs and more. I can do none of these as long as I continue with my present workload. I am counting down the months now until I qualify for my retirement pension.
This is a very positive outlook on retirement, Jenn. I'm am going to keep these words at the forefront of my mind as I continue to plan for my retirement.
I like to work maybe 3-4 days a week right now, some days it maybe a 10 hour day but I decide what my hours will be. I do want to start doing some fun things like travel more and have more lunch dates with some jazz and a glass of wine.
I'd like to keep working until I'm 65, just so I can keep saving up for my retirement. I wish I was one of those people who had planned everything out in their 20's, but I definitely didn't think that far ahead. I couldn't ever imagine myself at 40, let alone 50 or 60... But here I am in my 50's, having a great time - and remembering to save a bit for the future...
Hey all. I personally haven't even considered "retirement"-- I used to say, back in my 20s, that I had retired when I quit a full-time job and took a part-time job as an ESL teacher, only a couple of hours a day, four days a week. However, even when I was playing at being an early retired person, I didn't consider a time in my future when I would stop working to enjoy the final years of my life in a leisurely fashion. Even now, at 55, I don't consider retirement. I expect I will still be working when my time comes. I do hope I won't be doing what I am presently doing (there's a separate thread brewing in my mind about that! ha!), but I do know, severe disability (and it would have to be very severe!) aside, that I will just keep on working at something or other. Though I live in a socialistic democracy, the pension I will be given when I finally reach the official age of 67 will hardly buy coffee and milk, so I'll still have to do something to support myself, I'm sure there won't be that much savings to get through the 30-some years I'll have ahead of me in only 17 from now. I also look at it in another light. When Herbert Von Karajan retired (admittedly, due to poor health) he died soon after, despite continuing his work on the side. I think the same happened to Leonard Bernstein, he retired one day and a few days later he passed away. I think in the case of these two, their work, their vocation, was part of their life, integral. By retiring they kind of stopped living. I'm "cursed" with this vocational attitude towards my work (even my current job--arrgh!) and kind of feel that if I am not working I wouldn't have much reason to continue living. Just my outlook on "retirement". peace, revel.
When i have set myself to retire next year, i became aware of the many things of value of my workplace to me. I have been a college librarian for close to 36 years and I came to really love my work but the prospect of staying at home and having more time in my garden seems more attractive than continuing to work until the mandatory retirement age.
I've retired from my job 2 years ago not because of physical limitations because i am only 58 years old but because of the sense of purpose and the satisfaction i did not find in my 35 years of working in that industry. I feel I will still work up to my dying years as long as I can see the eternal purpose of it.
I definitely want to continue to work in various ways for the rest of my life. I want to be able to be involved in serving others and encouraging others through ministry especially. Having observed my parents during the final years of their lives, it was important for them to be involved in a schedule of work, service and play.
yeah, it is a fact that as long as you're alive you will always find something to use up your time and what better way to use it up but for the betterment of humanity and the glory of God in Jesus Christ!
John, I can see you and I are thinking the same way! I love seeing how God works through the Holy Spirit. It is a great joy in my life!