Was just wondering, since we're all getting to that age, if not already there. How many of you are retired? How many still work - is it full-time or part-time? Has the economy effected you, career-wise. If you still work, what do you do, and at what age do you think you'll retire? I quit work years ago to raise my son, who is now 25. The ungrateful wretch moved out when he went to school and hasn't looked back since - lol. It sure is lonely without him. I was a computer programmer, back in the '80s, so what little I remember is completely obsolete. I've actually been thinking of getting back to work, but not sure what I can do - especially since being over 50 makes it hard to get work, especially for somebody without a college degree and not many marketable skills. My husband got sick about 5 years ago, and is now disabled, so he is home, too. it's nice to be "retired" at an early age (I'm 54, he's 59), but the fixed income thing is a real pain in the butt!!
I've just turned 62 and one year from now I will be entitled to start receiving a pension. I am happy to be still working, but after 40+ years of work I'm also counting the days to retirement at an age when I can enjoy it and make the most of my time. My father died at the age that I am now, so he and my mother never had the chance to enjoy retirement together. I am planning to do more voluntary work when I retire, as well as taking advantageof free and discounted travel for seniors. I am in good health and I intend to do a lot more physical exercise than I have time for now. Although I'm excited about the benefits of retirement and the security of having a regular income from my pension, I know it will be hard for me to give up my freelance work, which I enjoy and it gives me great satisfaction.
I'm sixty-three, and I work online, full-time for one web directory, part-time for another, and per-edit for a third, as well as doing a variety of other things online.
Ken, can you explain this further. What do you do for a web directory - I'm not even sure I know what that is? Also, what are per-edit jobs? How do find work like this - what kind of qualifications do you have? I would love to find some kind of work that I could do at home, online. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I was one of the earliest editors for the Open Directory Project, which is now DMOZ, a massive volunteer-driven web directory. Without pay, hundreds of thousands of editors around the world contributed many hours each week to the project, which continues today, although I am no longer an editor there. I later volunteered with two other large-scale web directories, one of them owned by Disney, both of which are now defunct. That i how I learned my way around the business, through many years as a volunteer. Everyone I know of who is now working, for pay, with one directory or another, began as a volunteer. Someone I worked with at the ODP was hired by another web directory to assemble a team of experienced editors, who would be paid per edit. I was one of those, and that is one of the jobs that I still do, as I can find the time. Through another person I had worked with at more than one directory, I was recruited to work full-time for another directory, my hours ranging from 30-50 hours per week, and I have recently begun working ten hours a week for a network of directories.
What is your definition of work for me it is doing something I don't like to do, just to get paid. Now I do more than what I did before and enjoy it so it is not work. I do a lot now if they pay me it is great if they don't it dose not matter because it is fun.
Most of my life I have done things that I enjoyed doing and, in a couple of cases, doing something that I had previously done for nothing. I began my career in EMS as a volunteer.
Sadly I work for the biggest retailer on the planet, LOL I am grateful for the work, but it's very hard, and sometimes frustrating, as I have a very strong work ethic, and I don't suffer fools or lazy people easily. I stayed home for many years and raised and home-schooled a family of 5 kids. Then divorce reared its ugly head, so I had to find gainful employment. It IS extremely difficult to get back into the workforce after 20 years, but I had a relative who helped. Now my kids are in college, and I look forward to a good and peaceful retirement with my cats.
I took early retirement last year, partially lured by a tax-free lump sum, but largely because I was fed up with doing an increasingly pointless job for a government department. Since then, I've written two books (one published) and do various bits and pieces of writing. The money's rubbish, but the hours are great...
I retired in 2007. I was not planning it, but the economy did me in. Now, I write articles when I want to, but as soon as I have enough for the rent I stop. Fortunately, here in Thailand my rent and utilities come in at about US$160.
I receive my monthly social security check and still work as an insurance agent working with medicare and final expenses. Most of my work can be done online or still go out to meet with my clients. I do like having the choice of how I want to work.
I am still a slave to the grind, I work 40 plus hours a week and then work some more to do the things I have to do. I wish I could tell you I do it because I love it, but that would be a lie. I work because I have to, I have maybe 15 more years before I can retire. I am at that funny point for the boomers where I think I have to be 67 or 72 years old. I think a lot about retiring, I hope I can enjoy it although I have little to look forward to. Sadly I have never been fortunate enough to work a job with any sorts of benefits and struggle even now to make it. I have hope my son will care for me but I do worry about my health. I have doubts that there will be social security like my parents had it when I get to that point, I hope there will be something or I will be screwed. I stay at the current job because there is a bit of flexibility and I am able to get the things I need to do done without having to jump through to many hoops. There is a bit of stress in the job and a fair amount of frustration. That is a story for another time. I think about things I could do that might fund me towards these golden years, but I guess I am jaded now and just don't like the risk.
I'm only 52 and still an able-bodied employee. Although I have the option to retire, it is not practical because we can't afford for the salary I'm earning now to be cut off. My husband is 60 and he had retired although now he still works as a consultant. He loves his work and I'm glad that he enjoys working.
I'm a general manager for an Exxon Tigermart. I have been in the general management world for almost 30 years. I've been at this one for long enough that I make pretty good money. It isn't physically exhausting, I pretty much decide my hours as long as I get no less than 50 a week.