I can't tell you yet @Babs Hunt because neither hubs or I have retired yet, although recently I have reduced my workload by about 1/2 so now I only work around 35 hours a week.. or a little less. My intention is to retire this year , not because I want to at 62 but simply because the work is very physical and long hours and I have a few medical issues which the physical aspect of the job is taking it's toll on... so I have little choice but to leave after all things taken into consideration...however, and it;s a big however...I keep pushing back the final date for leaving..simply because I fear the lack of a regular salary.. and in my job there's a lot of interaction with people from every walk of life...I'd miss that part too.... My only daughter lives in a foreign country so I have to ensure that I'm financially secure enough to still be able to visit her whenever I want..so I keep pushing the date back thinking..ok, just one more month , get another pay check in the bank and leave next month...procrastination on a large scale...but my health is suffering more and more due to the sheer heavy workload..so I do have to make a decision sooner rather than later..and tbh, as my husband is only in his 50's and a long way from even thinking of retiring, then really if and when I retire I need to find something to fill my available time , because sitting at home would drive me stir crazy!!
@Holly Saunders It's good to have enough money to not have to worry about things when you do retire...but having good health when you retire is just as important, if not more so in some ways. I hope with cutting down your hours you are noticing a difference in your health problems for the better but if your health problems are getting worse even with you working less...then it is probably a good idea to quit working as soon as possible and do what you can do to improve your health so you will be able to enjoy your retirement. I pray God's best for you as you make your decisions and I hope your retirement, when it does happen, is everything you have hoped it will be.
You're absolutely correct @Babs Hunt, I totally agree , health is way more important... so I really have to make that retirement leap soon. Currently my plan is to continue to work until June when I leave on vacation... and then to potentially make my retirement date for July of this year...but it may turn out to be even sooner.. Bless you for your prayers and good wishes, they are very much appreciated..
@Holly Saunders , I like you, kept thinking that putting away one more paycheck was important. Although one thing we forget is that when we stop working, our normal monthly costs go down as well. But, the wear and tear we put our bodies through trying to assure that our retirement is at least comfortable is a cost we don't see until we are paying the price in our inability to enjoy them physically. Maybe you'll not have the finances you hope for, but at least you won't be staring at the money, and wishing you could go out and spend it.
I also thought when I finally retired I would be able to spend lots of time with my siblings, especially my five sisters since we all lived in the same City and all our kids would be grown and on their own by that time. But now here I am in retirement and my sisters have all moved, one to Metarie, LA, three to Florida, and one to Georgia. One of my brothers stayed here in Lafayette, but one moved to Oregon and the other to Texas. This would still all be just fine if the traveling plans I dreamed of in retirement had worked out...but that is not happening like in my dreams either now that my husband is losing his vision and I'm beginning to have more health problems too. My husband was always the main driver on our trips, I don't even like driving that much. But if I want to see more of my siblings then I will have to become the main driver now. Texas and Florida is not far but the thought of getting in all the congested traffic on the Interstate now days...makes me very anxious and I'm not sure if I can do it anymore. We don't have a whole lot of retirement income, but with so much family scattered all over trips would cost us mostly for the gas. Even if my husband's vision worsens, I'm sure he would still enjoy spending time with Family and with the newer vehicle God has blessed us with, we certainly now have the safe transportation to do some traveling in. I just need the courage to become the main driver and I'm going to be praying that God will give me that courage. Maybe not all our dreams can come true in retirement, but they sure can't come true if we don't have the courage to go for them.
If I can do it, so can you @Babs Hunt ....I'm not fond of heavy congested traffic either. When I had to pick my husband up from the hospital in San Francisco I was petrified. I've never driven there from Fresno and it's a 4 hr drive and I had to cross the bay bridge which was scary and the million lanes of heavy traffic before I even got to SF. Didn't have gps then or my iPhone. Spent the night studying my route, etc. I made it though...until I got into the city..then I got lost on those no left turn anywhere streets, always ended up back on the highway. Also ended up on the Golden Gate Bridge which was taking me out of SF again..with no way to turn around...that's when I thought I'd have a mental breakdown, lol Obviously eventually I made it...felt so much better driving back home with my husband in the front seat next to me. That was in march and he died in June.
Ours did not go as planned. We had planned to spend time between two little mini homes, one for winter, one for summer but the summer place on the lake had to be sold due to a bad costly financial mistake. We live and learn and adjust in time and looking around I see some with no place to call home so I tell myself not to lament what I gave up. At least I have a roof.
Money is stressed so much today concerning having a happy retirement. Good health is on the list as well, but with enough money, health problem costs can also be helped much easier also. Retired Seniors and motorhome travel seem to go hand-in-hand as well. But, since my wife is still working a full-time job, but has weekends off (thank God), my retirement isn't as good as it could be if she was retired as well. One thing we are very grateful for...........that she applied, and is getting, her full (FRA) SS each month. Hers and mine SS, along with her salary, gives us a good living that we probably won't have that much of later. Years ago, I never/ever thought about retirement. Actually, I never made a good enough salary to be able to put anything away for retirement. My wife, OTOH, has made good salaries and is involved with a retirement plan (401k) at work. I still say, retirement happiness really depends on money! Health is there, but money really talks.
Thanks for the encouragement Chrissy...it means a lot to me. I really want to venture out of my comfort zone here and I guess the best way to do it will to be to start taking short trips and as I get comfortable with this...then increase the distance. I'm thinking about asking my daughter if she will let me drive some of the way to Florida on Wednesday but we are going to have a Van full of grandkids...and they will be making alot of noise in their excitement at a trip to the beach...my driving under those conditions may not be the best idea.
I am the kind of person who when one dream doesn't work out....I always do my best to find another dream to replace it. As long as we are alive we should live life to the best of our ability and enjoy every moment we can.
Yea...wouldn't drive under those conditions either. What I hate is when I watch the grandsons in Illinois and I have to take them somewhere...and have to drive a strange huge minivan or a Jeep Wrangler, plus get three boys in the car, easier now that only one is in a car seat but was harder when they were all younger. Then I'm horrible with directions and tend to get lost, plus when I do get there I have 3 boys to watch and control and only 2 hands. I dread it and I tell my son that make sure I don't have to be driving them places. It's just too stressful keeping your eye on three active boys when we are out...anywhere.
Thank you @Ina I. Wonder , that's so profound and has really struck a chord with me unlike any other..I'll always remember that statement....thank you!!
I'm still working full time. My hope of working part time and having a permanent place to live that I own is not going so far as planned. I think I let a lot of fear run me. So I don't know if full retirement will go as planned at all. I'm not expecting money to travel. I'm just asking for a safe and decent place to live and enough money to support myself and pets.
Re: Is Your Retirement Turning Out The Way You Dreamed It Would? Better! Have more retirement income than we thought, live in a great small town now with lots of nice people, and we have a great, low-maintenance home with minimal yard to care for..