Retirement
 

Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA
www.kiene.com

Retirement
 

"Bill Kiene" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA
www.kiene.com



It has taken me about three years to accept the fact that I am retired. My
situation is a little unusual as I was given the opportunity to "retire" at
a early age (51). At first it was difficult to accept that I no longer had
to go to work every day and had a great deal of free time. I had a sense of
guilt for a while, not making meaningful accomplishments every day, and
justified it by considering myself important as a "consultant" to my prior
business.

Now, at the ripe old age of 54, I have finally started to accept being
retired and am beginning to enjoy some of the more simple pleasures of life.
I don't have big long term plans, I take life day by day, and enjoy doing
whatever turns me on at the moment. I am satisfied with whatever
accomplishments I made during my years in a technical based business, but
now recognize that a younger generation has taken it over with new and
frankly better ideas.

Mrs. E and I raised three kids, the youngest of whom became engaged during
the holidays. The two older kids are married and busy raising their young
families. (4 grandkids, so far). Our kids are, by far, our greatest
accomplishment.

So -- words of wisdom? Other than preparing yourself financially, you have
to prepare yourself mentally to learn to relax and realize there is more to
life than business, working and (for the benefit of the NG) getting all
wound up about politics. It sounds easy, but it is not.

Good luck and enjoy it!

Eisboch

Retirement
 

Since I've been retired for five years now, I feel I can partially answer
your question...

The best "time to retire" phrase that I've heard is ""When you HAVE enough,
and have HAD enough" it is time to retire. This was spoken only a few weeks
ago by a neighbor who is retiring TODAY. After a successful 35 years with a
major oil company...he has, apparently, "had enough and has enough".

Don't retire unless your job is done. By done, I mean that you have
accomplished all of whatever it is that made you go to work everyday all
those years. Don't retire just because "it is the thing to do". Don't
retire because you "think you have enough"...because you will spend the next
five years worrying whether or not you actually DO have enough. I said I'd
write a book on the topic after I retired....but I'm too busy enjoying
retirement to do that!

I spent the last 20 + years of my working career as an investment broker who
worked almost exclusively with retired and retiring clients in the Houston
area. I play golf with a bunch of them weekly now. A few things that I
cautioned them about were...

1. In the first two years after retirement, you will spend MORE than you
expected to.
2. After the first few years, your spending may well slow down to the dollar
amount than you actually hoped/expected to spend.
3. You won't be bored unless you work at being bored. 99% of my clients
would tell me, one year after retirement, that "They didn't know how they
ever had time to go to work, they are so busy". There are a zillion things
out there to do, from fishing; golfing; computers; church work;
meals-on-wheels; travel; bowling; grandkids; home repairs ( ugghhh);
working on your boat ( yea! )...and on and on and on.

I guess I COULD write the book on it, I have so many stories to tell, about
successful and unsuccessful retirees. RichG





"Bill Kiene" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA
www.kiene.com

Retirement
 

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 07:44:56 GMT, "Bill Kiene"
wrote:

Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

Yes. Find something to do. I have picked substitute teaching as a
means of staying as busy as I want to be. During my first six months
of doing nothing, I almost went totally bananas.

You can only fish and mow the grass so often. Also, most of the people
in this group sleep at some time of day, so you can't depend on a
good argument carrying you through 48 hours at a time.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

Retirement
 

I looked at my family death history and made a wild speculation based on the
family attributes how long statistically I might expect to live. When I
amassed the "toys" that I wanted to enjoy during retirement, when I turned
62, and when I had all the fun at TWA I could stand after 40 years, I
retired.

I made a few initial mistakes by accepting 40-50 hr per week jobs here and
there and amassed a few additional "toys" at the cost of enjoying my
retirement. I did this for the first three years. On year 4 I spent a lot
of time at our home at Lake of the Ozarks, worked at a local business when I
needed "mad money" or when they got in a pinch for help and find this works
much better.

I've out lived most family members by 10-15 years, am having a ball doing
what I enjoy, custom cabinet making for customers, restoring classic wood
boats for customers, restoring antique outboards, home maintenance and all
of it is on a "when I get around to it schedule"! I also maintain the
hardware and software at the local cabinet shop for their computer
controlled wood working equipment. I have been known to take a mid-day nap
now and then!

God has been good to me in spire of myself! I could not have planned it
this good!

Don Dando


"RG" wrote in message
...
Since I've been retired for five years now, I feel I can partially answer
your question...

The best "time to retire" phrase that I've heard is ""When you HAVE
enough,
and have HAD enough" it is time to retire. This was spoken only a few
weeks
ago by a neighbor who is retiring TODAY. After a successful 35 years with
a
major oil company...he has, apparently, "had enough and has enough".

Don't retire unless your job is done. By done, I mean that you have
accomplished all of whatever it is that made you go to work everyday all
those years. Don't retire just because "it is the thing to do". Don't
retire because you "think you have enough"...because you will spend the
next
five years worrying whether or not you actually DO have enough. I said I'd
write a book on the topic after I retired....but I'm too busy enjoying
retirement to do that!

I spent the last 20 + years of my working career as an investment broker
who
worked almost exclusively with retired and retiring clients in the Houston
area. I play golf with a bunch of them weekly now. A few things that I
cautioned them about were...

1. In the first two years after retirement, you will spend MORE than you
expected to.
2. After the first few years, your spending may well slow down to the
dollar
amount than you actually hoped/expected to spend.
3. You won't be bored unless you work at being bored. 99% of my clients
would tell me, one year after retirement, that "They didn't know how they
ever had time to go to work, they are so busy". There are a zillion
things
out there to do, from fishing; golfing; computers; church work;
meals-on-wheels; travel; bowling; grandkids; home repairs ( ugghhh);
working on your boat ( yea! )...and on and on and on.

I guess I COULD write the book on it, I have so many stories to tell,
about
successful and unsuccessful retirees. RichG





"Bill Kiene" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older
retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA
www.kiene.com

Retirement
 

I failed to mention that I bought several industrial upholstery sewing
machines and I'm learning to do the seats in the boats I restore. Having
time to do those things you always want to "get around to" is great!

Don Dando


"Don Dando" wrote in message
gy.com...
I looked at my family death history and made a wild speculation based on
the
family attributes how long statistically I might expect to live. When I
amassed the "toys" that I wanted to enjoy during retirement, when I turned
62, and when I had all the fun at TWA I could stand after 40 years, I
retired.

I made a few initial mistakes by accepting 40-50 hr per week jobs here and
there and amassed a few additional "toys" at the cost of enjoying my
retirement. I did this for the first three years. On year 4 I spent a
lot
of time at our home at Lake of the Ozarks, worked at a local business when
I
needed "mad money" or when they got in a pinch for help and find this
works
much better.

I've out lived most family members by 10-15 years, am having a ball doing
what I enjoy, custom cabinet making for customers, restoring classic wood
boats for customers, restoring antique outboards, home maintenance and all
of it is on a "when I get around to it schedule"! I also maintain the
hardware and software at the local cabinet shop for their computer
controlled wood working equipment. I have been known to take a mid-day
nap
now and then!

God has been good to me in spire of myself! I could not have planned it
this good!

Don Dando


"RG" wrote in message
...
Since I've been retired for five years now, I feel I can partially
answer
your question...

The best "time to retire" phrase that I've heard is ""When you HAVE
enough,
and have HAD enough" it is time to retire. This was spoken only a few
weeks
ago by a neighbor who is retiring TODAY. After a successful 35 years
with
a
major oil company...he has, apparently, "had enough and has enough".

Don't retire unless your job is done. By done, I mean that you have
accomplished all of whatever it is that made you go to work everyday all
those years. Don't retire just because "it is the thing to do". Don't
retire because you "think you have enough"...because you will spend the
next
five years worrying whether or not you actually DO have enough. I said
I'd
write a book on the topic after I retired....but I'm too busy enjoying
retirement to do that!

I spent the last 20 + years of my working career as an investment broker
who
worked almost exclusively with retired and retiring clients in the
Houston
area. I play golf with a bunch of them weekly now. A few things that I
cautioned them about were...

1. In the first two years after retirement, you will spend MORE than you
expected to.
2. After the first few years, your spending may well slow down to the
dollar
amount than you actually hoped/expected to spend.
3. You won't be bored unless you work at being bored. 99% of my clients
would tell me, one year after retirement, that "They didn't know how
they
ever had time to go to work, they are so busy". There are a zillion
things
out there to do, from fishing; golfing; computers; church work;
meals-on-wheels; travel; bowling; grandkids; home repairs ( ugghhh);
working on your boat ( yea! )...and on and on and on.

I guess I COULD write the book on it, I have so many stories to tell,
about
successful and unsuccessful retirees. RichG





"Bill Kiene" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older
retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA
www.kiene.com

Retirement
 

Retired?

Um, yeah, I guess so.... If you call being retired from the military, actually
"retiring". But with my teeny retirement pension from the Coast Guard, I
couldn't live off that and support my family. As it is now, it pays my
mortgage with a little change leftover. So, I stepped into the civilian world
and got a job, a whole new career, and at 42 years old, I still have a long way
to go before I retire!

Butch Ammon

Retirement
 

"Don Dando" wrote in message igy.com...
I failed to mention that I bought several industrial upholstery sewing
machines and I'm learning to do the seats in the boats I restore. Having
time to do those things you always want to "get around to" is great!

Don Dando

And there in lies my problem. I am under 50, have a few simple things
but am "retired" into doing my hobby, as is my wife. Between the two
of us we pay the bills. My dad was a master finish carpenter when he
came out of WW2. A few years later he decided to take a "safe" union
job at a warehouse. He always thought that he would retire after
raising his family and continue his love, carpentry. Well by the time
he retired he was a good two decades into Parkinsons disease, needless
to say I now have his shop and tools as he can not use them. Many
years ago we decided that life is short, you gotta do what you love,
there can be no compromise. It aint easy, but it's all good...
Scotty


"Don Dando" wrote in message
gy.com...
I looked at my family death history and made a wild speculation based on
the
family attributes how long statistically I might expect to live. When I
amassed the "toys" that I wanted to enjoy during retirement, when I turned
62, and when I had all the fun at TWA I could stand after 40 years, I
retired.

I made a few initial mistakes by accepting 40-50 hr per week jobs here and
there and amassed a few additional "toys" at the cost of enjoying my
retirement. I did this for the first three years. On year 4 I spent a
lot
of time at our home at Lake of the Ozarks, worked at a local business when
I
needed "mad money" or when they got in a pinch for help and find this
works
much better.

I've out lived most family members by 10-15 years, am having a ball doing
what I enjoy, custom cabinet making for customers, restoring classic wood
boats for customers, restoring antique outboards, home maintenance and all
of it is on a "when I get around to it schedule"! I also maintain the
hardware and software at the local cabinet shop for their computer
controlled wood working equipment. I have been known to take a mid-day
nap
now and then!

God has been good to me in spire of myself! I could not have planned it
this good!

Don Dando


"RG" wrote in message
...
Since I've been retired for five years now, I feel I can partially
answer
your question...

The best "time to retire" phrase that I've heard is ""When you HAVE
enough,
and have HAD enough" it is time to retire. This was spoken only a few
weeks
ago by a neighbor who is retiring TODAY. After a successful 35 years
with
a
major oil company...he has, apparently, "had enough and has enough".

Don't retire unless your job is done. By done, I mean that you have
accomplished all of whatever it is that made you go to work everyday all
those years. Don't retire just because "it is the thing to do". Don't
retire because you "think you have enough"...because you will spend the
next
five years worrying whether or not you actually DO have enough. I said
I'd
write a book on the topic after I retired....but I'm too busy enjoying
retirement to do that!

I spent the last 20 + years of my working career as an investment broker
who
worked almost exclusively with retired and retiring clients in the
Houston
area. I play golf with a bunch of them weekly now. A few things that I
cautioned them about were...

1. In the first two years after retirement, you will spend MORE than you
expected to.
2. After the first few years, your spending may well slow down to the
dollar
amount than you actually hoped/expected to spend.
3. You won't be bored unless you work at being bored. 99% of my clients
would tell me, one year after retirement, that "They didn't know how
they
ever had time to go to work, they are so busy". There are a zillion
things
out there to do, from fishing; golfing; computers; church work;
meals-on-wheels; travel; bowling; grandkids; home repairs ( ugghhh);
working on your boat ( yea! )...and on and on and on.

I guess I COULD write the book on it, I have so many stories to tell,
about
successful and unsuccessful retirees. RichG





"Bill Kiene" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older
retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA
www.kiene.com

Retirement
 

"Bill Kiene" wrote in message m...
Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

Oh, one more thing. During retirement, cars are handy so keep your
keys in your pocket..

Retirement
 

I am semi-retired. After the last layoff, tried to retire (I am 60) but got
bored. So not wanting to commute to the Silicon Valley anymore, I got my
contractors license and do small jobs that bring in some money, and keep me
alert. My mother just turned 89 and she still works 1 day a week as an RN
at a convalescent home. Does not need the money, but keeps her interested
in the world, and helping out. The fact I am self employed allows me to
take trips when I want to. You can only boat and fish so much locally. So
buying a new diesel pickumup and a camper so I can tow the boat to BC and
fish Lloyds region and other distant venues. Maybe you can do some fly
tying classes for the local adult school or a fly shop. Seminars, sort of
like Jay Fair. Also get involved in some charitable work. Have to keep
some outside interests oor you get old quick.
Bill

"John H" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 07:44:56 GMT, "Bill Kiene"
wrote:

Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

Yes. Find something to do. I have picked substitute teaching as a
means of staying as busy as I want to be. During my first six months
of doing nothing, I almost went totally bananas.

You can only fish and mow the grass so often. Also, most of the people
in this group sleep at some time of day, so you can't depend on a
good argument carrying you through 48 hours at a time.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

Retirement
 

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 07:44:56 GMT, "Bill Kiene"
wrote:

Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older retired
crowd?

The best advise, which I followed, was do not wait until you retire to
take up some activity. After 34 years with the school system, I
retired. I loved teaching and love sailing. Thus I am a cruising
instructor. That keeps me quite busy. Our company has a desk in a
travel agency; I man that two to three days a week. In the second
week of January I will be teaching coastal navigation for eight weeks.
Come boating season I will be on the water more often. Last year I
got in about 50 days of instruction.

I also got more serious about my golf. In the off season I play
squash three times a week.

Jack

__________________________________________________
Jack Dale
Swiftsure Sailing Academy
Director/ISPA and CYA Instructor
http://www.swiftsuresailing.com
Phone: 1 (877) 470-SAIL (toll free)
__________________________________________________

Retirement
 

Timely topic as I retired today after completing my 32 year sentence.
I had hoped to retire next year....but they made me an offer I couldn't
refuse.
With my pension, I should net about 80% of what I net working without
touching my nest egg.
With my house paid for and no bills except for utility & taxes I probably
will be in the same financial shape I'm in now
My first order of business...take the gift certificates and buy a
membership
at the Y. I plan to get in better shape now that my time is my own.

Bill Kiene wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA
www.kiene.com

Retirement
 

Timely topic as I retired today

Congratulations, Don. My last was three years ago today. I got a few
chuckles reading the other posts in this thread. Not surprisingly, we all
share some thoughts:

Feeling guilty about gettin' money for nothing.

Let's see, when am I due back at work.

How did I ever manage to keep up with all this AND work 40 hrs. a week.

Can't believe how much $$ spent that first year: new van, boat,
snowblower, lawnmower, hardwood floors, 3rd dog, rods, reels, etc.

There were a few moments in the first couple of months when I had this "
What have I done?! Will they take me back?!" panic but since then I've never
looked back. It takes everyone a little time to take up new (or expand
existing) activities and achieve a new equilibrium. As noted above you can
only fish and mow the yard so much but its amazing how much new stuff just
sorta' flows in to fill the time.

Retirement
 

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 07:44:56 GMT, "Bill Kiene"
wrote:

Hi All,

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

I'm 54 now and I retired in 1972 because I was disabled at work.
I keep busy with whatever interests me. Celestial navigation,
newsgroups and sailing my 13ft. Banshee when the water isn't solid.

I'm caring for my father now but plan on getting a sailboat (Maybe a
Gulf 32 Pilothouse? Thanks Ole Thom.) and hanging out on the water
after he passes away. So I study sailing and navigation (coastal and
celestial) and get practical hints from newsgroups while sailing in
the summer on local lakes.

Keeps me busy.
Mark E. Williams

Retirement
 

I was wondering how many people here are retired?

Any words of wisdom about preparing for retirement from the older retired
crowd?

I want to retire so I can go boating more often.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA
www.kiene.com

Great topic! I retire this Friday (Jan 2nd) and face it with some
trepedation and much anticipation. 37 years was enough but I'm not sure who
I will be without the job to help define me.

I've joined the Coast Guard Auxillary (America's Volunteer Lifesavers), am
taking a Grand Banks 32 for a sea trial on Tuesday, and am looking into
part-time teaching.

My wife, on the other hand, is afraid I'll just follow her about and bug
her.

The great adventure begins!!

Everett

Retirement
 

Don White wrote:

Timely topic as I retired today after completing my 32 year sentence.
I had hoped to retire next year....but they made me an offer I couldn't
refuse.
With my pension, I should net about 80% of what I net working without
touching my nest egg.
With my house paid for and no bills except for utility & taxes I probably
will be in the same financial shape I'm in now
My first order of business...take the gift certificates and buy a
membership
at the Y. I plan to get in better shape now that my time is my own.

That's great news, Don. Hope you live long and enjoy it all. Two good
friends of mine were offered early retirement last year, and the
sweetener was lifetime health care coverage for themselves and their
spouses. It was the incentive that made the deal.





--
Email sent to is never read.

Retirement
 

My case is a bit different than most of the posters. 16 years ago, I
was hit with a severe hearing loss and being in sales, meant I had to
take the company disability package and get out. Which I did. I really
bit the bullet for the first year, but with SSA and my company
disability pay, I got along better than I had expected. The big break
is that taxes go way down. I concentrated on getting my outstanding
debts paid off. (House, car, etc) I even found room in the budget for
a small boat, my beloved 21 ft. Bayliner.....
The first year was frustrating, I had been in the work force since I
was 15 and found it hard to not get up and hit the road every morning.
But, by the time I was legally able to take a job (age 65), I no longer
wanted to give up my time. Age and infirmity has robbed me of most of
my boating/fishing companions, so I will probably give up the boat this
spring. Perhaps go to a small (15 -17) footer for fishing. Good
luck and enjoy your retirement.

Norm