Retirement Thread

[trndobrd]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Happy for you but WTF SS? You got pissed off at Missouri teachers?

EDIT: Its about your state being a "Windfall" state. NHo idea what that means but Missouri is one, Kansas must not be.

Originally, SS was not available to government employees that had state retirement plans. When SS was expanded in the 1950s to include public employees, some states chose to opt out. A few states later joined SS, but many teachers retired without enough years accrued in SS to get a retirement benefit.

https://www.teacherpensions.org/blog...ocial-security

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Icon

My wife is a retired teacher (Kansas) and her SS is not affected by being a teacher. She gets her KPERS pension plus SS of about $2500/month. Combined total of about $4500. Very nice!

I am in a similar position on the Missouri side. I have a while but now that I am 40 I am starting to try and run the numbers or looking into the crystal ball in regard to what LAGERS (pension) and SS will look like. A lot pension wise is determined by my last 3 years of service. I *could* retire at 55 but I doubt that is in the cards for me we will see.

[BigRedChief]

From Redditt

Retirement doesn’t need to mean Viking cruises on the Danube, or RVing for three years, or hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I’m a huge fan of the Small Adventure, something that gets you out of the house for one thing or another, but requires neither a big expense or big time away from home. Let’s make a post cataloguing favorite Small Adventures to share. Here are some of ours.

[ ] Try one new recipe a week, especially if it involves a new, fun ingredient like swordfish, whole fennel, or garam masala. Take the time to shop for the ingredients, maybe in specialty shops.

[ ] Volunteer 2 afternoons a month at an animal shelter. Cats and dogs mostly need attention, touching, play time from volunteers. Training is an hour, typically.

[ ] Find a nature trail and walk it regularly. If it’s a 10 mile trail and you can’t walk that far, then park at one trailhead, walk to the next trailhead and back, and then walk the next leg next time.

[ ] Have one library book at home at all times. It’s nice to make a regular visit every couple of weeks to see new titles.

[ ] Go to the Tuesday matinee movie with your partner, which is usually dirt cheap.

[ ] Volunteer at your nearest grade school, helping 1st and 2nd graders read. Little girls and boys that are a little behind get special attention/practice with these volunteers.

[ ] Draw a 4-hour driving radius around your home for day trips. It’s amazing how many towns are inside that radius (unless Alaska, Hawaii, Montana) and there’s usually something fun in every town. If you leave by 8 in the morning, you’re there by lunch. If you’re done by 5pm, you can drive home. Otherwise spend a night in a motel and come home the next day.

[ ] Get to know your neighbors if you were too busy to do that while you were working. Just carry a plate of cookies, knock on a door. Hit the whole block by the time six months are gone.

[ ] With your spouse or a good friend, go to a sidewalk cafe, sip coffee, and tell each other fictional backstories of other people on the street. “He hasn’t seen her in 15 years and is wondering what she wants.” “She’s a field agent and got a report he’s been selling secrets to Venezuelans.”

[ ] Go to a fruit farm during picking season, get a peck of strawberries or apples or melons.

[ ] Test drive a new car every month. Give a fake email address. It’s a nice way to see what an Escalade or a Porsche feels like.

[ ] See how many federally managed parks and preserves there are in your state. With a lifetime senior parks pass ($80), visit all of them over the course of several years. There are about 2000 nationally.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

From Redditt

Retirement doesn’t need to mean Viking cruises on the Danube, or RVing for three years, or hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I’m a huge fan of the Small Adventure, something that gets you out of the house for one thing or another, but requires neither a big expense or big time away from home. Let’s make a post cataloguing favorite Small Adventures to share. Here are some of ours.

[ ] Try one new recipe a week, especially if it involves a new, fun ingredient like swordfish, whole fennel, or garam masala. Take the time to shop for the ingredients, maybe in specialty shops.

[ ] Volunteer 2 afternoons a month at an animal shelter. Cats and dogs mostly need attention, touching, play time from volunteers. Training is an hour, typically.

[ ] Find a nature trail and walk it regularly. If it’s a 10 mile trail and you can’t walk that far, then park at one trailhead, walk to the next trailhead and back, and then walk the next leg next time.

[ ] Have one library book at home at all times. It’s nice to make a regular visit every couple of weeks to see new titles.

[ ] Go to the Tuesday matinee movie with your partner, which is usually dirt cheap.

[ ] Volunteer at your nearest grade school, helping 1st and 2nd graders read. Little girls and boys that are a little behind get special attention/practice with these volunteers.

[ ] Draw a 4-hour driving radius around your home for day trips. It’s amazing how many towns are inside that radius (unless Alaska, Hawaii, Montana) and there’s usually something fun in every town. If you leave by 8 in the morning, you’re there by lunch. If you’re done by 5pm, you can drive home. Otherwise spend a night in a motel and come home the next day.

[ ] Get to know your neighbors if you were too busy to do that while you were working. Just carry a plate of cookies, knock on a door. Hit the whole block by the time six months are gone.

[ ] With your spouse or a good friend, go to a sidewalk cafe, sip coffee, and tell each other fictional backstories of other people on the street. “He hasn’t seen her in 15 years and is wondering what she wants.” “She’s a field agent and got a report he’s been selling secrets to Venezuelans.”

[ ] Go to a fruit farm during picking season, get a peck of strawberries or apples or melons.

[ ] Test drive a new car every month. Give a fake email address. It’s a nice way to see what an Escalade or a Porsche feels like.

[ ] See how many federally managed parks and preserves there are in your state. With a lifetime senior parks pass ($80), visit all of them over the course of several years. There are about 2000 nationally.

This is one of the best posts on this thread......you don't need to be Jet Set John and Jane to enjoy your retirement. I love all of these suggestions save for the one where I go to my local coffee house and make up stories.

The Senior Lifetime Pass is one of those things many people overlook....I know I did once I turned 62 and now I regret it. $80 to go to any National Park for free? And if you don't want to do the Lifetime Pass and just want to try one out for a year? They have the Annual Pass for $20.

Here's one.....make yourself an expert on all the places that you get Senior Discounts....there are loads of places that either give you a free drink or coffee but you have to ask. Make sure you ask for any Senior Discount....find the stores that have Over 55+ Discount Days....

I've been doing the volunteer reading program for a couple of years...but now I plan to invest more time in it because nothing is more fun than watching kids be enthralled with a good book. Making a book come alive for a young boy or girl to dream is paying it forward in the best way.

Here's one that takes dedication....and an earnest desire to help your fellow man. Go to one of the local retirement homes and make a friend. Unfortunately there are way too many people that are dumped in a Senior Citizens home by the family and rarely do they visit. Sit down one or 2 days a week and just talk with them....find out what is in their diet and what they are allowed to eat/drink and bring it to them. You tell them stories or let them tell you stories...in some cases you can read a book to them....heck in some cases you just sit and watch an old movie or television show they love.

I am just starting into retirement....and each day I am fascinated by what I really don't know or think about that life holds for me and the opportunities I have to give back.

[BigRedChief]

For those who have been retired 6 months or more. did you find that keeping a semi-regular schedule helps ease into retirement or did you give yourself a year to figure out what the hell to do with the rest of your life?

Staying up and binging something on a work night does hold a little fun. Those poor slobs are getting out into traffic, dealing with overbearing bosses, insane deadlines and unsatisfied customers or suits.

My wife was a teacher, retired "officially" as of tomorrow. The teachers have to report and start work for the new year on Friday. We are going to the beach.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

For those who have been retired 6 months or more. did you find that keeping a semi-regular schedule helps ease into retirement or did you give yourself a year to figure out what the hell to do with the rest of your life?

Staying up and binging something on a work night does hold a little fun. Those poor slobs are getting out into traffic, dealing with overbearing bosses, insane deadlines and unsatisfied customers or suits.

My wife was a teacher, retired "officially" as of tomorrow. The teachers have to report and start work for the new year on Friday. We are going to the beach.

I've been retired for 9 months and other than an immediate trip to Roatan that allowed me to sleep-in a little longer (other than the travel days), but after that I found that the internal clock still worked. I used to start work around 4:45a, but teleworking allowed me to sleep until 4:30a and shower later in the day.

So I'd say let nature take its course, your internal clock will adjust over a few months. I'm still a 6:30-7:00am person, but that's because I don't want to sleep away my retirement.

Just my $.02

[Woogieman]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

I've been retired for 9 months and other than an immediate trip to Roatan that allowed me to sleep-in a little longer (other than the travel days), but after that I found that the internal clock still worked. I used to start work around 4:45a, but teleworking allowed me to sleep until 4:30a and shower later in the day.

So I'd say let nature take its course, your internal clock will adjust over a few months. I'm still a 6:30-7:00am person, but that's because I don't want to sleep away my retirement.

Just my $.02

I lived on Roatan for a year just before the bank crisis...the $ god's saw to it that I would not retire early. What did you think of my fair island? MY ISLAND!!

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Woogieman

I lived on Roatan for a year just before the bank crisis...the $ god's saw to it that I would not retire early. What did you think of my fair island? MY ISLAND!!

I love YOUR island... I love Utila just as much, but Roatan does have more "to do"... That said, the AirBNB we were in did have a fire in the detached laundry room that the maids use (we didn't have access to it), so I got to fight a fire with some Honduran fire fighters, so that's marked off my list of things to do. I usually either stay at Anthony's Key or CoCo View (when I'm leading dive trips), or somewhere around Sundowner's if I'm there with a smaller friends-and-family group, but this last time the AirBNB was waaaay west (1,500 feet from the most southwest point on Roatan!!) and we dove out of Infinity Bay (IB). I got to know a lady who has a condo in IB so next time I'm there with just the family we'll work with her and stay there. LOVED their house reef!

So I love YOUR island!!

[Woogieman]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

I love YOUR island... I love Utila just as much, but Roatan does have more "to do"... That said, the AirBNB we were in did have a fire in the detached laundry room that the maids use (we didn't have access to it), so I got to fight a fire with some Honduran fire fighters, so that's marked off my list of things to do. I usually either stay at Anthony's Key or CoCo View (when I'm leading dive trips), or somewhere around Sundowner's if I'm there with a smaller friends-and-family group, but this last time the AirBNB was waaaay west (1,500 feet from the most southwest point on Roatan!!) and we dove out of Infinity Bay (IB). I got to know a lady who has a condo in IB so next time I'm there with just the family we'll work with her and stay there. LOVED their house reef!

So I love YOUR island!!

I assumed you were a diver, then I saw that you teach scuba! Amazing place for scuba and snorkeling. From my house, I could walk to Infinity Bay...seeing brain coral without getting your hair completely wet is pretty damned good diving. I met a guy at IB bar who was a Mizzou grad from St Lou and fellow sports lover. We listened to Elite 8 run at the bar, watched the Super Bowl on the beach with fire dancers and a few hundred gringos. I think that was the dark era of Chiefs FB, so I didn't miss anything by not having cable.

[tmax63]

I "officially" retired as a civilian from Uncle Sam 6 years ago when I turned 56 after 32 years with him in one uniform or another. Saw too many military retirees who passed after they retired because they didn't have a mission (aka good reason) to get up every day. I retired on Halloween of 2017 and by early spring I and my spouse knew I needed to get out of the house for both our sanity. I got 2 part time jobs, one 12 hours a week and the other 3-5 days per month. Having a 40 acre hobby farm helps keep me busy as well. So, to answer your question, it took me about 3-4 months to get "restructured".

[CatinKS]

Retired 1 yr and 11 months. I took the first 6 months to detox mentally after 32 years of corporate life. No more deadlines, getting up at 7am for conference calls, or being stressed about contacting individuals, who really didn't want me addressing concerns my company had to complete a project. Would multi-task with as many as 15+ projects ongoing with contractors and company employees. I was the blunt end of discontent by property owners for the actions of the employees and contractors.

Had a computer display with 3 screens at once, which looking back probably led to some brain scramble issues, as I was trying to problem solve several different tasks at the same time. There were times I would send written correspondence out via regular mail or email and would need to verify shortly afterward that I completed, as I couldn't recall. It was not healthy.

After 6 months, I decided to volunteer for the Red Cross and supported blood drives as a pickup driver and delivery to hospitals. The Red Cross is very dysfunctional and most of the regular staff have a love hate opinion of their career path. They were too woke for me, and it drove me to forgo being a volunteer after 11 months.

This led me to a parttime job now, (not required for income) but need the responsibility and reason to connect with the general public. Work 10-15 hours a week making prescription deliveries to those organizations that support Individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Looking back, I realize how blessed I am to retire at 59. My retired life is such a relief to my fulltime working life. When asked to describe retirement I respond with it is "Preschool for Heaven" as I can enjoy activities and sleep terms on my clock. Oh yes, the biggest benefit of retirement has been rest! I go to sleep when I'm tired and get up, minus the bathroom break when I please!

[Rain Man]

I'm one month from hanging 'em up as of today. But it's a 31-day month so it's still a long way off.

[DanT]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm one month from hanging 'em up as of today. But it's a 31-day month so it's still a long way off.

Congratulations, Kevin!

[scho63]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm one month from hanging 'em up as of today. But it's a 31-day month so it's still a long way off.

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick..........