If I were retired........

Not my style of boat (the Maple Bay). I don't care for the lines... too short of a stern (not enough fish deck) and way too much wood (maintenance); not enough oomph or thrust for the currents I like to frequent either decreasing the margin of safety below comfortable limits. But isn't that what is great about boats? They can be so personal & varied. And I'd still rather have that Maple Bay than a big, new bus-sized RV costing twice as much, or a bigger house, or a 5th wheel trailer or a garage filled with "collectable" cars. I still want a biplane.... but that will have to wait on a lucky Lotto number.

Retirement? I'm looking forward to it. I love my job (teaching middle school) and know I'll maintain a positive outlook and have the energy to do it well for another ten years or so.... but at 46, in Washington State, I'm expected to teach until I'm 65. In my fifteen years of teaching, I've only known two teachers (P. McCrary & B. Karnis) who were still effective with today's students (and parents) who were in their sixties. Yes, it can be done, but I'd wager there are more 60+ marathon runners per 1,000 of that age then there are teachers who can teach EFFECTIVELY, full time, day in, day out, year after year.

I envision my retirement like I spend my summers: fishing, boating, reading, some travel, photography, puttering around in the yard feeding the birds, dog and cat, mowing the lawn and having family & friends visit for barbecues (sp?). C.W.
 
Since this thread started with Ron showing us the kind of boat he'd like to own when he is retired, here is mine: An 40' Eagle Pilothouse Trawler

http://www.fridayharboryachts.com/eagle/e40/e40.html

I just love the lines of this boat. It's low slung and salty looking and appears to be quite economical.

Tomorrow, I may like something different but this boat's been in my daydreams for a while now. :D

Speaking of retirement, this quote always comes to mind:

It's not having what you want, but wanting what you have.
Click to expand...

I'm a slow learner, but I'm getting closer to understanding the meaning.

-Sarge
 
Very enjoyable thread. My detective father retired at age 50. He died of cancer 6 years later. He could have chosen to retire at 55 and incur a larger pension but he made a wise decision to buy life insurance and get out early. The 5 years he had in retirement were wonderful. Travel, golf, etc.

I'm turning 50 next month. I will not be retiring because I have kids in the home but I am inspired to practice it in installments, with the goal of being fully retired at 56. I just hope I outlive my father. If not, I can pass on knowing I've embarked on a few boating adventures while leaving my wife and 6 children in financial security.

-Greg
 
I really enjoyed my work I thought until at 54 I was forced into retirement for health reasons. I had been resisting this for four years and struggling everyday at work with my failing health. After experiencing 6 years of retirement you couldn't melt and pour me back into the work place. Everyday is Saturday! Theres a beautiful cove close to my house. On weekends it over run with jet skis and wake boarders but during the week I have it all to myself!
 
Every day truly is saturday! I was concerned about the rumors of retirement boredom. Never happened! The little house in the redwoods,the boat,the ocean, the river,many new north coast friends,my young bride & her easy going nature,has me all atwitter each & every saturday.Im a happy retired camper! My best high school friend retired last nite at 9:15, the hard way! I had been after to give it up,get out of Long Beach & come north. He kept saying he couldnt afford to. I got to spend time with him 6 mo. ago at our 45th class reunion.He promised to take another look at his finances on his return to his shipfitter supervisor job.Two months later,chest pains & the slippery slope took him on a horrific rollercoaster ride with many compounding problems. Forced into retirement by the company, he spent the last 4 mo.and all of his retirement in & out of the hospitals. How much do you need to retire? In my case, 62 years was all I needed .Fishing in the surf is fun & free, great exercise,and tasty. Sorry boys & girls, sometimes the old wild nordic stallion gets on a roll.Dont mind me. Keep the thread alive.Perhaps I should change my name to the wet blanket. Vern
 
Well, I have said it a few times, I really do enjoy my job - but I cannot see being an old lawyer still tackling it head on with the energy it requires. Dave asks what is retirement? Probably asking on a deeper level than Wikipedia (!) but here is what you get:

# Retirement is the point where a person stops employment. A person may also semi-retire and keep some sort of job, although usually out of choice rather than necessity. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement

We enjoy weekends, long weekends and vacations. I have been able to cruise to Alaska, Princess Louisa, Desolation Sound, the Gulf Islands, the San Juans, Puget Sound, Lake Washington, Lake Roosevelt, and a couple of Idaho Lakes - but all in all, I always wished I could have taken more time. Especially on the cruise to Alaska. I will enjoy Lake Powell in September for sure, but again, we will be up against hard and fast time contraints. There is no Great Loop cruise in this scenario - that can only happen for us after we retire.

So do I enjoy my job? Absolutely! But I also am absolutely looking forward to retirement!
 
Vern, you are right on target! Keep pushing us all to retire. I'm not yet, turn 65-10 this October and will start to collect SS. Then I can keep all my income from my full time job. I'm lucky, all my work is done from home, wherever I am as long as I have internet access. It's not stressful, I set my own hours and never have (maybe once a year) to go into the office. I'm 300 yards from the water/boat in my office at home in VA and am not tied to the office. I think they're getting fair value for my services, wouldn't do it if I didn't think so, I bring revenue into the company far in excess of what I make.

This way, I can keep "working" if you call it that for awhile and still be able to afford to get my toys. I consider myself very lucky. Am now at our home in Maine (getting it ready to rent/sell this summer), be heading back to the place on the River near Ches Bay this weekend.

We prettty much do what we want/when we want. Someday, I'll "retire" again (did it from the USN in 1991 after 31 years of service) but may not be able to tell much of a difference, except the big paycheck will stop coming! :cry:

And no, I don't have any vacancies in my company! :lol:

Charlie
 
I dont miss the stress & drudgery of a construction related proffession.Dad left us a very good name in the old school hardwood flooring business.I loved the smoozing aspect of the process ,primarily working with the female side of clientele. Never having to advertise & having an unlisted bus. phone cut out the riff raff so I always knew who was coming at me thru the cream of the x client crop. I hated the back breaking,sweaty,dusty,dirty work,the ever present pressure of homeowner construction madness. I loved the satisfaction of a compleated,beautiful,old world,inlaid floor in an old victorian and the opportunity to sign my work in the corner.I love the neccessity to move out of town in order to retire.I truly am a lucky boy & a happy retired camper.Thank you all for the opportunity to gush all my mindless drivel.Who would have ever thought that a couple of years ago I always said:just say NO to computers: ! Vern
 
Those folks are regular contributors to several websites, including the Early Retirement website. They don't boat but they do a lot of tennis and golf. I think they have a couple of those Park Model trailers located at different sites in the southwest and travel from there. Actually pretty inexpensive lifestyle. I would guess in the next ten years it is going to get really popular.
 
This discussion on retirement, and perhaps retiring early, has prompted me to re-read what we wrote on our Halcyon website some years ago. Perhaps some of you would enjoy a re-read in the context of this discussion.

This first thread is about our decision to quit work early.:

http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/launching.htm

This second thread discusses the pros and cons of a nomadic lifestyle:

http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/wander.htm

This thread relates to how you might do it -- the nuts and bolts of getting mail, doing banking, etc.

http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/details.htm

And this last suggested thread deals with a little background about investing. Only 3% of graduating high school seniors, on recent research, could pass a simple test on their understanding of investing. Early retirement, and maintaining finances in retirement, for most folks, requires an understanding of investing and perhaps, for some, some lifestyle changes. You work (many of you) at least 40 hours a week at a job to earn money -- why not spend an hour or two designing a way to get your money working for you? If successful, it gives the choice of continuing to work (if that's what you want) or designing a life around your other interests and hobbies.

http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/invest.htm
 
This is one of my favorite comics. For me, it grasps the early retirement concept better than 10,000 words...

This year, we made the decision to move our departure date up by a year - we're hoping to be in WA by summer of 2010. It's not going to be easy, but we're convinced it's the right thing to do.

To say our decision has been influenced by a particular couple on this great site, would be an understatement... :mrgreen:

time_money.gif
 
Love the cartoon, Bill -- sure summarizes our thoughts about life, also.

Now, with the economy uncertain, we find it requires pulling in the belt a little tighter. Reduce the length of travel, simplify our 'entertainment' costs (a good book from the library doesn't cost a cent), eat out less often (the healthiest [and often the tastiest) food we prepare ourselves), invest more conservatively ... the sun still rises in glory every morning, a good laugh is free, and the singing of springtime birds is the best symphony possible.
 
When I was kid we didn't have a car, but I had a bike. It was lots of fun and it took me on adventures all over town. But, I secretly dreamed of the day I would have a car. Over the years I have owned many cars and trucks. Now, in the back of my little car, I always carry my folding bike and hope for a chance to ride it. Just this morning my son Joe left on a two day 600 km bike ride, from Issaquah, over three mountain passes to Yakima and back by tomorrow evening. The more things change,......
 
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