You must have an active mind. I enjoy learning about older Mercedes. Not just knowing but learning. Some people go back to school, which I have always detested, but learning is fun.

Some people play golf, some people learn. In my case I hope to never stop improving in any way I can, although there is a curve involved in which ability diminishes at a rate determined by the loss of your health. When that time comes you can be a Mentor to others and you can work through them. Sharing your knowledge of boats would seem to be a welcome thing to someone who has the same love of boats as you.

As far as retiring quickly or easing out I don't think one way is superior to the other. I have seen people leave and drop out of sight and I have seen them linger around the company in any way they can.

As a poster stated earlier it is best to think of retirement as a new adventure and not something that is an either yes or no situation.

I have never given this much though. I have someone who deals with my financials and they tell me I am doing well. The person that checks up on them tells me the same.

I would never let something like Social Security inhibit me from a deal. Dealing is too much fun, and if I miss out on some Social Security then so be it. I cannot live my life based on their rules.

I agree. Dealing could be fun I suppose...real estate/whatever. My point pertains to say a tech...IT, engineering, etc.

He's retired and making a contractors wage which might not impress a dealer like yourself, but in the end, he can end up working for less $$....dealing with all the BS and now losing a $1 for every $2 over the $15 annual limit.

The URL I included above shows the math.

__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

The limit for 2013 moved to $15120. See the URL I added above.

If you're hurtin' for dinero, then you may just have to suck it up. If you're going back to work because you're bored, you might want to find something to do that doesn't push you too far over the limit and is fun at the same time, like bein' the door man at a brothel.

__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

So long as your income stream is ok, why on earth do you work after retirement age?

Early retirement -- 10 years, was wonderful, and still is.

I answer to nobody, travel comstantly, read, work on my cars, and have a wonderful life.

I don't even wear a wristwatch anymore, as I could care less what time it is, and don't even own or view a televison...

Yet my days are full, and happy.

YMMV of course, and I respect anyone, who gains happiness and a sense of fulfillment from working....

BUT....

At a funeral, have you EVER heard anyone say at the eulogy, "You know, he sure got a lot DONE" ?

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Maybe at Einstein's funeral.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Yep....but best to make sure you can walk away B4 doing so.

__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

I don't know, Jim. Usually, what you hear is a lot of what the individual got done. As an example, here's a partial obit of a guy I grew up with, that died last month in Calif.:

An accomplished musician, Joe played saxophone with Omaha-based Bumpy Action, the leading regional rock band of the early 1970s. He also hosted Lincoln's first radio show dedicated to underground rock music, pioneering a format that signaled an innovative departure from the commercial, top-40 formats of the time. Joe graduated from Westside High School, and attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA, and the University of Montana's School of Business in Missoula, MT. In 1987, he moved to Los Angeles, CA and entered the rapidly growing field of satellite television. In 1989, he founded a firm specializing in the installation of large-scale commercial satellite systems. His clients included casinos and hotel chains. Joe died at his home in Riverside, CA.
No Services are planned. His wit, intellect, music, and compassion for others live on in the hearts of his friends and family

__________________
'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Diesel Fixed? This is easy! Buy another project car!!!

__________________
daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

If one loves what one is doing why would one stop?

If one does not love what one is doing, why continue doing it?

^^ only for the money and the frickin healthcare (not going there...)

I am just tired of doing basically the same thing (defense industry buyer) for 33 years. In the beginning, it seemed somewhat worthwhile and honorable...buying hardware to keep the Russkies honest. But when that threat was overcome ( I even married one of them) the "mission" seems less and less worthwhile with every new idiotic "adventure" we attempt. The amount of money that is wasted is astounding. The BS I have to do is far removed from the core of what you would expect the job to be. I am more accountant, bureaucrat and writer than buyer.

I want a new career , after this one.

Sounds like it could be good. Maybe some perks. Cash. I would like a night job for a change so I can see the sunrise in the morning and hear the birds....

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Planned downsizing after retirement is probably an ideal to consider. Many do not. If it matters at all in the overall scheme of things is another matter

Still it may free a person up to some extent. Or eventually reduce the load on family members.

I am an engineer that was engaged in hydroacoustics R&D. I saw retirement as an opportunity to do something entirely different. If I was going to continue in the same field, I would not have retired. Settled on becoming a Paramedic and worked in Richmond city, then a rural system. I loved it since feedback was almost immediate. You either helped someone or less often they sometimes died with your hands on them. Overall, it was a very satisfying second career.

Just retired from that. I am finally getting up there (77) and even though fully healthy believed that the stresses of that job could put me, my partners and my patients at risk. I was the oldest medic still on the street in my district and it was getting increasingly difficult to carry the Fat Lady down three flights of stairs.

Now, I am doing some writing, working on political campaigns and making my 300CD the car of my dreams as well as taking my wife to all the places in the world that I have been without her.

All-in-all, I can recommend retirement so long as you don't sink into the couch cushions.

Doesn't sound to me like you retired so much as switched your pursuits. I've done that several times since my teen years and it's been great. That's my goal up to my last breath.

Sounds good Rocky Raccoon. I would like to follow in your pawprints, but a second 15 or 20 career seems a bit much. I would like to do something where I get to be the boss, too, next time

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)