I cannot see myself ever retiring. Neither can my wife. The thought of us being together all the time (in the same house) is scary.

I can see us as retirees travelling around the country and the around the world, maybe volunteering here and there, working on old diesels....etc.
But what if you are all travelled out, volunteered out, and the diesel is fixed. Then what?

Life expectancies get longer and longer. I just can't see myself being retired for 20 or 30 years and doing retiree stuff. I see myself changing professions when I retire (maybe become a farmer) but I have to keep earning money. It sounds bad but actively earning money is fun for me. Living on passive income (dividends and interest) alone will drive me insane.

So the question is...how did you transition to retirement (slowly or cold turkey) and what did you do post working years?

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

I retired, draw a pension and Social Security, and consult now and then.

Working is far more enjoyable to me than going somewhere just to be going. A friend of mine just returned from two weeks in Italy. I just returned from a consulting trip. He had a great deal of fun but so did I, and he spent money while I made some.

Oscar Wilde once crossed the Atlantic. He reported he was not impressed. Although he had accomplished something that few people in history had he didn't really care. He just did not like to travel.

The best thing about any retirement is that you can do what you want much of the time. If you like working then work. Let others spend their time playing golf or traveling if they wish.

To each his own. C'est la vie.

Ideal "retirement" for me would simply to have amassed enough rental property via the sheriff's auction to have a high enough monthly income not to HAVE to work. But to work anyway at something I enjoy because it keeps me busy, makes extra moolah, and gives me pleasure.

Maybe a little off-subject - will throw this out anyway. Many are aware of this; some are not.

If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age from a Soc Sec perspective is 66.

If your DOB fits into to this timeframe and you elect to retire before age 66 and start drawing Soc Sec income, you will be limited to earning no more than $1260.00 a month until you reach 66. Some say the limit is $15,120.00 annually. That's 1260 X 12.

Should you become employed while retired and drawing Soc Sec before 66 and earn more than $1260.00 in a month, you will not receive a Soc Sec check. You'll receive this info in writing when you retire and request to receive Soc Sec income. I was also warned about this repeatedly in more than one phone conversation with the Soc Sec folks. They are apparently monitoring income which is easy for them to do.

Money drawn from pensions, 401K, Soc Sec, Dividend income and a few others do not count against this limit. You can draw from these funds.

I've mentioned this to some and was told "my friend is still working and drawing Soc Sec?". Note "still working". Yes - you can do that, but once you retire from your job, things change.

Once you reach 66, you can make all the $$$ you want.

What do I do post-working years?

Any damn thing I please.

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

Your time is occupied by other things than clocking in at work just to burn up 8 hours a day as an indentured servant. I think you are looking at "retirement" wrongly; as though it is another assignment to accomplish.

__________________

"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration...
don't Fail Us Now"

So the question is...how did you transition to retirement (slowly or cold turkey) and what did you do post working years?
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I liquidated my tool rental business in 2007 when I discovered that the land was so valuable as to prohibit the sale of the business. I also knew the "big one" was coming, but not exactly when. You could do what I do now- repair various OPE for sale on ebay and CL.

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'83 300D, 126K miles.

I'm doing it slowly. Cutting back on responsibilities at work.

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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

Are you delusional? The diesel will never be fixed!

Problem solved .

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Retire from one job, start a new one.

My idea of retirement is just messing about in boats. Lots of traveling for deliveries, races, whatever. Also quite a bit of time up in Mystic working on them would be fun.

I'd like to have the time to get involved with wooden sailing ships. I love to travel but off the beaten path, ie I would never go on a cruise even if it were free.

Once my townhouses are built and paid off I'm done, see ya later. I love what I do but their is more to life. I have a number of units in my head that once I hit I'm just going to stop. I know a number of guys in this business who are addicted to the deal and fully intend on dieing in their office.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I retired and immediately started consulting for my district. This school year I have gone back to work half time. Not so much for the money as for the mental challenge. I am scaling my ranch business down as my girls have other plans for it when they take it over, so it'll be easier for them to transition. I got bored, needed the challenge of a new grade level and they made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I still collect state retirement and am due to start collecting SS next month. Making more money in retirement (at least from outside the ranch) than I ever made working full time.

I get comments like "I thought you retired? Boy, once I'm out I AM OUT!!" This is indicative of somebody who doesn't like what they do, and imagines that retirement is some sort of nirvana. I never considered what I did "work" in the first place. Sure it was frustrating, unrewarding on a daily basis and not lucrative, but I loved doing it. Loved the results in the long run. I missed it and could feel my brain turning to mush from lack of stimulation. For me, the older I get, the more relevant and needed I need to feel.


BTW, the statement "Should you become employed while retired and drawing Soc Sec before 66 and earn more than $1260.00 in a month, you will not receive a Soc Sec check." is incorrect. Your SS check is reduced by a dollar for every two dollars you earn over the maximum allowable.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I'm worried about the 'brain mush' thing. I'll have the option of teaching part time.

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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

I look at it as a new adventure.

I posted exactly what I was told in 2 different conversations with SS. I'll check back with them.

Update - ElChivito - you are correct about $1 being withheld for every $2 over the $15k annual limit, but if you earn enough, you end up with a substantial amt. being withheld from your SS benefit. You could actually end up losing several months worth of SS checks if your income was high enough. For some, it may not matter. See the example provided in the following URL:

http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2013/04/15/how-working-in-retirement-affects-your-social-security-benefit

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

elcivito is correct about SS from what my neighbor down the street says. He took early SS and is running up against the limit each year. But he says its $14,xxx.

__________________
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