View Full Version : Happy belated Birthday wishes Mighty Frugal & Blackdog Lin!
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Mighty Frugal
3-4-12, 7:18pm
thanks so much Mrs. M! Had a lovely day with dh and my boys. They made me cards, we went out for breakfast. Then I had a long nap whilst dh took the boys indoor swimming-that's all I wanted! Oh I made my own bday cake-strawberry shortcake and it was divine-yum!
Blackdog Lin
3-4-12, 7:50pm
Ditto my thanks! DH took me out to lunch, DS actually remembered to text me birthday greetings, and BFF got me the most perfect little gift, it is so perfectly something I needed and she didn't even know it - so it was a really good day.
And a special birthday for me: I am now, as a 55-year old quasi-federal employee with over 30 years of service, ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT. It's the first birthday in the last 15 years that I've actually appreciated being another year older! :)
HAPPY B-Day to both of you!!! Remember to share your cake with all of us here :cool:
And also congrats to you Blackdog Lin on your early retirement. I've "retired" for over 12 years now (since age 42) and it is absolutely the best!!!!
Blackdog Lin
3-8-12, 9:03pm
Thank you Spartana. I'm going this year, one month or another. And I have such mixed feelings: can I have the quality of life you seem to, the simple healthy and happy lifestyle that (I think!) can be had living more simply and deliberately, making do and having fun with it.....or will I be the old "cat woman", living in a falling-down hovel with 27 cats to feed and keep me company?
Well, it's no use fretting about it, my decision is made: I'm jumping off the cliff. It's just so scary!.....
Thank you Spartana. I'm going this year, one month or another. And I have such mixed feelings: can I have the quality of life you seem to, the simple healthy and happy lifestyle that (I think!) can be had living more simply and deliberately, making do and having fun with it.....or will I be the old "cat woman", living in a falling-down hovel with 27 cats to feed and keep me company?
Well, it's no use fretting about it, my decision is made: I'm jumping off the cliff. It's just so scary!.....
Well my "cliff" ended up being a tiny curb but I understand your concern. I think those are concerns (becoming the crazy cat lady ;-)!) that we'll have no matter how well protected financially. Because I quit work so young (42) on what was just suppose to be a 5 year work-free break, I had a chance to experience retirement before making the big leap when I was older. I made some financial and lifestyle changes while off work - many small ones and one big one - that allowed me to turn my break into permanent retirement. And knowing I had a small government pension waiting for me once I turned 50 and covered medical made it much easier to step off the cliff permanently. Those things eliminated alot of my fears, but mainly it was just the decision that i was not only willing, but happy, to make further changes in my life if needed so that i wouldn't become the crazy cat lady. That there were many things I'd be happy to live without - actually happier to live without - that many people think of as "needed" things. So having that self-realization and mind set helped make the transition easier. But I do know that quitting a job - especially to retire - isn't for everyone. I had a passion that I wanted to follow - something I could only do while I was younger - so that was why I left work for. Having a plan, a passion, something you want in retirement (or even when just taking a break from work), is important IMHO. Good Luck! I think you'll love it!
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