I got my retirement date!!

[pinkytoe]

I finally got up the nerve today to call the retirement benefits counselor to discuss when I can leave. I have been procrastinating because I was afraid it would be much longer than I hoped. Lo and behold, the magic date is Sept 2015 to receive a full pension. Or if I want another year's credit, Jan 2016. It puts a whole new spin on my job situation and my outlook about life in general because I know a year and a half will fly by. And it gives impetus to moving and all the other things that need to happen before then.
Yeah, I need to celebrate:)

[JaneV2.0]

Nothing better than retirement for most of us. Congratulations!

[sweetana3]

I call my retirement my "prepaid vacation days". It is a blast.

[KayLR]

Congratulations---trying hard not to be envious.

[Lainey]

That's exciting, pinkytoe. I'm thinking 2015 myself, and no later than 2016, so I'll be right behind you. Time will go by fast!

[Gardenarian]

Wonderful! How great to be able to plan for all that free time.

[Tussiemussies]

How exciting! The days will fly by! Before you know it you will be retired. Glad for you!

[goldensmom]

Countdown! I retired 12 years ago but I still get all giddy when someone else retires.

[rodeosweetheart]

How Wonderful--that is no time at all and will fly by!!

[Florence]

Countdown! I retired 12 years ago but I still get all giddy when someone else retires.

Me too! I retired 2 1/2 years ago and have thoroughly loved every day of it! I am so happy for you! My husband has 56 days until he retires.

[CathyA]

Woohoo!!

[Float On]

That's great!

[Blackdog Lin]

Congrats on your news! It's time now to start getting all your financial ducks in a row.....:)

[pinkytoe]

It's time now to start getting all your financial ducks in a row....
Yes I am kind of excited about that since I love budgeting...weird me. The biggest issue is getting dh on board. He has never had much interest in numbers or planning so that part will take a lot of persuasion. We will have to decide on staying or leaving this house and I don't know where to start on that one.

[Selah]

Right on!!!! :)

[Spartana]

Congrats!!! Retirement rocks!!

[Teacher Terry]

Two years ago I took an early retirement from the state because even though I still loved the work I hated all the rules, etc. At first it was great to have no schedule & then we bought a smaller house so that kept me busy with packing/moving, etc. However, after that I was bored because the only hobby I have is knitting & I also did some volunteering. So after some trial & error I started marketing my services for the same thing that I did for the state for the private sector as well as teach a class at the university. For me this has been the perfect balance. I work anywhere from 5-20 hours a week depending on what is going on. This is the happiest I have ever been! You will just need to retire & then find what works best for you. I have never, ever regretted retiring.

[Spartana]

Two years ago I took an early retirement from the state because even though I still loved the work I hated all the rules, etc. At first it was great to have no schedule & then we bought a smaller house so that kept me busy with packing/moving, etc. However, after that I was bored because the only hobby I have is knitting & I also did some volunteering. So after some trial & error I started marketing my services for the same thing that I did for the state for the private sector as well as teach a class at the university. For me this has been the perfect balance. I work anywhere from 5-20 hours a week depending on what is going on. This is the happiest I have ever been! You will just need to retire & then find what works best for you. I have never, ever regretted retiring. I think retirement - at least full timer retirement - isn't for a lot of people and they really struggle to adjust. Sometimes you don't even know it's not for you until you actually do it. Finding the balance that works best takes some time but it will be different for everyone.

I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum from you. I retired at 42 and have been giddily happy almost everyday since - 14 years now!! Can't imagine going back to work even P/T unless I had to. I do have a lot of hobbies and activities and things I'm involved with which fulfill and challenge me much more than working ever did - well at least more than my final job did - also a state job. So I think that helps a lot.

So Pinkytoe -what ARE your plans for your retirement? What ever will you do with all that new found free time and freedom?

[sweetana3]

Retirement is really something needing plans. I tried it once and found I just floated around without good plans and was lonely. The second time I was ready and had my bases covered. Something spiritual, physical, social, creative and giving. We all tend to think of the money and bills but the other aspects should be given equal time.

My husband had it more difficult since he retired after an unplanned layoff. He now works (volunteers) 5 days a week some weeks for Habitat for Humanity and SAWS (Servants at Work) who build ramps for the homebound. He fufills many of the needs with this type of activity and has made really good friends.

[pinkytoe]

So Pinkytoe -what ARE your plans for your retirement?
There are a lot of balls to juggle before I know exactly what I will be doing depending on where we end up living, expenses going down, etc. Weird as it sounds, I would like to have a very part-time job (10-15 hrs) in a retail environment but in a category I enjoy - garden shop, food, books. Other than that, I would do some habitat steward/nature volunteer work, get into birding more, put in more xeriscape and food gardens, walk and hike more, join a book club or two, travel (this would depend on budget). Right now, I meet monthly with former co-workers who retired several years ago. They tell me there aren't enough hours in the day now that they've retired.

[razz]

The best advice is to take a year without commitments to feel your way through the choices. I went from running at work to running in volunteering which was a huge mistake. I ended up resigning almost everything after three years and then made some much wiser choices. It is an ongoing process - what works this year will need to change next year.
You will enjoy retirement if you remember that you are retiring only from present paid work but continuing in every other part of your life.
Best wishes on the research!

[SteveinMN]

The best advice is to take a year without commitments to feel your way through the choices.
+1 on that! When left work, I did pretty much nothing for a few months while I let the world spin down some and I got used to the new pace. I strongly suspect an underlying desire to take some months off is why I did not drive harder to establish my business. Now I feel rested, I've finished some projects which had been long in waiting, and we've figured out how much income I "need" to bring in. It no longer feels like work to do the non-camera activities needed to grow the business. It also took me several months before I picked up some volunteer activities with which I had long been associated. Take the time; it's worth it.

[Teacher Terry]

Wow Spartana, that was young to retire! I think the reason that I still want to work is because I started my career late in live. I got married at 18 & had 3 boys by 25. I did not start college until age 31 and then went to graduate school etc so did not start a professional job until my late 30's. I would have had a lot more autonomy if I had worked in the private sector but I wanted the security of having a pension so decided to put up with the state bull. I actually loved the work & never got tired of it. Retirement has also given me the opportunity to teach at the university which is something I always wanted to do but never had the opportunity. I think that everyone has to find what works for them. I would never want to do the 8-5 thing again.

[Spartana]

Wow Spartana, that was young to retire! I think the reason that I still want to work is because I started my career late in live. I got married at 18 & had 3 boys by 25. I did not start college until age 31 and then went to graduate school etc so did not start a professional job until my late 30's. I would have had a lot more autonomy if I had worked in the private sector but I wanted the security of having a pension so decided to put up with the state bull. I actually loved the work & never got tired of it. Retirement has also given me the opportunity to teach at the university which is something I always wanted to do but never had the opportunity. I think that everyone has to find what works for them. I would never want to do the 8-5 thing again. I didn't have kids so was able to get the career thing going early (although I also didn't go to college until I was in my early 30's - worked before that though). Not having kids (those cute but oh so expensive little beings :-)!) made it much easier to save enough money to live on between quitting my job and getting a pension. I'm getting a government pension now (albeit a small one since I quit working so young) and it sure is nice! My state, Calif, has recently changed their state pensions and now you can't get it until 65 (or 57 for public safety workers like I was). Previously it was 55 and 50.