When you are of the age to retire, will you or will you continue working?

I was only working part time for a number of years but my job had become unpleasant so I stopped at 67. I’m happy with retirement.

I’m going to be 68 later this year. I am still working at my long-time job, but I figure on putting in my notice around Thanksgiving and retiring around New Years Day.

I have a side gig (personal small business) that will keep me busy and bring in some income.

I’m 50 and will never be able to retire. It is just not possible financially, unfortunately.

When I retired, I had all intentions of working part time; however, I took to retirement like a duck to water. For a number of years, I was happy to have my days to myself to do what I needed to do when I felt like doing it. Then I had a friend who works with emotionally challenged youth & she tempted me to help her with a specific age group & I was hooked. It’s part time & IF necessary, I can work from home. My hours are not structured & I have the flexibility to work around my needs as well. Occasionally,one of my kids needs me at an inconvenient time, but I’m so invested in them that I don’t mind the interruption!!! It’s kind of like being a Mother with children…you’re there for them when they need you!!! I don’t know how long I will continue as that will depend mostly on my health. At this point, it helps to give me purpose; but I do remember the first few years where I enjoyed having my time for myself!!!

I see retirement as a personal thing. You do what you feel is best for you when an opportunity arises you consider it & determine how it will affect your life!!!

One thing that I will warn you….BEWARE of your family & friends as they will decide that you have nothing to do & they will “use” you as much as you will allow!!! I don’t remember exactly how many times I heard “Now that you’re retired, can you go by the store & pick up (whatever) for me???” Say no problem once means you become their personal shopper & work for FREE!!! I had to learn to say “Sorry, I’ve got plans for today & can’t work that into my schedule.”

I’ve been working part-time since age 50, I’m 54, and probably will continue doing that for many years. I’d be fine not working at all (I did that for a few years at one point) except I’m so young I think I should keep earning some money for savings, because the idea of having to work when I am 60+, especially having to work full time, is terrifying to me. I might want to work, but I do not want to have to work.

I realize I’m extremely lucky I can work part-time and even that I can consider total retirement. It’s not all luck, I saved and saved my entire adult life for this very reason, and I have a husband who still earns a good salary. He hopes to retire at around age 60 and work either part-time or in a much less stressful job. Part of the reason for full time will be healthcare insurance depending on the situation in the US at that time. He’s 55 now.

Most retired people I know are amazed how days fill up and wonder how they ever did everything while working full time.

I live where most people are retired, and most of them love retirement. I recommend visiting for a vacation. You can talk to lots of people who are retired. Do some of the fun things you haven’t don’t since childhood.

I retired officially last year, at 55. I am thinking I’ll get another job in the future, probably part time, but not for at least a few years, hopefully.

I retired for a few reasons – I worked for an elected official and she lost her re-election bid, so I would have had to go back to doing a regular job (same pay). That was the main reason. Plus I had a sucky commute, plus I don’t sleep well many nights, so I am getting another hour or two of sleep in the morning.

The only retirement in the nuclear wasteland will be death, or turning into a mutated monster.

I continue working for myself after assisting others ( employers) to capitalize on my work ethics.
Since I retired I am the sole creator of my future endeavors.

I have NOT stopped learning anything that I am interested in by using online Courses such as Domestika that are multi language enabled and have very cheap course fees.

It offers me to take it where ever I choose to tap into that training video plus because it involves so many countries I get to engage in discussions or not, my choice.

I thoroughly enjoy my retirement and thus direct my energies on completing MY goals systematically going through a “bucket list” of sorts.

As to the “Why did I make the decision I made?”.

Because after slogging through life doing for others and overworking myself to the extent that I inadvertently harmed my body from over working.

Fortunately I healed after taking a medical leave for 18 months to recover, that afforded me the time to think about WHAT I REALLY WANT IN LIFE.

I retired on a Pension and live in a subsidized apartment and LOVE the freedom to carve out my life as I see best for me.

Maybe. Will determine that once I start taking my SS at age 70. But I do plan to continue working for 10 months after I start my SS. (I have a loan that I want to pay off and I want to put aside enough money to get another vehicle.) Also, I own and operate my own business.

I retired at the end of last year. I was no longer getting satisfaction from work and I had sufficient savings. I am thinking of joining a retirement community.

I want to work but the pain in my feet won’t allow it. Starting a new medical today. Fingers crossed.

@Dutchess_III Do you have diabetes?

@Dutchess_III: When you say “starting a new medical” does that mean seeing a doctor?

I’ll be workinh until I die, I’m sure. I get bored veru easily and my older family members struggled at retirement as well.

I meant “meds” @jca. This will be the 3rd one I’ve tried.
No I don’t have diabetes. Just neuropathy.

Similar to @hat, I’m 50 and won’t be able to afford to retire. I realized this ten years ago though which is why I busted my hump to become a professor.

I’m an Associate Professor now, teach 3-classes per semester, and only have to be on campus 3-days a week. In 7-years, I can go for full professor and be eligible for paid sabbaticals.

It’s not retirement, but it’s not breaking rocks either.

@ragingloli being optimistic as ever. :-)
@inspiredtowrite Do Canadians have social security?
@kripter So it’s your choice to wait until you are 70 or is a financial decision driving you?

I don’t know. It’s difficult to imagine myself entirely escaping the academic world. I don’t think I’d be unable to enjoy retired life, but I think too much of life would be invested in this one field that I wouldn’t want to give it up. It would be different if I felt my job was just a job, but I don’t feel that way.

Hey, my Jelly pals, I just began my steps to retirement! This past Sunday, 05/15/22, I sent a letter to all my clients, announcing that I’ll be done at the end of December.

I’m still active; there’s plenty of extended tax work, individual and corporations need me to calculate their quarterly estimates, and I’ll have to help with the transitions to my successors. But, the deed is done and the change is in motion. I couldn’t be any happier about my decision.

Congorats @Love_my_doggie!!

I plan to or at least very part time.

I seriously doubt I will be able to retire. I’ll probably work until I die.

I worked an extra 15 months before claiming my state pension which gave me an additional 13%

@chyna Money. For every year I put off SS up to age 70, I gain an extra $100 a month. And SS is all I’ll have for my molding years.

@chyna
Yes of course.
Canada Pension Plan
Old Age Security
And Senior Benefits for those who are not at the retire age but need extra income etc
Link:
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp.html

@chyna
Also for housing we have subsidized houseing available based on 30% of ones income, for any age.

@Inspired_2write The US has that, too, if you qualify.

@jca2
@chyna
Income threshold for a one bedroom apartment $44 thousand per year.(CDN $)
For a two bedroom $54 thousand per year (CDN $)

I’ll keep going until I get too annoyed at the work. Or “retire” and come back as a part-time “consultant”. People who retire with nothing interesting to do at home often crap out within 18 months.

@RocketGuy
I agree, to have goals in retirement as well.
Do all the thigs that you always wanted to do, and learn new things at any age.

@RocketGuy: I’ve seen this first hand. Sometimes even if they have plans.

My father-in-law retired from construction at 65. His plan was to sit around and watch soccer. Within two years he developed more health problems and and sunk into a deep depression he never emerged from until he died — ten years later.

My dad retired at 62, all excited to finally travel Europe. Diagnosed with cancer within months. Dead 18-months later. Never went to Europe.

I know at least five other family and friends who went down similarly.

I’ve seen the same – our Lead Systems Engineer was so stressed and overworked he retired early at 53. Died 6 months later. He reformatted that position before he left but I think the damage to his body was already done.

RETIRE!! And then all my time on fluther.