<p>That is awesome. Don’t know how many people could say that before their retirements.</p>
<p>I have switched our focus from college, kids’ jobs etc. to our retirement recently. Many a times I have woke up in the middle of the night having nightmares about running out of $$ after retirement. </p>
<p>There are several good things that will help us to build up our financial situation. My employer is matching double digits of pay to our 401K, they will start a employee stock purchase program with a double digit discount to the fair market value. And, the stock market has been good lately. With about 60% of our income going into retirement saving now, we SHOULD be able to make up for last 6 years of low contributions.</p>
<p>I am couple years away from 55, in above average physical condition. Have completed a full marathon and got my 1/2 marathon time to below 1:55 after about 2 years of running. How many “young” people could say that?</p>
<p>One thing I do to feel young is photography - more specially portrait photography. It is both a physical exercise and a social event with young people. </p>
<p>From an earlier discussion on CC, I have started to track our expenses. For example, out total cell phone bill for 2014 will be some where around $45. </p>
<p>If I continue the current job until I am 65. Our social securities and pensions will be around $4000 a month. I am working to build a income (dividend) generating stock portfolio and will get about $20K a year from that. In other words, with many big “IFs” going our way, we should have the basics covered without drawing down principles. </p>
<p>So, I am not feeling old yet. </p>
<p>PS, I have been taking vacation since the 17th. It is a mini taste of retirement.</p>
<p>Was thinking of friends’ moms, my own relatives, other women around me, and how, back then, we really did think the bar for “older” was pretty low. Now we look at the individual. And frankly, I don’t know people my age who just plain decide they’re “too old.” That’s some in my mother’s age group. I mean, I’m probably not going to jump out of a plane, but I’ve got a pair of super ugly sneakers I pull out, when needed. Sorry if I hit a nerve. </p>
<p>DadII, how is it that you manage a YEAR of cell phone for $45???</p>
<p>So maybe we start a thread of “Retired Or Close To It - but not kicking ANY bucket yet!!!” - and share the new adventures we are doing or have planned when 8am = not going to work, but going…other places!!!</p>
<p>Went back and read my post #6 and I have to say this DOES sum things up for me. I recognize different levels of what people consider “retirement”, I admit to having my own personal stigma of retirement partially based on those around me who are retired or who talk about what they want to do when retired (often not much!). </p>
<p>So not apologizing for my personal views, but do not intent to bash anyone else who may be retired and doing lots of activities or no activities. :)</p>
<p>I may have over estimated - more like $42.05 for both mine and DW’s phones including the phones. My goal was to get the bill below $40 a year. But usages in several business trips push me over the budget. </p>
<p>How did we do it - you will just have to believe me. </p>
<p>Community theater (be a ham!)
Swim
Take up an instrument
Learn a new language and then take a trip to test out your skills!
Book club (join one or start your own)
Grow strawberries, artichokes, and petunias
Plan family events (active approach to keeping family connected)
Take up golf
Try sewing, spinning, weaving, crochet
Quilt
Take a pottery class
Go to an auction
Bird watching
Chess
Join a gym
Nature hiking group
Nanowrimo
Tennis
Start a small business
Join a choir
Bowling
Draw
Paint
Tai chi</p>
<p>Go back to school
Another degree or certification<br>
Continuing ed classes<br>
MOOC (online courses, individual or part of a certificate program)</p>
<p>You had me till the last one, @Deborah T! lol! That will never happen…but hope to find more time for lots of your list; actually can’t wait. I’m on winter break from work right now, and am just enjoying long stretches of reading that is not work related, punctuated by walks and other outdoor activity.</p>
<p>Alrighty. Deborah, you’re sucking in with your list! If you all promise to be here on CC 5-7 years from now when I can probably retire, I’ll do my best to embrace it. </p>
<p>Lol, I did audition for a play, last winter. Was on my Bucket List forever. Didn’t get it, but it was the perfect first try because there were only 3 female roles (one for a 20-something,) and plenty of very experienced actresses. So, no disappointment, just a good experience.</p>
<p>I love to read fiction but rarely do, because I have a problem - I can’t put a good book down. I will read all night long! I look forward to reading when I am retired. I will read for hours on end, and I won’t apologize for sleeping half the day if I was up all night with a good book.</p>
For several years I’ve been tracking monthly expenses. After balancing the checkbook, I record cash-withrawals and check-total and other-withdrawals (Visa, autopay incl mortgage etc). I made a note of college expenses, but I omitted from totals since not relevant for retirement planning.
Darn - the monthly income suggested by a retirement planner is probably about right, even though it sounded very high to us at the time.
For us:
Live music performances
Outdoor festivals of different varieties
Visiting state historic sites
movie matinees
Reading daily (didn’t always have time before)
Gardening
Trying out new recipes
Knocking around antique/thrift stores…treasure hunting
Visiting out of town family members
Games online (ex. Words with Friends) good for the brain and have reconnected w/ old friends
Day trip to the beach whenever we want…don’t have to fight crowds in the off season
Spontaneous Fun…Love not being “on the clock”…doing whatever we feel like doing any given day.
Exercise of some sort every day
rowing machine/exercise bike
walking
running
kayaking
hiking
biking
boating
^^^Packmom, can I come retire with you?! This sounds like my cup of tea!
Regarding “if” you’ll have enough to live exactly as you live now". In middle America (where I live ) don’t most find themselves not having an equal income at retirement as when working?? The key being, to have enough to pay the bills, manage the house/homes and have some fun - but knowing that you will be doing so with a little less??? (but as said earlier by Thumper and others, not having school tuition/kid insurance/kids other financial needs ) to pay for?
More or less anyway. If H retires in 2015, we still have one to put through college (grads HS in 2015) - as long as I’m still working we should be able to pay our fair share for her through 4ish years.
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