Scary career decision--what do you think?

Parent Cafe
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<p>Garland, I recall my mother saying late in her life, “I never regretted anything I did, just the things I didn’t do.” </p>

<p>For my mom, travel and special experiences meant a lot. She had modest means but made the most of them. Some people thought she was foolish to spend her liminted resources on what she loved doing rather than saving more, but she never had regrets.</p>

<p>I am very careful financially and have made saving for retirement a priority (probably a rebellion against my mom! ;)). But a couple of years ago I got breast cancer and realized I might never use those retirement funds, and meanwhile had kept myself from many experiences that would have enriched my life. It is a tough call because few of us know our futures. (I am doing OK now, but old habits die hard.)</p>

<p>It seems to me that you are practical and have maintained a low-cost life style, focusing on nature, gardening, etc. for entertainment. My guess is that you are not into fancy clothes, cars, or restaurants. IMO that increases the odds of your being OK in the future.</p>

<p>Perhaps you could consult with a fee-based financial planner, or just use one of those free online retirement calculators, to see how the numbers line up. If you want extra security, plan to work a year or two longer than recommended as a buffer.</p>

<p>I don’t know what to say about your first house other than it may be demoralizing to live in a home you are bothered by/do not feel good about but do not want to renovate. If you sell it (at a low enough price anything should sell) you could rent a small, low-maintenance turn-key pad that would free up more of your time and money, which you could apply to the place you love.</p>

<p>In any event, kudos to you and your H for supporting each others’ goals and dreams.</p>

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<p>garland- do you mind if I ask which county are you in. I have thought about retiring to south Jersey in the Delaware Bay area. I always wondered if Cumberland or Salem counties had decent places to live. I figured Cape May would be pricey along the bay.</p>

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<p>When H retires in less than 2 years, I’m contemplating retiring with him so we can start doing things we enjoy together. I’m more likely going to keep doing at some level the non-profit I started because it still is a big need in our community. When he retires, we plan to cut our expenses and hopefully won’t have any more tuition bills. For us, the comfort factor is that H will have a significant pension (unless somehow it gets changed), so our assets should stretch and last our lifetimes.</p>

<p>There are just so many intangibles to decide what is the best path. It might be nice if you could go back to part-time work & part-time writing & see how that plays out before quitting altogether (keeping your foot in both doors, so to speak).</p>