Might as well go with the beard, but don't forget the tweed jacket with elbow patches.

 

 

And try a memorable name change, something like "Wolf Blitzer" to go with your goatee.  CNN is hiring retirees part time to cover the Malaysia 370 aftermath.  When that story is finally beaten to death, they will go back to Governor Christie causing an unheard-of traffic jam in New Jersey.  It's gotten so bad we put collegiate wrestling on at work in lieu of CNN.

 

Seriously, I am in a similar quandry as the age when I -can- retire has passed, and now I'm working the system one more year to retire at full SS income with no takeback if I elect to work part-time.  Sadly, SS income is TAXABLE, which I do NOT agree with.  I think if a soul has worked their entire life and reached a certain age, the tax bus needs to give those folks a pass.

 

As they say in England, not bloody likely!  My brother in law retired early after being in too many automobile accidents, he simply couldn't take the commute any more.  I get that.  He is struggling to stay busy in retirement.  The change, removing the 'stress' of working every day has a good and BAD side.  All the free time means you have to work at keeping busy.  Much as I love golf and flight simming, it is a challenge to think of how many rounds I could play a week, and how many flights I could log.

 

My dream job?  Work at Laminar.  Or Boeing.  I'd like to be involved with flight in some way, and i'm too old and fat to do any REAL job!  Maybe a SIM JOB!?  I want to be the guy on the jungle cruise at Disneyland blasting the dreaded hippopotamus!

 

Seriously, it takes planning to retire, as it is a huge change from the routine of 'having somewhere to go'  5 (or more) days a week.   If you have a spouse or 'significant other' and that person continues to work while you are retired, that can cause problems in the relationship (resentment that you are not working while they still are), and if you are BOTH retired, that can cause other issues as you now have that person around 24x7.  Some relationships don't fare well after that while others are ok.  The takeaway thought is retirement is a monster and it doesn't hurt to lay out goals and plans prior to pulling the plug.

 

One last thought.  DO NOT BUY A HUGE MOTORHOME.  The depreciation on those is insane.  The money they cost (just the money they shed after you buy them) would easily pay for first-class air and hotels anywhere you want to go for many trips!  Then, try filling one up at $4 a gallon.  That WILL immediately get your attention!  Like an in-ground home swimming pool, the 'idea' seems cool, but the REALITY is a major pain in the butt.  And then there's parking and storage when you're not out enjoying 2 miles a gallon EPA estimated fuel economy, or cleaning out the septic tank after that first magical road trip!

 

I work with the public, and a number of older Americans have shared one mantra with me: work as long as you can.  What is retirement but permanent vacation?

And try a memorable name change, something like "Wolf Blitzer" to go with your goatee.

 

Good idea. Then I'll have my lovely wife change her name to "Mitzi".

january

My cat is named Mitzi, it's sort of an animals name as far as I know

I have seven years to go ( six at a squeeze ) and the day can't come soon enough. The pensions are set up and secure. Yes there is a danger of getting bored, but there'll be plenty of things to fill my day, and working will NOT be one of them: hopefully grand-children, flight simming , learning Gmax, becoming a more active member of the V&A Museum , and volunteering at Duxford aviation museum. And beer...lots of beer.

And beer...lots of beer.

 

Be careful with that. You will end up owning stock in your local pub, like me. It is an investment with nearly no return on the investment other than the forced walks to the gents. I tell my wife it is a great investment because it gives me the excuse to exercise. She just rolls her eyes...

Be careful with that. You will end up owning stock in your local pub, like me. It is an investment with nearly no return on the investment other than the forced walks to the gents. I tell my wife it is a great investment because it gives me the excuse to exercise. She just rolls her eyes...

Sounds like a plan to me.

I just came across this and had to share it somewhere...