(OT) Advice for retirement decision

[tom81]

Great post phillychuck! I'm 63 and for me the decision is easy as I'm really concerned about your #4. I lost about 3 of my prime earning years to the so called "great recession" and while I really enjoy he job i have had for the last 6 years it has come with a substantial pay-cut from my previous work. Of your factors we share 8. My commute is longer, over 4 hours a day, but only 4 days a week for me and about 3 hours are on a bus where I can sleep or entertain myself on the internet. About 45 minutes are walking so I do get some exercise Personally I would like to continue for another 10 years if possible as I enjoy it and I believe it keeps me from deteriorating. The challenge is mostly physical so I really try to go for long hikes on the weekends, do yoga once or twice a week when things are not hurting, and getting enough sleep. The sleep part is the hardest part and I'm sure would benefit the most from retirement.

Against Retirement factors:
1. I love my job day-to-day.
4. I make decent money, and the longer I work the more secure my retirement will be.
5. My job gives me something to look forward to and something to engage with intellectually.
6. (minor) We have great lunches at work.

In favor of retirement factors:
1. I commute 2 or more hours total in a day, and even though I carpool the commute time is pretty tedious.
2. I find myself physically worn out more often than not at the end of a day.
5. Although there are a few things I'd look forward to doing in retirement, I tend to be easily distracted when I don't have short-term goals. I'm afraid I'd turn into a vegetable.
6. My job is pretty sedentary and I'd get more opportunity to exercise if I'm retired.

[FMcB]

Retire.

Colleague of mine a few years put it off repeatedly, was fond of saying they could retire whenever they wanted to...then, cancer, followed shortly by death. #SAD

My folks retired early, best thing they ever did they say.

[bkeich]

Colleague of mine a few years put it off repeatedly, was fond of saying they could retire whenever they wanted to...then, cancer, followed shortly by death. #SAD

My guess is we all have stories like this, mine was at a paper mill I was working at for a few weeks (during a shutdown/upgrade). One of the operators had been there 40+ years and was going to retire, but they talked him into hanging around a few extra weeks to help during the turnaround. Sadly, one of the other operators found him in his truck in the plant parking lot, he had passed away as he was heading home. You don't often see that many hardened construction types crying their eyes out, it was just sad.

Now that FMcB and I scared the bejesus out of you, what did you end up doing PC?

[phillychuck]

Right now I'm trying to compromise by going part-time...we'll see if my company will go for that. If not, I have to make the choice between staying full-time and retiring.

[flyers19rw]

Part time usually means less pay for full time work and benefits. Better to stay full time or leave.