Chris Brady
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| What will I do? More winter walks on the beach. |
Carol’s post about taking early retirement has me pining for an escape. I don't hate my job. I thrive in it about 80 percent of the time. But that 20% gap is getting harder to handle, not physically but more in terms of motivation.
Moving to another employer won’t make it better. And I’m not ready to have a complete work stoppage – as much for the social aspects of work as the financial. The best reason for retiring would be to be with my husband Bernie, who has been retired for more than 20 years now, lucky guy.
Moving to another employer won’t make it better. And I’m not ready to have a complete work stoppage – as much for the social aspects of work as the financial. The best reason for retiring would be to be with my husband Bernie, who has been retired for more than 20 years now, lucky guy.
My car pool partner is a GenX er who vents about baby boomers and the wreck we have made of the world. She thinks we should step aside from our big bucks jobs to make way for the next generation. We have friendly fights about this topic at least once a week. I think everyone has a right to keep working as long as they can perform. But I agree that some people hang on too long. I hope I know when it’s time to go.
I am planning to live vicariously through Carol for a while. I’ll start taking the steps – figuring out my financial picture, getting a handle on my cost of living, and thinking about what I will do with all that time.
How about you, dear readers? If you’re a full time working boomer, are you ready to retire?
Do you feel heat from younger people at work to get out of the way?
If you’re a GenXer or younger, do you feel like boomers are sticking around too long?
Are you looking forward to retirement or dreading it?
Share your wisdom.
Share your wisdom.
I'm 53 and have been working as a speech-language pathologist in different capacities for 28 years. Am I ready to sing my swan song and write full-time, travel and watch the Today show? Absolutely. Unfortunately my retirement fund needs a bit more padding. So until the day comes when I can step aside so another can take my place, I make sure I find new projects, methods, etc. to keep things interesting. It works, like you say, about 80% of the time.
ReplyDeletePeggy, I think the trick is to just get through the 20% malaise with a sense of humor and patience. I am with you on the financial side. That's why I have been rooting for some kind of national health coverage.
DeleteCounting the minutes til retirement. I've been working nearly 40 years and I'm weary. I too like my work, but after all those years it's just a grind-- getting up early and working day in and day out. I'm hoping to retire in three years - with a paid mortgage and car, a little socked away for the future and a slide right into Medicare. Right now I'm also thinking of holding off filing for SS until I'm 66 so I can qualify for the full amt. As for the youngsters, what can I say? This country isn't wired for getting out of the way. Just look at Greece to see what happens to early retirement approaches.
ReplyDeleteI'm on your timeline too. I look forward to hanging out with you when we are out of the grind.
DeleteMaybe it's because I'm single and have flown by the seat of my pants most of my life, but I've already started my bucket list. Gradually disengaging from a business I've run for more than 20 years, back to school to be a vet assistant, now working part-time with animals. I am broker and happier than I have been most of my life. Granted, I have "low overhead," but it was risky just the same. I am telling the GenX-ers and beyond NOT to wait till they are 50+ to follow their dream, but to do it now. One good thing about a lousy economy: the chances for a 6-figure income right out of college are gone. So, follow your heart.
ReplyDeleteSaddened, though, that the younger gang think Boomers ruined their world. Though I have often wondered "Where have all the hippies gone?" whenever I read about global warming, high gas prices, setbacks in civil and women's rights, I also know that a lot of the rights and privileges we have today are the work of Boomers. Most of us women wouldn't even been wondering what to do in our retirement if it weren't for the women who were the first to enter the professions we now hold.
So, who is the lousy PR person letting Boomers take the rap for the world as it is? As for the rest of us...there are the Gray Panthers, you know...
Mary, I am saddened by the politics that seem to be threatening a lot of the things we won in the 60s. The threats to women's health issues, voting rights and such. Not sure who's to "blame" about these political changes.
DeleteI marvel at your initiative to start a new career that brings you joy. Gives me something to think about myself. You really can start over, no matter where you are in your life.
Oops...sorry for the typo. Should be "...women wouldn't even be wondering..." That's what comes of working your dream job at 5AM!
ReplyDeleteI don't think the younger generation thinking they can do better is new--alot of us boomers were hippies who thought we had better answers, too.
ReplyDeletePeople are working longer these days, and GenX is waiting longer for the "good" jobs to open up.
I suppose the boomers challenge is to keep learning and growning and making a contribution. And, maybe more important, being open to changing the way work is done. I hear a lot of boomers complain about the way GenXers approach work. What if GenX has it right and it is the boomers who need to change?
Carol: I too am amused about "the generational war at work". As you wrote, there have always been multigenerational issues. For my part, I wish we would all start acting like Europe at work. Lots of time off, employee rights, work life balance... and I'm not talking Greece kind of time off, but Germany.
DeleteI think the key to sanity is being open to a changing work environment. No one has the monopoly on good ideas. Boomers or Xers, or whatever comes next. We need each other. Let's just play nice.
PS: I chuckled at your typo -- "growning". I think it captures what I was feeling about work.
Like Mary, I got off the upward corporate ladder climb about 5 years ago and took a pay cut to do work I am passionate about. I also slightyly lowered my hours, first one extra day off a month, then 1 every 2 weeks. Not a huge change, but it helped a lot as I started getting that 80% fever
ReplyDeleteThat's what I need to creatively design for myself. Less work time moving toward the full Monty.
DeleteAs the resident Gen Xer, I'm reading these posts and comments with interest. I don't think Boomers should step aside. My parents are still making extremely valuable contributions in their fields. And God knows we need people with wisdom, experience and passion. So for you Boomers who are still psyched about working - thank you!
ReplyDeleteAs for early retirement, I retired from my legal career at age 31. Yes, I could still go back, time will tell, but I was miserable, and didn't want to wait until I was old and gray to follow my dreams. A friend died, another friend almost died, and I realized that this isn't the dress rehearsal. The road has been challenging and uncertain, but very rewarding. I know I did the right thing.
Looking forward to continuing on this journey with all you Broads and readers.