Retirement Plans

At what age do you plan to stop working/retire? And, what will you do after you retire?

As for me, I plan to work in some way as long as I am able. God willing, I plan to be a Christian counselor/therapist after my current job. I will stay at my current field/job for a while since that is my field of study and I enjoy it. But, I'll be ready for a people-oriented job at some point.

RETIRED PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF LIFE:

I Retired from a regular job only because my hobbies were demanding more of my time.

I have to confess.

When I lived in a retirement community, I often worked odd hours and so I'd be driving into work at 9 at night or going to work at 4 in the morning... And every now and then, I was tempted to blast my horn and wake everyone up.

But I was good.

Didn't try it even once.

For many people the term "Retirement Plans" is an oxymoron......just sayin'.

In my mind, retirement happens when one passes away or is physically/mentally unable to work/volunteer.

I understand people wanting to take a year or two to travel or relax. Also, if one is older they can work less hours/part-time, as older people don't have the same energy levels/stamina.

Retirement is not a Biblical concept:

https://gracefinancialadvisors.com/...he Bible does,concept, but a cultural concept.

Hi Ms. Mediator!

Thank you for starting all these threads about important life topics. I really enjoy reading them.

I consider myself to be in a "pre-retirement" phase right now. I've spent at least half my life living near or looking after retired people, so retirement always seemed like a progressive part of life to me. And every retired person always told me the same thing: "Save your money, and maybe someday you can do this, too."

My biggest inspiration was my grandparents, who traveled the world when they retired (visiting every continent EXCEPT Asia, ironically, since that's the one I'm from!) And so I always used to think I would grow up and do the same.

For the past 10 years, I've spent most of my time living in retirement communities and even a nursing home near family members. I wasn't just "near" these places, but I actually lived within them and was a part of them, paying for my own residence there and either down the hall or down the street from family, so it's been quite an eye-opening experience.

People were always asking me the same two questions. "WHAT are YOU doing HERE?" -- sometimes out of curiosity, sometimes out of bitterness -- so I used to tell them that I had spent all my money on Botox.

The other thing they had no qualms about asking was, "What's WRONG with YOU???" because they assumed the the only way I could live there was because I was severely mentally/physically handicapped and/or disabled.

In some cases, I was around people in their 70's and 80's playing golf and pickleball everyday, and in another location, I would regularly eat every meal with people who had canes, walkers, and were in wheelchairs. Many weren't all that old. There was one man who had to use a full walker whom I thought was about 40 -- I was genuinely shocked to learn he was almost 60. And I heard story after story of how people thought their retirement was going to be, but life had blindsided them (illness, disability, death of spouse, spouse with dementia, etc.) with something completely different, and now they were doing their best to adjust. It's a lesson that's always in the back of my mind, and sometimes creeps more to the front.

I am currently trying to shift into partially retired life, having been able to cut down on working hours and have more flexibility with my schedule, which I am very grateful for.

My biggest concern is that I don't want to be a financial burden to anyone. I've seen case after case in which either children are irresponsible and expect parents to pay for them, or parents have been irresponsible and now expect to live off their kids.

I really hope to be something different. I have my eye on some ministry work I'd like to do -- I would love to go back to serving through writing letters to inmates and people in the military (the common theme for me is corresponding with people who are in extreme situations,) but I don't feel I have the ok from God due to safety issues.

So I'll look for other small ways, like a volunteer quilting group I came across that makes items for military families (even though I have no clue about quilting, the lady said if I could cut fabric and sew in a straight line, I'd be good!) and/or doing things like packing care boxes, etc. Writing letters seems to be a crucial part of my life though, and I'm glad to see there are some groups that still utilize them (such as to cancer patients, etc.) But I admit I haven't joined yet because I am unsure of what I would say, especially if I were writing to multiple people.

My initial dream for retirement was to travel the world like my grandparents. I've found some travel agencies that specialize in single female travel (designed with safety in mind,) but it's very, very expensive, and I'm not nearly as keen on flying as I once was (most of the trips are overseas.) I'm thinking I might have to limit my itinerary to the USA and/or places attached to it.

It's all in God's hands. One thing that my time in retirement communities has taught me is to heed the passage about the rich fool who thought the party would never end, so he kept building bigger store houses -- and God demanded His life from him that very night. I don't want to make plans for which God is telling me there is no storehouse to put them.

Whatever is ahead, I just hope it can at least be of some kind of useful purpose... and oh, maybe a bit of fun (and maybe even a little mischief) along the way.

Retirement? That's for the 1%. Get back to work slave!

what i'm going to do after retirement: study the Bible, (always), play my drums, study music, read books, exercise, bicycle riding, sightseeing, eat fancy, deal with antiques & coins, meet with friends, become a Bible speaker, play chess & other games, swim, golf, vacate, try to form a band with virtuoso players, explore the Adirondacks & who knows what else. by the way, any stellar, all star musicians on CC?

I understand what you're saying and have often wondered if God considers retirement a sin. If all we do is sit on our butts, eat pizza and watch movies or play video games and don't do anything else, I'm pretty sure that's probably not exactly bringing Him glory. And we might be guilty of this at any stage of life, not just retirement.

But even then, a person doing these things might have contact with other people (the staff who makes and delivers the food; chat groups that talk about movies; online multi-media games with hundreds of players,) and God might be using those as opportunities/your participation to witness to them.

I tend to think of retirement as more of a lifestyle shift in which you're still doing "work," but it's gravitated towards what you want to do, and for some, pay becomes optional rather than a sudden, "Now I'm going to be a useless couch potato and punch out from participating in life."

Most retirees I know are heavily involved in unpaid work at churches, schools, and in their community. So they're working just as much or more than ever, but they have chosen to do so for no monetary compensation. Or maybe they're helping to raise their grandkids, etc., which is certainly still work.

I've often thought of the main character in the movie "Chariots of Fire" who was a runner. He said something along the lines that he knew God had made him a runner, and he knew that God had made him fast, so when he ran, and when he ran fast, he felt God's pleasure in who he was and what God had made him to do.

I don't know if this is how God really thinks. I've heard it said that when birds chirp, and alligators bask in the sun, they are doing the things God made them to do and in doing just those things, they are bringing God glory.

I guess I'd like to think we humans are the same way. As long as we're out doing human things that God made us to do (some being tailored to the skill set He gave each of us,) well...

Maybe that's exactly what we're supposed to be doing -- regardless of how anyone else labels or if anyone pays us for doing it.

I used to associate retirement with leisure (moving to the beach/mountains, travel, waking up late, hobbies, involved with community but more for socialization purposes, etc.), but now I want to think of it as a period to do something more focused and meaningful (missionary work, volunteering, work in various organizations/various causes, etc.). Retirement associated with leisure is more self-serving, and that is important also to a degree as self-care/following our passions is important. However, the activities I mentioned above are not really serving others.

So, I think there must be a balance, but leaning towards serving others, during retirement. Doing something even part-time after retirement, like part-time substitute teacher, I think is meaningful. Some paths require preparation in advance, such as getting a teaching license, counselor certification, another degree, learning a new skill, etc., so I think it is good to think ahead rather than wait till retirement and figure out what to do next. A person still has a couple or more "useful" decades left.

I retired at 38 and planned to spend the rest of my days hunting, fishing, gardening and church ministry. That lasted about nine months until my wife and mother conspired to get me back to work. At 60 my physical health forced me to retire before I was ready. My disability and my retirement income exceeds my working income and both allow me to do what I want to do. My physical health have kept out of the deer stand, off the lake, and lately out of the garden. It has limited my ability to actively participate in church ministry. I spend my time today in Bible study, ancestry research, and watching birds.

I thank God that He gave me sense enough to start planning for my retirement the first day I went to work.

Dunno.

For all I make a fuss about w*rk being a four letter dirty word, I really don't mind it. That w*rk stuff is just for comedic effect. If I can do my job and get my pay, I feel like I'm pulling my weight.

So yeah, I'll probably keep working as long as it's feasible.

As for what I'll do after that: If I'm too broke down to work, I'll probably be too broke down to do much else. Maybe I'll become a fixture at the local diner and listen to old guys at the liars' table.

Retirement plans:

Stare into the abyss.

jk

I believe God has a plan for my retirement. I don't see it yet, but I believe He will have a use for me.

Usually when people retire they get lump sums available to them and so they splurge on expensive items....

Trips are ok....most people are fairly active until their 80's. So don't rush to take it.

Big expensive new vehicle? Bad idea every time. It never works out well.

New house bigger than their last one....bad idea. Most find taking care of a big empty house is too much of a chore...most people downsize.

Financial planner....another bad idea. Nobody directs your money with the same attention or care as you....at best get some actively managed mutual funds....

Oh and for the guys....

If you do not come up with a laundry list of things you want to accomplish and do with your free time chances are you will be dead in two years.

Oh I dunno... I think I'll risk it. Seems like God always finds something for me to do (whether I'd rather take a nap or not.)

Most boring time of my life was after I became an adult, but before I became a Christian. After I became a Christian, that fixed the boring part, like permanently.

Sometimes I WISH I was bored. Ever feel like you wish God would just leave you alone to moulder in the corner in peace? But then I remember how dull and bleh it really was back then, and I stop wishing that.

So yeah, no, I ain't worried. God always has something going on, and some place for me in it.

I am sick of an unsteady work life. I am sick of having to hustle for jobs, work OT, impress bosses, or worry about being fired. I want to retire today.

As for what I would do, I have too many interests. I will never be bored.