Retired

[99 pewtercoupe]

Congratulations. I retired a little over a year ago and have not missed the rat race or iota.

[MadInNc]

Congrats, 5 yrs retired here.....

[Broken Wind]

Congrats. I did the same earlier this year. It’s great so far.

[lspencer534]

Next month I will have been retired for 3 years. I don't pretend to be an expert on retirement--what you should do, what you shouldn't do--but hopefully I can give you some tips:

1. You will have no more Mondays. Every day is now Saturday. If you can't accept that rule...well, you're not gonna have a fun retirement.

2. Conversations with your friends while walking on the beach go like this: Friend 1: "It's Windy today.' Friend 2: "No, it's Thursday. Friend 3: "Me, too. Let's get a beer...." I you can't live with this kind of chat...well, you're not gonna have a fun retirement.

3. Don't worry about making your retirement funds last long enough. If you're the "rich" one in your group of friends, you need to quickly make some richer friends. They buy the drinks and meals for everyone. If you can't acquire such richer friends...well, you're not gonna have a fun retirement.

4. Drinking can be bad for you...but not as bad as you think. Most doctors say that any drinking is bad for you...but it's not true. The only long-term study on drinking and health was done at the Univ. of California. It followed 29,000 drinkers over 30 years, and found that the older one is, the less dangerous drinking is for you. In fact it becomes beneficial to have 1-3 drinks a day beginning at age 51. Not only red wine, but pretty much any liquor. By age 65, you can consume 3-4 drinks a day with no adverse consequences. Doctors refuse to read this study. Google it. If you're a non-believer...well, you're not going to have a fun retirement.

6. "Cleanliness is next to Godliness", they say. Not true. Do you think that Jesus showered daily and brushed his teeth 3 times a day? You can easily go 2-3 days without a bath, and even much longer in colder weather. Do you even think about conserving water??? If you're picky about baths and showers...well, you're not going to have a fun retirement.

7. Always carry a weapon! Not a hickory stick, a ball peen hammer, or a knife--something with an impact that is big enough to put a man down with one shot. (You can't use a tiny concealed weapon and ask the second assailant to please wait his turn while you empty the magazine into the first assailant.) If you can't do this...well, you're not going to have a fun retirement. It'll be brief, though.

8. If you don't already have a pet, get one! It can be a dog, or a cat, or whatever. (Except not a Puma or a lion or a tiger, etc. Your relationship with it may be good, but it won't last long...at least for you.) Loyal pets mean longer life spans for you, plus they're the best of friends. If you don't have nor want a pet....well, you're not gong to have a long retirement.

[MrPeabody]

9. Doctors will start finding things wrong with you even though you feel fine. Question what they tell you. Ask what other alternatives there are for treatment. Chances are, though, you have already lived longer than them, so what the hell do they know?

[kvozel]

Congrats Dan!

[Black94lt1]

Congratulations!

[Stevedore]

Congratulations! 50 years is a good long work life. (I only made it to 44...)

[MikeB]

Congratulations, Dan.

I retired from my full-time job back in May (after 47 years), but returned
to work in June at a much lesser pay/stress/skill-set requirement job
until I reach full-retirement age for SS next month.

Not sure what I'll do then, maybe drive a school bus, or auto parts delivery
part time.

[SQUIRMIN VERMIN 84]

Congratulations Dan!! Very well done! 50 years!! I only lasted 41!

Every day is Saturday but try to develop a daily schedule for jobs( house/car
maintenance, exercise, time with wife or family and friends),

best of wishes for you!

[Chuck A]

congrats
very cool, indeed

[Antfarmer2]

Damn 50 years working. I only made it to 40 years working. Started at 9 years old and retired at 49.

[Blademaker]

Congratulations!
I was fortunate to retire young, 10 years ago.
Only advice I can give:

1) People will learn of aaaallll the time you have on your hands, and figure that you are now available to assist them in many chores.
You need to put a stop to this quickly. All I had to do was casually mention that I charge $300/hour, with a 2 hour minimum, and people could'nt crawdad away from me fast enough. Except Mom.
Mom didn't think this was very funny.

2)If you are used to getting up early, you'll have to train yourself to sleep in.
I still haven't got this down.

3) Keep your bad habits in check. I've seen many a person let their bad habits kill them soon after hanging it up.

4) Get an assload of hobbies. I have a dozen hobbies that keep me occupied. You may or may not wish to inform your spouse of your new hobbies, depending on what you choose. Better to ask forgiveness than permission.

5) One word: Travel. You have just began a life long vacation, enjoy it for as long as possible.

Good luck...........T.H.E. Blademaker

[TripleBlack]

Congrats!!

It's been a little over 3.5 years now for me. Wish I'd done it sooner.