Sunday Retirement
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (90937)
United States
March 28, 2021 12:22pm CST
For whatever reason Sunday is always the day when I tend to think about retirement more than any other day during the week. And it is probably no real surprise why. I mean, I really like my weekends, and I enjoy the freedom weekends mostly allow me to have.
And of course, there's Monday right around the corner. And that means going back to work.
Not that I dislike my job, or find it terribly difficult to do. But it is, like any job is, all consuming of time. And being that I am not a "let's go do something after work" kind of a guy...
The workweek is pretty much shot.
I can technically afford to retire. But, it is also not practical. Why?
Health insurance.
That is the real hurdle. The cushion money I would want to enjoy would literally be eaten up by the cost of private health insurance. And so, pulling the plug, while doable, is not at all convenient or practical.
Besides. Who am I kidding? I make a lot of money working. I'd probably be stupid to give that up. I have a TON of cushion and comfort now. Would I really want to give that up just to have more time to myself to do what I want?
It's a conundrum if it is anything.
12 people like this
15 responses
@popciclecold (38738)
• United States
28 Mar 21
I am getting used to it, and I like it
2 people like this
@kaylachan (69808)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Mar 21
My husband is two years from retirement and he talks about it a lot. But, he still wants to work. He complains about his job, but thanks to it, we're in a comfortable position where we're not scrambling until the next payday. We've been in times where we've had a lot less, but we like where we are now. Could we do better, sure. We could also be doing worse.
2 people like this
@Chellezhere (5738)
• United States
28 Mar 21
And, even if you did retire, you might find that to be boring enough to want to return to work anyway. So, the work circle stays unbroken.
2 people like this
@porwest (90937)
• United States
28 Mar 21
I have been talking a lot more about what I call semi-retirement. You know, just work some part time job somewhere to make something, but have a lot more time to do what I want. Full retirement would be way better. But at least semi retirement solves at least the health insurance part. You just work just enough to get it.
1 person likes this
@porwest (90937)
• United States
28 Mar 21
@Chellezhere Not that I would ever get bored. I have plenty of things I like to do to keep me busy. But sometimes work is fulfilling too. Makes you feel useful.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
31 Mar 21
All depends on your priorities and what you plan ahead for in your retirement. My Dad has been retired for 20ish years now. They still live a very comfortable life and (pre-COVID) travelled several times a year. He loves being retired.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
3 Apr 21
@porwest Possibly. My Mom has always kept busy & has several hobbies, but my Dad just enjoys the "easy life" as he calls. He's super laid back and likes not having much on his plate day to day. Honestly as we get older between Dr appointments, regular upkeep on a house, and daily nonsense the days fill up fast.
@porwest (90937)
• United States
3 Apr 21
@sedel1027 Someone else on here said they are so busy in retirement they wonder how they ever found time to work. lol
@RebeccasFarm (89873)
• Arvada, Colorado
29 Mar 21
Yeah you like to make that moolah Jim
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
29 Mar 21
It would be no fun being retired if you haven't got enough money. I was good with money when I was working and now have enough to see me out without having to worry. However we have our national Health service to take care of me should I need it, so that contributes to my life being worry free.
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Mar 21
Health insurance was the number one reason I was hesitant to retire last year. But in the end, I ended up taking the leap of faith and retiring anyway. But then....health insurance. I ended up getting another job just for the health insurance. I don't need the money. But I do need the health insurance. Sigh. I guess I won't be quite as "retired" as I thought I would be.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Apr 21
@porwest I actually could have carried my city insurance into retirement (and I did for 6 months), but it was terribly expensive because it wasn't subsidized by the city like they do when you're employed there. I found it was much, much cheaper for me to find another job and get on a new insurance plan than it was to keep the city's insurance plan.
1 person likes this
@porwest (90937)
• United States
31 Mar 21
Yeah, I am not even sure exactly what private health insurance would cost, but I am assuming it would be somewhere around $20,000-$25,000 a year. Too bad your city job wouldn't let you carry insurance into retirement. That would be a huge plus if they did.
Looking back I probably should have just stayed in the Navy and retired. That would have covered the health insurance thing, although I COULD go through the VA. But it's a hassle.
1 person likes this
@porwest (90937)
• United States
3 Apr 21
@moffittjc Probably a wise choice, and I am sure the new job is not as time consuming or as grueling as the former one.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44544)
• Staten Island, New York
28 Mar 21
If you retire will your monthly pension be high or low? My mom's friends (husband and wife) worked for many many years for the city. Now that they are retired they don't have to pay for health insurance from what I understood and there pension is pretty high. In comparison, my mom worked for many many years in a company as a programmer and then QA analyst (still doing that now) and if she retires her pension from the company won't even be $1000/month. And she will have to pay for health insurance out of her own pocket.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178780)
• United States
29 Mar 21
You're right about the health insurance. It will eat your nest egg up alive. Work a few more years and stash that money away. You'll be glad you did.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87806)
• Bangalore, India
29 Mar 21
This Monday today is off here due to Holi festival. Yes, it comes with Monday blues
Never thought of retirement. Husband wanted an early retirement but the kind of workoholic he is, I am sure he will look for another work post that
Never thought of retirement. Husband wanted an early retirement but the kind of workoholic he is, I am sure he will look for another work post that
@aureategloom (9637)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
28 Mar 21
well, at least you can get some time for vacation i guess
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41443)
• United States
28 Mar 21
I understand. I had planned to work for the full thirty years (I loved my job), but year 27 became unbearable. So when I figured up that even with a slight drop in my pension, it wasn't worth the stress. And when I found out the company would continue to pay for my health insurance, I was outta there.
