Retirement almost retired me!

[Blue Collar Poet]

Where you forced into retirement? Just coincidentally the headcount had to be reduced or the company was re-organizing? Or perhaps other popular terms of release.
Those first two years were the hardest to feel like a loser, nonproductive person and I was lost. The ageism that was the HR department in every interview I had or almost had was crushing. I found myself sinking and the only thing that gave me purpose was to let my mind wander into writing “free-verse” poetry, what I call Blue Collar Poetry.
I had to have a reason to see tomorrow and continue that thought or process of writing.
I recommend to anyone please try to purge your pain and thoughts through writing.

 

[Alice November]

Or, for me it is though painting. I believe anything creative is worth giving time for.
Bless you in your writings.

 

[Paco Dennis]

 

[debodun]

My employer was offering "early retirement incentive" back in 2010. I took it then because it seemed like a good deal. I got 80% of the average of my 3 highest years salary as a pension with periodic COLA adjustments. My Medicare and prescription plan are paid for because I had a lot of accumulated sick leave time. Now that I'm getting SSI, I am making more than when I was working.

I do have a volunteer job - delivering meals on wheels averaging 1 day a week.

 

[Aunt Bea]

Welcome to SF!

I was bounced out after 30.99 years as the result of a corporate merger.

I don’t really consider it a forced retirement, I chose not to look for another job.

I had a career that many people would envy but to me it was just a series of fortunate accidents.

My position never really became a significant part of my identity, to me it was just a job.

I’m content to just bump along and enjoy my quiet little life.