Work hard so we can play hard.

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
For a whole list of reasons, it's going to be some time before Ron and I retire, but one of the primary reasons is that when we do, our income will drop to the point where we won't have the kind of discretionary income we do now and so will have to greatly reduce our play time!

We both work hard, but we play hard too. We eat out, travel, do fun physical things like zip lining and paddle boarding, we try new things, we take the bike out and ride and tour. We're in the process of remodeling the house and that costs. We have plans for a cruise, for visiting friends all over the US in the next 2 - 3 years. So much stuff we want to do, and we work hard in order to do that. And we don't want to give that up. I guess at some point the lure and appeal of not having to work will be greater than the lure of our adventurous life, and the idea of giving much of that up won't feel like the hardship that it does now.

What about you? At least those of you who don't have the discretionary income that would enable you to continue the lifestyle you want after retirement. At what point did you decide retirement was the better choice? What factors went into that decision?
 

I didn’t decide to retire. The FAA retired me. My wife and I are very active and do a lot of traveling, both domestic and international. Not having to pay for flights is a good thing. Eating out is not my favorite thing, especially in gourmet restaurants, but I do it to appease my wife. I like home cooking over that other type of food.
 
I really, really enjoy not working so that is enough to satisfy me.

I have noticed over the years that people usually find the time and the money to do the things that are important to them even if it means scrimping a little in other areas.

As long as you are doing what feels right for you and you are willing to own the life you choose without regret then go for it.
 

I became disabled, couldn't walk far. So I didn't have a choice. But I never thought I'd ever say this- I missed work. I was a psychiatric nurse. When you are the one in charge and you are "responsible" for everything in the place, and that's taken away from you. Somethings wrong, and you miss it. Plus, most of your social life will revolve around your fellow employees, if you've been at the same place for over ten years. If I were still able to, I would go back to work. But then again, who knows?
 
We were more homebody's right from the start. When we retired our life style didn't change that much. Retirement meant more time to enjoy our home. Neither one of us miss working. We still go out occasionally for dinner. Travel to see my daughter and family a few times a year. Go on picnics and join in whatever the kids have planned now and then. It's enough for us.
 
I decided to retire because I just wanted more time to do those things like you said "play hard". I think in life you should have fun in life and that is what I plan to do while I can. I also worked hard like you said you and your wife have done. I however have inherited money from my parents which will make me pretty secure as it made them financially secure throughout there old age. That is a luxury for me.
 
I miss working. I had to quit due to health reasons, but husband still works. We are able to be comfortable.
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
We were more homebody's right from the start. When we retired our life style didn't change that much. Retirement meant more time to enjoy our home. Neither one of us miss working. We still go out occasionally for dinner. Travel to see my daughter and family a few times a year. Go on picnics and join in whatever the kids have planned now and then. It's enough for us.
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Our goal was to work hard and save for early retirement, which is what we did. Like you Ruth, we lived a simple mellow lifestyle even while we were working. We always enjoyed driving across country and camping, which we still do. We go out to eat when we're in the mood, but generally we found that we can prepare a good meal ourselves and enjoy it in the comfort of our own home. Some king crab legs, rib eye steak, St. Louis ribs, lamb sirloins, etc. come out great if my husband does the cooking. :p I love not working and never regretted retiring, wouldn't work again if you paid me. :D
 
SeaBreeze said:
Our goal was to work hard and save for early retirement, which is what we did. Like you Ruth, we lived a simple mellow lifestyle even while we were working. We always enjoyed driving across country and camping, which we still do. We go out to eat when we're in the mood, but generally we found that we can prepare a good meal ourselves and enjoy it in the comfort of our own home. Some king crab legs, rib eye steak, St. Louis ribs, lamb sirloins, etc. come out great if my husband does the cooking. :p I love not working and never regretted retiring, wouldn't work again if you paid me. :D
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Seabreeze, those meals sound lovely.
 
Opposing views as always - that's life. Work is not just about work - it's always socializing - many of my workmates male/female liked socializing after work and we did - not weekly but occasionally but never weakly. I enjoy retirement and paddling around but I still miss work and would accept a job tomorrow and still have the quals and skills to do it but in these parts they're has rare as hens teeth. My wife still works but I am surrounded by housework Yuk!!
 
I planned since I was 34 when I started to learn how to manage money. I never stopped and the idea of dying before I retired was scary. I thought, "just give m a few years of living and I'll be happy." So far so good.
 
Retirement is not a part of my world. I've always worked when I wanted to, did other things when I wanted to. I'll go out that way, as my father before me did. Self-employment is the way I chose to handle making money, and for me that has worked perfectly. For my Dad, things also went well, right up to the end. I know not everyone is cut out for self-employment, but, as my daughter grows her business (she'll be on local TV, next week, in an interview concerning her business), I see it must have a genetic component.
 
gumbud said:
Opposing views as always - that's life. Work is not just about work - it's always socializing - many of my workmates male/female liked socializing after work and we did -
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My work isn't about socializing. I don't go to an office, I am not surrounded by other people. As an organizer, I mostly work alone. Sometimes I work with a client for periods of time, depending on what I'm doing, but for the most part, it's just me. It's the work itself I enjoy.
 
Actually, I've only had one job in my life where I really liked the job and salary (hourly) pay I was getting. Unfortunately, that job was the last job I had before I started getting Early Retirement in SS. After that job, we ended up living in a couple of areas where it was really easy for my wife to get a job, but definitely not for me. And, I didn't want to drive for miles, like I did in Colorado (28 miles each way) to get to job.

Currently, with my SS, my wife's descent salary, plus her getting her full SS, our income is nice, BUT that will definitely change once we move back to Colorado. We will have to adjust, but not that much for the first year or two. Our fun is boating, fishing, Range target shooting, rodeo action and photography. Rodeo and wildlife photography. Neither of us have a Pension, only SS and savings.

Health wise, we both do ok, but those old ugly words "arthritis pain" can come into view at times and that can slow us down.

I've never been a really "hard worker" or "hard player". To me, bridling/saddling a horse wasn't hard and neither was riding after a steer down an arena and roping it. It was a sport that I really, really enjoyed. But, those days are gone.
 
I’ve always worked hard
….and played harder

I’m just not wired any other way
Had fun at both
Will continue

Getting money for any of it was just a bonus

I have no huge savings or investments

Oddly, I feel very rich
 

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