I am 40,always been in construction and only hope I can work till I drop and I will camp all I can. its to late to go back 20 years and start over but I made bad decisions and have to live with them. On the other hand I have a wonderful wife and 2 boys 20 and 16 17 acers of land and a truck and Tt that are paid for still owe about 12 years on the house but most of the land is paid for. So no retirement here but life is good!!! and camping makes it better.
Been retired for 12 years have had 2 bypasses and 10 stents started with the TC and Dually diesel about 7 years ago and love it. Traveled every summer out west and now have to keep the grandkids busy in the summer so we go for a few months in the winter, to sunny Az. and the desert. Always come home with cash... other then the stuff we have to bring home (?) for the family living on the road seems to be pretty frugal... one meal out and the rest in the TC. See a DVD and it is off to Lala land in the cabover. On the road there is plenty of ways to camp cheap and if you chose an area with a BLM you have it made for your destination. This year we went up in a hot air balloon and I went with a guy I met on one of those power=chutes...at 1,000 feet everything looks different...hehehe
Should have added I am 66 and the DW66, retired with a pension and some health insurance, collecting social security and have some 401K $. It seems because almost everything has been paid up we have enough not only to enjoy retirement but help out the kids.....it is rougher for them in this economic climate then for us older timers.
Just read all of this thread, lots of interesting information. I am 61 turning 62 and starting SS this year. Retired just over a year ago. So far everything is working fine. I was lucky to work for Hormel Foods for over 31 years, lots of what I call quit, die or retire money. Paid off house early and got my girls through college. Put $ in 401K and in saving. The wife and I could not do the full time so I purchased a retirement house (foreclosure cash) my last year of working. Old home is now a rental. Looked at working longer but I had enough to go at 60 with my pension and medical covered. I figured you can not buy time and I sure love spending time with the grand-kids and traveling when I want.
Just retired 3 weeks ago. I started this post in July, now near March and everthing is going fine. I am now in Louisianna, Grand Isle State Park, beautiful place. Times go by, I must return home in late March, have to see my son's child before we hit the road again to Alaska in May.
I think we take it very easy, maybe too easy, I seem to take a too loooonnggg coffee in the morning, check my e mail, take a look at Facebook, chat with the family, take a long walk in the afternoon or a bike ride. Will do it tomorow seems like our new moto. But it is all good moments.
The only problem with retiring early is health insurance. Being self employed, I pay for all of it with a deductable over $6,000. Nothing for medicines, and they just raised my monthly premium to over $1,500. It just keeps going up and up and up. Fortunately in 6 months I'll qualify for medicare, not sure what will happen to my younger wifes premium.
I'm 61, used to be a home builder. In 2009 I put that aside bought a big truck and went on the road. Here's me in Yellowstone NP delivering an interactive exhibit to the new Old Faithful Visitors Center. I didn't even have to pay to get in to the park. Later that day I picked up an Xray machine at the hospital in Jackson, WY. Not even my most fun load. I work about three weeks on and three weeks off, haven't given retirement much thought.
* This post was
edited 03/01/12 12:32am by jroddick *
Jeffrey
" If you don't think too good..... don't think too much"
wife and i are in our 40's and we have a 6 year old son. we have 2 other kids too but they are "adults" now. we both work full time in a pretty secure jobs. we believe that you only live once so we go see and do as much as we can. we dont want to be at the end of our life saying i wished i would have, could have or should have. we love the outdoors and seeing and doing new things. we have enjoyed so much meeting new people in our travels and look forward to meeting many more.
66 years behind me. DW and I both retired in '09. We live on a 70 acre farm, are down to 6 horses and a few calves. We take care of my Mom who lives on our farm but needs a little help which we love to do. Still a little time to camp and enjoy friends, family and life. One bit of advise: RETIRE DEBT FREE.
I worked 48 years as a pipeline welder, millwright, carpenter and finally retired as a facilities director at Ohio University. We raised 2 wonderful girls and I squeezed in a associates degree. Most weeks of my working life entailed 60 to 90 hours at work but it was worth every minute.
My wife (29) and I (31) paid off about 68K in debt (both cars, the TT, our second mortgage) in 3 years. We've mostly followed Dave's plan. We're on baby step #6, paying off the house early. Three years into a 30 year mortgage, should be done in less than 8 years.
We never argue about money, and even though I was unemployed for about 4 months (right before our 1st born came into the world) I can honestly say we have financial peace.
Don't know where the future will take us, but it's looking pretty good with Dual incomes, and only the mortgage payment left. Still got a long working career ahead of me, but look forward to doing a bunch of traveling after retirement.
02 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 4x4, prodigy and equalizer
07 Crossroads Sunset Trail ST19CK
and no payments
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