Retirement thoughts

[cpaharley2008]

Okay, the last off topic post, but I read someplace Jim, that for every year you work past 60, you lose 2 years off your life expectancy. You reach the point of diminishing returns.

Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcasting...

 

[escape artist]

Okay, the last off topic post, but I read someplace Jim, that for every year you work past 60, you lose 2 years off your life expectancy. You reach the point of diminishing returns.

Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcasting...

Hi: cpaharley2008...:'''''(. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[Donna D.]

Okay, the last off topic post, but I read someplace Jim, that for every year you work past 60, you lose 2 years off your life expectancy. You reach the point of diminishing returns.

Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcasting...

Well, this is a real downer for the evening... sigh...

 

[float5]

Well, this is a real downer for the evening... sigh...

Only applies to non-fiberglass trailer owners.

 

[gbaglo]

I read someplace

The problem is, in retirement, you have too much time to read.
Your premise might hold for framers, drywallers, heavy equipment operators, but you'll find that many in creative jobs or with jobs that give them satisfaction just keep on going.
There are a lot of people who retire and drop dead from boredom.
I read that somewhere.

 

[dbailey]

Yeah, I think it all depends on the job... My job is arguably one of the creative ones, but it's also a stressful environment and it's been many years since I actually enjoyed it. I'm planning on getting out of it as soon as possible, and I expect my health with improve for that.

But you have to take an active (pun intended) role in your own health -- a major change like retirement needs to be managed to ensure benefit rather than problem.

I've noticed something interesting the last couple of weeks. Right now the wife and I are on a fairly serious fitness drive. We're working with a trainer at a gym, trying to stay active all week long, and tracking calories. I weigh myself every morning. I tend to eat a few more calories (10%-15% over average) on Friday and Saturday, and a bit less than average during the rest of the week. A final piece to the puzzle: I am at work (entirely a desk job) 3 days a week: Monday to Wednesday. Here's the interesting thing: I am almost always at my lowest weight during the week on Monday morning. I tend to gain weight on the days I'm working, and lose weight when I'm not. This is despite eating more on the days I'm not working, and getting roughly the same amount of exercise every day of the week. I have a few theories: it could be the stress of the job, it could be that even though I get about the same amount of "exercise", my over all calorie expenditure is less on the days I'm chained to a desk. Or maybe something less complex, like our cafeteria company consistently underestimating the calorie content in their food, so that I'm eating more than I think I am.

But it seems to be pretty consistent: at least on a short-term basis I do better physically when I'm not working, and my job is an impediment to weight loss.

 

[cpaharley2008]

Short story synopsis: Mentally, it is better to work, but physically, it is better to retire.
So basically, retire and take up a hobby that is mentally challenging, like camping!!

Retirement Age and Life Expectancy

 

[robertg-ESC]

My wife and I took a retirement planning course over 30 years ago. We were by far the
youngest couple in the group. The lecturer looked at us and said that we were
the only ones in the room at the right time. The theme of the presentation was
that you have to have something to retire "to"...it takes planning and preparation.
I know people that are retired and wonder how they ever had the time to work. Great place to be.

 

[dbailey]

Short story synopsis: Mentally, it is better to work [...]

Jim, I'll even argue that point... (I like to argue!)

Mentally it is better to work only if it's the right job for you. I can't imagine a factory working doing the same repetitive thing for 8 hours is any better working than just watching TV. As in my case, even a creative job can be a mental/emotional issue.

Working can be mentally better than retirement, but it isn't necessarily.

This comes back to what I said about actively managing the transition from employment to retirement. Generally speaking you have more options, more flexibility, and often more energy in your retirement. If you take advantage of that, you can be better off in retirement. But if you just let yourself react and be driven by circumstance, you might very well be better off continuing to work.

I don't intend to be let my life drive me, so I fully expect to be better off (both physically and mentally) for the increased flexibility retirement will give me.

And I'll add that for some people, actively managing their retirement might involve taking another traditional job, but as a means of getting stimulation and exercise. There is a big difference in a job you choose to do, versus one you feel you have to do.

Hmmm, I think we're a little off the "5.0 floor plan" topic here...

 

[Brian B-P]

Short story synopsis: Mentally, it is better to work, but physically, it is better to retire.
So basically, retire and take up a hobby that is mentally challenging, like camping!!]

This makes sense, but is from the same member who said "I'm retired and stop thinking years ago".
Maybe the key is to be thinking, but only about things which are interesting, challenging, and positive?

Similarly, physical activity is good, but only good activity... another reason to go camping.

I've got no idea what this has to do with the new 5.0, either...

 

[gbaglo]

Somebody could start a new thread.

 

[cpaharley2008]

merged from another thread

 

[padlin]

The week I retired, 3 months ago, my closing in on 90 mother sent me a Sudoku book and told me to do one a day. I don't remember where I put it though.

 

[cpaharley2008]

When my mother turned 89 she had to move into my house and she has been here over 4 years. Taking care of her is my retirement job.

 

[escape artist]

Lifeline!!!

Hi: All... I can't remember who told me this... but here's your life line.
Born---------------------------------Retired/good health-----poor health---------Died.
The prospect is I'm entering the short end of the line. I think camping/traveling is the good health life preserver. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[thoer]

When my mother turned 89 she had to move into my house and she has been here over 4 years. Taking care of her is my retirement job.

You're a good son!

 

[MyronL]

Thoughts on retirement:

Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing. Oliver Wendell Holmes

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles. Doug Larson

The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off. Abe Lemons

There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want. Bill Watterson

 

[J Mac]

....a gentleman paused for a moment on a stairwell landing, "was I going up the stairs or was I coming down?"

 

[Sandra L]

When my mother turned 89 she had to move into my house and she has been here over 4 years. Taking care of her is my retirement job.

She is a very fortunate Mom. And what a wonderful son.

 

[float5]

The week I retired, 3 months ago, my closing in on 90 mother sent me a Sudoku book and told me to do one a day. I don't remember where I put it though.

It reminds me of signs on the road someone posted something like these:
First sign: Senior Center, This Way.
Second sign: Senior Center, Don't Forget to Turn!
Third sign: Senior Center, Wake Up!
Fourth sign: Senior Center, Turn Here!