I'm Going Back to Work (I Think)

Has anyone considered going back to work after retiring? I have sat here on my fannie and watched the stock market eat away at what I have worked a life time making.My broker says hang in there it'll be back.I don't think he knows I am 70 and may not live to see it come back.I think working will help offset the loss.At 70 I'll probable have to take a greeters job or something less.Man I am pis_ _ _.I got one interview from the resume I had at a head hunter company. I may be crazy for even trying to go back.

Don,
I'm in the same boat as you but I'll only be 65 in three months. There is NO WAY I'd go back to work, 43 years on the same job was tooooooooo much for me, I'd rather pick aluminum cans along the side of the road before I'd go back to work. Maybe put the wife to work but no me.
I used to get migraines three time a month and they would last three days. When I retired........... the migraines left.

Don I wish I could work, but my body & doctor refuses to let me. If anything came out of my disability it was I got to watch my son go up, been able to take care of my wife and my parents & in-laws as they grew older.

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Originally Posted by Don Dalton

Has anyone considered going back to work after retiring? I have sat here on my fannie and watched the stock market eat away at what I have worked a life time making.My broker says hang in there it'll be back.I don't think he knows I am 70 and may not live to see it come back.I think working will help offset the loss.At 70 I'll probable have to take a greeters job or something less.Man I am pis_ _ _.I got one interview from the resume I had at a head hunter company. I may be crazy for even trying to go back.

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Since you are a car guy,you might do what I do.I watch craigslist and local swap meets for Performance parts and if I can score a good deal, I clean it up and resell it at a profit.I have had intakes I bought locally for $25-$50 sell for over $190 on ebay.:D It's fun to do something with something you enjoy anyway.

When I lost my job almost two years ago because my company got bought out, I took early retirement at 62. I thought all my life that retirement was the pot at the end of the rainbow and I would be able to play with my toys and enjoy myself. Boy was I wrong!!

I HATED being retired. I lost all purpose in life, lost a lot of my people skills (because I wasn't dealing with the public every day) and aged more in those two years than I did in the previous 5 years. My days consisted of getting up at 10 or 11, watching TV, taking a nap on the couch with the cats, then playing on this computer until I went to bed at night.

Four months ago I went back to work and am doing what I always did.......I now work 12-15 hour days and LOVE it. I am the first guy in the door in the morning and leave hours after everyone else. I have purpose in my life again and instead of depleting my savings I am now building it back up. I feel better and am starting to use my mind again.

We've all heard of the guy who retired and died a month later, and now I know why. Retirement may work for some, but I intend on passing away at my desk at work. (hope they don't think I'm taking a power nap!:eek: )
Don

I retired last year at 55......much the same as Don, our company shut down.......I do keep busy around here, get a bit bored at times, but really don't want to work.....maybe, I am just lazy....LOL........I might have to work though, part time...like said above....my pension fund has taken a beating........and it will get me out of the house.

I have a friend who has retired and went back working 4 or 5 times....everyone is different........

had to learn how to be retired, at first I too was bored, I did some fishing but that grew old fast, so then I thought of what I really liked doing and didn't do because of work; Motorcycling, old cars and working with my hands.

I also keep my eye on good deals, like when I'm out riding my motorcycle or Pheasant hunting, I come across lots of goodies, buy em up and resell them. I bought two Model T fenders for $25.00 and sold them for $250.00, actually I've done that a couple of times. I've also set up at Swap Meets and have a blast.
I wouldn't even consider thinking about going back to work.

Because of medical conditions, I sold my big shop a few years back and got away from all the big payments, hiring and keeping decent help, etc. a number of years back and started working out of my garage.... The learning curve for me to do a lot less work and put in less then half the hours I used to was steep... Took a few strokes, some time back in the hospital, and a lot of thinking to get things cut back to where they are now....

Biggest think to learn was accepting the fact that I had to do less if I wanted to live through it.... I'm doing better the last year or so, just had to learn to be comfortable with the pace I have to work at. I tried the doing absolutely nothing but sitting in the house all day for awhile...made it 3 days!!!! Now I do what I can do at a pace that keeps me relatively healthy. Some days that's a lot, some days it's absolutely nothing...

About all I do know is my own stuff, Tom's coupe being the exception. Winter is really a tough time for me, so when Tom picks up his coupe, there's nothing else that HAS TO BE DONE this winter, but enough to keep me going if I'm able to do it.... I can't imagine just flat selling everything and going to a dead stop, think that would be impossible for me. But I also know I can no longer work 70 hours a week and kick out cars at the pace I used to. The best part of the whole deal is that it's no longer work when I'm in the shop, it's fun!! I really enjoy taking my time, working when I can, and getting things done at a pace that won't kill me... Not easy to learn, but in my case it was an essential!!!!

I retired a year and a half ago after 35 years in the construction business. We moved from Wa back to CO. At first I relished not having to get to work every day. I played, worked on our new home, Etc.....after six months I found myself totally bored.
I volunteered to help as a supervisor on a Habitats for Humanity home and that led to a volunteer stint with our school districts building trades program this school year. I graduated college in '72 with a teaching degree in secondary ed. yet never taught a day of school, in talking with a couple of the instructors during our initial training in Aug for the volunteer program I was urged to get my teaching creds updated and apply for a position as an instructor. Seems the district has several positions to fill next year and not enough qualified applicants.
So, I went back to school in Sept, I need to take 30 hrs of courses offered between this past Sept to July. Then I apply to the state for a teaching certificate.
Not bored anymore what with the volunteer work and school...now it seems I don't have enough time in the day:)

For me, sitting around and watching TV is OK as long as I have access to the Internet but it does disconnect one from outside contacts since we live back in the woods and only need to venture forth for supplies. Jan. and Feb. are the worst since I do not have a heated garage. For several years I have been fortunate to go back to teaching part time and use the salary for my car so I have lined up a one course deal for the Spring Semester and then again two compressed semesters in nine weeks for the Summer. I taught Summer classes for over thirty years but skipped last year to complete a book (so far we have sold a grand total of 268 copies, mostly to libraries!) but in 2008 I went back to teach Summer school again. This is a tradeoff since it messes up vacation plans and I can't work on the car as much but few others want to teach in the summer and I have been able to use the money for my car while liviing off my State Pension. However, Virginia is now showing a 3.2 $ BILLION shortfall so there is concern about the long range future of the pension so maybe I better save a little of the salary from part time teaching. Apparently the pension fund depends partly on CSX stock so ship by rail on the east coast to help me out! The good side of the tradeoff is that it is great to be around college age kids and teaching the same old calculus problems does keep my brain functional since I would not use that sort of thinking otherwise. As mentioned above I hated the pressures of trying to get outside research funding and internal politics from a Department Chair and Dean so the first two years were joyous to get away from migraines but teaching is the fun part of the job. The "get money, get money" pressure was surely a pathway to a stroke or other health problems. I plan to try to catch up to the latest research on Lithium batteries in a liesurely way since that looks like the way of the future for electric cars but now I don't have to write grant proposals which are a lot of work but usually lead to a rejection anyway!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Last summer, at the tender age of 75, I sat down and wrote "tohellwithitIquit" letters to the last of my customers. I didn't bail out all at once, the first ones to go were the ones who paid slow (or, on occasion, not at all). The next round I got rid of the a------s I just didn't like, then in September I sent respectful letters of sincere thanks to the fine folks who made it possible for me to feed my family for a long time.

We're doing okay so far but I'm definitely ready for the stock market to go back up.

My wife tells people that I'm a lot easier to live with now. I don't understand why she should say that because I have always been kind and gracious to everybody. I might add fun-loving, even tempered, and understanding at all times.

---- You may want to spray your computer with "B.S eradication spray" at this point ------

I miss the many good friends I made among my customers but that's about all I miss. I have a sufficient number of toys and a bunch of unfinished projects to keep me amused now. Outside of a few geezer-related problems, my health is pretty darn good.

All in all, I'd have to say I'm blessed, and I wish the same for the rest of you retired guys.

Jim

I retired when GE finally said that I was no longer needed - after 42 years. I had gotten to the point I really disliked some of the people I worked with and for and really disliked the way the company was moving - out of the smoke stack industries of the US and into the financial end so really was ready to move on. I have a mediocre pension that unfortunately I have to share with a long gone ex, and a fair SS income. My savings - I'm afraid to look at - GE Stock sold at $14.03 yesterday vs the $38-$56 and more that I bought it for, my Vanguard accounts are down 25% and a separate 401(k) another 25%. Then my wife took early retirement last week!!! Am I going back to work - not yet. I've been doing some volunteer work, unloading some 'treasures' on eBay to lighten the load and playing with my projects. I've had a few bored days when it's just too nasty to work in my garage shop so play with some home improvements. Some day when I finally grow up, then I might get serious about watching TV (and yes, I too am in car race withdrawal), so until then, I'll just keep having fun doing what and when

I wake up in the middle of the night having dream's that I'm back at work. For the money I sure wish I were able to work. I have had many surgeries, and need many more. For the brief time in between when my medication helps I try to do things around the house. It’s seems I don’t get a chance to do the things I want because of things not working in the house. I just spent time and frustration of going through a furnace replacing parts. They always seem to quit in the cold part of the season. I will say I have learned alot of home repair. When one cannot call a repairman because of the high cost you try doing it yourself. I just wish I were able, and had the energy to put that wiliness to work on cars. I wouldn’t be able to get paid for it, as it takes to long to complete when I hurt, and can’t move so good. There are two of us brothers surviving out of 5, the oldest, and the youngest, the oldest will be 81; I’m the youngest at 62. He is able to do twice as much as me, and alot faster. Until last year he was running marathons to compete, and would run everyday when not competing. I would go back to work tomorrow if I could, and that being Sunday would be double time.

Richard

Don, I'm retiring next month and I made that decession last year when my stock was doing OK. I'll probably do some landscaping work this summer for some extra $$$$$, but I've worked 47 years and it's time to quit. My wife and I were planning to buy a house in Wyoming with my stock $, but that's out of the question now. It will get better, but it's going to take a long time before it does.

Don,
You could come over and help me finish my `32 :D

Seems to be quite a few of us in the same boat, here. Pert'near 20 years ago, my company's "in house Doc" took me out of the field - told me I couldn't do any climbing or lifting over fifty pounds; for a "high voltage" maintenance electrician, that was an end to the job I truly loved to do; so, I found a job driving a desk and telling other folks what to do, after a fashion. A few years later, after three heart attacks and the onset of diabetes, my Doc gave me an ultimatum: quit working or meet an early end. So, I took disability, and retired; I was only 53 (I'm coming onto 67, now), and didn't really feel as sick as the Doc said I was, and got on fairly well for about five years, and enjoyed being "not employed". I tried to get some part time stuff, but the disability business kind of put the kibosh on any work in the trades, and nobody wanted a broken old "sparky" for a supervisor or teacher (I tried to offer my services as an instructor to the local ROP) of any sort, even though I had a history of supervisory experience and over thirty years in the trades; for bosses, they wanted college educated people - experience didn't count for much. A few more unfortunate health setbacks around the turn of the century slowed me down to the point that I doubt I could make it through a full days work, now, even if it was only bench work. But, my IRA is dwindling away, and 'uncle sugar" whacks me for income taxes at a rate that is ridiculous, so I keep an eye on the job market, but for most intents and purposes, I am un- employable; my health issues make me too much of a liability to employers - they even turned me down for a spot driving cars around at the local auto auction a couple of days a week. I am afraid I'm going to outlive my money, and leave my bride destitute if I do kick off. It's a puzzle that I don't like to ponder. I've tried to plan as best I can, but the future sure does look foggy and scary, and this most recent "socio-economic" ruction is not encouraging, at all. :HMMM: :(

I just turned 60, and that, along with my wife's health issues, has made me think more about the issues you are facing. I've already outlived my Dad (55), but my heath is okay at this point. As we know, that can change.

My problem is that about 20 years ago, I sacrificed my numerous skilled careers working for others, to self employed full time custom painter. Obviously there are no "perks" associated with this decision, ....except for the fact it has made me very happy every day....however! Other than SS benefits and a very small retirement left from the past, I plan on working every day until I drop. Having said this, my wife was disabled badly enough at 41 that work of any kind is not an option, so having any kind of lifestyle requires me working.

I assume you have cut your living expenses and paid things off, as we did. If we can't pay for something we don't buy. We save the credit for emergencies. That all offers some security, but I also cannot live on the available benefits without cutting some minimal things too. As a result I am looking at what I can do that is related to my custom painting experience, that does not require the physical demands of paint and body work.

My own plans are to start the move to less demanding sources of income now. I have started promoting design drawings for people who want to spend a little, to insure a good result, before they spend a lot of time or money on paint. This is taking hold, and I've done several for out-of-state builders, by using my website to attract them. (Now I need to build a new site, since I cannot add new pictures any more.)I have also had book offers from publishers over the years, which I have declined, but now I think I can offer "real" help to either beginners or experienced painters, who might be weak on design, so I am writing a book right now that I may publish myself...if I can figure out how best to market it.

What I am thinking is that you also have experience that might help others, and can possibly do something like this.....how-to books.....consultant.....If you attend events or anything that you might base a website on...either job related, or hobby related. (They are cheap to build and operate) You could sell advertising on a site if you can attract enough traffic. I think there are also probably some internet marketing opportunities, that could be done from home, that would generate extra income for you. Maybe you could do what I intend, and that is to do more than one of these, and maybe make some $ off of each. I hope there might be something in my rambling that helps. Anyway, good luck in whatever you choose to do.

I know I'll have to work (my present job) until I am at least 65 - another 19 years. What will it be like then? I have been saying for many years that I would never be able to retire.

I sent out 3 inquires this week end,so I should get a good feel as to what I am facing.Like I said in the beginning thread,being 70 is the big problem.Like Hotrod Paint I did not like the Corporate Life,so I resigned and started out on my own making no provisions for a retirement account.I sold the business and invested as best I knew with a major broker.Little did I know I would face this sick economy and stock drop in such a short time.If it makes a quick recovery (not counting on it) I'll be ok. A small retirement check and SS just won't pay the bills.Cut backs coming.

Going back to work will help to off set the loss,if I can find something in my field.

I have 36.5 years in at my current job with no expectations of any layoffs, so I will probably continue to work for 3 to 4 more years (if my health continues) and retire when I am 66. But that will be retirement from this job only, as I hope to have something else lined up for after that. Nothing like what I do now, probably less days or less hours and definitely less money, but something to fill in financially and keep the brain and juices flowing.:D

In addition to enjoying watching the grass grow, I also like working.:eek: :LOL:

Right now at my ripe old age of 33 I think I will be working for awhile yet, I hope. I may be oblivious but I am glad I have no idea what my stocks in my 401k are doing. I did start thinking about it one day and got a little concerned, not quite worried yet but then I realized that the way I am, I will be working until I'm dead anyway. I might not be turning wrenches my entire life but there are other jobs that need to be done also even if the pay is little or nothing. If I work at a soup kitchen as a volunteer I'm sure they will feed me :LOL: For the time being I'm going to take comfort in working until I can't anymore after all I got all of eternity to rest.:)

Man,

Some of you give me hope and others paint a pretty sad picture-I am 53 now and want to work until 62-my Wife is 46, and is made of good German stock (so I think I'll keep her working for another 20 Years or so-ha ha).

We've saved like crazy through the Years, even though I get a little freaked out every now and then-called my Edward Jones guy Thursday night in a panic, and he sounds so optimistic (how else is he going to sound?)-This is the time to buy! The indicators are that we are close to the bottom! On and on-

Hope when I retire I can sweep floors at a Hot Rod Shop (gotta have some type of Social Interaction)-my Father-in-Law enjoys Retirement more than anybody I've ever met-he is always busy, and just loves it, but told me last week he's going back to work, as his Investments are stagnant too.

I fantasize sometimes of not having to work, but I know that after about a Month or two I'd probably go crazy-

I retired from IBM as a field service rep a few months ago and bought a large (15,000 sq ft.) body, paint and fabrication shop. I know I will have to work for most of the rest of my life, and I was so tired of the corporate world, I took the plunge. My retirement income is small, but my income from the shop is just enough to bridge the gap to what I was making. I don't feel like I'm working, it's more like play to me. The folks who work there are great, I only help out with the hands on stuff if we get busy. I do more physically than I used to, but am mentally relaxed. My wife says I'm much more pleasant to be around. 31 years at my last job was enough. My investments are for later (I'm 58), which is good, as they are like everyone else's; not doing too well. I feel fortunate that I'm finally doing something I like, with people who are fun to be around, and the only corporate directives that I have to deal with come from me! The feeling of freedom is so refreshing! If I never see the inside of a computer again, it will be fine with me! Thanks for listening.

I'll be 56 in a couple months so retirement is a ways off yet for me. Fortunately, I kept my retirement plan going (Even though it's dropped like a rock the last few months), when I quit my job and started my own business. I plan to work as long as I can. Fortunately in the sign business there are some jobs that take little physical effort, so I hope to slow down by taking more of those lite jobs as I get older and turn down the heavy labor jobs. I feel bad for young people just starting out and/or people that have big payments to make. I've been through the second mortgages to pay off equipment. I'm glad that's over now but, I'm sure I'll have to upgrade some of it one of these days. Hopefully not before the economy turns around. In the meantime I'll just keep pluggin' away and hope for the best.