Retirement #lifegoals

[justme]

So about a month or so ago I discovered my dad applied for SS early. He retired a little more than 2 years ago mostly due to the threat of changing the pension, and has spouse benefits on it. Coupled with all my grandparents dying before I was a teen and my parents wisely investing any inheritance, them retiring just before 60 wasn't an issue. They've always wanted to travel - probably my mom more than my dad, so they decided to at least take my dad's SS almost as soon as he was old enough in order to finance vacations beyond their summer trips to the family cottage. (Though realistically I found part of it was my mom mentioning maybe they should do it followed by a few weeks later my dad telling her his first check will be there in X days  ) They're now using his SS to pay for their travels (god bless them) and they just got back from an 11 day cruise this month. With plans to go on at least one more cruise next year! On top of their 4+ month "vacation" at our family cottage (in the family for over 100 years so no mortgage but upkeep ranges about 5k maybe more). 

Honestly, they're my retirement goals - minus the pension because I know I won't have one. Honestly if I had the money my retirement would spend half the year on one of those small cruise boats where you buy a cabin and can vote on the destinations (and rent out the months you're not there) and spend the summer at our family cottage. Or conversely buy a condo on the beach and spend the other 6mths a year traveling when not at the condo and the summers at the cottage.

Sooo....that leads me to what's your'e #retirementgoals? 

We often talk about how much we save per year or how much we need to retire at X age or when we want to retire, but no one really talks about what we want to do when we're retired. And, on the same vein, what we need to do to achieve those goals before we retired (i.e. my mom wants to go to Australia but I hope to get there before I retire). 

[justme]

My goals are to be able to spend the summers at the family cottage (not without a doubt since I'm a US citizen and the cottage is in Canada so I'm possibly looking at $50k in inheritance taxes once my parents die to pay) and spend the winters traveling around the world and when I'm not traveling hanging out on an ocean/lake somewhere. Hopefully having my condo/whatever in a vacation place to earn money when I'm not there.

[Plain Old Petunia]

I want to bike, read, and travel.  I love cruising, but also would like to take a small travel trailer and camp in various locales, soaking in the scenery.  I can bike and read while camping, too.

And I want to spend time in the company of my SnugglyBumps.

As for my home, I want a little condo in Reno or Sparks.

[Deleted]

Retire at 55 with:

Nice house
Awesome Cars
Spectacular Vacations
Platinum healthcare
Money to help family

With enough left over at death to give a nice sum to family and charity.

[whoami]

I dont see myself having any desire to run all over the world when Im in my 60s+ which is why we do it now.

I am actually somewhat of a homebody so while we take a lot of trips, 2 weeks is about my limit, depending on where we go. Europe Im willing to spend more time than Vegas or someplace tropical. 

We are fortunate than we can afford to take several big trips a year. We are taking a big trip to Russia and Scandinavia next year in addition to our yearly Christmas tropical vacation. 

I hope by the time DH retires, we have seen the bulk of what we want to see and are able to just enjoy our home and shorter closer destinations. 

[cronewitch]

Jan 15 will be two years retired. I don't want to do anything. I play on the computer all day and don't want to do anything else. I go visit ISO a week at a time once or twice a month then come home to rest. I like seeing my family and playing cards.
I need to make a list of to do items and do them like get a hair cut and make a dentist appointment or I forget until it is too late in the day or a weekend. If found my lock tonight for my gym locker so I could go work out, did three times this year, should go more. I joined the senior center but never went, could go they have lunch for $3. I don't want to but need to start doing something.
My brother and his wife keep taking cruises they are going to Spain and Rome and cruise the next summer already did Alaska, Gulf and Panama canal, I don't want to take a cruise or fly anywhere.

I should sell my house and get another house, seems like a lot of work and shopping for a house and moving, maybe in a couple of years.

[NastyWoman]

Dec 28, 2015 2:38:57 GMT -5 whoami said:

I dont see myself having any desire to run all over the world when Im in my 60s+ which is why we do it now.

There's nothing that says you can't start running all over the world in your twenties, save at the same time and keep running into your sixties.  I, for one, am not planning on stopping my travels anytime soon and I am 64 

[Anne_in_VA]

I'd like to do more traveling when I retire but since DH is younger than I am, I'll either have to go alone or find someone else to go with.  I want to spend more time with the family, maybe even babysit some of the grandkids while their parents work.  Volunteer at the library, take some cooking classes, since I love to cook but don't always take the time.  

I'm starting to have some health issues so I don't know how much I'll be able to do, but will keep moving as long as I can.

[zibazinski]

I need to find a group of singles who travel. I want to start before health issues might happen.

[zibazinski]

I never had the money before and then DH and I did a bit before he got sick but not much.

[yogiii]

Dec 28, 2015 2:38:57 GMT -5 whoami said:

I dont see myself having any desire to run all over the world when Im in my 60s+ which is why we do it now.

I am actually somewhat of a homebody so while we take a lot of trips, 2 weeks is about my limit, depending on where we go. Europe Im willing to spend more time than Vegas or someplace tropical. 

We are fortunate than we can afford to take several big trips a year. We are taking a big trip to Russia and Scandinavia next year in addition to our yearly Christmas tropical vacation. 

I hope by the time DH retires, we have seen the bulk of what we want to see and are able to just enjoy our home and shorter closer destinations. 

That's like me too.  I did a lot of traveling in my 20s and hope to do some more in a few years when the kids are older.  In retirement I want to be healthy, have money to help my kids out with their first houses, maybe be a stay at home grandmother and otherwise lose track of what day it is.

[swamp]

My retirement goal is to be able to do whatever the f(#k I want whenever the f(%$# I want.

[Deleted]

I want to hike the Appalachian trail.  It will have to be in retirement because youngest won't be out of high school until I'm 59, then add some more years on for college.  Maybe the kids will go with me in case I collapse. 

Other than that, I don't really have a travel bug.  Maybe if I'm with someone again then I'll feel differently about it, but as it is, I'd be content just sticking close to home most of the time working the garden and watching the chickens. 

[midjd]

Dec 28, 2015 9:33:50 GMT -5 swamp said:

My retirement goal is to be able to do whatever the f(#k I want whenever the f(%$# I want.

I had a longer response, but it really just boils down to 

I like traveling (in small doses) so without having to arrange time off work we should be able to take some longer trips. But mostly I plan to treat retirement as a long, kid-free weekend.

[TheHaitian]

Dec 28, 2015 9:33:50 GMT -5 swamp said:

My retirement goal is to be able to do whatever the f(#k I want whenever the f(%$# I want.

Basically THIS!

[Tiny]

I'd like to 'retire' before I'm 60 (I'm 51 now and not really sure that's going to happen....but you gotta aim high!).

I don't particularly like to 'travel'.   I have friends who go on 'guided tour' kind of travel to places around the world - and for some reason that just doesn't appeal to me.   I'm OK with my "not that interested in travel".  I don't 'rain' on my traveling friends/relatives travel and/or stories and/or pictures.   I'm happy they are having fun! It's cool.     

I suspect when I 'retire' I will spend more time exploring my own interests and doing more things locally (there's lots of pretty places, historical stuff, even a few "travel destinations" near by.)      

I'm with Swamp - I want to do whatever the F(#k I want whenever the F(#k I want....    

I know what I DON"T want to do in retirement - I DON"T want to know from memory what time daily TV shows come on and I DON"T want to have a daily TV watching schedule.   I also DON"T want to have a daily or every other day 'trip to the store' be part of my routine (basically a reason to get out of the house).

[NancysSummerSip]

I'd like to retire around age 65. I enjoy working and being useful, and would probably continue doing it part time, just for the extra spending money.

I want to remain very active; keep swimming and biking, certainly. Running if I can, so I can still do triathlons into retirement. I'd like to do more gardening, reading and volunteer work as well.

[Apple]

I plan to retire at 57, unless work offers "early-outs" and I'm allowed to take it (I'll be eligible at 46).  Those tend to come in waves, and no idea when it would happen, so have set myself up to be prepared for it if it ever does.

I love to travel and plan to continue to do so during retirement.  My grandparents were taking cruises into their 80s, so with any luck, I'll be just like them!  I'm getting all the foreign countries done early, just in case though.  Once I feel "done" traveling overseas, I plan to use a truck and camper, or camper van to travel around the states.  I might take a train/fly somewhere and then rent a camper to drive around that area.

I will have my house in the woods built by then, and that will be my "home base".  I'll have hopefully sold the current house, have the woods one paid off, and will just have to pay taxes/maintenance.  I want to finish the shop and build wood furniture as well, both rustic and finished.

I hope my son is someplace where he is happy, and I'll be able to visit him whenever we please.  

[whoami]

Dec 28, 2015 4:27:34 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Dec 28, 2015 2:38:57 GMT -5 whoami said:

I dont see myself having any desire to run all over the world when Im in my 60s+ which is why we do it now.

There's nothing that says you can't start running all over the world in your twenties, save at the same time and keep running into your sixties.  I, for one, am not planning on stopping my travels anytime soon and I am 64 

I dont believe anyone said you had to.

[whoami]

Dec 28, 2015 7:53:40 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

I need to find a group of singles who travel. I want to start before health issues might happen.

My MIL went all over Europe by herself with tour groups.  They are out there.  We did the Rick Steves Rome tour a few years ago and there were several singles in our group.  It was a small group and everyone got along great.  

[ArchietheDragon]

I suspect I will be a very different person in 25 years than i am right now, so I am not sure.    i think I will want comfort and freedom, though, to do what?  I don't know. 

[tcu2003]

No idea. Ideally, we'll be healthy enough to still travel - maybe 1-2 larger trips (i.e. abroad) per year, and several smaller trips as well. DH and I will both find something to occupy our time, though - I can see him doing a lot more woodworking, and maybe some PT work as an usher or something at Royals games as he is a huge baseball fan. I'll probably do more volunteer work, and if we ever have grands, help out on days they're sick of daycare is closed.

[tskeeter]

Our retirement plans?

Travel.  There are just so many cool places to see and things to learn.  Why would you stay home if you can afford to broaden your horizons.

Stay active.  My two brothers and I aspire to still be skiing when we're 70 and more.

Gather experiences.  We plan to spend a year in Ireland after we retire.

Give back.  I think Habitat for Humanity has a great model for a hand up rather than a hand out.  I'm planning to spend some time on the handle of a hammer or working in some other capacity to help others.

[quince]

We don't actually enjoy travel.   By the point of retirement, everyone we travel to see now will likely be deceased.

Have enough money to cover our needs and a few wants, keep indulging in our hobbies, have good relationships with our children? Sounds good to me.

[souldoubt]

My goal is to be able to retire at 55 but whether or not I do that would depend on a lot of factors.  Like most of you I'd like to travel later in life but I'm not putting off trips until retirement because I've seen family members who did that then had health issues that kept them from traveling.  Ideally I'd like to retire to somewhere warm, cheap and laid back and where I live right now only meets 1 of those 3 criteria.  I'm still 22 years away from turning 55 and don't have kids yet so my expectations and/or timeline will definitely change in the coming years.  I own a place right now but it's a townhouse and I'd like a house some day but getting into one is a bigger financial commitment that my better half and I need to weigh the pro's and con's of.    

[gooddecisions]

I'm pretty jealous of my parents' retirement. As they approached 55, they solidified their retirement plans and built a beautiful one story, 3br house on a golf course in a 55+ community in Florida.

They're the same age and both retired and moved into their brand-new house the year they turned 55. They have more friends than they ever had working and raising a family. Since their friends are retired too, they have plenty of people to make plans with. They golf with different groups 3-4x/week, go to all kinds of pop, country and rock-n-roll concerts, festivals, most of the Rays baseball games, a lot of the USF football games, take cruises, travel to their snowbird friends' houses in different parts of the country and other bucket-list trips. They work out at the gym nearly every day. It's been 13 years and they've never been healthier. If they're at home, they are usually outside on their lanai by the pool, looking out at the 13th hole, listening to rock n roll while reading a book or the newspaper or working on a sudoku or cross-word puzzle. Their full package cable t.v. never comes on before 8:00 pm (except the weekends when football is on).

I suppose my ideal would be the same. Retire in good shape with the person I love (who also happens to be the same age) with the financial freedom to afford the lifestyle. On track so far.

[zibazinski]

They must live close to me. All the 55 communities I see look awful but theirs sounds amazing.

[MJ2.0]

Dec 28, 2015 15:12:38 GMT -5 gooddecisions said:

I'm pretty jealous of my parents' retirement. As they approached 55, they solidified their retirement plans and built a beautiful one story, 3br house on a golf course in a 55+ community in Florida.

They're the same age and both retired and moved into their brand-new house the year they turned 55. They have more friends than they ever had working and raising a family. Since their friends are retired too, they have plenty of people to make plans with. They golf with different groups 3-4x/week, go to all kinds of pop, country and rock-n-roll concerts, festivals, most of the Rays baseball games, a lot of the USF football games, take cruises, travel to their snowbird friends' houses in different parts of the country and other bucket-list trips. They work out at the gym nearly every day. It's been 13 years and they've never been healthier. If they're at home, they are usually outside on their lanai by the pool, looking out at the 13th hole, listening to rock n roll while reading a book or the newspaper or working on a sudoku or cross-word puzzle. Their full package cable t.v. never comes on before 8:00 pm (except the weekends when football is on).

I suppose my ideal would be the same. Retire in good shape with the person I love (who also happens to be the same age) with the financial freedom to afford the lifestyle. On track so far.

add in some travel and this is what I want. I'd have to hit the lotto to make it by 55 though. I used to say 60 but it's definitely not happening now. 65 is my "I'm retiring - make it work" age.

[gooddecisions]

Dec 28, 2015 15:26:56 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

Dec 28, 2015 15:12:38 GMT -5 gooddecisions said:

add in some travel and this is what I want. I'd have to hit the lotto to make it by 55 though. I used to say 60 but it's definitely not happening now. 65 is my "I'm retiring - make it work" age.

They did a lot of their big international trips- Europe, China, Japan, Australia when they were still in their 50's. I've observed that now that they're in their 60's, they feel a lot more comfortable with national trips so they are near U.S. healthcare if they need it. Although, last year they did go to Canada as part of a Pacific coast tour and Canada as part of a north east tour, but that's not the same. And they will go on Caribbean cruises.

I imagine it's a much more vulnerable situation if something goes wrong and you're older in a foreign country. They've had a few scares with some broken bones from a bicycle accident and an appendix bursting to now be cautious about traveling as they approach 70 and beyond.

[MN-Investor]

When my DH retires in 2016, we plan more spur of the moment trips to locations that can be reached by car within a day or two - Mount Rushmore, Chicago, Des Moines, maybe Dallas.

Right before Christmas we got word that a cousin's 65 year old wife died very suddenly from a massive stroke. When I was discussing it with my sister, we both appreciated the fact the my cousin and his wife had spent the past few years doing a lot of international travel. Thank goodness they didn't wait!