phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on Dec 28, 2015 19:02:04 GMT -5
OTOH, I wonder if souls in heaven discus travel - 'darn, I wish I had made more trips while I was still an earthly being".
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on Dec 28, 2015 21:27:54 GMT -5
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. No need to be particularly concerned about medical care in many countries. Mom fell, hit her head and tore open her cheek while traveling in Northern Ireland. The ER Doc looked like Doogie Howser, but was more than plenty competent. Treated the concussion and put 17 stitches in the skin on her 70 year old face. Six months later you couldn't find a scar unless you knew where to look and looked very closely. Doubt a US doc could have provided better care. With a little planning, medical care shouldn't prevent most people from traveling to locations that aren't overly remote.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 21:49:17 GMT -5
I retired at age 61 in May, 2014. I'm really glad DH and I traveled a lot from the time we started dating; I had wanted to go to Australia and NZ after retirement but the long-haul trips are too hard on him. I can't complain; we loved Iceland so much we plan to go again next year. We're also able to do road trips. DH just cheerfully drove 9 hours from Hendersonville, NC to Mt. Vernon, IL today and we have an easy trip home tomorrow. We spent last night with old friends and saw my sister and her family in Charleston in addition to visiting my parents in SC.
If I outlive DH I may still get to Australia, NZ and back to India.
Other than that, I had no goals- just enough structure to keep the house and yard in good shape, go to the gym every day and do some good in the world.
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gooddecisions
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Post by gooddecisions on Dec 28, 2015 22:55:57 GMT -5
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. No need to be particularly concerned about medical care in many countries. Mom fell, hit her head and tore open her cheek while traveling in Northern Ireland. The ER Doc looked like Doogie Howser, but was more than plenty competent. Treated the concussion and put 17 stitches in the skin on her 70 year old face. Six months later you couldn't find a scar unless you knew where to look and looked very closely. Doubt a US doc could have provided better care. With a little planning, medical care shouldn't prevent most people from traveling to locations that aren't overly remote. It's true, it definitely depends. Last year, my next door neighbor who is in his upper 60's suffered a stroke on the plane back from India. They had to do an emergency landing in Frankfurt to get him to a hospital. He recovered but was stuck in a hospital in Germany for over a month. He said if he'd been in the U.S. his treatment would have been way faster and was never so glad to be back in the U.S. It was an interesting conversation because you rarely hear people being complimentary of U.S. healthcare. Risk verses reward is definitely a factor when it comes to these things. It could be fine, but I can definitely understand the reluctance past a certain age or physical health.
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on Dec 28, 2015 23:21:04 GMT -5
No need to be particularly concerned about medical care in many countries. Mom fell, hit her head and tore open her cheek while traveling in Northern Ireland. The ER Doc looked like Doogie Howser, but was more than plenty competent. Treated the concussion and put 17 stitches in the skin on her 70 year old face. Six months later you couldn't find a scar unless you knew where to look and looked very closely. Doubt a US doc could have provided better care. With a little planning, medical care shouldn't prevent most people from traveling to locations that aren't overly remote. It's true, it definitely depends. Last year, my next door neighbor who is in his upper 60's suffered a stroke on the plane back from India. They had to do an emergency landing in Frankfurt to get him to a hospital. He recovered but was stuck in a hospital in Germany for over a month. He said if he'd been in the U.S. his treatment would have been way faster and was never so glad to be back in the U.S. It was an interesting conversation because you rarely hear people being complimentary of U.S. healthcare. Risk verses reward is definitely a factor when it comes to these things. It could be fine, but I can definitely understand the reluctance past a certain age or physical health. It would appear that your neighbor may not have had medical transportation insurance to get him home, if he wished. My folks wintered in Phoenix, an area notoriously short of quick access to medical care during snowbird season, for many years and had such insurance to get Mom to medical care, if necessary. Although, your neighbor's heart attack may well have been very unexpected.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2015 8:40:57 GMT -5
We got travel insurance for our trip to Iceland last August and likely will again. I was less concerned about cancellation/changes since we were flying Business Class. What I really wanted was the assurance that the extra $$ would be there if one needed to stay in a hospital and the other wanted to remain in the country, or we had extra expenses getting an injured or sick person home. I've also read horror stories about the cost of transporting (heaven forbid) dead bodies home, but we'd likely go for cremation.
And, as I told DH, I was just as likely to need it as he was, since I like to climb hills and explore volcanoes.
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phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on Dec 29, 2015 10:52:59 GMT -5
A super place for volcanologists! One Iceland volcano is 6500 feet. And Iceland is one of the few (only?) places in the world that has 100% literacy. Their government and society is among the finest, most successful, in the world.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 29, 2015 10:58:09 GMT -5
OTOH, I wonder if souls in heaven discus travel - 'darn, I wish I had made more trips while I was still an earthly being". The one that is left behind does.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Dec 29, 2015 11:12:01 GMT -5
OTOH, I wonder if souls in heaven discus travel - 'darn, I wish I had made more trips while I was still an earthly being". If souls and heaven actually exist, I'd imagine that, yes, they'd be discussing travel and how much they'd much prefer being alive and traveling, than floating around space learning how to play the harp.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 29, 2015 11:15:07 GMT -5
OTOH, I wonder if souls in heaven discus travel - 'darn, I wish I had made more trips while I was still an earthly being". If souls and heaven actually exist, I'd imagine that, yes, they'd be discussing travel and how much they'd much prefer being alive and traveling, than floating around space learning how to play the harp. although floating around and scaring the bejeezus out of living people sound kind of fun too. Maybe I could travel as a soul to the Bahamas and scare people there.
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Dec 29, 2015 11:31:14 GMT -5
Our retirement goal has long been to be able to purchase property out near the WA coast and run our own dog rescue/shelter. I am terrible at not having a planned day. I can sit around the house all day doing nothing if that is what I planned to do (and generally, if that is my plan, it involves watching football or something). But a day where it just turns out I'll be sitting around doing nothing - drives me crazy. I actually went out the day after Christmas because I could not do a second day in a row just sitting around the house. I wasn't out for long - a couple of hours, but I needed that. I expect my retirement will look a lot like my parents' - Dad retired and became a Private Investigator. Mom retired, did some traveling with friends, then found a few organizations to volunteer with, and then turned one of those volunteer jobs into a paying job.
So, we have a plan. Property and a dog rescue. It will keep us active and happy, because, well, dogs.
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phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on Dec 29, 2015 12:47:16 GMT -5
Yup, a great way to go. 3 of us cousin-retirees travel to the Midwest each year for the Harvest, drive the grain trucks, the Combine, the CatchCart, thru several 100 acres of corn, been doing it for 17 years. So far, everyone is staying healthy and enjoying the work.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Dec 29, 2015 13:56:20 GMT -5
OTOH, I wonder if souls in heaven discus travel - 'darn, I wish I had made more trips while I was still an earthly being". The one that is left behind does. Not getting into heaven vs no heaven discussion but totally agree that I'd prefer to leave happy memories of times together rather than just a bank account
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2015 19:14:00 GMT -5
I don't have "goals" for retirement other than a goal of being able to fund it.
As a teacher, I get time off . . . a week at Thanksgiving (next year we will have to start back in July to have it), two weeks at Christmas, a week in the spring, and two months in the summer. I am used to filling free time without worrying that I'm bored, nonproductive, whatever. I like to sew, I like to read, I like to paint walls, I like to play in the yard (picking up pinecones in my latest hobby), etc.
I will be fine. DH has been fine. The only diversion he has picked up is taking guitar lessons, which I think is rather cool. He has a lesson to go to every week (which I think includes some fun conversation) and has to schedule some practice every day out in the sunroom (where the comfy seats are). That sounds incredibly nice.
I'm not tired of working, but I'm just tired. Getting up at 4 a.m. is getting really old.
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skubikky
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Post by skubikky on Jan 5, 2016 9:34:03 GMT -5
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. Travel is wonderful and IMHO, should be done throughout one's life. Seeing the world in your childhood, teens, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and beyond. I would recommend travel as a priority to those who value it. Don't wait to retire to do it. Find ways to see that which interests you throughout your life.
Stay active. My two brothers and I aspire to still be skiing when we're 70 and more. Same thing, hopefully one has been physically(as one is able) and socially(if one cares to) active all through life. Volunteer, play sports.....be moving...whatever.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. I always wish that people would see that volunteering can be done even when you're busy in your younger years. Each decade has something to offer. Even if it's just once in awhile. Do whatever you can do. Every little bit helps.
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phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on Jan 5, 2016 13:09:13 GMT -5
One caution - many of those things become tedious - so don't lock yourself in a way of life that requires a physical move to undo. Golf 3 or 4 times a week sounds great - until you've done it for a year or so. Pop, country and rock-n-roll concerts, festivals, yada, get really old in a year or so. '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' sounds truly boring after a year or so - young folks who have to work every day think of that as heaven - but it's actually annoying, lol. Shooting skeet gets old quick.
Way more fun to go to the Grand Canyon, go Ice Skating at Key Stone, work the Corn Harvest for a month, haul our bicycles up to the mountains and ride for a week or so, drive up to Alaska during the grizzly bear season and take bear, moose, eagle pictures.
Kinda like cruises - sitting on a ship and looking at ocean is mostly the same every where, every day. The food is good, the ports of call are somewhat interesting - but the 17 jewelry shops in Juneau are moved to the Bahamas in winter, same stuff, different cruise. lol. What you really wish for is that you could abandon ship & go off in your car and really see stuff. And after you're retired, you can cuz you have 3 or 4 weeks, not just 11 days, to go where you want.
Surprisingly, even trips to Europe, etc, become tedious if you stay too long - you finally get really ready to go back home (remember, home is really nice when you don't have to go to work every morning, instead you get up at 6:00 and go to the bagel place.)
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Jan 5, 2016 13:12:12 GMT -5
My retirement goals are to just be able to have enough money to be comfortable. Traveling is not my thing. But, i would like to be able to go out and eat at Denny's and do a bit of shopping without worrying about it. I also want to be able to help my kids with their weddings, especially DD. For the most part, i think DH and I would fill our days with working out at the Y, cooking and doing a bit of coaching basketball.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jan 5, 2016 14:21:00 GMT -5
My retirement goals are to just be able to have enough money to be comfortable. Traveling is not my thing. But, i would like to be able to go out and eat at Denny's and do a bit of shopping without worrying about it. I also want to be able to help my kids with their weddings, especially DD. For the most part, i think DH and I would fill our days with working out at the Y, cooking and doing a bit of coaching basketball. Denny's?! Oh, sweetie. That's not retirement! You died and went to hell! Since I already live in Florida and live the way I want I just want to continue as we have been so we're concentrating on keeping our financial life on a continuum, getting the house paid off (will be in 7 years), and staying healthy and alive. We have about 12-14 years before DH will retire (depending if at 62 or 65) so steady as she goes! He has no interest in traveling and I've already done all I want to do so it will remain within the US if we do any later.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Jan 5, 2016 15:07:57 GMT -5
My retirement goals are to just be able to have enough money to be comfortable. Traveling is not my thing. But, i would like to be able to go out and eat at Denny's and do a bit of shopping without worrying about it. I also want to be able to help my kids with their weddings, especially DD. For the most part, i think DH and I would fill our days with working out at the Y, cooking and doing a bit of coaching basketball. Denny's?! Oh, sweetie. That's not retirement! You died and went to hell! Since I already live in Florida and live the way I want I just want to continue as we have been so we're concentrating on keeping our financial life on a continuum, getting the house paid off (will be in 7 years), and staying healthy and alive. We have about 12-14 years before DH will retire (depending if at 62 or 65) so steady as she goes! He has no interest in traveling and I've already done all I want to do so it will remain within the US if we do any later. I am a small town girl. I dont' need all this crap around me to be happy. Not so sure what is wrong with that? Most of the things I enjoy in life aren't that expensive.
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MJ2.0
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Post by MJ2.0 on Jan 5, 2016 15:20:36 GMT -5
Denny's?! Oh, sweetie. That's not retirement! You died and went to hell! Since I already live in Florida and live the way I want I just want to continue as we have been so we're concentrating on keeping our financial life on a continuum, getting the house paid off (will be in 7 years), and staying healthy and alive. We have about 12-14 years before DH will retire (depending if at 62 or 65) so steady as she goes! He has no interest in traveling and I've already done all I want to do so it will remain within the US if we do any later. I am a small town girl. I dont' need all this crap around me to be happy. Not so sure what is wrong with that? Most of the things I enjoy in life aren't that expensive. what she means is that Denny's is horrible.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jan 5, 2016 15:35:02 GMT -5
LOL! Thank you, MJ and you are correct. When I read her response I was all "What did I say? I thought I was talking just about Denny's!" but then I saw who it was and I was like... "Ohhhhhh. Of course that would be the response to something that I never said!"
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Jan 5, 2016 15:47:39 GMT -5
I cook alot so we dont eat out that much. Our Dennys has good breakfast. Sorry it doesnt have the apprpriate snob appeal.
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gooddecisions
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Post by gooddecisions on Jan 5, 2016 17:26:22 GMT -5
One caution - many of those things become tedious - so don't lock yourself in a way of life that requires a physical move to undo. Golf 3 or 4 times a week sounds great - until you've done it for a year or so. Pop, country and rock-n-roll concerts, festivals, yada, get really old in a year or so. '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' sounds truly boring after a year or so - young folks who have to work every day think of that as heaven - but it's actually annoying, lol. Shooting skeet gets old quick. Way more fun to go to the Grand Canyon, go Ice Skating at Key Stone, work the Corn Harvest for a month, haul our bicycles up to the mountains and ride for a week or so, drive up to Alaska during the grizzly bear season and take bear, moose, eagle pictures. Kinda like cruises - sitting on a ship and looking at ocean is mostly the same every where, every day. The food is good, the ports of call are somewhat interesting - but the 17 jewelry shops in Juneau are moved to the Bahamas in winter, same stuff, different cruise. lol. What you really wish for is that you could abandon ship & go off in your car and really see stuff. And after you're retired, you can cuz you have 3 or 4 weeks, not just 11 days, to go where you want. Surprisingly, even trips to Europe, etc, become tedious if you stay too long - you finally get really ready to go back home (remember, home is really nice when you don't have to go to work every morning, instead you get up at 6:00 and go to the bagel place.) Well, I wasn't going to post everything they have done this past 13 years while retired, but there have been a lot of bike trips- including Bike Vermont Discovery bike tour and even a raft the Colorado river 2 week wilderness adventure.
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MJ2.0
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Post by MJ2.0 on Jan 5, 2016 19:45:54 GMT -5
I cook alot so we dont eat out that much. Our Dennys has good breakfast. Sorry it doesnt have the apprpriate snob appeal. The two times I've gone to two different Denny's I've had bad service and mediocre food. No snobbery on my part.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Jan 5, 2016 20:06:28 GMT -5
I used to meet my mom and her husband a few times a year at Denny's for breakfast. They'd stop on the way to doctor's appointments. It was right off the interstate and 2 exits away from me. The omelets I got were always good. Haven't been since, I can't eat eggs anymore so going out for breakfast isn't so appealing. And I moved out of state so no reason to meet them there.
I think the sentiment in her post was wanting to have enough to be comfortable and enjoy a few meals out.
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obelisk
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Post by obelisk on Jan 5, 2016 20:26:40 GMT -5
My family goal is to stay active outside of traveling since from our experience it gets tedious. Our plan is to have a goal as a gipsy meaning traveling and working/volunteering throughout retirement wherever it takes us.
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whispering17
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Post by whispering17 on Jan 5, 2016 21:57:46 GMT -5
I don't think I want to go anywhere near Europe right now with all the refugee/Islamic doo doo going on. A family friend I have in Germany said not to come because its not safe to be on the streets now...day or night. And a friend in Amsterdam said the same thing....so Europe is off my list for now
I will see Hawaii again and go to Alaska. I am all ready retired (7 months now) and loving every minute of it.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Jan 5, 2016 22:28:45 GMT -5
You guys have it tough. We have nice Walmarts and a good Dennys!
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svwashout
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Post by svwashout on Jan 5, 2016 22:44:14 GMT -5
I expect my retirement will look a lot like my parents' - Dad retired and became a Private Investigator. Mom retired, did some traveling with friends, then found a few organizations to volunteer with, and then turned one of those volunteer jobs into a paying job.
So, we have a plan. Property and a dog rescue. It will keep us active and happy, because, well, dogs. After I retire my goal will probably also be to #occupyanoccupation grass being greener and all. That PI thing sounds cool, it'd be a gold Firebird and mobile home on the beach for me.
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tcu2003
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Post by tcu2003 on Jan 6, 2016 0:07:12 GMT -5
My family goal is to stay active outside of traveling since from our experience it gets tedious. Our plan is to have a goal as a gipsy meaning traveling and working/volunteering throughout retirement wherever it takes us. I know someone who retired a couple of years ago and is doing this. She and her husband worked at Glacier National Park this summer because they could - they were paid, but I doubt much. The appeal was getting to spend the summer in a gorgeous area and explore something totally new (they're from Texas). Now they're back home to spend the winter. They had a great time, and definitely recommend it.
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