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LakeArenal

(29,906 posts)

40. Woo hoo. We are living the dream retired. Hope you do too.

Sat Jan 4, 2025, 11:07 AM

Jan 4

Due to the Bush housing crash, I was forced to take retirement at 62. Yes, indeed I lost a significant monthly benefit loss.

However Mr Lake was fortunate to make it to full retirement age. He took it a few months before because of the small loss he incurred.

Still, we went forward with our dream retirement. Now instead of buying a house we rent. The upside of renting in old age is we will never have to buy the new water heater or fix the plumbing.

The biggest suggestion I will make is downsize. Maybe not like we did, selling everything off in an auction but get rid of most of your “stuff “.

It’s so liberating not paying for space you never touch in years.

We regret a few things but seriously you will miss very little that you think you would.

By selling everything, it gave us the funds to fulfill the big move and the big relocation: leaving us to live on our SS and small annuities.

We started with furnished rentals but over five years we have things that reflect our own taste. Slowly.

Good luck. We found ourselves busier than ever not working. For us: a new life began at retirement.

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117 replies

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Highlight:

I've decided to retire. [View all] hamsterjill Jan 4 OP

Six months is a small hit to your benefits. Voltaire2 Jan 4 #1

7% Omaha Steve Jan 4 #53

its actually 3 1/3 % Voltaire2 Jan 4 #83

I stand corrected Omaha Steve Jan 4 #86

Congrats! SheltieLover Jan 4 #2

Good choice. There's not much dollar difference between retiring now and retiring six months from now. Mister Ed Jan 4 #3

Exactly what I did avebury Jan 4 #8

---and keep in mind, the tax to be taken out of that 3 1/3%. 3Hotdogs Jan 4 #92

I did a spreadsheet Freddie Jan 4 #4

I'm about 10 years away. My wife about 7 underpants Jan 4 #6

Having talked with other avebury Jan 4 #11

Tip #1: COL Mustard Jan 4 #51

Thanks. underpants Jan 4 #76

What about inflation? That's why I'm waiting until age 70. Auggie Jan 4 #26

I'm going to as well. I know some think it's dumb. But it 1200 dollars difference between 62 and 70. jimfields33 Jan 4 #73

It's about $550 to me ... Auggie Jan 4 #81

It Was Significant For Me... ProfessorGAC Jan 4 #87

I took mine at homegirl Jan 4 #96

Same Age, Here ProfessorGAC Jan 4 #97

I recently learned homegirl Jan 4 #98

I retired the day I hit 70. Voltaire2 Jan 4 #103

Don't wait if you hate your job. BonnieJW Jan 4 #104

You will love being retired. avebury Jan 4 #5

Good luck to you! In a similar situation as you a few years back... Wounded Bear Jan 4 #7

Same Drum Jan 4 #9

I'm about five months from 62 The Madcap Jan 4 #27

I retired at age 52 and that was 23 years ago. multigraincracker Jan 4 #49

Thanks The Madcap Jan 4 #52

Wow! Good for you! wolfie001 Jan 4 #106

I love to cook. Wife works so I do that, dishes and vacuuming. multigraincracker Jan 4 #107

Good man doing good things wolfie001 Jan 5 #116

Go for it. Best of luck. (nt) Paladin Jan 4 #10

The peace of mind will be worth it JT45242 Jan 4 #12

Good on ya. I doubt you'll ever regret your decision. Magoo48 Jan 4 #13

Here in Florida, a decent share of the people who have lived in Florida ... chouchou Jan 4 #14

Congratulations Kali999 Jan 4 #15

releaved Kali999 Jan 4 #16

I've retired from three jobs since I turned 65. Then went back to work, retired, back, retired... erronis Jan 4 #17

I really worried that I would miss patient care after I retired... Trueblue Texan Jan 4 #24

You described my life in retirement too! biophile Jan 4 #35

Right behind you LSparkle Jan 4 #18

Do what you think is best for you. DownriverDem Jan 4 #19

Yes!!! Enjoy the peace! Bluethroughu Jan 4 #20

I understand the practicality of using spreadsheets to determine..... 70sEraVet Jan 4 #21

That's what I did... Trueblue Texan Jan 4 #22

Medicare premiums are deducted from the SS check dickthegrouch Jan 4 #23

Congrats!! And everyday will be Saturday from this point on..... Bengus81 Jan 4 #25

My thought exactly! claudette Jan 4 #31

Find a time consuming hobby kozar Jan 4 #28

Thanks Kozar. hamsterjill Jan 4 #33

That sounds purrfect. 3catwoman3 Jan 4 #79

you gotta' know NJCher Jan 4 #101

I'm so happy for you XanaDUer2 Jan 4 #102

Get it while you still can infullview Jan 4 #29

tell them no Skittles Jan 4 #109

As one who claudette Jan 4 #30

Congrats! 2naSalit Jan 4 #32

You'll be glad you did. Ocelot II Jan 4 #34

I retired at age 61 Americanme Jan 4 #36

I retired early than I planned bronxiteforever Jan 4 #37

I've done this indigoth Jan 4 #38

Opposite situation. I'm 65 but job is too good to leave right now. bullimiami Jan 4 #39

Woo hoo. We are living the dream retired. Hope you do too. LakeArenal Jan 4 #40

Good for you! rubbersole Jan 4 #41

Can you fund the six gap months from savings? Shermann Jan 4 #42

that was exactly the thought train I had Skittles Jan 4 #89

Working for others is overrated... MiHale Jan 4 #43

You're going to love it. I'm very happy for you. Scrivener7 Jan 4 #44

Congratulations! StarryNite Jan 4 #45

Go for it! Ms. Toad Jan 4 #46

I retired about 2 years ago...I'd planned to work longer. QED Jan 4 #47

Sucks being a Wage Slave, congratulations! Emile Jan 4 #48

Perfect for 31,000! Evolve Dammit Jan 4 #60

I retired five years ago. Don't miss it a bit. bluescribbler Jan 4 #50

Yes The Madcap Jan 4 #54

Congratulations!!! 3catwoman3 Jan 4 #55

When it's over, it's over Lulu KC Jan 4 #56

Good for you! pandr32 Jan 4 #57

There is an adjustment period. Once you accept that you can do nothing you are really retired. twodogsbarking Jan 4 #58

Congrats! Johnny2X2X Jan 4 #59

I retired st 62 because if my husband's health Richluu Jan 4 #61

I feel you wholeheartedly richdj25 Jan 4 #62

Congratulations jayschool2013 Jan 4 #63

If you take Social Security prior to reaching your full retirement age, there is a limit on how much income you can earn surfered Jan 4 #64

There are new rules that are specific to retiring hamsterjill Jan 4 #80

That was my case as well. Happy Retirement! surfered Jan 4 #88

Congratulations! greatauntoftriplets Jan 4 #65

When I saw liberating and excited KitFox Jan 4 #66

Well now that youve decided , you have the upper hand. Figarosmom Jan 4 #67

I LOVE being retired. To steal a line from Bachman Turner Overdrive's "Taking Care of Business," catbyte Jan 4 #68

I retired a year early edhopper Jan 4 #69

Do something! Something outside the house. keithbvadu2 Jan 4 #70

Sounds like you could explain to your employer that you will leave when you can no longer work from home. Festivito Jan 4 #71

Congratulations!!! BobTheSubgenius Jan 4 #72

Don't blame you. I will say this, I continued to work for my employer for years after full retirement. It was liberating Silent Type Jan 4 #74

Congratulations My Friend BOSSHOG Jan 4 #75

Jan 1 for me Tadams01KC Jan 4 #77

Good for you. hamsterjill Jan 4 #82

If I were to retire this year... Shermann Jan 4 #84

Congrats! My guess is you will not regret it Joinfortmill Jan 4 #78

When It's Time, You Just Know ProfessorGAC Jan 4 #85

Congratulations! Deep State Witch Jan 4 #90

Woo Hoo. You won't regret it. Life is too short. After 50 years I was done. Just hope they don't crash the economy. Evolve Dammit Jan 4 #91

I suggest you gut it out, people live a lot longer than they used to. Every penny counts down the road. patphil Jan 4 #93

Go for it. One thought, if you wait or can wait 6 months consider it. If you can wait another 6, when you apply c-rational Jan 4 #94

Congrats! SleeplessinSoCal Jan 4 #95

When you reach that age where the phrase "I'm too old for this shit" really means something..... Blue Owl Jan 4 #99

You just know when it is time. TNNurse Jan 4 #100

You'll love it! Hamlette Jan 4 #105

If you are not happy going in to the office, you don't want to work there anymore. The people at Social Security are dai13sy Jan 4 #108

Good for you.. raising2moredems Jan 4 #110

Once you've got Medicare, return-to-office mandaters can fuck all the way off. paulkienitz Jan 5 #111

I too am retiring at the end of January RainCaster Jan 5 #112

Take a medical The Wizard Jan 5 #113

Retirement Ptah Jan 5 #114

DH is a Certified Financial Planner BlueSky3 Jan 5 #115

Congratulations! Phentex Jan 5 #117