Retirement.... Age 63+ and finally looking forward to it!

[ButchA]

I know I am a relative newcomer to this forum, but I just wanted to share some aspects about careers, life in general, growing older, looking forward to retiring, etc...

 

CAREER:

1) US Coast Guard. Yes, I served in the Coast Guard as a Yeoman (desk jockey - somebody had to do all the paperwork!), and retired after a full career.

2) I used my computer skills, etc... and migrated into the I.T. industry after retirement.  Unix servers, database programming, etc...

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Sadly, things took a turn for the worse, as I grew older, way way more experienced, salary compensated, etc... (you know what that means!)

BINGO... The I.T. industry saw me as a "dinosaur" as they did many others like me.  They sort of phased me out, laid me off with a comfortable severance package, etc... and proceeded to hire a young 23, 24 yr old kid fresh out of college, who would work for next to nothing (you know what I mean).

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3) I tried and TRIED in vain to get back into I.T. and couldn't do it...  So I had to swallow my pride, re-invent myself as the saying goes, and say "F You" to the I.T. Industry... I took a 180° turn, got my CDL Class-B, and approached the public school systems, as a school bus driver.  Sha-zam... I was in, and started all over again from scratch.  12 years later, with what sanity I have left.... Enough is enough... I am now 63 years old, a gray haired grandpa, and can't do this sh** anymore....  The kids on my school bus are downright AWFUL and the parents think they would do no wrong (Ha!) and the schools won't offer support.  So, I'm done.... I'm totally done, and retiring at the end of this school year.

 

US Coast Guard Retirement Pension -- $$$$

Social Security (early - 63) -- $$$

School Bus/Transportation Pension -- $$$

 

When you add it all up... It's not too bad to be "triple dipping" as the saying goes!

 

I want to go full time, all out, go-for-broke, with a small home based, custom fishing lure business, designing and modifying my own bass fishing lures, for a little pocket change, a little gas money, etc... you know?

[WRB]

I retired at age 72 because I thought my skills were needed… wrong the company is doing great without me. 
Enjoy your retirement nothing in life is guaranteed. Health has a mind of it’s own.

Tinkering with lures is different then making them for a living.

You are a young man with decent pensions you earned, enjoy life.
Tom

[Susky River Rat]

Enjoy retirement buddy! I know I will never be able to retire. Anyone who can more power to them you earned it!

[tunaman]

Congrats - enjoy your retirement as life is far too short.

 

As a matter of fact, I just submitted my intent to retire yesterday, and I too am 63. I am in IT and will be retiring on the day of my 24 year anniversary as a full time employee.

 

Best of luck to us both!

[volzfan59]

Congratulations on your retirement! I highly recommend it. 

[Jig Man]

Once you get settled in you will be in for the good times.  I got bought out at the age of 50 purchased a camper and never looked back.

[Bird]

I retired 4 years ago abruptly, it's over......on the request of the wife.

 

Stay busy, live healthy and hope you thoroughly enjoy your retirement.

 

[A-Jay]

Thank you for your service @ButchA

and Congrats on your pending retirement.

Good Health & Happiness to you & yours moving forward

A-Jay

[throttleplate]

Congrats on retirement, were you ever attacked, threatened or had a sandwich thrown at you while drivin bus?

[GRiver]

Congratulations on your retirement, enjoy!

[ike8120]

Enjoy it I retired at 75 Life is too Short

[steves191145]

Congratulations!  Ill never forget the day  when my retirement paperwork was all finalized and approved.  I was at the boat dealer the next day lol

[Mobasser]

Congratulations on your retirement, and best of luck with your business.

[Bankbeater]

Congratulations on your retirement!

[Skunkmaster-k]

Livin the dream. 

[J._Bricker]

Congratulations @ButchA on a well deserved retirement! As some of us can attest, you now have all week to do things that would take all day on your weekend. Good luck, good fishing, and welcome to Bass Resource.

[ButchA]

On 4/19/2024 at 4:34 PM, throttleplate said:

Congrats on retirement, were you ever attacked, threatened or had a sandwich thrown at you while drivin bus?

I had a small kindergarten boy (serious attitude issues) come up on my bus, reach over and try to punch me! 😲 Naturally, I still have a quick instinct and "saw it coming", and blocked it with my arm.  I immediately radioed into the county school system, about what happened.  They pulled the onboard video recording of the incident, and next thing I knew, the little boy was gone from my bus...

 

I found an ice pick once from a high school bus run, in a.. not so nice.. neighborhood.  That particular time, I did NOT notify the county schools, and simply took the ice pick home.

 

Want more stories?  Pffffffttttt... I could write a book after 12 years driving a school bus! 

[Dwight Hottle]

Enjoy your retirement you earned it. 

[Swamp Girl]

Tom (@WRB) is right: Take nothing for granted. Get busy fishing and whatever else you love. 

 

I turn 68 this summer and feel a big difference between 63 and 68. I can't imagine 78. Or 88. Actually, I can. I see my parents, who are 92 and 89, and they're weak and wobbly. So, all of us should get out and fish!

[throttleplate]

Dont forget to exercise, exercise is more important than fishin, sittin in a boat isnt exercise, paddlin a kayak only works some muscles, not much below your obliques, walking is ok but doesnt work the lower butt glutes, hammy, calves... or much cardio as much as you think. Find a steep hill and walk up it 2 times a week, you use upper body and lots of lower body muscles doing hill walks. Dont get lazy, motion is lotion to the body.

[WRB]

Very important not to get out of bed and start your day without stretching for about 20 minutes, legs, lower back, crunches and shoulders.

Tom

[Bird]

8 hours ago, throttleplate said:

Dont forget to exercise, exercise is more important than fishin, sittin in a boat isnt exercise, paddlin a kayak only works some muscles, not much below your obliques, walking is ok but doesnt work the lower butt glutes, hammy, calves... or much cardio as much as you think. Find a steep hill and walk up it 2 times a week, you use upper body and lots of lower body muscles doing hill walks. Dont get lazy, motion is lotion to the body.

Idk, if you pick the right bait it's bicep curls all day 😂.

Nah, actually great advice, exercise is critical for so many reasons, avoid the doctors.

[whitwolf]

I retired in March. I highly recommend staying active and enjoy every day! It's one of the best decisions I have ever made! 

 

Congratulations!

[N Florida Mike]

Congrats ! I’m 63 also but will probably never retire…

[TOXIC]

Congrats.  My biggest frustration in retirement has been what I THOUGHT I was going to earn and what I ACTUALLY earn after the tax man gets done with me at the end of every year. I retired 4 years ago from a Federal Agency where I had been very prudent about putting $$ away for retirement.  I have a 401k and the Thrift Savings Plan both of which had very good matching $$ from my Agency, a pension, a few investment accounts and now I’m in my first year of Social Security. I was giddy about being able to finally enjoy the fruits of my labor from 35 years of intense work.  My advice is to get a good Certified Financial Planner because you’re going to need them.  We live very frugally, been in our house 32 years, and have “cash outed” some of my smaller investments for things we have wanted to do.  Some traveling, home updates, holidays, etc., nothing big to date.  My pension and the fact my wife is still working pays all of our day to day expenses.  I have not dipped into the 401k or the TSP yet.  My tax bill at the end of the year is alarming and add to that now that I am drawing Social Security, 78% of that is going to be taxed as income as well.  My wife keeps reminding me that all of my accounts were pre-tax $$ and I get that, but it still stings. 
 

congrats again btw….😂