Bunky
Detailing Gnosis
I thought he felt every Federal employee except the one he employs are worthless.
Enjoy and good luck!
Day 1
- Thread starter TLMitchell
- Start date
I thought he felt every Federal employee except the one he employs are worthless.
Enjoy and good luck!
GearHead_1
Long Time Member
TL, congratulations, assuming that's what you feel is in order. I'll give you a little different vantage point that will perhaps help you to see your position as a real bright spot. I too, had to take an early retirement. I should say that I was more or less forced in to retirement because of health issues.
I have a degenerative joint disease, that for lack of a better description means an aggressive form of arthritis that responds to no treatments to date. My immune system attacks my (soft) joint tissues and leaves nothing behind. These same issues have dramatically curtailed my detailing as well as many other of my favorite hobbies and things I like to do.
I'm a few years younger than you and upon leaving the working sector made the decision not to rely on others (SSI, Disability etc.) for my support. I could have chosen to do this, as I qualify but it just didn't feel right for me in my situation. This means that I've put off any Social Security related benefits (read income) for another 15 years. My wife, bless her soul, is still working but we get along on much less and are happy to be where we're at. In telling you this, I am hoping that you have your health. When you have this, you really do have everything. You can learn how to get by on less and still have a great time doing it.
I was fortunate enough to have a good paying job particularly the last few years of my working career. This along with a fairly conservative lifestyle and a wife that feels much the same way allowed us to put some money away as well allowed me to build a home that is mortgage free. We still face the same challenges as everyone else with 2 kids in college, one on a church mission and one just finishing up H.S. These expenses will pretty much be gone in another 7 or 8 years. This might seem like easy street on the horizon but I don't have the health that would allow me to really enjoy early retirement. I'm not complaining here, I've still been extremely blessed.
The purpose for this post was to perhaps give you a perspective that the glass is definitely half full. Your attitude seems great. Keep looking at each tomorrow as a Saturday. Find enough things that you enjoy doing to keep yourself busy. Ride the roads, see the places you've wanted to visit, serve others where you can and love the heck out of your family. I wish you a joyful retirement. It might not be exactly what you had in mind when you started down this path years ago but it can still be pretty darn good. I wish you much success and nothing but the best in the years to come. Remember that old Alice Cooper song, School's Out for Summer and the way you felt about summer as a kid? That's exactly the way I would hope you approach retirement.
I have a degenerative joint disease, that for lack of a better description means an aggressive form of arthritis that responds to no treatments to date. My immune system attacks my (soft) joint tissues and leaves nothing behind. These same issues have dramatically curtailed my detailing as well as many other of my favorite hobbies and things I like to do.
I'm a few years younger than you and upon leaving the working sector made the decision not to rely on others (SSI, Disability etc.) for my support. I could have chosen to do this, as I qualify but it just didn't feel right for me in my situation. This means that I've put off any Social Security related benefits (read income) for another 15 years. My wife, bless her soul, is still working but we get along on much less and are happy to be where we're at. In telling you this, I am hoping that you have your health. When you have this, you really do have everything. You can learn how to get by on less and still have a great time doing it.
I was fortunate enough to have a good paying job particularly the last few years of my working career. This along with a fairly conservative lifestyle and a wife that feels much the same way allowed us to put some money away as well allowed me to build a home that is mortgage free. We still face the same challenges as everyone else with 2 kids in college, one on a church mission and one just finishing up H.S. These expenses will pretty much be gone in another 7 or 8 years. This might seem like easy street on the horizon but I don't have the health that would allow me to really enjoy early retirement. I'm not complaining here, I've still been extremely blessed.
The purpose for this post was to perhaps give you a perspective that the glass is definitely half full. Your attitude seems great. Keep looking at each tomorrow as a Saturday. Find enough things that you enjoy doing to keep yourself busy. Ride the roads, see the places you've wanted to visit, serve others where you can and love the heck out of your family. I wish you a joyful retirement. It might not be exactly what you had in mind when you started down this path years ago but it can still be pretty darn good. I wish you much success and nothing but the best in the years to come. Remember that old Alice Cooper song, School's Out for Summer and the way you felt about summer as a kid? That's exactly the way I would hope you approach retirement.