Hindsight

 

My career lasted for 45 years which is a rather long time, although, there are many people who work 55 years or more.  If you start work after college or the military say at 25 and work 55 years, you are 80 years old.  Bear in mind that many people in Congress are in their 80s, so it is not unreasonable.

I, personally, was glad to leave as I had terrible bosses and supervisors with which I worked, changed jobs often because I refused to KISS ASS that many people, especially those in my family, think was WRONG of me to refuse to do.  I did not.

Despite the changing of jobs and no retirement income from employers, my wife and I managed to save a considerable amount of money that now supplements Social Security income and provides us with a reasonable lifestyle.

When I say reasonable. I mean not wealthy nor poor but living a life where we do most anything we want...  but the key here is WANT as we do not want much...  just what we need and a little more.

Retirement is a wonderful but strange time in one's life as it indicates the end of one's life as most live only 20 years after retirement.  However, living to about 87 is true for most of us, regardless of whether we are working or not.

If I had it to do all over again, I would have joined the military after high school and stayed in for 20 years.  At 38, I would have military retirement and using my skills, would have worked another 20 years, taking me to 58.  At that time I could either decide to continue working at the same place or a different place until 67 when I could draw Social Security.

If I played my cards right, I would have military retirement, a company retirement (or 401k) PLUS Social Security and savings.  If I was just a little clever, I would have gotten at BA/MA while in the military and taught at a community college until 67 because they have retirement programs.

Three sources of incomes plus savings, estimating my retirement income at $4,500 to $5,000/month plus whatever my wife's retirement might be.

HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS BEST...