As the day for my retirement grows closer. I am still deciding if I want to retire or not. All my life I have had to struggle with making enough to just get by. I was always a marginal earner up until I turned fifty. At fifty I had a car note and a mortgage that was pretty large. I for sure didn’t see any way that I could retire at sixty two. But now one year from now I will be able to start drawing my social security checks.
With the help of my wife we have managed to pay off all our debts and socked away enough to retire. But now I am facing the decision, do I want to. To give up a job that I have been doing in one capacity or another for 32 years is not something I thought I would have a hard time doing. But here I am thinking I could stick it out for a few more years.
We have a son that’s fourteen and already announced that he is going to collage. He didn’t pick a cheap one! But we can help him if I retire at my planned date or stay at the job. I just don’t know if us helping him will hurt us down the road or not. But really that is not what would stop us. I was raised that when you move out on your own, its up to you to make it. There is no doubt in my mind he would make it. But we will be there for him either way.
The next thing is what would I do? I have a few hobbies and plenty to keep me busy for a while, but then what? You never stop learn and as I have matured I have found that I have a craving for it. And my interests are wide and varied. So I don’t think I will get bored. The other thing that bothers me is social interaction. I have never been someone that seeks out others to mingle with or to socialize with and my wife is the same. We like to hang out with friends and family but its not a every day or even every week thing. Its just when the occasion arises. Still I think there should be some and after I retire I won’t have the people I work with to fill that roll.
As the year progresses I will continue to add to this blog to update the changes and feelings I have about the next change in my life. You never know what the good Lord will decide to throw my way.
125 days remaining. I have around 20 days of vacation saved and then weekends and holidays. Not many working days left. I still have some dental work that I want to take care of and that’s about it. Not really to much that I have planned after retirement. A few projects around the house that may take up a few months. The minor concern is the economy but it will always go up and down.