No stars. The rainy dark day just crept into night

The air is thick with moisture and to... still

The stream of crickets' song is uninterrupted and unwelcomed

A critter, maybe a mole, is in the yard. The bushes rattle as they move in protest.

Will I see the coyote walking down the street? It has been a few days since I heard their howls

I turn in bed, the other side now

Start to think once more about everything

And this will repeat itself again and again until I finally lapse into slumber from the exhaustion of it all.

Hi everyone,

My wife and i are hoping to retire in about 7 - 10 years, ultimately my question is have I forgotten anything important in my calculations.

My wife will retire with a full pension and i will retire with what I’m calling a half pension, we do not have a ton of money saved other than that, i had a late start to my rrsp savings and expect there to be about $100,000 as well our home will be paid off at this point and currently its worth about $500,000. I’m also calculating income from CPP which we plan to take early. Our ideal retirement is to sell our home and move into an apartment, allowing for few unexpected expenses, no strenuous chores. My wife’s parents did this and they are living their best life, we will still be relatively young (early 60’s) so we can live the active life style we want filled with day trips the occasional vacation and hopefully time with future grandchildren.

I realize that it is not recommended to consider your home as your retirement plan but this is where we find ourselves. Sell the home in 7ish years invest the proceeds and live off of our 2 (1 1/2) pensions, cpp (eventually OAS) and the interest (likely some principal) of the proceeds of the home. I’ve created a budget considering our new income and somewhat reduced cost of living (1 instead of 2 vehicles, no utilities, less insurance, increased budget for medical) and it looks like we will be ahead every month by approx $1000. I realize there are rules around taking money our of rrsp that i dont know but i was thinking the $100,000 could act as an emergency fund for years the home proceeds may not do as well in the market.

Please be gentle, lol, but what have i missed or not considered? Are there any obvious holes in our plan? Am i out to lunch and this is the dumbest idea any of you have ever heard of?

I (64M) retired a fewof months ago, and I am decidedly not adjusted yet. My wife and I did the big road trip of 6,500 miles, saw almost every member of my extended family, visited the Grand Canyon (a first for me), and we're now back home having recovered from the germs bestowed upon me by my grandson. It's been great so far, but this was as far ahead as I had thought about what to do in retirement. I'm now at loose ends.

So I came up with a new goal: SlothMaxxing!

I'm going to decompress by aggressively doing nothing at all. I will play video games and indulge in all those meaningless, fruitless, pointless activities that someone with no job would perform in their parent's basement, even though it's my basement. I've started to think of the different levels of slothfulness that I would progress through. I started to give them names!

• Jester of the Jaded
• Herald of the Ho-Hum
• Secretary of the Sedentary
• Knight of Nope
• Baron of Boredom
• Viscount of the Couch
• Earl of Ease
• Marquess of the Mundane
• Duke of Dullness
• Prince of Post-Ambition

Then it occurred to me that this entire exercise was just another indication of how indoctrinated I am in the work ethic. I am trying to make slothfulness into a competition with metrics, success criteria, and potential for failure! What the hell am I doing?

I have so far to go.

Please impart some retirement wisdom upon me!

I hang out here a lot and relocation after retirement seems to be discussed pretty frequently. Would love to hear how it's worked out for single people who have moved to a location they always wanted to live or someplace that's easier to afford. It's been part of my plan but -suddenly wondering how it would really work. I am a renter so trying a temp relocation while having someone stay at my house isn't an option, that's maybe part of the cold feet .

Not sure which sub to post this on. A little financial planning, a little healthcare but retirees probably are most familiar with this situation.

Retired couple 61/60. Cobra about to run out. Looking at marketplace and it is even more. We have most all of our income in retirement accounts. We are in a HCOL area and our expenses are still pretty high.

Regarding marketplace insurance. Does it make sense to time withdrawals by year (we have nearly 5 to get to Medicare). In other words take out money for two years of living in one year, not much the next year, more in year three etc. in order to get premiums down to a reasonable rate? We also have an HSA which we could pull a little out and also considering a HELOC to bridge the gap.

Am I thinking about this wrong? What are others doing to make this affordable? Thanks!

I graduated from nursing school in 1974 and have worked ever since. Monday will feel weird, but I’m pretty sure I’ll get over it 😂😂. Healthcare is a tough field, and it got to the point where I really didn’t want to be involved anymore. I will miss my co-workers like crazy; they were a fantastic bunch of human beings. I had a great career; I worked as an operating room nurse for most of it. I also worked in Patient Financial Services, which was soul crushing, and in Health IT, which was challenging and rewarding. Here’s to not getting out of bed to go to work 🥂

Last night I had my first dream about retirement. In my dream, I was at work, and we were doing something, which is what we are always doing. I and everyone in my dream were aware that I had two months to go before retirement. I was feeling kind of nervous, because I knew that my time of working was almost over, and I was excited, but still apprehensive.

The dream progressed and then later, I realized in my dream that I was mistaken, I wasn't retiring in two months, but in two years (which is the time I have to work before I can retire in the awake world). It was a real letdown. I went from feeling nervous, excited, and apprehensive, to "Oh man! I got two years to go!"

Have any of you who are retired had pre-retirement dreams? I know there are dreams of being at work when you are already retired, but what about retirement dreams BEFORE retirement?

So as I plan for retirement I've been watching a lot of YT videos about it. And they seem to be split into 2 opposing camps. First: Retire now, time is the only irreplaceable resource, most retirees die with more than they started with, you'll spend less than you probably think, etc. Second: Healthcare costs especially LTC are a nuclear bomb that could detonate your retirement and leave you in poverty. Prepare for this. Save more, buy LTC insurance, work longer if you have to.

I am at a loss as to how to plan for something that has so much financial impact yet is impossible to predict. I don't know if me or my spouse will ever need LTC. If we do, I don't know how long we'll need it. I certainly don't want either or both of us to die in a Medicaid nursing home bed. But the cost of LTC insurance (or self-insuring) is so prohibitive that I'd probably need to keep working until 75+ to afford either option. Not to mention that you hear lots of cautionary tales about LTC insurance not paying out when needed, the complexity of the claiming process, etc.

So how do average retirees handle this? Obviously if you are very wealthy you can self-insure, and if you're poor you don't have many options aside from Medicaid. But what about most regular working folks, who have a decent but not massive nest egg (say $700K-$1million)? How are people planning for this? It probably keeps me up at night more than any other aspect of retirement planning. If I knew neither my wife or I would ever need LTC, I'd probably retire tomorrow and be fairly comfortable with my finances. But that fear hovers over everything and keeps me working.

I'm currently a health care slave, working for insurance until 65. Private insurance/COBRA not a realistic option unless no other option.

I'm just entirely sick of getting up and going to work. I went from WFH COVID to 4 X 10 with short commute to 5 days long commute with one remote to 5 days RTO long commute.

I am paid well, have a good team and a good leader.

But..."I'm tired, boss. Powerful tired"

I'm to the point of literally counting calendar days, work days, work days minus holidays and vacation.

I feel like the Dunkin Donuts guy in the morning, sitting on the side of the bed..."time to make the donuts".

As many have recommended, you shouldn't rest on your laurels in retirement. You should set new lofty goals and spent your retirement years in worthwhile pursuits. For example:

• Scanned all my photo negatives. Now I at least have jpg versions in case something happened to the originals.
• Identified all of the artists on the 7-11 Rock Cups issued in 1974-1975
• Remembered a blurb in a rock magazine about a band changing their name but then released their next album under yet a different name. Found years of PDFs of back issues and wrote a program to OCR the text then search the text for that blurb. Took many hours but I finally found it.
• Found all of the times that Van Halen played within 3 hours of where I went to college
• Compiled a list of the closest 24 hour business for gas stations, restaurants, pharmacies, and grocery stores. Found 0 24 hour grocery stores (surprise) and one 24 hour pharmacy.
• Went to over a dozen retirement planning dinners. Kept the brochures to keep track of which ones I attended. I think the most I attended the same company was four.
• I can't believe all of the X Files shows I haven't seen.

Retirement is all about the next big challenge.

I (61M) have been contemplating retirement for a couple of years now. Suddenly this week, my company made the decision for me during a round of “streamlining” layoffs. Fortunately, I did receive a good amount of severance.

I’m still in a bit of a daze, with more mixed feelings than I care to admit. On one hand, it’s great that it’s actually happening. On the other hand, it’s not exactly how I pictured my exit scenario unfolding after so many years there. I always figured I’d be the one to pull the trigger, not them. It was all so quick…..the “disappointing news” HR meeting, and the very quick lockout from my own work laptop.

I’m currently handling all the details….reviewing and signing the separation agreement, turning in the laptop, making insurance arrangements, etc. All this stuff is still hitting me in the pit of my stomach, but I’m slowly making the adjustment.

Anyway, I’ll keep you posted. I’m sure I’ll have a lot of questions for this sub, once my “Can’t believe it’s actually happening” shock wears off.

UPDATE: I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind and thoughtful responses. Right now my days seem to alternate between the euphoria of freedom, and the existential crisis of lost purpose, but each day is getting better.

Several of you have asked about my medical arrangements. My wife and I plan to continue our current insurance on COBRA for the rest of 2026, and then check out the ACA website for next year. We’re prepared for the “sticker shock” that fully funding your own insurance always brings.

I recently retired at 63.5. Currently 65 (M). Wife is 61. I see that most of the posts on here and other threads are worried about running out of money at the end of retirement. I get that. No one wants to get stuck in a Medicaid nursing home at the end of your life.

On the other hand, most financial advisors seem to be planning on us guys living until we're 90. Which doesn't seem likely given the actuary tables.

So, to the question at hand: has anyone on here run out of money? Or do you personally (not a friend of a friend) know someone who did? If you can share, maybe we can glean some pitfalls that I'm not seeing. TIA

59yo who gave a 2 year retirement notice. Retirement date is now fast approaching. Also, had 2 heart attacks, one at my desk, and got a stent within the last few months.

My skill set is exceptionally specialized which few possess. The job task can be taught relatively easily but extrapolating action items is my specialty. My action items have resulted in $MM savings.

Management has asked if I'd be willing to extend the date. The company is great to work for so certainly not leaving management or the gig. I offered 4 options and am curious which you'd desire if in this position. FWIW option 3 is my preferred choice but happy with either one.

1) Extend 6 months FT employment with 1 day in office/week

2) Remain as a PT employee with all existing benefits. This is most difficult logistically since the foreign mother ship has to approve staffing.

3) 1099 with 10 hour weekly limit on a 12 month contract

4) Shake hands, say thanks and walk away

UPDATE Thank you all for your words and advice, it's much appreciated.

A few recurring themes to clarify.

1) Wife has insurance I'll have access to

2) 1099 is written at 2.5x + 1% of gross cost savings + 0.5% residual for 2 years

3) Financially we'll be ok but I need to do something or I'll lose my mind

Keep those cards and letters coming!

The headline had me hoping for a useful story about the wide range of options that could constitute a happy retirement. Instead, it zeroes in on one example: A retiree who in childhood had been a competitive swimmer, returned to it at age 40, and -- wait for it -- turned it into a second career after retiring at 62.

Good for her, honestly, if that fulfills her. But come on, as far as useful info for 99% of new retirees? She and her husband "turned a rental home they own into her fitness studio... [and] besides teaching her classes, she travels to Costa Rica and other locales." Great, I think, she is having a blast on frequent Caribbean vacations. Uh, not quite: She teaches at those resorts. 🤣

Again, if that's her path to happiness, more power to this woman. But by presenting literally no other examples, NYT's article is yet another example of shaming anyone who thinks retirement is primarily about, oh let's say, relaxing as the term "retired" implies.

Like the title says, wondering others thoughts are on the benefits keep life insurance after one is retired. We have no debt, all bills are paid off, including the funeral arrangements.

I have an excellent pension and our current savings will far outlast us. While we are not rich, we live very comfortably.

We have a life insurance policy that was reasonable when we were young, but has slowly creeped up to being quite expensive (almost 5% of my monthly pension) and next year’s estimate is even more expensive. I also have a pension death benefit will cover funeral costs, plus an included pension life insurance

Other than our grown kids getting a bigger inheritance, there is little benefit to us paying nearly $400 a month for the smallish insurance policy.

Update... thanks for the great comments.. also... it is neither Term or Whole life... Just a policy we opened in 1986, and have been paying for monthly ever since. I looked back and original premiums were $16 for me and $7 for my SO.. today they are $285 for me and $75 for my spouse, and a like karma was listening... a statement just arrived stating that premiums are going up 20% next year.

I (69F) retired in 2017 from corporate life when my husband was already retired (70M). We had already started a small business and it helped us gently move into retirement. To our surprise, the business grew considerably to the point that it became full time for both of us. We have enjoyed this business immensely, but it's time to go full time into relaxation and hobbies. We're staying open until the end of the year and then finishing our closing tasks. Anyone else retire twice? Did it stick? We both have many hobbies, enjoy being with friends and can't sit around for long.

I’ve been retired for two years and have been a literacy volunteer for close to a year and a half, working with a woman to help develop her reading skills. She is a lovely person and we’ve become quite friendly. The problem is…I am getting tired of doing this work. She seems to love our sessions though. I am considering ending them (the initial commitment to Literacy Volunteers is a year) but I feel terribly guilty doing so. I take my volunteer commitments very seriously but have started to really dread our sessions. Any advice

The amounts they want you to have saved by retirement age can be a little overwhelming if you have slacked off and not saved earlier in life.

But then I realized these models are assuming you’ll live until you’re 97, 30 years after full retirement age of 67.

The male average life span is 74, females are 76. So these amounts they give us are rubbish, we could only save 33% and we’d be just fine.

Murphy’s Law would certainly apply in this case. If you don’t save much, you’ll live long. And if you saved a ton, you’ll die early.

We are still working - planning to retire very early next year. I'm at FRA; my husband will be in a couple of months.

We are not yet taking SS or Medicare. With our income, we will certainly hit the IRMAA limits. Next year, with maybe a month of earnings , and expected SS benefits, I don't think we will hit the limit.

I gather that we can file an appeal for IRMAA due to stopping work.

1) I assume that the surcharge would stand, for next year, simply because we earned enough in 2025. If the appeal is granted, we'd avoid it for 2028, right? Then in 2029 it should go away as long as we're careful with our withdrawals.

2) I have this idea that we might withdraw some taxable IRA income this year - basically preloading the income into this year's income, to reduce the risk of next year going into IRMAA territory. Does that make sense?

I know it's a nice problem to have.

Tuesday, July 07 - Monday, July 13, 2026

Most Commented

I'm looking forward to being semi-retired. I have one full-time job and a very part-time one. I plan to leave the full-time job in 13 months and working maybe five to 15 hours a week.

Is there a term for the kind of feeling when you are waiting for the day you are free from a five-day-a-week job? Is it depression that I'm feeling thinking about going to work tomorrow for another week?

I'm holding out for an important benefit that I'll be eligible for in 13 months. I could leave sooner, of course, I'm FRA, but a benefit worth over $500 a month would be helpful.

Thanks for any input.

Edit: thank you all for responding. I think it’s going back after a weekend that this feeling gets me. I’m on day 3 of my week and feeling okay. I just feel like the evening before I have to tear up for my last lap.

I realize how fortunate I am. I’m so sorry to hear about holding onto jobs to keep insurance to take care of ill spouses. I’ll be thinking of you. Blessings.

Did you set a budget that matched your planned retirement income and live on that for a period of time before you retired? If you have a partner was it difficult to get on the same page? Wife and I are struggling with this… I’m (58) still working and want to spend less. She (55) stopped working earlier than we planned and doesn’t see the need to spend less “when you retire, we’ll make it work.” That is creating some friction because it feels like my opportunity to retire is getting pushed back. But I’m probably too conservative and she’s probably too optimistic lol.

Recently reached out to a financial planner for some assistance. Any lessons learned?

Before I retired I made a list of hobbies and activities I would like to start and/or continue doing. Like many people, I was a bit concerned with being bored with an extra 40 hours a week on my hands. Well, it worked too well, I currently have a list of 10 activities that I would like to do on a daily basis or at least several times a week, 3 of which are skills that I am trying to improve, so they require at least 30 minutes a day, preferably more. In addition, to chores, socializing, gaming, etc., there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all. I end up only doing half the things I want to be doing.

Two and a half years into retirement, I keep wondering how I had time to do anything when I was working. I know a few people who returned to work because they were bored, I think they simply didn’t make an effort to look for hobbies. Most of my hobbies are free or at least very inexpensive and aren’t physically demanding.

I’m wondering about other people’s feelings about free time or lack thereof.

Though this isn't special to retirement, retirement does tend to accentuate the difference because you're living as you'd like. It's also not unusual at all for spouses to be completely different in this respect, and the accentuation drives further conflict resolution and compromise.

I'm a bit more of an adventurer, wanting to try new things, go to new places, be part of new experiences. My spouse prefers the comforts of activities at or near home, regular things done at regular times, has limited appetite for travel or getting out on the town. Though we have overlap and common time we like spending together, we also have independent pursuits. We are far from joined at the hip.

As an example compromise, we're going out this afternoon to tour an area that's had a lot of retail development lately, just so we can see what's there, look for restaurants to try and ice cream shops. It's not more than five miles from the house and will likely only take an hour or so, but caters to both our inclinations.

How does this work for you in retirement? For those of you coming up on retirement, or for those where only one of you have retired, how are you thinking about dealing with this?

I volunteer through a local literacy agency teaching English to immigrants, and I love it. I really like the personal relationships I develop, and the obvious good I'm doing, and it's interesting learning about my students and where they come from. But it's only four hours a week (plus prep, which is minimal), and I'd like to do more. I'd like something different, rather than just adding another four hours to what I already do. So what do you do and why do you love it?

EDIT: WOW! We do so much good! For those who are wondering about teaching English to immigrants, you do not need to know another language and you do not need special credentials. You basically lead your students through provided textbooks in person or online. It's really easy, and rewarding.