Retired and ... working?

[johnintaiwan]

When I first clicked on this article I thought it was destined for the wall of shame and comedy, but I was pleasantly surprised. It actually talks about why retirees go back to "working" and doesn't blame not being able to save enough. Not necessarily mustachian, but I think it is a reasonable defense against the internet retirement police

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2014/06/16/retired-andworking/?intcmp=obnetwork

[Nords]

When I first clicked on this article I thought it was destined for the wall of shame and comedy, but I was pleasantly surprised. It actually talks about why retirees go back to "working" and doesn't blame not being able to save enough. Not necessarily mustachian, but I think it is a reasonable defense against the internet retirement police

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2014/06/16/retired-andworking/?intcmp=obnetwork

I hope they're working for love instead of money, but their reasons are self-reported.

I'm still skeptical about how much of the decision is financial.  Are they donating everything to charity (or their grandkids' 529 accounts), or are they patching holes in their planning?

[Jamesqf]

As the article says

Can you honestly imagine waking up one morning and realizing that the intellectual challenges, the creativity, or the social interactions and connections you’ve experienced for the past 30-40 years have disappeared overnight?

That's why I plan never to actually retire, at least barring some major health issue or similar.  Of course I've gotten rid of the 9-5 grind, and most of the office politics, and as I seldom see clients face-to-face, there's no way for them to know when I pass arbitrary age deadlines.

[Cassie]

I retired at age 58 & within 6 months was really bored even with doing volunteer work, etc. I missed the intellectual stimulation so now I work for myself p.t. doing the same thing I did when I worked 9-5.  For me it is perfect.  I realized that I was so sick of the 9-5 but not ready to quit working entirely.  If my health holds out I plan to do this forever.

[Villanelle]

When I first clicked on this article I thought it was destined for the wall of shame and comedy, but I was pleasantly surprised. It actually talks about why retirees go back to "working" and doesn't blame not being able to save enough. Not necessarily mustachian, but I think it is a reasonable defense against the internet retirement police

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2014/06/16/retired-andworking/?intcmp=obnetwork

I hope they're working for love instead of money, but their reasons are self-reported.

I'm still skeptical about how much of the decision is financial.  Are they donating everything to charity (or their grandkids' 529 accounts), or are they patching holes in their planning?

May dad, age 71 with 2 full careers under his belt and two pensions, still works.  For him, its almost entirely for a sense of purpose.  He gets some of that from other things (hobbies, being on his HOA board, etc.), but I know he likes the mental stimulation that comes from his work.  I'm sure the money is nice, but he is so far from needing it, with a net worth that is increasing even without the paycheck, that it certainly is way down on the list of reasons.  He's a consultant and right now his only client is a company he worked for for a couple years after his second full career ended. 

[Cassie]

When my Mom retired at age 60 she had so many interests, hobbies, volunteer, etc that she was never home & very happy.  I am more of a homebody & when I did not work at all I really missed it.  I think the big difference is that I am choosing to work but do not have to be up at a certain time, etc.  I am totally in charge of my schedule.  My hubby did not think he would ever go back to work but about 2 years in he is working p.t. as an engineer.  He is a lot happier now.  I definitely believe that for many people they enjoy working p.t. if it is something that they love and not a crappy job.  When my FIL retired from a job he hated he was offered a p.t. job that was very different from anything he ever did & he loved it. He did not need the $ but did it until age 78 because it was so much fun for him.  Once it stopped being fun he quit.

[Jamesqf]

Yeah.  The point is that work is a mix of fun stuff and BS*.  Being FI gives you a lot of leverage to get rid of the BS and keep the fun parts.

*In varying proportions, of course.  Some jobs have so much BS and so little fun that it's not worth trying.

[The Hamster]

I fully intend to keep working after I "retire" but it will be on my terms.  I think I would miss the social interaction of being "at work".  Of course as soon as it becomes too much like work and not enjoyable then I would move on and do something else.

[socaso]

I fully intend to keep working after I "retire" but it will be on my terms.  I think I would miss the social interaction of being "at work".  Of course as soon as it becomes too much like work and not enjoyable then I would move on and do something else.

I feel the same. I get a lot of happiness from interacting with people. I think I'm too much of an extrovert to give up social interaction on that level and getting a bit of money for it just feels like a motivating force to stay in the game.

[viper155]

I retired at age 58 & within 6 months was really bored even with doing volunteer work, etc. I missed the intellectual stimulation so now I work for myself p.t. doing the same thing I did when I worked 9-5.  For me it is perfect.  I realized that I was so sick of the 9-5 but not ready to quit working entirely.  If my health holds out I plan to do this forever.

I posted a thread on this site similar to what you are saying here and got LAMBASTED for warning people that early retirement may not be all that its cracked up to be. Meaningful work is important!!!! I was called names, assumed to be a "bore" and all kinds of BS. So, I agree with you 100%.

[Cassie]

Thanks Viper!  I actually loved my career just not all the rules with working for a government agency.  I also added something new which is teaching a university class which I really love!  I also do many things that I did not have time for before-like helping people declutter their homes, hold garage sales, drive people to medical appts, etc.  However, doing those things feel good but is not intellectually stimulating like working is. So sorry to hear that you were met with such negativity.  Sounds like we are kindred souls:))  I bet there are many of us out there.