How do you explain why you are not working?

[Dicey]

Well, shit! I used to think that lack of stress and good planning made me look younger than my age. I must be sadly mistaken because when I say I'm retired, I never get any crap from anyone. I suspect it has to do with my delivery and not my appearance, although I may be wrong about that last part. When I use the word retired as it applies to my very own self, I can't help but say it with a big smile. I mean a big old shit-eatin' grin. I'm so happy to be retired that I think my joy stops the questioners dead in their tracks.

[Cookie78]

When I use the word retired as it applies to my very own self, I can't help but say it with a big smile. I mean a big old shit-eatin' grin. I'm so happy to be retired that I think my joy stops the questioners dead in their tracks.

:D
That is awesome!

I have a coworker who is retiring next month. I have no idea how old she is, but she's nowhere near usual retirement age. I wouldn't be surprised if she was on this forum. I overheard someone talking to her about it last week.
"Well you don't look 65!"
"I'm glad to hear that, because I'm not there yet!"
"What are you going to do"
Her response was long, but basically maybe contracting a bit, helping out daughter with her new company, etc.

It made me smile and it made me wonder if that was just her stock response to dodge the FI truth.

[DeepEllumStache]

One of my coworkers is 59 and retiring with the company's latest retirement offer. She has been telling people that the numbers lined up. She sometimes expands the explanation to say that her and her husband are ready to move back to St. Louis where they're from.

[bruce88]

My wife told me I should tell people that I am a private money manager.

I love it!

[okits]

My wife told me I should tell people that I am a private money manager.

I love it!

Jacob at ERE mentioned that phrase, too.  I like it but would be loathe to have to elaborate (that my only client is a thousandaire...  Me!)

[DoNorth]

My wife is calling me a stay at home dad now....it's not a big deal I suppose when you don't really care what other people think.

[Cougar]

It was not luckily at all.  Retiring early is a discipline that you can choose to do or not to do.  Just because someone else didn't want to choose this path, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. 

When someone asks me why I don't do things that are normal like drive to work everyday in my car, I explain to them what I am doing and they look at me like I have two heads.  I guess this attitude doesn't change even when you retire.  Wow.

2nd that.

still 3 years away myself, but i watch the golf channel daily as its one of the last channels left that isnt full up with women anchors made up more like hookers, people with tatoos, obscenities and the general decline of western civilization.
golfers look like retiress imo. they play about 4 days a week, practice a couple of hours and have the rest of the day to do whatever or nothing. i could do that easily.

[soccerluvof4]

I just say I am semi-retired. If something comes along that makes sense perhaps I will look into it but for know my wife and I want to enjoy our kids and are willing to give somethings up to make that happen. I always seem to get a positive response to that. And its the truth.

[benjenn]

We are selling Amway and it's just not going very well.... LOL.