At 18 I was enjoying life and in the 60’s making great money ($1,000 monthly) and had my own apartment on the beach a new car and girlfriend and was living life to the fullest (kind of like retirement). Then I was drafted into the Army at 19, and it never got old until I had 20 year in and retired. Moved to sunny Florida and retired for like 3 years. Got up in the morning and went to play golf, had lunch, took a nap, did the honey does, watched TV and went to bed. Next day was the same thing. I wanted to go full timing, but the wife said I was too young and we still had 3 kids at home. Well one morning that was that, bored to death with the same old thing every day I woke up and said I have to go back to school (college) and work. That is what I did became an Accountant and I am now civil service; I have 12 years in and can retire at any time…. Except for one thing…. Money. I have my TSP that is growing (90K). I will have my Military Retirement, Civil Service Retirement, Social Security (66 now) and the TSP funds and can still not retire, even with only a motorhome payment in my life. Everything else is paid off. I do not live in a million dollar neighborhood, we do not dive a Mercedes, we only have normal property taxes, insurances, utilities, food, and fuel for the vehicles, yet I am afraid that it is not enough as the above eats up more than 75% of my income. So am I ready…Oh yes I am but waiting. Hate my job as it is stagnate, I live in my cube and advancement is not going to happen. The first few years I was busy, useful and enjoyed the work and would have stayed forever, but as soon as the motorhome is paid off I am out of here…. Maybe I can get away sometimes for a long RV week of camping without breaking the budget. I don’t know how some of the folks in their 80’s+ are making it financially.
dubdub07 Says ….Don't do what makes you happy; be happy in what you are doing. Sometimes that is not possible. I would be much happier if I enjoyed what I was doing…… Retirement.