What’s Ahead on the Road?
A foggy ride to work this week and I’m wondering what’s ahead on the road just beyond what I can see. And I’m wondering the same thing about my life. My employer, Penn State, is offering an incentive for myself and over 1200 of my colleagues to retire. After a career spanning over 42 years it opens the door for a new adventure.
I guess.
Even though I ride my Vespa in fog and snow I’m not a person who takes risks. Retirement feels like a big one. And I don’t really know why other than it brings a dramatic change to a life built on routine and ritual.
Life on Campus
I’ve been parking a Vespa on campus for over ten years. A lot longer for a cars. As I looked at the scooter parked outside my office I can’t help but wonder what all these years meant. Retirement means walking away and not coming back. Like saying goodbye to an old, familiar friend and knowing it will never be the same.
The financial calculations are complete. And I have some pretty serious plans for life after Penn State that will keep me busy with things I want to do. But I hesitate.
I’ll be going for a long ride in the morning to think about the offer and make a decision. I have six days to sign a letter of intent if I want to take advantage of the incentive offer. Or keep working and retire down the road. If I decide to sign the paper there’s no turning back. At the end of June 2017 I would be a full-time Vespa rider.
Retirement. That would be a new adventure.
Retirement wouldn’t stop you from keeping yourself busy, and your mind occupied, Steve. Go for it!
Go, go, go!
Family man, friend, dog walker, blogger, photographer, Vespa rider,…
Sonja’s right. You’ll still be busy if you decide to retire. Have no fear of that, and I speak from experience.
Only you will really know whether you live to work or work to live, but you have earned the right to spend your time as you see fit. Instinctively, I too would encourage you to go for it.
It will be different. It will require lots of readjustment. But heck, that would be the case whenever you retire. Go now and enjoy a long, healthy and relatively stress-free retirement, Steve, with the emphasis on ‘enjoy’.
Good luck with your deliberations.
Ride safe.
Keith
The decision to retire feels right. There are so many things I want to do. Thinking about it makes me think there will never be enough time!
I’ve just read all of the following comments and am pleased to find that you’ve bitten the bullet and named the day, Steve. June will be here before you know it.
Come on in! The water’s lovely!
I’m close to that exit stage left myself Steve and I also say go for it! Just the thought of waking up some Tuesday morning and riding anywhere I wish on my scoot sounds heavenly. Too often many of us define ourselves by what we do, rather than who we are. A bit more fatalistic look could be – retirement “down the road” might not ever come….
Thinking about, and actually being retired, definitely gets a person thinking. I look forward to waking and just going for a ride without thinking about much. Just don’t want to wait anymore…
I agree with Frank. We all have X number of days left and personally I’d rather be out riding than working and as you wrote, not thinking about much in the least. My best!
Well, as a new retiree I can tell you that you will miss your co-workers. Each day you continue to work. Is one day less that you have to enjoy retirement. Think about that.
I will miss some people I work with. And the social camaraderie that develops in the workplace. But there’s nothing to keep me from coming back to visit. It’s time now to enjoy something different.
While there will be no incentive in the offering, I too, am thinking about no longer teaching. I’ll be 81 next month, and I wonder just how long do I want to continue. I don’t have a Vespa to ride, but I do have a bicycle. I know not the same. I know my home duties — chief cook and bottle washer — will remain the same, but what will I do with all the extra time? I don’t have a plan for that. There are times when I want to walk away from the college campus — the beginning of this semester has been rather trying. But I know I have built something in the past 17 years, and I don’t want to see it flounder. So, do I stick it out for another couple of years, or do I say “See ya.” I truly enjoy my time with my students, and I think I’m still an effective teacher. The powers that be are not asking me to leave, but still……..sigh
Frank, what you describe is not unlike what I have been experiencing. I just feel I want something different now. If I was still working at 81 I would be pushing 63 years. Man….
If you walk away from teaching on the college campus you’ll find something else to keep your fires burning I have no doubt. But I understand the weight of the choice…
I have been retired for the past 5years,the 1st two years where ones of adjustments,tidying up some Court appearances (retired Detective) and wondering if my income would support myself,wife,house etc.My wife actually retired 1 year ahead of myself (teacher-she has her own Pensions)) so her biggest adjustment was having me home all the time.Guess what I had always wanted to get back to riding a scooter as in my teen years so I purchased a 50cc Honda Met.a year later a Piaggio Fly 150 and love it.I had a slip and fall one year ago and have been on a long recovery road due to the nature of the injury as well as a leg operation to re-attach the Quads back to me knee.I started back riding a month ago and love it!!.Now are biggest decision is to sell our house -downsize-and move closer to our Grandchildren and enjoy the warm weather during the winters in the Southern US.Enjoy life it will take a year or two to decompress and it opens up many road not traveled or to re-visit as in my case .
Steve, we have been retired for over thirty years. During that time, my husband discovered a talent and passion for doing art that he would have never found had he waited. I discovered that I was meant to publish a book of poetry so now I use what I’ve written to become an activist for social justice. And I continue to write. While the inevitability of decline secondary to aging is happening, we rejoice that we retired when we did while our bodies could still do whatever we wanted them to do. So we traveled, visited friends and family, made peace about the things we can never accomplish and live full and meaningful lives with no regrets. We fervently wish for you the same. Just be sure to give your lovely wife lots of alone time and get out of the house for hours at a time. That, with your Vespa adventures will be the only ritual that you will need when you retire. All else will fall into place. By the way, i hope that you and Kim will come to my poetry reading at Webster’s in October. Perhaps we can celebrate at that time your having made your decision to retire or not. All the best to you and your peaceful household!
Steve you’ve got the interests and wanderlust to keep you busy in retirement, I think it’s the other logistics that are holding you back but am sure you’ll figure them out!
Do it! If I had the opportunity, I would jump at the chance.
I jumped!
Good for you!
Steve, as a financial advisor that works with a lot of retirees, make sure you have more money saved or more income coming in (pensions, Social Security, etc.) than you think you will need. I’m worried for people. A very large minority of people are spending too much and will likely run out of money before they run out of life.
That being said, retirement is a wonderful thing for most people. Just don’t sit on the couch watching Oprah all day. Staying active is the 2nd most important part of retirement.
Good luck with your decision!
I spent a lot of time calculating expenses and such to make sure I’m comfortable with the potential income. Unless my math is way off we should be comfortable into our 90s without having to work anymore. And I plan to do some other work in retirement that should yield some additional monies.
Adventure!
Good for you Steve! Ride baby Ride!
Retire! You are still allowed by social security to make a few dollars. I retired about two months ago and still work one night a week. When winter gets here I will stay home. I ride all year long and this retirement works out for me. Next year I can work again and enjoy riding whenever and wherever I want. I thought, when I’m old do I want to sit and think about what I could have done and places I didn’t go, or do I want to sit back and reminisce about what I DID do.
Sounds like you have it worked out. I hope to get to a similar place. And I don’t want to regret lost opportunities. And an R80 wouldn’t be a bad way to experience retirement either!
Oh for heaven’s sake! Stop over analyzing and just do it.
done.
+1 on what Robert said.
That’s a pretty good incentive.
After Uncle Sam takes a big bite it doesn’t sound quite as good but the time has come.
Steve, all posts with advice are well meant,but only you know your situation.I wish the best of luck with your decision.
Thanks John.
Steve, I retired after 31 years with the same employer. Others have offered some very good suggestions, so I will not add anything to what has already been said, but I will say this: Retirement is a different experience for most everybody. Each person has to find their own way, just like they have to find their own way in life and in their career.
Retirement was an adjustment for me, for sure. But I have absolutely no regrets.
I’m excited for the changes ahead. When I depart Penn State at the end of June I’ll have over 43 years in. Then I can work on the next adventure — whatever it is!
Mike is spot on in the “how we define ourselves” department. And no one retires in the conventional sense; there is the slight pause between what was and what’s next. Take a chance/ risk , or just “be” for a bit until the muse whispers in your ear. It’s interesting how we often are so defensive of the ruts we dig for ourselves. But they’re our ruts and that’s that. And yes, I pulled the plug on a 45+ year career …….life has so much more to offer than grinding away at something we have become so adept and comfortable with that it has to be a conscious choice to shake our heads and seek the adventure in life again.
I appreciate your comments T. I think the muse has been whispering for awhile now and I’ve finally stopped to listen. Like you, I’ve become adept at a career and could go on for awhile. But I’m interested in what’s over the horizon. Time for another adventure.
One real regret: I didn’t retire early enough. So at age 65 I decided to do some “me” things.
I kept thinking about the funds that remained and the dismal future on financial markets that seem to have all but stagnated. You’re not going to make much difference by waiting so listen to others then make a rational decision. At very least retire while you are active enough to enjoy life, friends and family. They are so much more than money.
New laws will gradually come into effect in Australia to make retirement from public life compulsory at 70! Way too late; and don’t mention the difficulties of remaining in work that long with all those young hounds barking at your heels.
There was a time I thought about working until 70. But if I do it will be for someone else. Or better yet — for myself. I want to enjoy things of my own choosing now.
Sounds like solid thinking and there’s always the possibility of part time or periodic contract employment.
It’s an adventure Steve, and you don’t have to leave home to do it.
You like what you do. You’ll enjoy retirement too. Maybe more. I think you’ll be happy either way.
So do the math. Is the incentive worth making the change now? If you’re better off with the early retirement package, my advice is to take it. If not, then stay put. In either scenario, you’ll be fine.
It’s quite a luxury to have choices.
I’m fortunate for sure to have choices. And the choice is to retire. 272 days and counting…
Retirement may mean leaving Penn State. It shall NOT mean you stop writing!
The other item I noted, if you do sign, it does not take effect until mid-2017;
you have the chance to wind down slowly your current employment actvities. I was shoved out on the street so to speak and then sued by my emloyer.
It was not a happy leaving!
In your case as noted look at all the variables AND ensure you’ll be financially functioning after some 30 years; post heart surgery you could live until 92!
Ensure your home is yours, all your financial obligations are paid as well. Your wife has herown interests, what about you?
What would happen if you were told no more riding, what then?
You should plan your time away from full-time employment. Attending Saints Cafe shall only be satisfying for so long.
There shall be other buy-outs down the road I suspect, if you don’t go now, you might want to wait.
I’m going. End of June.
I’ve thought a lot about the things you’ve commented on — what if I couldn’t ride, etc. I have a wide range of things I want to do that short of coma I can find things I want to do.
And I’ll never tire of Saint’s Cafe!
You also have a pair of four-legged children to keep you occupied.
The difference you’ll play catch i the morning then maybe go back home and relax or similar.
So June 30 2017 eh?
Good for you, and you have tme to plan for the event, and wind down your employment activities.
Given the closeness of your soon to be former employment, it shall not be too dofficult to return to see former fellow employees, if you so wish.
As to Saints Cafe, it was nothing against the establishment rather the regular attendence there you may wish to change.. And same thing; what happens if it were to close?
BTW aside from the gifted Nikon what other camera gear do you still own and use?
I am using two, yes two ancient (8 megapixel) Canon AA battery powered point and shoots for the walk around shots and my Nikon D750 for everything else.
The Nikon has a long-discontinued 24-105 Nikkor zoom and for those distant shots,, a 80-200/f4 Nikkor zoom.
Was gifted from a deceased friend’s estate a 20 mm f2.8
(I had the choice on what i wanted from a vast collection). The D750 does all I need a big camera for and the small AA powered devices will keep me going for a bit, the latter pawn shop acquisitions.
Change isn’t always easy even if it is a good change. I am sure you will find things to fill your days if you decide to accept their offer.
If you retire, how many times will the Vespa head that way in the morning just because of muscle memory – that is where it is used to going.
Muscle memory has already been at work. More times than I care to admit — I find myself heading to the office when my destination is elsewhere…
I should just shut up and let you make your own decision, but here are a few factors to consider. If PSU is giving you some bridge coverage options for health insurance to cover the two-plus years from June 2017 until you reach age 65 and Medicare eligibility, the decision should be a no-brainer. If you will have to get coverage personally without hitching a ride on the PSU health plan, will you have the resources to purchase coverage? It should be significant for your heart condition as well as for covering Kim.
Second, if you retire at age 62 or 63, it is best to live on your pension alone until reaching age 66, try not to take Social Security before 66 so as to avoid a life-long reduction in benefits to you, and to your spouse should you die before her. The numbers here are significant, especially if either of you live beyond age 75.
Third, the Higher Education Bubble is bursting nationwide. Unfortunately the College of Agriculture is disadvantaged in riding out the hard times ahead. Should you decline this buyout, there is a real chance that your position may be terminated anyway, without the cash buyout. Maybe that would be a year from June 2017 and you would have earned the same amount, but at the opportunity cost of going to work for a year instead of pursuing your new paths in retirement.
Good luck, these life hinge events are always harder as they occur than they appear in retrospect. We’re not in the future yet, so the we don’t get the benefit of hindsight for a while.
The health care benefits are great so no issues between retirement and Medicare. Not sure whether I’ll take social security right away or wait. Probably will wait until I need it.
The College of Agricultural Sciences is in much better shape now than a few years ago. It’s unique funding model is different than the rest of the University with it’s direct line item appropriation for ag research and extension. While anything could happen to my position I made the decision to retire based on wanting to pursue some things I could not do otherwise. Time will tell if it was the right decision.
Well, wow…having been a subject of what I’ve genteely called “non-elective retirement” at the ripe old age 0f 45 (I’m 60 now), I have to say that being cut loose from the clock has been both perplexing and liberating: the perplexing part is the process of moving from regimentation by way of someone else’s framework to one of your own making. That can be occasionally problematic…even now, I sometimes get into a what-to-do-now funk, but thankfully those periods are fairly brief. I’ll take it over my previous life any time.
I really look forward to being cut loose from the clock. Had breakfast with a friend last week and he said the best thing in retirement was not having to pay any attention to the clock. And when he does, really resents it.
A brave new world ahead for me!
So many good contributors.
As an Aussie I’ve been most interested to follow the reasoning.
It’s so easy to reason when you are already retired, so difficult when decision time comes.
I’ve taken the leap now. All the introspection and consideration is over. I’m excited by the opportunities ahead. Who knows what will happen.
Once fully retires you will often wonder how on earth you ever managed to find the time for a job. Enjoy.
I’ve heard that from a few people I know. I hope I get to sleep in once in awhile…