- Joined
- Jul 16, 2014
- Messages
- 29,128
- Location (City and/or State)
- South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
As some of you may know. I retired five years ago from an employer I had for almost 37 years. (Albeit 4 different and progressively higher paying positions) County job. Union job.
At the time, I was 54. I thought it was clever to retire so young. Certainly my monthly state pension would cover what was left of the bills and I'd be able to ride my motorcycle or go fishing or go shooting every day.
And I did for months. Alone. Because absolutely no one else that I was friends with are retired.
Didn't consider that.
Then it was October. The wife and I go away for 10 days in October. Usually out west to Lake Tahoe or a combination of Las Vegas and something.
That money wasn't just sitting there in the bank as extra. 65% of my pay covers the bills. But it doesn't do vacations. And my 3% cost of living raise doesn't keep up with inflation. The icing on the cake is that I'm too young for Social security or Medicaid. So I'm now shelling out about $835 a month for my medical insurance. Where it had been free. So it's 65% minus $835 per month.
All things I hadn't seriously considered.
But we did those vacations
The past 5 years have been boring and uneventful. Many days go by and I haven't accomplished a thing. Its like there is no longer any structure for the day. Asleep at 5 am. Wake up at noon or later. Just sad.
So, I did something about it: I've gone back to work full time. Same employer. Same position I started at all of those years ago. It pays exactly half of what I previously made. So my income will now be about 115% of my old pay. PLUS, my medical insurance is now free again. As is my life insurance. (Triple core) as part of my union bargaining unit contract
I'm a DOUBLE DIPPER now. It's what County employees that are retired. But return are called. And its something available to retirees once you've been retired for at least one year. I can not take part in any new Florida retirement plan since I'm already retired. But I'm not looking for a second pension anyway. Just something to take me into Social security age. Something I should have done in the first place.
So, that's my new plan. And I think it's a good one. It will actually make my final monthly Social security check larger too. For myself or my wife in the likely case that I croak. But who knows. I might live to see that. At any rate, I feel like I've done the responsible thing. The best thing for my wife and for myself.
We'll see.
One thing's for sure. Today was my first full day back at work. And I feel every moment of those 5 years of retirement in every joint of my body. Including old football injuries and a few other things I had forgotten about.
I'll be on the forum a little less too.
Thank you for the rant.
Ed
At the time, I was 54. I thought it was clever to retire so young. Certainly my monthly state pension would cover what was left of the bills and I'd be able to ride my motorcycle or go fishing or go shooting every day.
And I did for months. Alone. Because absolutely no one else that I was friends with are retired.
Didn't consider that.
Then it was October. The wife and I go away for 10 days in October. Usually out west to Lake Tahoe or a combination of Las Vegas and something.
That money wasn't just sitting there in the bank as extra. 65% of my pay covers the bills. But it doesn't do vacations. And my 3% cost of living raise doesn't keep up with inflation. The icing on the cake is that I'm too young for Social security or Medicaid. So I'm now shelling out about $835 a month for my medical insurance. Where it had been free. So it's 65% minus $835 per month.
All things I hadn't seriously considered.
But we did those vacations
The past 5 years have been boring and uneventful. Many days go by and I haven't accomplished a thing. Its like there is no longer any structure for the day. Asleep at 5 am. Wake up at noon or later. Just sad.
So, I did something about it: I've gone back to work full time. Same employer. Same position I started at all of those years ago. It pays exactly half of what I previously made. So my income will now be about 115% of my old pay. PLUS, my medical insurance is now free again. As is my life insurance. (Triple core) as part of my union bargaining unit contract
I'm a DOUBLE DIPPER now. It's what County employees that are retired. But return are called. And its something available to retirees once you've been retired for at least one year. I can not take part in any new Florida retirement plan since I'm already retired. But I'm not looking for a second pension anyway. Just something to take me into Social security age. Something I should have done in the first place.
So, that's my new plan. And I think it's a good one. It will actually make my final monthly Social security check larger too. For myself or my wife in the likely case that I croak. But who knows. I might live to see that. At any rate, I feel like I've done the responsible thing. The best thing for my wife and for myself.
We'll see.
One thing's for sure. Today was my first full day back at work. And I feel every moment of those 5 years of retirement in every joint of my body. Including old football injuries and a few other things I had forgotten about.
I'll be on the forum a little less too.
Thank you for the rant.
Ed
Last edited:
