A lot to think about. We were settled in what we thought would be our last place. Then daughter moved, so to be closer to grandkids, we moved too. Half way across the country. But it’s been worth it!

 

We moved cross country and retired at the same time 8 years ago to follow the grand kids. We never expected to move, but you have to be flexible and decide what is important in your life. Absolutely the best decision we made.

 

Timely post....we have a large 2 story home in outer ring suburbs, would love to sell, not to "downsize" but to prepare for possible inevitable civil strife. However a simple rambler on 5 or 10 acres costs double what we could get for current home. Ugh. We feel stuck, no current health issues, but possible cost of driving 2 hours to doctors plus other needs in a monthly or weekly basis, gives pause. Maybe we're better off staying put.

 

Tugster,

It wasn't rambling.

You gave the definition of life with examples.

 

We're at this point. Only one kid will give us grandkids, and they want to live in the south. We HATE humidity. Not sure what we will do.

My bet is that I will have to work in retirement anyway. Sucks, but the numbers don't add up.

 

We're at this point. Only one kid will give us grandkids, and they want to live in the south. We HATE humidity. Not sure what we will do.

My bet is that I will have to work in retirement anyway. Sucks, but the numbers don't add up.

Air conditioning......

 

I'm near retirement now. For me, things were looking fine until I came to the realization that our reckless government spending and debt were going to bring down the dollar someday. I've got all this savings for retirement, in dollars. Never gave much thought to the idea that the dollar could become worthless. The national debt can't be paid off and will only grow at exponential rates now. That can only lead to dollar devaluation.

I've focused now on hard assets. I live in a nice house that is fully paid for. Own my two cars. Have been investing in PMs. Having everything saved in dollars - in the bank, bonds, stocks, money market, etc. - is a huge gamble. I don't want to be 80+ years old and have no real savings at all.

 

Not trying to be a party pooper, but let me tell you that retirement is not all that it's cut out to be. Sometimes boredom, and I mean real boredom Sets in when you least expect it if that makes any sense. FWIW, Prepping activities keeps me occupied, and it's quite fun.

 

You're not rambling. A LOT of us are in the same boat. I'm finding out that whatever a person saves up, it's not enough. One hiccup and you're screwed.

 

And that ain't no 💩!

 

I am in the same reality as others in this thread. It is very painful, but I feel one has to constantly keep focused on where the best location for survival is. Not quality of life.......but survival.

 

BINGO!

 

What is this “retirement” thing you speak of?

 

It's what I'm doing. Wake up every day and do what I want around the property. Or plan trips to see family out of state...or plan another cruise with the wife.

 

I'm just trying to get to the finish line. Gutting out the last 4 years of work and wondering how much worse it can get.

 

Many who have crossed that finish line are getting back into the race. About 20% of retirees are now rejoining the workforce. Many for personal reasons, but many because they've woken up to the reality of inflation and what it's doing to their retirement savings.

 

Life happens. To everyone. Sometimes things work out as planned but for most people it's not that simple. Lots of people have eerily similar experiences to what you described.

Control what you can control and have the wisdom to accept there are things that you can not change. A lot of peace comes from that simple realization. Know you're not alone and choose to make the best of the situation you find yourself in. It is not common to go decades where everything just works out as you planned it. It hasn't been for me or any of the people I'm close with at least. Seems like its always at least sometimes and often multiple things. Jobs, income, money, dwelling, illness, accidents, sick or injured loved ones, the list of personal SHTF situations is very long. You don't get to control what happens but you can control how you react to it.

 

Life happens. To everyone. Sometimes things work out as planned but for most people it's not that simple. Lots of people have eerily similar experiences to what you described.

Control what you can control and have the wisdom to accept there are things that you can not change. A lot of peace comes from that simple realization. Know you're not alone and choose to make the best of the situation you find yourself in. It is not common to go decades where everything just works out as you planned it. It hasn't been for me or any of the people I'm close with at least. Seems like its always at least sometimes and often multiple things. Jobs, income, money, dwelling, illness, accidents, sick or injured loved ones, the list of personal SHTF situations is very long. You don't get to control what happens but you can control how you react to it.

There it is in a nutshell. One thing I love on this site is the camaraderie especially on threads like this. We all can use the support of others, learn how to maintain while implementing possible solutions from others here. I'm one in the same boat as many. Networking and providing positive feedback is beyond and appreciated above reproach.

 

We're retired and moved from Florida to Tennessee for quite a few reasons. Our adult kids are still in Florida. We fly down with $50 Allegiant tickets or drive as we please. Both kids are now talking about moving to Tennessee for some of the same reasons we left Florida. Florida is rapidly getting overpriced and overcrowded.

Anyhow, as a fixed income retiree, I would advise NOT chasing your kids. They move an average of once every 7 years these days. I'm speaking from experience since my daughter has already moved twice in 4 years. You'll go broke chasing them and never get your retirement homestead completed. It gets even more complicated if you have more than one kid and they go different directions. Do you pick a favorite, move to the middle.....?

 

A lot of parents move as far away as possible from their kids. Usually caused by the DIL or SIL from hell. OR the kid moves away from the parents as far as possible because the parents become the MIL or less likely the FIL from hell once they return from the honeymoon.

I wake up every morning with one of my first thoughts being thank god I never had any kids. For any number of excellent reasons.

 

3 yrs to retirement. One child, and lives 2 hrs away. Since DnL's family has been in that town since 1840's , her parents as well as DnL and my son own parts of the original farm, ans son and DnL built their home exactly where the 2nd homestead was built in 1862, chances are they'll never move.

Though I'd move to their little town and never blink, the Queen prefers to shop in actual stores, not the local quicktrip. I then tried to get the Queen to get within 30 miles, but the best store in that town is a tired WM. She vetoed that. So we're to staying in town we are, unless I can talk her into one other place that would save us 30mins got to see the kids.

Though we'll be fine in retirement, we both plan on working doing something we want to do to keep busy and extra fun money. My first choice is one of 2 particular ministries. Next choice is just driving the little delivery pickup for OReillys. Mgr there has already said I have the job.

Queen may do giftshops or interior decorating. Who knows.

Already preparing for selling and getting our retirement home. Our must haves are flat yard, no stairs unless its just to spare bedrooms, and 3 car garage. Chevelle gets the 1 car garage now. Priorities ya know.

Of course, when the Grand-daughter gets here in October, all the above may change.

 

Though I'd move to their little town and never blink, the Queen prefers to shop in actual stores, not the local quicktrip. I then tried to get the Queen to get within 30 miles, but the best store in that town is a tired WM. She vetoed that.

Shopping, eh?
You know, the way things are going, there's a pretty good chance that shopping in person, and being able to handle or try on things, will pretty much disappear in a few years.
All we'll have is a tired WM, or more likely, a $5 Store, selling fresh milk and eggs, maybe hamburger (or ham-bug-er) and a few essentials.

 

I wanted to add. Neither I nor my wife have a gilded retirement. We simply worked hard to prepare and don't live a lavish lifestyle. I grew up quite poor and I'm not wealthy in retirement. But I was determined to not retire on social security only. The bills are getting paid. We have shelter and food. And most importantly can help family. We're blessed.

 

True. So true. But until then....

 

This kind of segues off an earlier thread, "Golden Handcuffs"

Imagine yourself working towards retirement and planning on retiring in a low cost area, perhaps on your own land or a small town. You planned how much you will need to save with in reason to live comfortably the rest of your days in the location you have decided on.

You raised the kids and got them out on their own. Oh boy!, retirement is just a few years away and you are making your final moves. Selling your empty nest family home, excess property you no longer wish to keep, etc. etc.

You planned your financial requirements on the cost of living of your retirement location. $XXX for housing, $XXX for food, etc. etc. You even budgeted for emergencies and some fun money.

Things are looking great until,,,,,

That is exactly what I did, twenty years ago.

I guess I am fortunate that none of those 'bad' things have happened to me.

 

I have some tiny grandkids, and in the mix have encountered the reality that there's OTHER grandparents, and am surprised at the competition (???) for the grandbabies! Never thought that there would be literally, competition, for the grandkids. Sigh. Have no regrets for reproducing, since I chose my reproductive partner (LOL) carefully!!!!! YMMV. But nothing has prepared me for this strange "competition" for the grandkids. Since I have professional responsibilities, unfortunately I am not always available for "free" babysitting. It bugs me TO NO END that certain grandbabies are in daycare with another grandma, and I am not. Some day...that kid will figure it out, and I hope the SHTF does NOT happen until these babies are another 25 years older.....

 

As my now-deceased 96 year old neighbor used to say, "Golden Years my ASS!!!"

 

I’m glad I didn’t follow the herd and their traditional retirement plans, instead I followed other family members and funded my retirement on real estate and actually just gave myself a $300 cost of living increase this month, it’s tracked inflation great since I got into it 15 years ago, started out at $4500/month in rental income and now $9300/month, my equity has also 5X’d in that time

 

Trying to plan for a wide variety of situations as of now. We're working on paying off debt, then planning on maxing out retirement contributions.

Toughest part is knowing what life is gonna be like at that point. My parents are going through that right now. Everything was all fine til bam....10 years ago I moved out to Midwest from California for college, and never left. Now they've got two grandkids out here, and are always sad they never get enough time to see them. Much as I'd love to move closer, multiple things about California just make that not an option. So they're considering maybe renting a place out here, coming for longer visits, etc. I know it wasn't in their list of plans, and they're trying to go with the flow as best as can.

I guess best situation is sock as much away as possible, and be ready to go when you want to.

 

Here's the question in "my mind" how do you prepare for retirement when $ starts losing value like never before ?

I was in "good shape" up until the last few years now I'm not feeling great about the next ten + years... I mean you expect inflation but I don' t think many planned for what we're now getting...

 

Keep in mind, expenditures are generally less after retirement for most folks. Additionally, withholding and deductions are less once you stop working.

 

I have been on pension for 23 years. There is no boredom here.

I bought raw forest land, built a house, solar system, fruit orchard, raised beds, chickens, pigs.

My income straddles on the federal poverty line. But because our cost-of-living is so low, we accumulated too much money. It caused us to buy a vacant building downtown and refurbish it into apartments. Now I am stuck managing a dozen apartments in town.

I am half exhausted most of the time, and I stack a half cord of firewood every day, on top of all my other daily junk. It must get stacked under a roof before snow falls again. I see how many weeks still remain before winter arrives and that deadline remains.

Then the next round of crop harvesting.

I am never bored.

 

I have been on pension for 23 years. There is no boredom here.

I bought raw forest land, built a house, solar system, fruit orchard, raised beds, chickens, pigs.

My income straddles on the federal poverty line. But because our cost-of-living is so low, we accumulated too much money. It caused us to buy a vacant building downtown and refurbish it into apartments. Now I am stuck managing a dozen apartments in town.

I am half exhausted most of the time, and I stack a half cord of firewood every day, on top of all my other daily junk. It must get stacked under a roof before snow falls again. I see how many weeks still remain before winter arrives and that deadline remains.

Then the next round of crop harvesting.

I am never bored.

I’d like to buy a solar system. I think Elon musk will end up buying our solar system but maybe I can find a smaller one cheap, you know one with only four planets instead of nine.

I’m here all week.

 

Assuming you have your health, If you are bored in retirement you didn't plan too well and there is someone to blame but yourself.

 

You're supposed to have a self-sustaining life outside of work before retiring.
Not working or having a lot more free time isn't the goal of retirement.
Before retiring I had to do a brutal self assessment...just having ideas of what you might be interested in or bucket list items that aren't connected to your lifestyle isn't sufficient.

 

Been retired since 2015.
Big enough nest egg to live comfortably only because we decided not to reproduce and I tend to go overboard on cancelling inflation by DIY on all home & vehicle repairs, hobbies, toys and enjoy doing so. Done this my whole life. Enjoy doing it & can’t begin to stress the effect its had on savings.

Neighbors daughter has filled the spot for all our grandchild emotional fix.

Even with the big C showing up & the life changing effects of it we’re still in control & winning every day.

Some things I can‘t change. Just as any moron can get a drivers license. So too can the highly unqualified reproduce & they do so in huge numbers. It’s a large factor in the demise of our country. Also the populace are is being supplemented with huge numbers of illegal immigrants that tend to have large families just as our fore fathers did. Notice that couples with an education and life plan are not reproducing at a sustainable rate. Same thing is going on world wide. All of this is directly a result of how our lives are controlled by those we elected to ensure a stable healthy society.
Sorry for the sidetrack rant, but these facts weigh heavily on what your retirement is.

 

Some of the birthrate decline is folks slowly coming to the conclusion that we don't NEED anywhere near the number of people to run the planet as we used to. Every single essential utility, farm, production facility, business, and so on has been permanently altered by automation and AI. And I don't want to hear about well we will need folks to program this that and the other ... sure we need programmers. Not for every single PLC, SCADA system or PC.

Automation and AI tech has changed and will continue to change every single part of our daily lives. Walk into a convenience store now you can order a sandwich and then pay for it all without speaking to a single person.