Comments on: Review: How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free

By: getagrip

getagrip — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:05:11 +0000

The book sounds interesting and I’ll look to read it. The people I’ve met who retired from full time work and came back more often than not did it for two reasons: couldn’t live on what they thought (usually poor planning) or didn’t have a good idea on what to do post full time work and were bored (poor vision). I don’t want the latter to happen to me and it’s nice to see a book discussing this.

My plan is to start doing a lot of the more expensive travel when the kids are all out of high school but while I’m still working full time. I’ve saved my share of their college and if they boomerang, great, they can watch the house while we travel. Meanwhile by taking the bigger trips while we’re younger and still in the workforce we can recover finacially if we have to.

By: joan

joan — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:56:04 +0000

A friend and her husband retired at 59. They have been all over the world and Alaska, as well as in several states. They lived very frugal with her refurnishing their second hand furniture, and living very frugal in other ways. They have worn out two brand new motorhomes and are now traveling in their third brand new motorhome. They owned a landscaping business which he bought after working a few years for the original owner. They also put three children through college. They are active in church, she is active in a writing group, and many other activites. They are a very sweet couple, and a role model for others.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:08:49 +0000

Yes, Steven #2. More than a decade ago my husband figured out a career change that provides an ample income but also gives him time to pursue and devote a lot of time to his selected interests, and he has no plans to retire early since he finds satisfaction from his work as well as his other activities. In fact, although we do plan to relocate in a few years (I will be retiring then from a more conventional job, which I now hold by choice), one of our major considerations in selecting the new place is that he will be able to continue his work and hobbies there.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:42:34 +0000

Why wait for retirement?

By: Brenda W.

Brenda W. — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:40:56 +0000

As someone who has been semi-retired for a year now (only working about 4 days/month), and whose husband has been fully retired for over 12 years, I can definitely relate to this post. Speaking from our experience, I will say the advice in this book is right on.

Both hubby and I retired early (both of us when we were in our 50′s), and while we both loved the jobs we were in, we also wanted to be free to do things we were interested in.

We spent the last decade of our working careers taking vacations in places we thought we might want to live, and found “the” place, where we’re living now.

I can definitely recommend the advice about moving to a college town. And it does not have to be a large university … we live in a town whose population is around 6,600, with a small, 4-year college as well a community college and have found lots of offerings here.

There are always concerts, lectures, “community ed” classes (aka … inexpensive college courses that just offer information and teaching on a given subject, not credits), exhibits, book fairs, you name it.

I wish we would have done the “unplug the cable” when hubby first retired, but we did that a couple years ago, and have often said we wish we’d done it sooner. Not having to pay for that monthly cable bill, plus getting out of the habit of just watching TV has really increased the time and energy we have to devote to other things.

I have been learning to create web pages, and am improving my photography skills. I’m spending at least 3-4 days/week exploring the mountain trails in the national forests around here.

Hubby retired early in order to “run and bicycle full-time” and 12 years since retirement, is still at it!

Proof that retirement goals do not have to be huge and grand, just activities or goals that are important to you.