Where are you on the Road to Retirement?

[Stinky The Clown]

Edited typos in choice number 10

[PBS Poll-435]

1. I bought a metal detector

I am rollin' in it.

[Wounded Bear]

2. I seem to have run into the ditch a couple of years out...

:shrug:

I think I have a good corner spotted. The guy who has it now looks to be on his last legs.

[Hissyspit]

3. I have wanted to own an original of that poster for years.

Off-topic.

[hay rick]

4. I'm almost as close to retirement

as I was 3 years ago.

[Joe Bacon]

5. Well, I need to match six lotto numbers...

I had an IRA till my mother needed an operation that her insurance racketeer refused to cover. So I broke my IRA to pay for it.

I thought I'd have a decent pension when I started to work for the Federal Government in 1978, but each succeeding Congress and President whittles it away more and more.

My Dad was able to retire at 63, he had a great pension from the Boilermakers Union and his Social Security. But when I run the figures through a computer, I realize that in terms of real money, I only make about 55% of what my Dad did. Retirement is going to be a fantasy unless I match six lotto numbers...

[saras]

6. Retirement?

I'm planning on selling weight-loss bacon from my fleet of flying pigs.

I was pretty sure two decades ago that I was never having to have any kind of retirement beyond the leisure life of the homeless.

[TBF]

19. My plan is to get in on this flying pig thing. nt

[handmade34]

7. ??

:rofl: must :rofl:laugh :rofl:instead of :rofl:crying :rofl:

[Art_from_Ark]

8. I don't know where I am on that chart, but

I do know I'll never have the nearly 30 years of leisurely retired life that my grandfather enjoyed.

[sufrommich]

9. 33 years in a union job and retired with a pension at 53.

I won't start collecting SS until I'm 62 but can make it on my pension until then.

[Grey]

10. Other,

I have a pension, a small amount saved and I live in Canada.

[prolesunited]

11. Well, apparently, I've already retired

or so says the workforce that has discarded me.

I'm working on reinventing myself and going back to freelancing. Thankfully, I was very frugal and put some money away in better times and hopefully I won't need to tap it. Kid is grown and I live simply, so I'll survive. My retirement will probably be a lot better than the next 15 to 20 years. Hope I make it, especially without health insurance, but I guess that's what they are counting on.

[sakabatou]

12. On disability. I don't know where the hell that leaves me.

[MilesColtrane]

13. I have a minuscule IRA, Social Security (if it isn't gutted), and a small pension coming.

These three legs sound good until I stop and think about the inexorable climb of health care costs.

[phylny]

14. My husband works for an oil company.

Ridicule them and hate them as you may (and I have, believe me, I have) after 30 years of employment, he still has a job, we have a retirement fund, stock, company-matched savings plan, our Social Security (whatever that looks like in 10 or so years) and guaranteed health benefits for life.

We have had to move our family around the country frequently for his job, and there were days where I begged him to leave the company either due to his own job stress or my own frustration. Five or so years ago, we went to a company-sponsored pre-retirement seminar where they help you prepare for and understand your retirement and when it was all spelled out for us, I turned to him and said, "Thanks for NOT listening to me when I wanted you to leave."

The very nice thing about this is that he cannot make decisions about the plan without my permission (and if we divorced, which we won't, he still couldn't). That spousal protection is another reason that I'm grateful. And I am very grateful we are in the position we are in. He is 55 and hopes to be working in some capacity for the next 10 years.

I'm not saying this to gloat - we have both worked hard and continue to do so, but I realize we are fortunate and I wish all companies treated their employees this way.

[Paper Roses]

15. Already retired-not voluntary. Too old for any hope in this economy.

After being laid off, I'm living on SS alone. Believe me, the road is really bumpy and full of potholes.

[michreject]

16. I'll be fine

House is paid for. Retired at 53 with full pension and benies. 20 years contributing to my 401K. Wife is retired from county Government. Full pension. She also collects SS disability. She has her 20 years of contributing to a 457 (Govt version of 401K). Damn near 6 figure income with minimal taxes.

No kids.

[AngryAmish]

17. 7 to 10 years, then I'm done.

[eShirl]

18. If I'm lucky, I'll die of something before I'm unable to eek out a living

until then, humming "tis a gift to be simple"

[Earth_First]

20. Other: I'm fu*ked!

I know what I need to do, but I eek out such a meanger existance that I worry much more about the present than what is going to happen 40 years from now...

[Dappleganger]

21. I think our youngest 13 yr. old child just realized that we weren't joking...

when we said that we'll be living with him the rest of our lives.

He's not a happy camper.

[Vinca]

22. What is this "retirement" you speak of ?

[Alexander]

23. I just got a fantastic offer from a Nigerian prince.

I'm set for life.

[kentauros]

24. Different option than listed: I'll live in a country that cares for its people,

like New Zealand :)