What would you actually do? (especially, after being used to working all your life)  

haha, JR, I empathize!
 
Mesh - I'd try to find a church where I could be their Worship Pastor.

I would James, but I don't want to enable you! ;)

I'm with you Reece, but it ain't gonna happen.
 
I have an uncle who worked as a national sales rep for a worldwide food corp. He was never home and missed alot of his kids growing up, but the money was really too good to walk away from. He got passed over for a VP position one too many times and got pissed off after the last one. He had always put money from every check away and was receiving company stock as part of his compensation, but didn't really pay attention to it.
 
After getting passed over that last time, he went with my aunt to meet with a financial advisor to see how soon he could realistically retire. He found out that with savings, 401k, and company stock he had close to 3 million. He had no idea. Submitted his resignation the next day. He was 58.
 
About a month later, he and the wife are getting the propane tank refilled for his grill. While waiting, he wandered over the RV dealer next door. Ended up buying a 40+ footer. He and his wife have spent the last 8 years traveling around the country and welcoming grandkids into the world. He also got into fly fishing in a big way and travels to Colorado every 2 months or so. Just a really cool thing to happen to someone I've always thought.
 
Randy

Very cool story Randy!  that's what it's all about!
 
and the real reason i started this thread was because I'm upset with work.  I'm tired of the politics.  I am an Electrical Engineer and I just want to work on the technical stuff, but I have to deal with politics of the equipment all the time and it's wearisome.
 
I'm traveling again in a few weeks and they want me to start the modifications of the equipment on a FRIDAY, work over the weekend, all the next week, come home for that next weekend, then back again for another 10 days straight and finish no later than the Monday of the 3rd week.
 
why in the world they have to schedule it so effed up is beyond my comprehension - but it's all about politics.  who's getting the upper hand and who's gettin' screwed.

UbiquitousBubba
I plan on being stuffed into Hefty bag with a massive rock hung around my neck and then dropped in the river.
 
I'm an optimist.

I thought that was in the past?

UbiquitousBubba
I plan on being stuffed into Hefty bag with a massive rock hung around my neck and then dropped in the river.
 
I'm an optimist.

Is the Hefty bag really necessary?  I mean, it can always be reused for something meaningful... 
(Just trying to help and be Eco-conscious you know.)

Let's see...  If you have no job (i.e., currently unemployed), then you have nothing to retire from, ya? 

Actually, every time I see my spare tire in the mirror, I'd love to detire by 55! 

I would like to retire at 45. I've had the same job for almost 27 years.

That's how they plan to save social security. They will make you wait until your dead. Problem solved.

Oh...this thread is far too depressing....
I'm afraid I just have to hope they'll let me work at least 'till 65...puke...

I guess I'm shooting for 62.  hopefully by then we'll have the house paid off and enough savings saved up.

craigb

Beagle
I guess I'm shooting for 62.  hopefully by then we'll have the extra freezer installed and enough becan saved up.

Porked.

only one????

auto_da_fe Says it really is quite amazing on how little you need to get by if your needs and wants are humble.  

Regarding the above...I'll chime in.
 
I retired on 12/23/10 just short of 64.  (wrote a song about it that very day but not on soundclick yet)
We have no kids which was by choice and I know that's a big factor with many/most.
We have a little savings buffer in case the refrigerator heads south.
I had a 401K which I rolled into an annuity account plus social security both of which are auto deposited.
We sold one truck, kept the 2005 Toyota Tacoma which the wife uses for work.  (if I need the truck I take her to work)
That frees up a bit on insurance, gas, registration.
Me not driving to work every day also reduces further gas monies.
Wife has to work another 8-10 before retirement.
After owning two houses we chose to rent as of 1995.....no property taxes, home insurance, roof/plumbing repairs.
We are not lavish livers, we eat well, pay the bills and I keep good beer (non-domestic) on the shopping list.
(Oh...and I just got X3PE!)
 
I know my scenario will not reflect the masses so I guess I'd only underscore to do the math, find other small ways to reduce those 30$-50$ monthly expenditures that can suck the life out of a budget account and one may be surprised.
 
Hope that can be a food for thought tidbit for those that wait impatiently.
 
Carry on....