Would you retire at an early age if you could afford to?

[Jonty]

If you could afford to do so, would you retire from work, say in your 40's or 50's, and do the things that you want to do, or do you think it is wrong to live the easy life just because you have enough money to do so?

I am curious what other people think about this, is there a moral duty to remain in paid employment, pay tax and insurance on your wages? On the other hand, you would still be contributing to societies cost by paying tax etc. on things and services you buy.

I realise that if no one worked then there would be no progress in society and we would be back to the Dark Ages, but that aside what's your view on this?

[Makaveli]

I vote to retire with a small job, but I guess it all depends on what the job was.. If I really like the job, then why not keep going to it and get more money!

-MaK

[exempt]

I'm sorry but there is absolutely NO WAY that I would be getting a part time job if I could afford to do without one! I have way too many interests to even think of getting board. Let's see, I would go hiking in remote parts of the world collecting fossils and rare rocks, I could work on building my dream hobby electronics/model workshop, spend more time doing photography, get my private pilots license, start on that book I've always wanted to write........I could fill 10 pages. There are just some people that wouldn't know what to do with themselves if they didn't have a job, I however cannot begin to relate.

Scott

[ryogenetic]

There are too many things I leave undone because of my work I would if I had the opertunity to retire young. That is what keeps me going I am looking foward to retirement in oh twelve years!!!
But to dream is bliss

RYO

No way I'd work if I has some $s stached away. Unfortunately, for me that is, I don't. So have to go on working another 20 yaers. Lucky have a job, though.

Hmmmm....Maybe I should play the lottery. Yesterday the New York lottery hit $20 million.

[thekingofpain]

I retired at age 28 (not by my own choice, 18 years ago) took me a few years to learn how to manage my time in a productive manner, it DID give me time to slow down and smell the roses, look at things closer and longer id say, yet time seems to FLY by... ive been fortunate to do many things I would never have had the time to do otherwise...

[Ed_S]

Ain't no if about it!

I'm 42, and have 6 yrs to go on a "thirty-and-out" pension plan. Beyond 30, if I continue working the pension increases by $100 monthly for every year worked up to 35 years.

Bottom line is that, as it stands now, at age 50 it would actually cost me money to continue, as the pension will equal the paycheck!

And I'm just not quite that dedicated, or stupid!


Kids are currently 16 & 18, dog's 14, cat's 19. They'll all probably be out of the house by then, one way or another...

Then it'll finally be MY turn!

[Mike]

I would retire right now if I could afford it!! Oh yes I would! and YES I am only 16!!

[Knothead]

Well, one could say I've been "retired" for oh, 23 years...one would more correctly say I've been a free-lancer all that time...of course, my financial consultant thinks I'm just plain nuts!

I think that adults come in all shapes, sizes, and differing degrees of childishness, and differing degress of "responsiblity"...it is that "responsiblity" that we recognize, often by the light gone out of their eyes, that they are what we call a "grownup."

When grownups cope with "responsiblity" for enough years, they are retired from it...and all of a sudden, they have a "leisure problem"; and sometimes they go crazy, or maybe cope and get other jobs. Sometimes they just fold up and die. They have been handed an undetermined future of nonresponsible time and they don't know what to do with it!

So I guess the question, "Would you retire at an early age..." fairly begs the NEXT question..."And what would you do with yourself?"

[kenyg]

Hey Knot - I'd love to do what my in-laws do. My father-in-law bought the biggest Winnebago they make, thing is a friggin bus. They're on their way to Florida now. After 3 months there, they'll come back, rest up from their rest in Florida, and then hit the road this summer for Alaska.

Oh, for all those on I-95 this week, beware the little old man in the BIG RV - towing a silver honda - he'll be the one doing 55 on the nose, well sometimes maybe 53.

Ken