I worked 40 hours a week for about a year a few years ago. It liked to have killed me. I was bored. BORED! I thrive on adrenaline and stress. So I picked up another part time job full time and it’s becoming a 3rd full time job. Throw the wife and kid into the mix and it’s all out chaos. Makes the time fly and life interesting.

I want to retire in 15 years, I’ll be 51, I don’t see that working well for me

I remember you posting a few years ago about being passed up for a promotion and wasn’t happy about it, guess that changed pretty quick huh?

I wish I still had your energy.

I only want to retire if I find something to do.

Retirement does not sound appealing to me. I have known people who have retired and they didn’t do much of anything. But come to think of it, except for work they didn’t do much of anything prior to retirement either.


I hope to continue to do what I love until I die

If you’ll be 51 in 15 years, you sure aren’t an OldPig. Man, I got socks older than you...

Funny, I can think of a million things I’d rather be doing while I’m working

Doing nothing is a rare talent. Fortunately, I've been working up to it my entire life.

Sir, you’ve never worked like BigPig

He works HARD to relax, you have no idea

I have had the same thoughts. I’m sure I will work the day I kick the bucket, I enjoy it.

Before I retired I lived life like I was retired. My nickname at work was ROD, "retired on duty". So I have had no problem keeping busy in retirement, Hunting, Fishing, fun projects, metal detecting, hunting arrowheads, picking for my antique mall booth, stock trading, odd small construction jobs, and on and on. Same as I did on my off time when I was working. I actually seem to have less time for stuff than I did when I was working because there is so much more fun stuff I want to do now. Y'all will notice I am not on the forum as much as I used to be when I was still working. Know that in retirement you also will get pulled in several different directions by others to do stuff for them or with them "because you are retired".

But I have known others who either because they did not really have that many hobbies or pass times before they retired or for whatever reason did not adjust to the life change. Some lifestyles probably should never retire. It can be too easy sometimes to do nothing everyday when you don't have to. The trick is to stay active, find or keep doing the things you like to do, and not give in to being a slug. At least not every day. I can be a slug with the best of them on some days.

I work a lot of hrs a week so that I can retire at 57. I want to retire while I still have mobility, plus tomorrow isn't guaranteed.

Congrats, you work a job and own a business lol.

Once you have a few more kids or they get to the age where they are busy with activities that may change. I've been a gunner since high school....but now with 4 kids, I've cut back on work and enjoy more time with them. My priorities have definitely changed from what they were 10 years ago.

Money can fix a lot of problems, but the most important things it provides are options and opportunities to do what you want.

He is not wrong lol

You need to get put before a grand jury for causing the death of someone you never even touched and you will beg for retirement. Trust me, you will do just fine once you get there. I was all about the juice when I was young, but the last 4-5 years were about just trying to escape intact both financially and physically. I already had my ranch to retire to and I highly suggest you get some land now so you will too.

Makes you strong.

I’d read Doc’s post again and really think about it... I was burning both ends, middle, sides and the back in my 40’s to early 50’s chasing $ with a side gig in addition to the primary career. It’s very easy to lose sight of what’s most important. You can always work and make money. Time with your kids and being together as a family will end sooner than you think. Live and remember every moment. I’d do it different, if I could do it over.

Charlie

Just because you retire from employment does not mean you retire from life. I was retired at 54 and seem never to catch up with things I like to do or need to do.



Stress....I have been there and avoid it at all costs. Stress kills. I lost two brothers before their time and believe stress had a lot to do with it.

This post reminds me of that old quote....Nobody on their deathbed has ever said “I wish I had spent more time at the office.”

From the sound of your post I would wager you will handle retirement well.

You thrive on adenaline and coffee. Stress is simply a by product lol.

Work smarter, not harder.

Right there with you Old Shakie. I'm 76, retired at 55. Haven't been bored a day since. Always something to do. Hunting, fishing, gardening, making charcoal, working food plots at the hunting lease, shooting on the lease rifle range, home maintenance, family stuff, lots of silly projects (build it and it will either work or make you laugh) cooking, and last but not least - midday naps. Life is good!

Here’s the thing about Cops. We tend to retire earlier/younger than the majority of the population, it’s generally because we work more hours up front (extra jobs and OT), but we work the same amount of hours overall. We also have a much shorter life span, I think the average age of death is 58.

I may not have worded all that correctly.

Work smarter and harder. It's actually easier to work harder. You can't always work smarter, but if you can, get ahead and do what you want..

Love retirement. Property taxes frozen, free health services, get moved to the front of the line, no alarm clock. My fingers are tired.

The only 40hr work week for me is when they're negotiating the budget and OT is suspended. I average 55-60hrs every week. Extra $ is for stuff I want done before I retire at the end of the year.

I work 12 days on and two off, been doing that for over 20 years, I don't handle days off or vacations very well, I get bored real quick. I was going to retire 5 years ago and just couldn't make myself pull the trigger, I've pretty well convinced myself that I'll just keep going until I physically can't.

Completely retire? Or retire from law enforcement but still work other jobs? I only know one non-federal law enforcement - he's not retired and he's early 50s, so not a useful sample.



Makes sense. But that's a part of what I was saying with my work smarter comment. Get a single better paying job. There are other benefits besides pay; you cited life expectancy. Make no mistake, I understand that somebody has to do the job and I have utmost respect and appreciation for those that do. I couldn't do it, for reasons beyond selfishness, and thank you and all others that suck it up. I'm talking in general terms that I couldn't do it and appreciate those that do and even more so in the current political climate.



I feel I'm following you and please don't take any of what I said as challenging or rude. It's not supposed to be. I know law enforcement doesn't do it for the pay (well, I guess if you're the chief of a big city it's not so bad but we won't talk about big city chiefs because they're... uh... making generalizations, well, we'll just leave that alone). You must absolutely love what you do to continue to put yourself between a rock and hard place. Yet, separate from what it is that you do, just looking at love of a job there are too few people that love their jobs and that sucks for them. I'm fortunate that I do. Though my work is coming to end. It has been for several years since I can't pull the trigger on closing that chapter. Once I figure out what to do when I grow up I'll be able to move on. Hopefully you can too. But sooner rather than later.

Feb 3, 2024. After that day I don't have to fish the Tennessee River on weekends.

I've got 20 years left in me till I retire. It's a scary number when I look at it that way, but I need the back half of those years to make up for the next decade where I'm shifting some focus to my family while the kids are still at home

I'm retiring to the tropics. After having traveled the world for work and some pleasure I found the spot I want to sink in to. It won't be much of a retirement as far as work goes but it will be work that doesn't cause stress and anxiety.

I hope you figure out this one secret before it is too late.
We only get so much time on this earth. Be sure to slow down enough to enjoy life with the woman and child/children you made a commitment to. You do not win any prizes if you retire early, only to realize that it was all for not.

Just my

I retired last month no time to be bored. Working in corrections their was long hours and weekend work. In 20 years I was able to take a 2 week vacation twice.
I was always a P/T handyman doing electrical and plumbing on the side plus tractor work. Been building fence, making my daughter an outdoor kitchen, doing some dirt work been hog hunting during the week and have been camping. Heck even built my grandsons a zip line. I am working this weekend clearing out around a tank. Doing stuff I like doing.

[quote=Espy]I retired last month no time to be bored. Working in corrections their was long hours and weekend work. In 20 years I was able to take a 2 week vacation twice.
I was always a P/T handyman doing electrical and plumbing on the side plus tractor work. Been building fence, making my daughter an outdoor kitchen, doing some dirt work been hog hunting during the week and have been camping. Heck even built my grandsons a zip line. I am working this weekend clearing out around a tank. Doing stuff I like doing.

Congrats, you've made it

Working two or three jobs right now myself. Looking forward to retiring from one of them, and keep doing the other two. Making my own daily, weekly, and yearly schedule sounds pretty good. 16 hours awake, 8 hours asleep EVERY day sounds pretty good. I'm the same as BigPig, gotta be busy, gotta be productive. There's plenty of that away from the FD, and I'd rather just do those things at this point. My how your attitude changes after 20 years.

Yall guys are crazy, I've been thinking about retirement since I was 18. Hell every day I go to work and someone ask how I'm doing. I reply, hey you know one day closer to retirement.

I can't wait to do things I want to do. Mostly fish, hunt, build a car, or most of what sniper john is doing. Seem like sniper is living right.

Ever seen a tomb stone with?:

"I wish I had spent more time at work"

I dont understand the people who do not have things to do. I will have absolutely zero chance of a problem finding things to occupy my time in retirement... but I have a ways to go.

I dont put in a lot of hours at work. I show up at 7 have an hour + walk at lunch and im gone by 5 or a little before, I get done what i need to. I absolutely adore my children and love my wife, but my after hours productivity has plummeted since i got married and especially since i had kids. Cooking dinner, bathing kids etc. every day has significantly cut into my daily tinker time and it bothers me.

I know several that this fits

Never before in my life have I heard someone say they thrive on stress. I can imagine that is a very unhealthy thrive.

That is what I was thinking reading this tread. Although I work a full time job and have 2 side hustles with another one about to start up everything I do is in front of a computer screen and I'm very efficient at it. So I don't work long hours and I do not work weekends. Weekends are for my Son and Wife. I can't wait to retire, I'm pushing for around 50ish to retire. So still another 13ish years, but it can't come quick enough.

yeah but can't you do those things now?

This is my wife...... they are built differently for sure. I been telling her its time to get out of the fast lane, but she thrives off of being in the mix. I told her she's retiring at 60 no ifs, ands, or buts.

I'm one of the very few LEOs that I know of who doesn't work off duty gigs. I would much rather spend it with my family doing things I enjoy. I love my job but it isn't my life.

Very Well said Doc.

I'm in the same boat. 3 kids, all in School and After School activities.....changes your priorities quick. I fought it at first and was hard to adjust but eventually accepted it as the season of life I was in. Not gonna lie I am anxious for the day when its all over and I can spend that time at the coast, lake or in the mountains, with the kids in tow.

I just looked out side at my kids play fort and now I feel like I really need to up my game!!! Lol

That’s awesome

Nope, I work a lot now so I don't have to work later. I have to go as fast as I can. In order to coast in retirement.

so you are going to bust your arse now and forgoe your youth to hopefully be able to do the things you want to do when you retire?

Unless you have unlimited means, damn i wasnt blessed with that, how do you get where you want to be without forgoing things early on?

I guess you dont hear many old people saying I wished i would have worked more, but i bet there are a hell of a lot of people in their mid 30's and 40's strapped with a mortgage, car payments, college loans etc. etc. that wished they had a little easier row to hoe or more $$$ in the bank.

If I could have all the money back that I blew on Strippers and booze in my 20's, I could be close to retiring now!

Yep, 100%.

To be honest I dont need to work now, and the wife would like if I didn't, but I have to do my part. I'm pretty sure retiring at 57 will allow me to still have some youth left in these legs.

I already fish, hunt, and have even built a car, but I had to find time here and there.

I haven’t worked (only) 40 hours a week in years

Really? I know tons of people - myself included - that thrive under pressure/stress and put out their best work when their back is against the wall. I'd much rather be handed a project with an unrealistic deadline vs something as a "just get it done when you get a chance" kind of deal.

I totally respect those working long hours or multiple jobs in order to retire early but in my mind the reward for that needs to happen in your 40's or 50's. You are giving up so much of life that you only live once. I hated going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark.....even bring work home to finish. Time away from home made the wife take most of the load of raising the children and the stress made me a not as good of husband and father as I should have been. In hind site I would suggest if you are working 50-70 hours a week and can't achieve early retirement its time to look for another profession. That's just me.

I have been retired since 2010 and I look at what the extra decade of stress has done to my friends and peers. They look OLD at 60.

Yeah, I'm a procrastinator unless somebody says "I bet you can't do IT!" Then it's on!

But is it healthy for you?

Yes, but it’s the management of that in which you are asking about. Stress is a necessity to health it like sore muscles.

It’s about an allocation of time. To quote my favorite teacher in HS...” life is a coin, you can spend it any way you want to, but you can only spend it once”.

I’m not saying work hard. Most people have to work hard, and yes that means sacrifice.

For me, I value my time spent in the outdoors so I have always forgone things to be able to afford both the money AND the time to go after these pursuits. In my 20’s, while all my buddies were buying new trucks, race cars and Rolex watches I drove a used trucks, worked hard, didn’t party as many nights ( but still partied my arse off ) so I could go fish Falcon 3-4 days Twice a year, run down to the coast at the drop of a hat or spend a week chasing deer. Those trips are what I carry in my memory bank, not jobs I did or deals I put together.

40 hours a week? I remember my first part time job...

I am sure Stub says thank you.

I bet many professionals could intelligently challenge claims of people working better under pressure.

And being assigned unrealistic work vs just get it done when you get a chance, I suspect, would be said differently by a psychologist/psychiatrist in that you like to have rigid, clearly defined structure rather than to think on your own and manage your own time. It's good that you recognize the best work environment for yourself. Some don't.


== Edit ==
hook_n_line's comment is very related:

Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded 16 tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said, "Well, a-bless my soul"
You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake…

Depends on the person and situation I guess. No one hands me a rigid clearly defined structure - I have full freedom with pretty much zero oversight or management to manage and grow millions of dollars worth of assets; my time management is up to me and all decisions and outcomes are mine to own. I'm sure there could be a lot less pressure/stress if I worked more than 40 hours or 4 days a week - but I value my time outside of work - so I will bust my butt to do so within those confines.

Gotta be doing something and work helps to provide for dignity. I can nap and then do some more. Attack Mondays with a vengeance. Get here between 4-5 and get after it. Makes the rest of the week so much easier. Never allow myself getting to Wednesday hoping to get something done that week. It's all bonus past that day. Ain't afeered to come in Saturday and Sunday mornings either. I lovey my work. I get to help people and that's how I profit. Can retire now, could have retired earlier, who cares as long as I am doing what I want.

Ten days ago, I drove down from Menard and went to the lease where I stayed overnight. Last weekend I went to some river. Two weekends from now am headed for a three day varmint hunting expedition in King County. The next weekend I hope to put someone on a redfish. Don't stop, keep going, onward & ever forward.

Dang sure ain't in this life to wait to do things until I cannot and ain't in this deal to live the longest. Frankly, I want to slide into "home". Sidhaartha preached balance. More should listen to him. Life is good - if you allow it to be.

Depends on the person, sure.

What you do does not matter other than that it is done in an environment that is different than the one in which you explained that you thrive in. Maybe you just get by. Maybe you do great. Maybe in a different environment - the one you said you thrive in - you'd do fantastical! Make sense?

I understand working under pressure driving you to work harder. I guess my thought on and definition of stress includes a negative connotation.

At the end of the day we're all different, and are all in different situations. I just hope we all have a target, and are able to hit it.

Some guys are built different and really do thrive on always staying very busy. Wade and JG both thrive on being productive so likely they are not experiencing stress the same as most would. I was similar in my early days up through late 30's and then energy started dwindling. Working 50+ hrs a week managing engineering groups or factories wore me down a bit but the toughest thing for me was work was always on my mind week nights and weekends since there were so many moving pieces and I did not stay physically active. I retired at 54 and have not adjusted well falling into the "slug" category but am working my way out of that. Knowing both Wade and JG, they will not have that problem as they love staying busy and are physically active.

I love that quote Tx.

This is what I was getting at.....when you are in the nursing home with nothing but your memories what do you want to remember. My last boss took exactly one vacation in 20 years. When he got brain cancer he has delusions were of.....not vacations, not golf.....it was work. It was sad.

A working wife helps.

That's funny. LOL.

I've always said the first day I realize I've got enough...is my last day. I want nothing to do with quitting working or doing things but I want everything to do with not working for "the man".

Not sure yet what retirement will look like but I'm looking forward to it. By my calculations...right now I'm thinking 13 years...might attempt to make some changes to accelerate that but we'll see.

Well said. I work myself 10x harder working on my own stuff or for my parents and family, labors of love, than I have ever thought about working at my day job. When i do not need my day job i will ditch it, but i will be busy as hell.

We are all impressed

I can't wait to "retire".

I have a part time job that pays pretty well.

Maybe I just look at things differently.

I can't subscribe to the adage that your supposed to work your Richard into the Terra Firma for 60-64 years to be able to enjoy to the last 10-15 years of your life IF your health allows.

I'm 100% for working both hard and smart, but you gotta enjoy the here and now. I'm looking forward not only to the future, but also to the present. I'm fully aware that some of my goals are easier met being in my mid 30's than it would be in my 60's. Gotta capitalize on it now. The reason I work as hard as I do is because it allows me the ability to afford my current hobbies and lifestyle. It isn't because I hope to amass a large amount of assets to only be enjoyed in my twilight years. That should be a by-product of it, but not the ultimate goal.

I liked Sniper Johns testimony about work. I can get behind that. I know guys who are not wealthy by any stretch but they have $10 million dollars worth of memories and experiences.


If you break it down, what good is money if you don't enjoy it while you are walking this earth?

Golden words Brandon. Absolutely golden.

I would do it the same if I had to live my life over.

Preferably w/o a cane or walker

And this is why I bust it now.

Get it while the gettin's good.

My brother had a dr say we spend our youth ignoring our health and our family to earn money and when we get old we spend all the money to try and buy them both back.

Yeah, roger. Also you got to do what you got to do, to give your children a better starting point then you had. There's definitely a sacrifice.

Like Bill, if I had it to do all over again, I’d do it all just like the first time. Except....over the years there were some hot gals that wanted to uuuuuh, you know. And I declined. Ya can’t get that back. So, on the redo, I might relax the rules just a touch (pun intended).

I think having "no regrets" says more about your own ego than anything else.

Well if you go back and change anything, you change everything.

Never thought about a "do over". I survived once and not so sure that would happen a 2nd time.

I wouldn't change a thing either.

No telling what kind of ripple effect it would have opening that box up. What you think would be a quick fun night or three could send shockwaves thru the rest of your life....

I don’t have many “regrets” but some things I would have done differently, mainly some choices I made or things I did or didn’t do. Didn’t effect things at the time but would catch up to me later down the road....but changing those choices could have certainly affected where I would be today.... Which I’m very thankful for



The Talking Heads song “ once in a lifetime” comes to mind...

Great thread and perspectives here.

It is easy to look back and say would have should have and could have....but I think we all made the best decisions we could at the time. To me in my early fifties it's all about keeping up the financial momentum. Doing what it takes to put the money away for retirement (11+ hour days five days a week in the cube for me these days). Every week month year it's harder harder to play the corporate BS game but many of us still do it and are blessed to do so.

Hopefully I will be done in about 5 years and am doing everything I can to keep my health strong. Looking forward to being so busy in retirement I don't have time to enjoy it! Family, friends, hobbies, volunteering...

I can go where I want to go, when I want to go.

I pulled that ripcord about a year ago when I had enough of the oil industry and turned in my notice. The work environment is a cesspool. It's nothing but greed and cutting people down to get ahead. I'm happily making a fraction of what I used to substitute teaching a couple of days a week and working through an MHA degree. I already have enough at 40 to retire, so now, I'll get to pick a career that uplifts people in health care when I graduate from UTRGV next year. Maybe I'll just get my Phd and teach. Until then, I'll enjoy being with my family a lot and taking the boat out whenever I want. You folks that wear long working hours chasing money as a badge of honor are ignorant.

Lol, thanks......

Have a nice day.

This is what I'm talking about!

I think he wants a cookie, or his ego stroked

I plan to be done working by the time I’m 45 or so. I’ll move to Wyoming and never look back. I can’t stand living in Dallas the rest of my life.

Trust fund follks take a diffenerent route no doubt Jensent. I am not mad at at

"badge of honor", no. I just like the money and the life it allows me to have.

"You folks that wear long working hours chasing money as a badge of honor are ignorant." Never "chase" it. Let it come to you. Lovey my ignorance though. Lovey it. It's good to wake up in my world.

In my industry you don't start making real money until your late 30's or early 40's and by mid-50's most cannot physically do it well enough to keep up. That means I have 6-8 years left to figure out what's next and coincidentally that aligns with my youngest of four kid's graduation from High School.

Its just funny to hear people criticize those who bust it..... What does it matter what someone else's plans are? Ain't nothing wrong with working hard.

In the words of a wise beyond her age 3 year old girl "worry about yourself"

You've already earned yours the hard way. Go Longhorns.

That’s the dream

I am 67 years old and will be working for many more years. I have always seen our society as being built upside down: You are too busy to raise your kids right when they are young, then you have lots of time on your hands when they are grown up and need less attention.

I made a conscious decision in the 1980s to completely overhaul my life in order to be able to enjoy and focus on raising five kids right. My wife and I both jumped off the corporate carousel at the same time for the same reasons. Sure money was tight working for myself (often part-time) but we were always there for our kids. By keeping our overhead low, we got all but one through college - her choice. All are happy, well-adjusted, and productive adults with their own families.

For the last 13 years, my wife and I carefully built a little wholesale battery business that can continue to make money until I lose my mental ability. Working mostly from home, I get to pretend that I'm retired :-)

My point: I selected this path knowing full well that I would not be retiring. I would NOT do it differently if given the choice of a "do-over."

Marc

It's a tough job but someone has to do it.

Well to echo one thing tenyears said. Some on here do feel it's a badge of honor. Every time a thread like this pops up you have people bragging about how many hours they work like it's a badge of honor and a competition. It's always a good one upper thread

Struck a nerve with some of you didn’t I?

You’ll see one day.....

I like money too, and used to think it was a measure of a man to bust my hump endlessly. Of course, I had to in the beginning to get to where I am, but I just figured out how make it work for me and not the other way around. Basically, not being an idiot with it. I think a lot of men are scared to slow down once they get used to it. I watched my dad do it.

Very true. IMO, the time to bust [censored] is in your teens, 20's, and 30's to set yourself up. Many men waste those prime years when energy and drive is the highest because they didn't have their priorities right. There's a lot of truth to what TenYears said, even if it makes others upset....he did it right, IMO. He now has the freedom and opportunity to do what he wants, which is far more valuable than anything you can purchase.

I'm with TYG (first time ever) and Doc. I still work but have a 5 year plan. Currently I go to work 16 days a month and my wife works from home. We spend as much time as possible "not working". We've been going for broke the last couple years with our investments trying to get set up to not have to work for someone else and be retired by 45. We're getting pretty close. I could happily spend every hour of my day not working.

Agreed. I used to spend months at a time working every day and while I enjoy what I do most days, I now take weekends off when I can because I enjoy life outside of work. I like my trips to the mountains and days where I don't have to think about what I need to get done. I'm single and have no kids, I cannot imagine having kids and just wanting to work more and more hours.

The health and money quote is perfect. I love motorcycles and camping in the mountains. I'm not going to put that stuff off until I retire because who knows if I'll be around or have the health to do those things in 20-30 years.

The busters thank god for the slacker........

So if somebody is busting their rump to get to where they want to be, that’s a fault? What you did is no different than what I’m doing by working 2 full time jobs. Funding my retirement, paying off the house as quickly as possible, driving paid off vehicles, and funding my kids college. When that’s done, I’ll retire from the PD and focus on real estate. So how is what you did any different?

What has America come to? Never thought I would see the day that over achieving is frowned upon.....

Could be envy.

This is true.

My wife doesn't have employment so she can be at home for several reasons, four of them are our kids. That's another "concession" we made. I will have to work until I die. I guess that's fine.