Working or Retired or Something in Between?
By LindaOH
@LindaOHio (161205)
United States
September 29, 2023 4:14am CST
I lost my job as an Accounting Office Manager on Christmas Eve 2009. The company I had worked for for 15 years went bankrupt so that they could be bought out by another company. There I was, 61 years old, with no job prospects. In January I got together paperwork on all my ailments and applied for Disability. In June of 2010, at the age of 62, I received the news that my Disability was approved and I was now retired. Bittersweet news since I was having an increasingly difficult time getting around.
What about you? Are you still working? What kind of work do you do? Do you work full time or part time? Prospects for retirement? Are you retired? When did you retire? What did you do before retirement? What is your favorite thing about retirement?
Photo Credit: Pixabay - A hammock on the beach
21 people like this
21 responses
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
29 Sep
That was nice that you got to work together.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (462798)
• Switzerland
30 Sep
@LindaOHio I met my husband when I started working in a Financial office, he was the younger of the 6 associates. When he decided to open his own office he asked if I would agree to follow him and become his assistant. I accepted and 6 months later we were dating.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
30 Sep
@LadyDuck What luck that you found each other.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (161163)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Sep
I took an early retirement in 2006. I was 55. I received community insurance to pay for my doctor's visits and a few things. I was lucky. I'm 71 now and have been enjoying my retirement. Not doing the traveling and such that I wanted to do but I'm okay. My favorite thing about retirement is having no schedule. I can do what I want when I want.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (161163)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Sep
@LindaOHio ..........I was pretty healthy then so I was lucky then. This type of insurance just pays for certain things. I was presently surprised. My community takes good care of our residents.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
30 Sep
Yes, I love the no schedule thing. You were lucky to have insurance. I paid dearly for insurance for 2 years before I could go on Medicare.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (63248)
• United States
30 Sep
I was tired yesterday, and I’m re-tired today.
Retired.
Retired.2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (97726)
• Marion, Ohio
29 Sep
I worked factory before meeting hubby. We raised horses for a few years so I stayed home to do the training. Now I don't want to go back to work.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (97726)
• Marion, Ohio
29 Sep
@LindaOHio I did the basic training and an Amish man started them under saddle if we were keeping them. I then finished them off for what we were using them for
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
30 Sep
@wolfgirl569 That's very interesting. I would love to work with horses....or any animal for that matter.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
29 Sep
I didn't realize that you raised and trained horses. That's really cool. I don't want to go back to work either.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
4 Oct
REALLY? You are one brave soul. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
5 Oct
@porwest You got your wish! You were so unhappy. I was wondering how long you would last.
1 person likes this
@porwest (79028)
• United States
4 Oct
@LindaOHio Lots of prior planning allows for certain freedoms. lol
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (172395)
• United States
29 Sep
Although I am essentially retired at this point, I do mystery shop, and have done some PT work since I officially started collecting my check. I would go back to work for the right opportunity, but not full time. Full time work never really agreed with me. I also am very consistent about doing online type work...and no I don't consider mylot a job. I make more money without a job online than many could believe...not that it replaces a traditional job in any sense.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (172395)
• United States
29 Sep
@LindaOHio If you really liked the job or the people I bet you could.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
30 Sep
@snowy22315 I had a business for 7 years. I really enjoyed working for myself. I might do that again.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
29 Sep
I could never go back to working for someone.
1 person likes this
@much2say (54095)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Sep
Stay-at-home Mom . . . taking care of family is my work 
. My occupation was being a graphic artist for a print company . . . I was doing that until we started a family in my mid 30s. Retirement - I don't know - I can only hope we will get there.
. My occupation was being a graphic artist for a print company . . . I was doing that until we started a family in my mid 30s. Retirement - I don't know - I can only hope we will get there.1 person likes this
@much2say (54095)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Oct
@LindaOHio I feel fortunate to have been able to be there full time for our kids. Yep - been doing art in some way or another all my life. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
30 Sep
Being a stay-at-home Mom is an admirable profession. Interesting that you were an artist. Hope you have a great weekend.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (119118)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Sep
I "retired" at the age of 50 after working 20 years for my employer (municipal government). Twenty years of service was all that was needed to qualify for a lifelong pension. But I've always been a workaholic (although I do have a good work/life balance), so I knew that I would end up working somewhere else and not truly being retired. So here I am almost 4 years later and I'm a manager at Lowe's. It's not for the money (most of my income I live off of comes from being a professional paintball player, which I don't consider a job at all). I continue to work because it's something I like to do. In fact, most of the money I earn now I am just stashing away in investment and retirement accounts. My goal is to live financially better in retirement than I did in my working years!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (119118)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Oct
@LindaOHio That’s my plan. I won’t be rich by any means, but I will live comfortably.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
30 Sep
You're handling your working years very intelligently. We are quite comfortable in our retirement; and you will be too!!!
1 person likes this
@just4him (310766)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
29 Sep
I had many jobs during my work life. The only job I enjoyed was my time in the Navy. Every job after that, I longed for retirement. It seemed to take forever, but my last job helped by firing me for being a good worker. Ironic I know. I was happy to leave. I've been 'retired' since I turned 59. I officially retired at 62. I'm living a good life now. I can do what I want, when I want, and I don't have anyone standing over my shoulder making certain I do it right. Which I always did. As for work, if you want to call it that, I'm writing and publishing books, my dream job since I was little. I don't call it work as writing is something I enjoy.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
29 Sep
Interesting. Yes, I will agree about the writing. I enjoy it as well.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43332)
• Staten Island, New York
29 Sep
I was let go in 2009. Had a temp thing once and helped out for a number of years around the holidays at a sample sale my sister-in-law's former company (where she worked) was doing. But haven't had anything full time or permanent since. That is bad because I have a big gap of not working. I did book publishing for other writers who wanted to self publish books. But it's not like I had a constant flow of clients. I guess realistically I haven't really worked anywhere for many years.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43332)
• Staten Island, New York
2 Oct
@LindaOHio Well, I am not exactly searching for anything, which of course is not good. I don't remember exactly what I was doing. May have been marketing related.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
30 Sep
What kind of work were you doing when you were let go? Not having continuous income hurts when it comes time to retire. Too bad you can't get something going from home. Have a great weekend.
@MommyOfEli2013 (82602)
• Rupert, Idaho
30 Sep
sorry that you lost that job because they went bankrupt....that would have been so rough!
I worked at the hospital in the kitchen when i did have an actual job, but it was miserable and would never want to go back. I can't say I am retired though....since I never really worked....that was just a part time job while i was in college.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
30 Sep
Actually it worked out OK for me because I qualified for disability. It would have been hard for me to get another job in my 60s.
@MommyOfEli2013 (82602)
• Rupert, Idaho
1 Oct
@LindaOHio oh okay, well that is good then...
1 person likes this
@elmer0421 (407)
•
30 Sep
I am still working and I have been in the teaching profession for 10 years already.
1 person likes this
@elmer0421 (407)
•
7 Oct
@LindaOHio Indeed.I'd say teacher are truly influential to someone's life especially on his or her mental health...
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (158301)
• United States
30 Sep
In some ways I would love to be retired, in other ways, I am sure I would kill my husband. I have worked with elderly and disabled in many ways for about thirty eight years, but never very long at one place. I work full time right now as a specialized paraprofessional. It combines educational skills, medical skills and some psychological skills. I really miss it over the summer. I am really delighted any time I see anyone learn new skills.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
30 Sep
I'm glad you enjoy your job. Been retired with my husband for 13 years and haven't killed him yet!
@RasmaSandra (74883)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Sep
I already didn't have a job when I went to Latvia in 1994. There I did a couple of jobs and later instructed people in English in my home privately. Now as of arriving in Florida at age 60 I am officially retired and on SS. So I enjoy making extra money online and writing and more writing it keeps me busy and out of trouble,
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
30 Sep
I wish I could find some place to write, although I spend 3-4 hours a day here which takes up a great deal of time.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80605)
• United States
29 Sep
I retired earlier than I had expected to. Back in 2009 Ford ran into problems and downsized, sold and consolidated a lot of their dealerships. So, I lost my job and decided to retire rather than go on a hunt for a new job. I sold my house, moved to PA to be closer to my kids and never regretted my decision.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
29 Sep
Sounds like you're doing what makes you happy! That's excellent.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
29 Sep
I'd never want to work for someone again.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161205)
• United States
29 Sep
You'll still be young enough to do a lot of things.
1 person likes this
