He’s Definitely Retiring
By Amber
@AmbiePam (108613)
United States
November 5, 2025 4:31am CST
Well, my 70 year old dad (he’s a pastor) has decided to retire at the end of January. No one knows but Diana, my sister, and me. I don’t know when he’s going to inform the church board. He doesn’t really want to, but he feels it’s time to let the associate pastor take over (IF that is who the church wants to have the job). I think he hasn’t told literally anyone else because he knows they’ll all try to talk him out of it (they sure will). He’s going to offer to stay on part time though. I hope he does. They’re going to miss him if he’s totally out of the picture.
My dad has no debt, but he’ll have to be very careful in retirement. He pays for all the bills, and Diana uses her check to pay her insurance premiums and then she puts the rest away. Why? Because as little as I get for disability, Diana gets less (despite working literally all her life. ALL her life).
I’ll be sad to see him retire, but more than anything I just want him to be happy. He told me I’ll have to extra careful too because he won’t be able to help me as much (he pays my dental and eye doctor bills due to no insurance for that. It’s literally impossible for me to pay them, especially the dentist bill). I trust it will work out.
How did you, or will you, know when to retire?
17 people like this
18 responses
@DaddyEvil (164141)
• United States
5 Nov
You know I was forced to retire and why... I would have continued working for several more years yet if the choice had been left up to me. I hate not having money when we need things.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (164141)
• United States
5 Nov
@AmbiePam Thanks... Pretty makes enough "helping" me when I can't see so we don't really need more money but it bugs me that I don't have money of my own. She says the money is ours but if I spend any, she asks me a hundred questions about what I spend it on and why. It's annoying! If she doesn't want me to use the money, she shouldn't put it in my checking account!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (108613)
• United States
5 Nov
@DaddyEvil I totally agree. That’s not right.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (108613)
• United States
5 Nov
The thing about the eye doctor is I take a medicine that can damage your eyes. You have to go once a year to make sure it hasn’t damaged them. I think though, that I can do enough survey stuff to pay for one visit a year. The dentist would obviously be more difficult.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44263)
• United States
5 Nov
I'm glad for your father, but I see the disadvantages also. I pray it works out well. I think it's probably harder for preachers to retire because it's a calling from God and not a regular job.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44263)
• United States
5 Nov
@AmbiePam But there comes a time for retirement to everyone. I know your dad is a blessing to all who know him.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (6722)
• United Kingdom
5 Nov
I hope your Dad has a long, healthy and happy retirement.
I would love to retire but I have about another 7 more years to work.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (116746)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
5 Nov
I will likely retire from full time work when I am not able to work at full health or be able to see and walk,.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (65846)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
5 Nov
From what you've told me about your dad, it sounds like it's the end of an era.
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (37130)
• Petaluma, California
5 Nov
As crazy as my $$ situation is, I honestly don't know. 
My pastor (the one I grew up with) didn't retire until his late 70's-80's because of his health.
My pastor (the one I grew up with) didn't retire until his late 70's-80's because of his health.1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (92113)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Nov
I wish him the very best and many blessings, and I hope he will enjoy his retirement.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (87527)
• United States
5 Nov
I retired early due to the fact that the company I worked for closed. That's when I decided to sell my house and move here (where I am now) and although I got less money in social security it was well worth retiring early.
I hope things work out for your dad especially financially and that you will be able to make ends meet too.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3503)
•
5 Nov
My husband could have retired at age 67 1/2, but if you work until you're 70, you can max out your benefits, and he would be making a good deal more. Since his job is undemanding, he decided to work until then. We're really lucky he did that, or we would be in a much bigger pickle with my job loss. He can add me to his company health insurance, but not to Medicare, I don't think.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (200438)
• United States
5 Nov
I got forced out of a job. If I hadn't have I probably would stayed years longer, unfortunate..but I've adapted. The downside is my check is not what it could be
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (53987)
• United States
5 Nov
I haven’t worked in many years. I didn’t retire. After I moved to Mississippi my transportation was a problem.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (208954)
• United States
5 Nov
I hope it all works out for you and him. I had to retire on disability when I turned 62.
