Well I made it... Retired Today
- Thread starter ttfreestyle
- Start date
Congratulations
I have read all of you guys retirement stories and I have to say congratulations, job well done!!
Not trying to hijack a positive thread and turn it negative but it makes one think! How much $ is enough, am I willing to change my standard of living, what if this, what if that, can I or will I ever take that step of retirement? I guess we’ll never know until we near our end here on Planet Earth if we’re blessed with longevity. The best plan I know of is Salvation, it will not Fail You!
My story:
I have been blessed to have worked for 28yrs for a Fortune 500 company (D.p..t) as an Engineer, they sold us out to CHINA 4yrs ago and I REGRETFULLY say if China hadn’t bought our company it would’ve been shut down by now and many people would be unemployed. Wall Street and Greed has taken away our industrial revolution in this country. Our bureaucracy & politics (SATAN), sent our good paying jobs and benefits across the borders. I pray the seeds are being planted with our current administration to turn things around for our children and grandchildren. My wife and I like so many our age and older came from a family of tenant farmers, entrepreneurs, self employed heroes that were disabled at or near the end of their careers but never saw a disability check. They saw a need for us children to get an education and get a career with benefits and that mindset was right at the time and I don’t fault them for that. Like all parents, we want what’s best for our children! I got that career that started out with great pay, paid time off, unbelievable benefits including a great pension program and 401K plan that our worn down, crippled parents longed for. Little by little those benefits were stripped away as GREED on Wall Street allowed it to happen. I now have NO pension, pay out the nose for benefits, new employees get 16 weeks paid time off for having a child…. I ask myself, what is this world coming to?….. For the last 5yrs I have worked 2 jobs that I enjoy and it seems I have less disposable income than I’ve ever had with no retirement plan in site. I enjoy working and can’t imagine shooting my rifles all week long.;-)
So, with all that said, this message goes to that ONE YOUNG MAN reading this that has no plan and is trying to figure out which direction to go. To him, I say make your own destiny, you’re never going to make it to a comfortable retirement in this current era working for the other man or counting on his promises. There’s a sense of satisfaction to be said about the man that keeps GOD in the center of his plans like our forefathers pleading for HIS guidance to provide for his family, making his own path, serving his country, serving his community, contributing to society paying taxes and keeping the hamster wheel turning. That guy makes lots of friends along the way, and comes home tired to a hot meal, a loving wife and a family that has some skin in the game supporting Dads work, chipping in some small way. I loved that lifestyle growing up! Don’t fall into the debt trap allot of us have, “Don’t keep up with the Jones’”, live conservatively and maybe you won’t wake up one day, look in the mirror at the gray and wrinkles and realize it’s too late to make that day of a comfortable retirement a reality. LIFE, for many is about timing and taking a few chances. Pray about it, pray about it, pray about it! I can’t emphasize that enough, pray about it without ceasing! Life is short, don’t take it for granted!
Again, I didn’t mean to drag this thread down if it comes across that way, but I do hope it stirs up something powerful in some youngsters life. Again, I wish the best to the men here that have done their part in contributing to society & I sincerely wish them happiness, good health and prosperity the rest of their days here on Planet Earth post retirement! You’ve got more time on your hands now, make a difference mentoring someone needing encouragement and wisdom in their choices and decisions.
GOD Bless you all!
Not trying to hijack a positive thread and turn it negative but it makes one think! How much $ is enough, am I willing to change my standard of living, what if this, what if that, can I or will I ever take that step of retirement? I guess we’ll never know until we near our end here on Planet Earth if we’re blessed with longevity. The best plan I know of is Salvation, it will not Fail You!
My story:
I have been blessed to have worked for 28yrs for a Fortune 500 company (D.p..t) as an Engineer, they sold us out to CHINA 4yrs ago and I REGRETFULLY say if China hadn’t bought our company it would’ve been shut down by now and many people would be unemployed. Wall Street and Greed has taken away our industrial revolution in this country. Our bureaucracy & politics (SATAN), sent our good paying jobs and benefits across the borders. I pray the seeds are being planted with our current administration to turn things around for our children and grandchildren. My wife and I like so many our age and older came from a family of tenant farmers, entrepreneurs, self employed heroes that were disabled at or near the end of their careers but never saw a disability check. They saw a need for us children to get an education and get a career with benefits and that mindset was right at the time and I don’t fault them for that. Like all parents, we want what’s best for our children! I got that career that started out with great pay, paid time off, unbelievable benefits including a great pension program and 401K plan that our worn down, crippled parents longed for. Little by little those benefits were stripped away as GREED on Wall Street allowed it to happen. I now have NO pension, pay out the nose for benefits, new employees get 16 weeks paid time off for having a child…. I ask myself, what is this world coming to?….. For the last 5yrs I have worked 2 jobs that I enjoy and it seems I have less disposable income than I’ve ever had with no retirement plan in site. I enjoy working and can’t imagine shooting my rifles all week long.;-)
So, with all that said, this message goes to that ONE YOUNG MAN reading this that has no plan and is trying to figure out which direction to go. To him, I say make your own destiny, you’re never going to make it to a comfortable retirement in this current era working for the other man or counting on his promises. There’s a sense of satisfaction to be said about the man that keeps GOD in the center of his plans like our forefathers pleading for HIS guidance to provide for his family, making his own path, serving his country, serving his community, contributing to society paying taxes and keeping the hamster wheel turning. That guy makes lots of friends along the way, and comes home tired to a hot meal, a loving wife and a family that has some skin in the game supporting Dads work, chipping in some small way. I loved that lifestyle growing up! Don’t fall into the debt trap allot of us have, “Don’t keep up with the Jones’”, live conservatively and maybe you won’t wake up one day, look in the mirror at the gray and wrinkles and realize it’s too late to make that day of a comfortable retirement a reality. LIFE, for many is about timing and taking a few chances. Pray about it, pray about it, pray about it! I can’t emphasize that enough, pray about it without ceasing! Life is short, don’t take it for granted!
Again, I didn’t mean to drag this thread down if it comes across that way, but I do hope it stirs up something powerful in some youngsters life. Again, I wish the best to the men here that have done their part in contributing to society & I sincerely wish them happiness, good health and prosperity the rest of their days here on Planet Earth post retirement! You’ve got more time on your hands now, make a difference mentoring someone needing encouragement and wisdom in their choices and decisions.
GOD Bless you all!
I have said that I've always taken my retirement a bit at a time. The truth is, I just changed jobs. I've been a mill worker, a logger, a mechanic, a machinist, a construction worker a gunsmith, a guide, and a business owner. I guess I'm as retired as I'll ever be. WH
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