Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Two More Years

Retirement at sixty-five is ridiculous. When I was 
sixty-five I still had pimples.
~George Burns

The decision that was sort of hard to take that I referred to in my last post was BG's to make. 

I really wasn't all that surprised to learn of his decision when he sat down with me to discuss what had been on his mind one day.


He had said for a year or more that he would retire the first of this year.  When it really came down to the last few months, he said he just wasn't ready. 
I already knew that he has always loved his job.  Everyone should have a job that they love as much as he does his.  So, I've known that retiring would be hard for him to do.

But, selfishly, I was disappointed.  I had already envisioned the things we could get done and had planned, in my dreams, of a few trips we could take.  We would be more inclined to get in those daily walks.  Oh, so many things I had dreamed of and now they were going to have to wait.  Two more years.

He said he wanted to work 2 more years.  Now, we all know how fast time flies and 2 years doesn't seem like a long time.  Except when you get older, though, there is always that little worry that something might happen and retirement won't be quite what you had pictured.


In two years, BG will have worked 40 years as a lineman.  In spite of a mild heart attack a few years ago, he says he feels just as good as he did 4-5 years ago and he isn't ready to stay home and nap all day in front of the TV.  Of course, I had to tell him that it wasn't all that bad, except in my case it is falling asleep over a laptop. 
 

I enjoy waking up and not having to go to work. 
So I do it three or four times a day.
~Gene Perret

So, I swallowed my disappointment and actually didn't try to change his mind but told him that it was his decision.  I try to look at the plus side.  Having the extra money is a good thing.  Having the house all to myself most of the day is a good thing.  He tells me to go and do what I want and that is a good thing.  Still having to fix those lunches for him each night?  Not such a good thing.   Two years.  I tell myself those 2 years will fly by.   And looking on the bright side, I'll have more time to tune up my bucket list!

Those of you that have retired...do you wish you had worked longer or quit sooner? 

Happy Wednesday to you!
xo Cheryl

59 comments:

  1. I retired early and NEVER regretted it for a minute. it is a pity he is not retiring and while he has his health, the 2 of you could be doing so many things that you have always wanted to you. I would have been VERY disappointed by his decision.

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    1. I am disappointed, but hopefully we'll still get to do many things together yet. Time flies and those 2 years will be up before I know it.

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  2. My hubby is going to be 76 and still works part-time when he can as a consultant engineer. His health isn't good due to his COPD but he enjoys the challenges of a job. Two years fly by fast. Enjoy the spare moments you can find until then.

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    1. I'm so glad my hubby feels good enough to do what he enjoys. I might be a wee bit envious of that! I never could stick with the same job over 4 years or so.

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  3. I just recently retired after working a total 44 years, 30 in one job.. So I was happy to leave and it was the best decision I ever made.. I am so happy. Have a great day!

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    1. I know you are going to love retirement, Eileen! 44 years is a long time to work. I know that I really enjoy not going to work, even tho part of me misses the co-workers and the challenges.

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  4. Hmmmmm.... I "retired" from nursing 13 years ago... but, started a whole new "job" with my rental properties. My beloved is a few years from retirement. I'm not sure about how all of that is going to go... I don't really let myself think on it too much just yet... I can sense your disappointment and the thing I take away from this is how wonderful it is that you WANT him to retire and spend time with you. I hear ladies all the time saying they don't know what they will do when their husbands retire to drive them crazy! Ha! Your hubby is a lucky man. And, you know the years do fly past! blessings and {{big hugs}} ~ tanna

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    1. When the time comes and he does retire and if he begins to drive me crazy, I'll just send him downstairs to his man cave! lol! We all need our own space, don't we? Hugs back at ya!

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  5. Oh that is the question I ask sometimes too. My husband loves his job, I dream of what could be but it has to be their own choices. Two years will fly. Enjoy the quite and time to yourself it is going to be fine. I make lunch everyday too I want to retire from that:) Plus trying to retire from farming is a very very big decision for both of us.Hug B

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    1. Oh, if we lived on a farm and were farmers, that would be very tough to walk away from! I know there comes a time though when we just have to give up things we love. Hope you don't have to make that big decision just yet!

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  6. My hubby retired at 62 and 8 years later i retired at 62, he has been retired 15 years and i am at 9 and we both loved it and love it still... but neither of us loved our jobs, in fact we hated our job. each person is different. our friend retired at 65 and was miserable and went back to work, my brother still works at 65 and loves it...
    one thing that makes retirement fun is hobbies, no hobby boredom will set in...

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    1. I know BG's brother, who is a year older, has regrets about retiring. He doesn't need the money, it's just that he's like BG and doesn't have any hobbies to speak of and doesn't like traveling all that much. I wish BG had a fun hobby like your hubby does!

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  7. i'm glad your husband's health is good and that he loves his job like he does. if he left now, he'd regret it and i'm glad he owned up to that and decided not to. :) bless him and keep him healthy!

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    1. Thanks you, Theresa! I'm hoping he stays healthy, too. I still worry a wee bit because he just can't give up the cigarettes.

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  8. I'm a few years away from retirement myself. My husband is a farmer and will never retire. He LOVES what he does. I like my job very much, but it's a job. I think, like many things in life, there is no "right" or "wrong" only what is better. And its different for each person. I would love for my husband to retire so we can travel. But he doesn't like to travel. He wants to farm. I don't want to retire from my job and spend my days checking cattle with him lol! I can sense your disappointment, but it really has to be his decision. I say enjoy the extra money, enjoy being able to do what YOU want to do all day long. The older I get, the faster two years fly by. Blessings from Missouri!

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    1. I love nature, so I would love going to check those cattle! But, I'm sure doing it every day would get old after a while. My hubby isn't that keen on traveling, either. Which is why he is postponing retirement! lol! He's seen my bucket list!

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  9. My husband plans to retire in two years as well. With Obama Care, we decided that he needs to work until he is 65. There is a part of me that looks forward to retirement but also a part of me that is used to having my house to myself. I am sure it will be an adjustment.

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    1. That is definitely one good thing about BG's postponing retirement. His job also provides us with excellent healthcare! There is a lot to be said for that. I dread the day when we have to pay for it all ourselves. Who knows what it will cost in a few years!

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  10. You sound so much like me and my husband. He will be 63 and LOVES his job as an electrical engineer and though we've discussed retirement and him dropping 1 day a week to ease into it he is still holding off. I have the same fears as you, the 'what if' question regarding health is always niggling in the back of my mind. He thinks he'll be bored and I can think of so many things we could do together and the upkeep of an aging house etc. I also don't enjoy making the lunch every evening. lol I will be 65 in July and have been blessed to stay at home all our married life so it's no big change for me. Having him around the house every day might be a change that would take some getting used to though. :-) If your husband has hobbies he can do or volunteering or just keeping up the house and grounds then he should retire and enjoy it while he can. Maybe he can cut back or job share? I wish you and him the best whatever he decides. It's a big decision.

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    1. I wish he could just work part-time, but they don't do anything like that where he works. I've mostly only worked part-time, after my kids were out of school and I've been home the last 4 years or so. So I know that is will be an adjustment for me, too, when he is around 24/7!

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  11. I worked until I was 65. If I had had a job that I really loved I might have worked longer.
    The two years will fly by. Just enjoy the time and do what you want.
    I love the Gene Perret quote.

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    1. Thanks, Barb! I know you are right. Time does fly by and he'll be home all the time before I know it.

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  12. Each person has to do what works for them.. Men especially struggle if they don't have other interests to keep them busy. My poor Daddy 'had' to retire at 75 ---and he had no interests at all --even though many in the family tried to get him interested in several things (including growing roses)... He just loved working and had nothing else... He died at age 79..... I always wondered if he would have lived longer if they would have let him keep working????????

    You all will be fine --and the one thing you need is a HAPPY HUBBY.
    Hugs,
    Betsy
    PS---I retired early (61)--and even took my social security EARLY... I don't regret a second of that decision.

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    1. My uncle, who passed away at age 87 just 2 days before my sweet aunt, worked until he was 70. He got out and went to the coffee shop to see his friends every morning and drove my aunt around where she wanted to go even though she could drive herself. They drove to California when he was 80! I think keeping active is a good thing and I hope BG will do that. I need to get more active myself, if my knees and feet would let me!

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  13. Cheryl, I miss working , even now after all these years. Not so much some of the crazy jobs, but the co-workers and having some thing to fix. I loved my job and some of my co-workers...There's always some that need a kick in the pants to even get along with them. Retirement can be a major shock when one is used to getting up every day and going to work. My first day of retirement, I cried all day....and it was my choice to retire. I will say your husband will need a couple hobbies. One he can do if Heaven forbid he could not walk as well as now. My hobbies were junking and crafting. But honestly even that has changed over time....our desires change also. I will wish your husband the best and you too dear, as it is very different when both of you are retired. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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    1. Thank you, Susie! I still miss seeing some of my co-workers, too. I know when the time comes that it will be very hard for BG.

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  14. CH retired from the military in 1995 and retired again in 2007 at age 56 from banking. I am happy he retired early, he was ready and tired of the grind. He was ready to enjoy the Tiny Ten and wander Missouri and go to Florida whenever we wanted. Sure, there are times I would like to take "his remote" for the TV and throw it out the window and times I need to send him to his Mom's so I can have a day to myself. He is playing golf now so I do have some time to myself. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Two health scares for each of us in 2014 made us both realize that it was a good choice. We aren't getting any younger and truthfully the years that we are young enough and healthy enough to enjoy life are getting shorter. We are doing what we want and squeezing all the things we love to do and enjoy into every moment. We all have to decide what is best for us but I feel your disappointment Cheryl. Maybe he will change his mind. You both love traveling so much! I feel it when you type and post about Branson!

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    1. Only health issues would change his mind, I think. And I certainly don't want that! I'm so glad you and CH are doing okay now! You are right, Pix, I love going to Branson and frankly would love to live there. It would be hard to give up our small town life with our Back 6, tho. That's another hard decision to make! Pix, it's snowing pretty good here now! Yikes!

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    2. Oh Cheryl I know about giving up your Back 6... we have been thinking about moving for 5 years and I can't make that decision. CH is the one that really wants to move to Florida and I like it here in Missouri on the Tiny Ten. So I feel like he is disappointed and I am holding up the works. Too many hard decisions and it seems when I was younger I made better decisions and made them quickly! And a big NO to health issues for any of us! We got ice yesterday! Not much but enough.. little ice pellets!

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  15. Oh that was a big decision. When I married John, I thought that he was retired. He says that if he didn't get up and get going every day, he'd be gone (as in crickets) in a very short time. I do NOT understand that kind of thinking because I would prefer to do a few fun things. He is nearly 71 and no retirement yet in sight. (Though paid jobs are getting fewer and farther between.) All the best to you and your happy-to-be working husband!

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    1. Thanks Vee! I hope you and John get to enjoy some retirement years before too long, too!

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  16. Good Morning Cheryl, Yes, retirement is a big decision. One that requires a lot of thought. There is forced retirement when you are not ready. You'll never know what tomorrow will bring. Just take every day that you are given and I know you are disappointed. Your life can change in a heart beat. When they are around the house all day, it is different. Two years will pass fast. Hugs and Prayers from Your NW Missouri Friend Shirley

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    1. You're right, Shirley, it is a huge decision. But, I'm not really surprised that he wanted to keep working. It will be hard for him to just hang around the house all day. It will be an adjustment for me, too, to have him around. It's snowing pretty heavy here now! Hugs to you, too!

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  17. it's so great that your hubby loves his job! my dad is 68 and still works. he doesn't need to, he just keeps going. I think he enjoys the socializing.

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    1. I do think that is part of it for BG, too, Marie! He loves the camaraderie with all the guys.

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  18. This is such a personal decision and it certainly is great that your husband loves his job. Mine retired after 40 years at 66 and he's glad he did. He's busy around our property all the time and has developed other interests as well. He finally gets to volunteer, he's never still. I retired from a job I had come to hate when I was 64 and my health issues melted away once the stress level went down so as I said this can be such a personal decision. Life rarely turns out as we expect and next year he may change his mind.

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    1. Thanks, Patrica! That is true, you never know what another year might bring. That was my mindset about retirement, but it ultimately had to be his decision. I hope it was the right one!

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  19. We are lucky. Phil is retired, but he still goes back to work to sub about half the time. So it is the best of both worlds. I wonder if your husband has thought of doing that? Linesmen are so brave, that is a hard job and in all kinds of weather!! You must be really proud of him. Phil has found that he is busier in semi retirement than he was when he worked full time!! What with so much church work and keeping the house repairs up and bills. He is at work today and I don't like it!

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    1. They don't do part-time work at his job. Wish they did! I AM proud of him and his dedication to his job. Thanks, Ginny! Hope Phil is home tomorrow with you!

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  20. I think it is harder on men. They are defined by their work while we are more so by our families. I retired the minute I could even though I enjoyed working. I enjoyed playing more.
    My favorite bumper sticker says "Retirement--half the money--twice the husband." Food for thought.
    As fast as time flies by these days, it will be here in no time.

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    1. I freely admit that I love playing more, too. I like that bumper sticker, Patti! So true!

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  21. I could retire but I don't think I would know what to do with myself. I have always been the breadwinner.
    At some point I will do it but not just yet.

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    1. I think that is where BG is at...he doesn't have any hobbies to speak of, so he's wondering what he'll do. He's not ready to become a couch potato! You will know when the right time comes, Jeanne.

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  22. I am still working,but my Hubby retired after working for 39 years. At first he wasn't sure he liked it but it grew on him and we enjoyed a few wonderful years together.

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  23. We are right there where you are. My husband was going to retire a while back and now he promised to retire this spring. I am so hoping he well. We had a scare that I blogged about recently. He had a pulmonary emboli while on a business trip to Pittsburgh. I flew out to be with him. It was scary; but through a miracle he was only in the hospital a short time. Now, I am hoping that he will retire as planned. I have such a bucket list of things I want to do with him.
    I do think that if you have a job you love it is harder to leave. I think they worry about what they will do after retiring but I think you fill your lives with other activities that are good.
    Blessings are wished for you both!

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  24. I don't count, cause I just quit work...and stayed home. I sometimes wish I had not quit...but most of the time I am glad I did. Roger retired after 25 yrs...and would have HAD to retire in two years....would rather say in an email what from. He felt just so weird after he retired...really took him a while to adjust to it. And truthfully, he still misses the people he worked with. Just not the place he worked. Of course, he had worked a lot of other jobs before the one he retired from.

    Two years is not all that long...but I wish he would retire while he feels good. One thing, Roger can always find things he wants to do or make.

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  25. My husband retired when he was 48 not by his choice. He wanted to work longer but he had a heart attack and could no longer be in the Military. I retired at 62 1/2 I am enjoying it! Men are different than women...especially if they have no hobbies they can get really bored. My husband and I share two hobbies...antiquing and woodcarving that helps:)

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  26. I retired from teaching after 37 years in the classroom. That was back in 2006, and I have seen schools in general slide on the downward slope rather quickly. I wouldn't go back for anything. My husband left the corporate world after 42 years. He doesn't regret it either. We've always had lots of interests both separately and together. We did the opposite of what lots of folks do ---- we up-sized rather than down-sized. We bought this 56 acre farm and work hard! It's a pleasure and a blessing. My husband has his Harley riding and all the fun that goes with it. I no longer ride --- had an accident back in 2001 and sold my Harley. I have my art, reading, and writing. We are never bored. We have the time to do what we love.

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  27. I retired early, not so much by choice, but by corporate downsizing. For awhile I did do job searching, but then came to realize that retirement was NOT a bad thing. Luckily, my husband had been retired for a short time before me. Neither of us has ever looked back with regrets. And, yes the 2 years will go by quicker than you can imagine, time has a way of doing that.

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  28. Well you have certainly gotten lots of good input. I know you are very disappointed but him being happy working is better than him being miserable at home not working....Look at the bright side and think about all that time in the day that you will have to do whatever your hearts desire.....

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  29. Important decisions like this are always hard to make. Especially when you'r not sure if retirement is ready to fit you. Two years will past by very quickly and by that time...he will be ready and have his future planned...
    Enjoy life ..

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  30. We are not retired yet, but I have a feeling my husband will have a hard time retiring as well. When that time comes he does have quite a few hobbies that he enjoys to keep him busy. I do understand the disappointment, because I would probably be feeling the same way if I was in your shoes.

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  31. Cheryl, I understand your disappointment, but also can see how he feels. Each of us have our own reasons and thoughts of retirement. I too loved my job, and felt each day I worked. Had I not had MS, I probably would not have retired at 65. Most people do not "love" their jobs so can't wait to retire...lol

    My prayers are with you in this time of your life.

    Blessings,
    Gert

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  32. I packed it in at 62, and have never looked back. He will know when the time is right, when he wakes up at 4 in the morning, and says, "this is it, I'm done". But, you need to have another life besides work. If your work is your life, and your life is your work, those folks don't "retire" well. I have a little online business making jewelry holders, and it keeps me very occupied. I have found that you still need to have a "purpose" in your mind, something that you want to do. Without that "purpose", I think, retirement does not go well. Hang in there, and he may surprise you at breakfast one morning and say he has started the paperwork.

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  33. We've been discussing retirement, but actually it's mostly me planning and trying to get ready for it I think two more years for us, too. Time will fly by and I imagine it will for y'all too. Have a great day!

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  34. I wish I had worked longer . . . retired at sixty!
    Maybe that is why I volunteer . . . I loved my work and love people!

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  35. We retired early and never regretted it. But personal decision as you say. Will add that loving ones job does not mean that you'll hate being retired ... At least in our personal experience. And nor does it mean that you spend all day in a rocking chair, but of course you already know that!

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  36. My grandparents retired early and have had a great time in their now very long retirement. But as for some of the other members of my family, it seems it has been hard to retire--they decide to, and then the company wants them back--they retire again until they're tempted to work again, etc.

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    1. I guess a desire to work hard comes naturally to some people--and usually that's a good thing!

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