Curmudgeon Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 I thought it might be time for one of those -- a marriage post NOT about sexual dysfunction, infidelity, porn addiction, interfering families, buttinski friends, ungrateful children, money woes, etc. Sometimes a marriage actually seems to work! For over a year I have been planning to retire in the latter part of 2009. I turned 62 last month so I am eligible for Social Security but was going to put that and retirement off for at least another year. Yesterday my wife and I went to a see Garrison Keillor (creator of A Prairie Home Companion with the News from Lake Wobegone, that fictional town "where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average"). Mr. Keillor has been doing the show on radio for 35 years and has written 17 books. He's a marvelous speaker with a dry sense of humor and a quit wit. Following his lecture (hilarious) he held a Q&A and said something in response to an audience member's question that resonated with me. When we returned home I broached the subject of retiring at the end of this year and my wife was all for it. She didn't bat an eye. She asked if we'd have to tighten our belts for awhile until she's eligible for Social Security (another two years) and when I replied that we probably would, she pondered that for a moment then said, "Well, we've both done it before" and that was that. I jumped online, signed up for Social Security and this morning announced to my employer that come December 30, I'm history. Seems like a good enough day to retire. It will be our 12th wedding anniversary and a date that's easy to remember, even at my age. No drama, no 20 questions, no arguments. She said she knew that this was what was best for me and she had confidence in my planning. I'm blessed to have such a good and caring woman in my life and am very grateful. This is my happy post!
jerbear Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Fun FUN, good luck in retirement. Just dont retire from LS.
2sunny Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Wow C=Lion! Great for you and Mrs. Lion! are you still planning to move where you previously planned? sounds like your W may be doing a lot better - i can only hope for both of you. hey 8 months for me today! woo hoo... i love good news... thank you.
IfWishesWereHorses Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Congrats! I'm so happy for you two! This IS what we aspire to all of our lives right! The Golden Years! Good for you, I hope you two can tighten your belts for a few years and enjoy what you've had coming to you! Congrats again!
porter218 Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Curmudgeon, of coarse the woman is happy....Now she will not have to share you with work. That is worth the trade-off of tightening her belt. I would be ready to throw a freakin party if I were her. There is almost nothing I value more then spending quality time with my H.
whichwayisup Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Cool Cur! I'm happy for you and your wife.
Trialbyfire Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Wow C, this is great turn-around! You deserve it. Congrats!
soserious1 Posted September 19, 2008 Posted September 19, 2008 Do you follow/read Suzy Orman.. not sure of the spelling. There's a way for one spouse to retire on the lower SS amount at 62... then when the other is ready to retire you can recind the 1st spouse's retirement, refile for the higher benefit. Don't know if your wife is working but it might be useful to you guys.
Author Curmudgeon Posted September 20, 2008 Author Posted September 20, 2008 Do you follow/read Suzy Orman.. not sure of the spelling. There's a way for one spouse to retire on the lower SS amount at 62... then when the other is ready to retire you can recind the 1st spouse's retirement, refile for the higher benefit. Don't know if your wife is working but it might be useful to you guys. Thanks. I'm aware of the possibility but I'm older than my wife who retired six years ago and my earnings were always much higher so she'll benefit from my SS when she's eligible. Actually, that means we both will.
Author Curmudgeon Posted September 20, 2008 Author Posted September 20, 2008 I am SOOOO proud of you! Still planning to move and it's looking like Missouri will likely be the place we land. It will decidedly be an adventure! I'm the one who should be thanking you.
Author Curmudgeon Posted September 20, 2008 Author Posted September 20, 2008 Many thanks to all of you who posted. This is decidedly life-changing, a bit scarey and very exciting. We can hardly wait!!!
Art_Critic Posted September 20, 2008 Posted September 20, 2008 Hey Curm... I just saw the thread.. Damn dude.. Congrats...you deserve it.. enjoy it.. Looks like 2009 is gonna be a wonderful year for you both ... Make sure that you don't just sit back and retire, staying at home.. get your butt involved into a hobby or something that keeps you busy.. It will keep you healthy.. Maybe a bait and tackle shop
Author Curmudgeon Posted September 20, 2008 Author Posted September 20, 2008 Make sure that you don't just sit back and retire, staying at home.. get your butt involved into a hobby or something that keeps you busy.. It will keep you healthy.. Going back to a hobby I loved that I had to give up when I had children becqause of time and expense -- Nature Photography. We'll end up on the banks of either the Mississippi or Missouri Rivers and the opportunities will be boundless. Plenty of countryside for black-and-white photography which I especially enjoy due to the light-and-shadow contrasts and it's stark nature if you shoot that way. I'll use high resolution digital and good ol' 35mm SLRs. I can't wait! I may even go back to my own developing and printing. After all, isn't that why basements were invented -- to be darkrooms? Meanwhile, my wife, who is a former midwife, will be active in childbirth issues.
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