Multi-topic thread on retirement and second car

[RDATLTE]

I retired at 47. I started planning for retirement the day I started working. I enjoyed summer vacation so much when I was a kid that I decided a life of leisure was the life for me! I'm not married. I don't have and never planned on having children. I live in a very nice but modest home that was bought and paid for long before I retired. I'm really not all that excited about travel. It's really all about saving and living within your means.

As for the cars, I currently have four and two motorcycles. I have retirement accounts, both traditional and Roth IRA's. I'm 61 now. I hear you guys discussing cars alot and it's always modern cars. For me vintage cars are where it's at! Most of my vehicles are still gaining value. In a few years I may decide to sell a couple of vehicles to finance a vacation home but we'll see.

Btw if you're wondering what I did to achieve all of this, I was a Police Officer. It's a job I wouldn't even consider if I were just starting out today. I understand that the cost of health care is a major concern for most early retirees but thankfully my health care was paid for which made retirement possible for me.

Again it's all about planning, saving and living within your means. Choosing not to have kids didn't hurt either.

Health care and a roof over your head; it's all gravy after that.

 

[Roadhawk]

My survival bunker is almost finished. My wife just needs to decide what color to paint the blast door.

Back in the 1990s a friend and work colleague built one of the most elaborate survival bunkers imaginable ( but outclassed - at least luxury wise - by many being built nowadays). Still - this thing was 90 feet long with a blast door (imported from Switzerland and filled with concrete)...it had dual power - commercial with switch over to internal (powered by exercise bikes)...had two entrances - one from the house - one to an outer underground area and a third ability to enter/exit by blasting through to the surface (just in case the whole thing was under debris etc). They also had radiation suits and Geiger counters etc etc

Well he informed me that we had a place there if things were to "go up"...this all led to much discussion - with me expressing doubts about getting adequate warning in time etc. and also debates about what made more sense to spend limited $$$ on with me expressing satisfaction with my multi level deck.screened in porch and outdoor kitchen built (mostly by myself with friends & relatives) for less then half the cost of his elaborate shelter. Still it was way cool and the real deal...

 

[FLYARMY]

I was just kidding about the survival shelter. If and when the time comes, I will just get a six pack of Heineken beer , my patio chair and wait for the flash ! Money will become worthless. Only food, water, weapons/ammo, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, medicine and poontang will have any value. I will try and get to my local military base to steal a helicopter to get outta Dodge....but there are probably other pilots with the same plan.

 

[BimmerFan]

As for retirement... it is brutal with seven older siblings that are starting to retire in mass. Their peer pressure and the positive reflections in this thread has got me running the numbers, hard.

With the exception of people who didn't save enough or had an unexpected and financially debilitating health condition pop up, I'm not seeing a lot of negative options from retirees.

As long as we don't listen to morons like Susie Ormond, I think the majority of us are well positioned to do it. My hang-up right now isn't finances as it is what do I do with myself to stay busy. My A.D.D. is bad enough already...