If you retired you, what do you say when people ask what you do for a living?

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why you can’t just say you’re retired. This is really weird.

[Anonymous]

Consultant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you can’t just say you’re retired. This is really weird.

+1. What’s the issue with saying retired?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because you’re not “retired” at 49. You just quit and don’t plan to go back. Which is fine. But it’s not what people mean when they say retired. Retirement is for elderly people. You can’t retire at 35 or 49.

Oh look, it’s the internet retirement police!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consultant.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because you’re not “retired” at 49. You just quit and don’t plan to go back. Which is fine. But it’s not what people mean when they say retired. Retirement is for elderly people. You can’t retire at 35 or 49.

This is silly. Retired = have made enough to stop working and chooses to do so. This can completely happen at 35 or 49.

[Anonymous]

Say, "I'm not allowed to talk about work. Top secret" and wink. Then change the subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you can’t just say you’re retired. This is really weird.

Op here: this is my view but not my spouse’s. We are both retired and we have minor children. I saw I’m retired but he doesn’t like how that sounds. But I am…I prefer it over stay at home parent because my kids are late teens and saying “retired” relays the information that I previously worked, which is more accurate.

We were recently at an appointment and we’re asked about our employment. I said retired. Spouse said manages real estate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 55 and have been early retired for 5 years now (female). I invested very early in my career and now live off $120,000 yearly dividends. No debt. When people ask me, I just say worked hard, invested well, and live below my means.

But….I live in an area now with a lot of affluent retirees. So most folks don’t ask. Many of us in the same financial circumstance.

Where do you live ? I actually plan to do the same and move from dmv by 50

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 55 and have been early retired for 5 years now (female). I invested very early in my career and now live off $120,000 yearly dividends. No debt. When people ask me, I just say worked hard, invested well, and live below my means.

But….I live in an area now with a lot of affluent retirees. So most folks don’t ask. Many of us in the same financial circumstance.

Most people at 55 have kids in college and a mortgage and some a SAHM wife. $120,000 is enough a single person with no debt.

Retiring 55 is also a huge impact on SS and 401ks as missing catch up. I am over 50 and put 30k in 401k and my company has generous match of 24k a year. So I put 54k a year in. Retiring at 50 given normal retirement is 67 you miss 17 years of 54k contributions.

I don’t see how this works with kids. Nearly all 50-60 year old retired women on block husband still works. Several neighbors wife worked for govt but husband a lawyer or doctor. Two are CEOs small companies.

$120k has not been a lot of money since 1990. I was making 120k in 1999 and was crazy crazy tight.

Where do you live ? I actually plan to do the same and move from dmv by 50

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH says he is retired or semi retired. Then a million looks, and other questions follow. It’s annoying in that it is sexist. Everyone expects a 49 year old man to still be employed but it’s okay if a woman same age is a SAHM/unemployed.

A SAHM is not unemployed. She is just not being paid for in money for what she does for her family. No one is in doubt what a SAHM does when they ask her what she does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Say, "I'm not allowed to talk about work. Top secret" and wink. Then change the subject.

So many people in this area do that. I wonder if they are all secretly retired.

[Anonymous]

Our worth isn't attached to our jobs or income. Know that and respect it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you can’t just say you’re retired. This is really weird.

Op here: this is my view but not my spouse’s. We are both retired and we have minor children. I saw I’m retired but he doesn’t like how that sounds. But I am…I prefer it over stay at home parent because my kids are late teens and saying “retired” relays the information that I previously worked, which is more accurate.

We were recently at an appointment and we’re asked about our employment. I said retired. Spouse said manages real estate.

Oh, it’s you again. By your definition, any woman who used to work outside the home but decided to quit working and stay home isn’t a stay at home parent - they’re retired. You have a weird issue with that.

So far as I’m concerned, you’re not retired. Sorry. Retired to me means you can walk out the door tomorrow and go anywhere and do anything you want, unencumbered by the grounding schedules of your minor children. Every day that you remain responsible for child care you are not retired, even when child care doesn’t involve changing diapers.

I’m not sure why this is so difficult for you to accept. Your continued insistence that you are somehow different than millions of other women who quit working while you still have kids at home may make you feel better, but it’s not reality.

[Anonymous]

Does he manage real estate? I mean it seems fine to say that if it’s true.