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

[Anonymous]

Real estate agent.

Investor.

Philanthropist.

Running for Congress.

Going back to home school.

On Sabbatical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

DP: I'm not sure why it's so difficult for you to accept that PP can be considered retired by many common definitions. Especially since her DH is also retired--do you feel the need to call him a SAHP too?

He’s not calling himself retired. She is.

He says he manages their real estate which is sort of made up--since she likely does the same and it's passive so he's likely at home as much as she is taking care of family.

I'm OP - he says he manages real estate, which he does and it is not really "our" real estate. It is his own rentals he has owned since before we were married. I have the same and I manage mine, too, BUT to be fair, his are much more extensive than mine (home versus apartment complex type of difference). Saying he manages real estate is not made up since he does do some things for that but not enough to be a real job hours-wise.

[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.

So
Is your plan to leave a lot to your kids?

I don’t get why people think that is good for kids.

It can be left to kids who can access it as they age up, 25, 35, 40, etc.

[Anonymous]

Is the question posed in this exact way--"what do you do for a living?" The answer to that is "I receive checks from others and cash them."

[Anonymous]

Import export.

[Anonymous]

I tell people I’m retired but continue to be on a couple of corporate boards and two nonprofits. It keeps my brain active and I like to think I can still make a contribution.

[Anonymous]

I’m a writer and I have money

[Anonymous]

I say retired

Someone thought that meant collecting social security.

[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.

My husband is retired (pension job) at that age and also working by choice. You can absolutely be retired at that age.

[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.

And every mother I know who is a 1099 or SAHM gets those same stares and questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Merriam Webster would beg to differ: to withdraw from one's position or occupation : conclude one's working or professional career

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retire

+1

I’m retired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Import export.

LOL, are you middle eastern? It takes one to know one

[Anonymous]

Nobody ever asks me about my job. When I worked 90 hrs a week, nobody asked me, and now that I am early retired nobody asks me. It's absolutely fine since I prefer to talk about other things.

[Anonymous]

One of my neighbors say they no longer work for money which sums up their life fairly well. They busy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody ever asks me about my job. When I worked 90 hrs a week, nobody asked me, and now that I am early retired nobody asks me. It's absolutely fine since I prefer to talk about other things.

Interesting - don’t you put something down on your federal taxes? When you fill our new patient paperwork?