did your parents retire yet?

[Anonymous]

My mom left the workforce about 12yrs ago to help care for my aging now-deceased grandparents, but my dad finally retired last year when they were both 65. They relocated to a warmer climate and enjoy it but my dad had too much freetime so is now working part-time in a golf specialty store. He's a huge golf nut and was in sales his whole career so it's given him something to do 15 or 20hrs a week.

[Anonymous]

FIL retired at 55. Career government employee. MIL retired from school system when she was about the same age a few years later. That was about ten years ago. They do some travel, mostly to visit ailing relatives. Bought a vacation condo. Back up childcare for adult child who is a single parent. Both in very good health.

Great concern for their savings and long term plans - never had a will and have shared aversion to anything illness related to include talking about or preparing or saving for long (or short) term care. ILs assume their adult children will "take care of everything."

[Anonymous]

My parents are 62 and 60 and both work part-time (2-3 days a week). They both planned to retire last year but their companies both needed people on a part-time basis so it's kind of perfect for them. It's nice to have the extra income, they can stay on their benefits plans and still have plenty of time for the grandkids, who are all in school during the day anyway.

[Anonymous]

My father is 69 and works full time. He gets a job offer at least once a month from competitors. He loves what he does. I'm not sure what he would do if he retires. I don't think it would be healthy for him.

My mother never had an outside career.

[Anonymous]

My father retired twice, for good at age 63. My mother retired at 62. Both worked civil service jobs and have great pensions. They are now in their mid-60s. They've talked about finding part-time work for a few years, but at this point I don't think it will ever happen. I think my dad wanted to hang on longer-- he really enjoyed his job, especially the social aspect of it-- but my mom convinced him to retire. Now, they sit home occupying themselves with watching television, emailing their adult children articles about depressing news and calling to talk about their health (they are in perfect health) and who is dying or died. I can't tell if they're enjoying their retirement or just going stir crazy.

They are well off and I so wish they'd get a second home in Florida but they find every reason on earth not to try something new. They'd rather sit in the same big house they've lived in and be frightened or amazed every year by the mostly expected weather patterns in the northeastern US. "I can't believe how hot it it is!" or, "Do you know we're supposed to get one ft of snow this weekend!"

I'm afraid they may very well spend the next 20-30 years this way.

[Anonymous]

Parents are deceased.
My mother was a stay at home wife.
Dad worked a warehouse job unti he was 65, then worked part time until he was 70. He died at 76.

I'd hate to work till death. 65 will be long enough.