Wondering about wild grapes

Friday, March 11, 2011

Retired, Semi-Retired, or just Tired.

I was asked one day if I was retired. Well now, I just had to stop and think about that for awhile. Am I retired or semi-retired, or am I just out of work? Good question, I just didn’t stop one day and say, “I am now retired”. No, it just sort of crept up on me and now I kind of like it.



As I got older, I weeded out all of my customers except for two. These two have been my customers for many, many years. I have learned what they usually expect of me, I know the employees, they know me, and we are friends. At least I feel we are friends.



In 2010, I worked a total of 160 hours and so far this year I have only worked 3.5 hours. That is down a lot from 2009 when I put in a thousand hours for the same two customers. I have done some additional stuff for them, but at no charge. Sort of a good will thing. Times have been bad, but I was old enough, so at age 66, I started receiving social security benefits. Being self employed, I have to pay 13.5% off the top to social security. That has been quite an amount over the years, probably a lot more than I will ever get back, so I don’t feel guilty taking it.



OK, so am I retired, semi-retired, laid off, or just plain out of work? I will let you decide. The truth is, I do not want to get busy again. I probably wouldn’t object to a small job now and then, but maybe out of the above choices, I am just tired. You know, “been there, done that” and now it is time for something different. At least something that doesn’t have a tight schedule affixed to it. I don’t mind doing work, or traveling, or playing, or whatever, as long as there is no strict schedule.

Know what I mean?

11 comments:

  1. Indeed I do. I tell people I'm self-unemployed.

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  2. I am retired also and I am enjoying it. Wouldn't change a thing. Blessings jane

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  3. I too understand. I'm just doing my dues until I too can rest.

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  4. I got an early out with SS Disability and have adapted very well to not sitting in traffic going to a job where my bosses were all 25 years old and from India with a degree they got there in a year and a half and backpacks and hickeys. I was training them...Doesn't bother me a bit!

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  5. Like Frann, forced retirement, sucked at first, but I've gotten used to it now. But now days, I don't miss the work routine not to mention the commute!!!

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  6. forced into early retirement, no jobs after being laid off, so when unemployment ended, had to take it. LOVE IT!!!.. best thing? Never have to set that (*&^%$$#$ alarm clock.
    Like u tho, worked a few hours along the way, with just one person. After the last one moved, i just never did it any more.

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  7. Sixbears, self-unemployed, yeah, I like that!!!

    Jane, I have worked from my home for many, many years and this retirement thing is just shifting one paying job to a bunch of non-paying work :-0

    Grant, who said retirement was resting? Last thing you want to do is stop doing things.

    Frann, Yep, I understand, but you didn’t stop working; now you work for yourself on your property. Isn’t life wonderful?

    Ben, I guess I am just easing into it. Don’t know how I would have reacted if it would happen all of a sudden.

    Trouble, Yes, there is a lot of good to be said about retirement. Now, if I can only get some miles on my 6 new tires. . .

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  8. When I retired, the first thing I did was to take off my watch! Haven't worn one since...and don't miss it at all!

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  9. Hermit, I suppose the next thing you will do is toss out the calendar??

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  10. Me...me, I want in this club. I agree with all the above! I just want to know one thing from you...what did you retire from? I know you worked from home and just have a couple of customers left but what did you do for a living?

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  11. I used your question to write my blog today, Sunday. You can get your answer there, maybe more than you wanted.

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