What age will you retire?

Moogie · Jul 13, 2010

I don't think it's presumptuous at all. I look at nurse administrators and think they are out of their mind with the amount of work that they do. I find teaching at the bedside to nursing students soothing and rewarding and refreshing. All the energy they have, the wonder and awe at the profession always take me back and really makes a difference to me. Being an APRN is very rewarding, my practice on the ICU is wonderful and I work with (and it is with, not for) some great doc's who really allow me the independence to practice. But, it is draining I figure by the age of 50, slowing down and teaching is perfect for me.

You sound like you have an awesome attitude and a lot to share with students. Thank you for clarifying---I definitely see your point that the pace in teaching would be a bit more relaxed than being a nurse practitioner in the ICU. Now, when I look at what some educators are doing---teaching plus going back to school plus working at the bedside plus keeping up with a family, I have to wonder---do these folks ever sleep?!? :eek: Truth be told, there are plenty of times when I think I will need a continuous caffeine drip to keep up with a teaching career. Open vein. Insert coffee.

The thing is, if you enjoy what you do, you don't feel like you are working so hard, even if you are putting in a lot of hours. You just sound very content with where you are in life right now and where you are eventually going. That's a huge blessing!

Thanks again for your response. I think your future students are going to be fortunate to have you as a mentor and a role model.

mystic2fire · Jul 13, 2010

I am going to continue working part time for the next 150 years and then I am going to be the greeter at Walmart because they seem so darn happy and get to talk to everyone ;-)

rnlately · Jul 13, 2010

I'll probably work until 80 since that's probably what the retirement age will be in the next 10-20 yrs. Seriously, I'm 34 now and would like to work in some capacity as long as I'm physically able to.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jul 13, 2010

I'm 33, and I don't plan to retire.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 13, 2010

I'm 33, and I don't plan to retire.

I do hope that doesn't mean you are making no plans for retirement ... saving no money ... planning a career that will give you the opportunity to retire if you need to (or want to) later in life. It's one thing to try to stay active and contribute to society throughout one's entire life ... but it's another to not make plans for providing for yourself when you can no longer work due to advanced age, illness, injury, etc. Lot's of people live to be over 100, but I don't know anyone that age who can provide for themselves by working a job at that age.

Please say that you don't mean you are making no plans at all. And if you really aren't making any plans at all, I hope you reconsider.

phlox · Jul 13, 2010

How wonderful to start a thread and then to come back the next day and have so many responses! What great (and humorous) answers!

I am planning on living to 100 :) My family is long-lived and I feel I have good genetics. I take proper suppliments, drink green tea, eat dark chocolate, work hard outside and eat pure foods and so forth. I want to stay active. My body works best when it has no extra poundage on it, my knees scream and by back hollers when I am overweight. There are no old fat people and there are no fat old people. Staying fit makes a world of difference in your outlook in life.

I plan to go to work in the Houston Medical Center, then some travel and then later back to rural nursing part time. I need the mental stimulation of being around brainy types, other nurses and doctors. Not too much of that in the woods where I live.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jul 13, 2010

Please say that you don't mean you are making no plans at all. And if you really aren't making any plans at all, I hope you reconsider.

I'm saving money, but at the rate I'm going, it won't be nearly enough to retire. I don't expect Social Security to be around when I need it. Hopefully, when I can no longer work, there will be some kind of safety net left for seniors.

phlox · Jul 13, 2010

I have zero retirement. Not one cent. I have acreage and some livestock and have food stores for lean times. I receive a tiny, tiny SSDI check each month. I will never starve but I will live in rags and animal pelts or something.

iNurseUK, RN · Jul 13, 2010

I expect to work a good decade or more yet.

Thank God for the very good NHS pension.

jjjoy, LPN · Jul 13, 2010

I am very disciplined about living within my means and saving money and contributing to retirement accounts. However, I still don't trust that I'll have enough to retire.

Retirement planning advice frustrates me. They say things like "decide how much you'll need in retirement... at just X% interest, you only need to save $X for X years." Great, a plan! 8% is the modest return on investment usually quoted. Okay, so where's a safe place to get that kind of return?

Buying a home has worked as a saving device for many, but it's not like home ownership doesn't have it's own costs and risks. I live modestly and my rent has always been much lower than any mortgage payment plus no surprise roof or plumbing repairs to pay for. And what are the chances I'm going to be living in the same place long enough to really build equity? Job markets change and one may need to relocate for work.

And finally, what really is "enough" for retirement since not only might the economy be completely different but we could need anywhere from 10 - 30 years worth of living expenses saved up?! I could save every last penny and live a totally miserly existence all my life and build a big nest egg and still end up running out whether from a bad turn in investments, getting really sick, living too long... Ugh!!

If I make conservative investments and end up without enough money, it's my own fault for not investing more aggressively, right? And if I take more risks and end up without enough money, it's my own fault for not being more careful, right? Even if one has a great pension, there's the chance it will go under. Even if something is a "good gamble" and you do your "due diligence" and you "live responsibly" it's still a gamble!! . Ugh!!!

In many places, investing in one's children is considered akin to investing in a retirement plan. Of course, no guarantees that way, either!

Can you tell this is a sore spot for me?

phlox · Jul 13, 2010

When I get back to work, which means a refresher course and tpapn for 2 years because I am Bipolar, I plan on saving a little bit, building a cabin/house with plenty of bedrooms, a nice kitchen, screened in porches and a fireplace out here on the farm and helping my children and grandchildren have better lives (college education for the 1 of my 4 children who still need it and new school clothes each year and new shoes for the grand kids). I want the nice cabin/house on our land so there will be a "home place". I own the farm and have a clear title in my name. I think every family needs a home place in the country to gather in and to retreat to and to go to if things get rough. My family has always been like that.

Oh, and 2 of my children are successful and can help with the "home place", so it is not all on me, although I would not ask them for help unless needed. They are in agreement though.

GHGoonette, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2010

I'm 55 now and face statutory retirement at 60. My options are either to sign a contract with my current employer and carry on working or join a nursing agency. With 20 years experience in Recovery Room under my belt I shouldn't have a problem-experienced recovery staff are like chickens' teeth in South Africa. Either way, I want to work until I'm 65 to give my retirement investment time to grow a bit more. After all, what use is retirement if you can't enjoy it? But an old friend of mine is still working at age 68.