For the past couple of weeks I have been walking at lunch with a coworker. We used to walk at different times but one day we went out the door at the same time and ever since then we have gone together. It is nice to chat with someone sometimes. Today the weather was very nice, probably one of the last nice days before it gets really hot. I commented that one day I hope to be a snowbird so that I can go somewhere cooler for the Summer. He asked if I was independently wealthy. I responded that I was working on it and told him, briefly; of my plan to sell my house after it gets paid off and when I can sell it for at least $150,000, then move out to my property and buy a 10' x 20' shed to make in to a tiny house. This triggered one of his (many) stories and for the rest of the walk he told me about the colonial cabins he had seen in New Jersey where he used to live, some of which were smaller than 10' x 20' and quite efficient.
But anyway, it is funny how I can talk to some people about my retirement plan and others I can't. I can talk to my boss about a lot of my plans but I always avoid a specific timeline. I told him that I would retire when he retires but he keeps extending his retire date. The coworker who walks with me has a kid in college so he isn't thinking about retiring yet but he is a lot older than me. He seems to be one of those people who will work at the same job until he dies. Another coworker has discussed her retirement plans but they are far away and she will need a lot of money to keep her in the lifestyle that she wants. And still another coworker could probably retire now but he is having too much fun making money and running a couple of profitable side businesses.
I am really glad that the internet has so much information and resources for people like me who don't have friends who have the same goals and interests. I don't think I would be brave enough to try half of the things I have done if I couldn't have researched them on the internet and read about other people's successes and failures. So, I just want to say thanks to all of those people out there who leave comments for me and give me suggestions. And thank you to all of the people who blog about your hopes and dreams and successes and failures. You are all my inspiration!
6 comments:
I hope I have helped you, Daizy. I was very tight-lipped about my retirement plans at the office except for one close friend/coworker, although my additional reduction in weekly hours worked from 20 to 12 back in 2007 might have been a hint that I was going to bolt at some point.
A good early retirement website I visit all the time is http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/ . You might want to check it out some time.
I am lucky not to be quite so alone but I really think the beauty of the internet is that we similar crazies all find each other :)
Thanks for the link, Dave. I am always interested in more information. The same old websites and blogs get repetitive sometimes.
Definitely, Lizzie! I don't feel as crazy when I know I have company! Or maybe I don't care that I am crazy!
For me, and probably for many more, you are one of my inspirations!
Jo Ann in VA
Well, thank you, Jo Ann. It is good to hear that some are inspired by my blog. It makes it worth the effort.
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