Retirement?

[Gamerprinter]

I'm 58, and consider myself semi-retired. I have some investments for my retirement, and an inheritance coming soon enough, so my financial future isn't bleak. Oh and for healthcare, while not always the greatest, I'm fully covered by the VA as a veteran. After 8 years or so in the graphics industry working for others (with 4 years in the Army tucked in there), then 22 years running my own graphic design/digital print studio, which closed in 2015, due to family health issues. I was doing freelance illustration with Xara as a primary tool, concurrently for the last 7 years while still running that business. So now, I do freelance work 50% of the time, and create my own projects that I self-publish the other 50% of my time. I work from home. Some jobs require me to fly to my clients, but most work I never meet my clients, everything is handled online, including getting paid. I have enough free time that I can caregive for both my parents, though my Dad is going downhill fast - and that's a big time eater in my daily schedule.

One piece of advice might be find better clients... all my clients trust me, respond to questions I have, and though sometimes requiring tweaks or corrections after the job is complete - last minute changes before publication, those extras are usually minimal. I have great clients. Also while I am a member of some social media, like Linked-In or Facebook - clients easily find me. I've never asked for work from a client ever, not in my freelance career anyway - all my clients find me and they initiate contact. While I have an impressive resume/CV if I ever needed one - I've never actually needed it. My portfolio does send clients my way, as well as Facebook posts of maps, and here, but I largely get work through reputation alone.

So I'll retire when I'm dead, or when I'm incapable of doing what I do. Until then, I immensesly enjoy what I do, so I don't see it as work - even though it does take effort and creativity.

Nice impala illustration, by the way.

[behzad]

Gamerprinter thanks for sharing your experiences and your compliment about my illustration.

[pauland]

Carry on doing what you're doing but take up art again.

I think retirement is a very odd concept that many cannot afford.

Do more of what you want to do.

I had two PIA clients last year and it makes me more inclined to do what I want to do for a change rather than spend my life doing stupid things for unpleasant people.

Two years ago I lost a client to cancer. He was about my age and the most wonderful man as a client and a friend. So do things you want to do, if you can.

I will retire when I can't work, but I won't work like I have done in the past.

Ironically I considered becoming a mailman last year, just to get a modest income, get fitter and remove the hassles of bad clients and have time to do what I want as well. Covid-19 put paid to that.

A lot of people deteriorate badly after retirement because they don't know what to do with themselves and they lose a sense of purpose. Don't be like that.

Ask this guy about retirement..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-56204309

[handrawn]

depends how you define retirement; it certainly should not be a retirement from activity, and depending on circumstances it may not be a retirement from generating income

but it should be an opportunity to do things you always wanted to do, but never got round to.. of course, if you are working your way through those already in your work, you are laughing

[drslim2]

OMG - I am 56 and cant think of anything worse than retirement.

I have always worked all the hours God send and am driven as fear of failure haunts me (a long story from childhood when we were very poor).
I have had an hard life but thankfully, have a very successful business and employ my whole family but cant hand over the reigns because they have all been spoilt and just dont know how to do things correctly (according to me anyway).

You are still a young and obviously talented and gifted man and cant just "retire" - I have seen what happens to active people who retire. The loose their zest for life, their brain power shrinks and become mentally and physically a shadow of their former self.
We all need to be active, have goals and achieve things in life in order to feel alive.

Life is for living... its better to burn out than just fade away...

[Egg Bramhill]

That's one way to look at it DrSlim but I'd disagree totally. I've been retired now for getting onto ten years, but even prior to that I was semi retired for several years before. To be honest there isn't enough hours in the day for me to return to work. Retirement isn't a switch. On reaching it you don't need to turn off. The alternative is true. You no longer have to 'work to live', you can work to fill your capabilities, your desires, your long forgotten dreams.

The only thing that stands in the balance is your financial situation but this doesn't stop your creativity.

[handrawn]

Life is for living......

this I agree with 100%

however, speaking personally 'working all the hours God sends' on 'just one thing' is not living - of course some jobs entail a wide spectrum, but no matter how much I may love something, if I am obliged to do it all the time it is going to turn that love cold

but we are all different

and it may be difficult to retire and enjoy it, unless there are other interests you can pick up on, no matter how well off you may be

retitrement should not be a switching-off, and it is certainly does not have to mean fading away; it is more like moving house.. you are have a whole new territory to explore

[Penny O'Rorke]

I like the moving house analogy, that's perfect. I also agree with Egg, not nearly enough hours in the day.

[behzad]

Good points Pauland. I think our brains and body has to always be in motion. Our x mayor just turned 100 and she was cutting her own lawn just a few years ago, etc. Here is her story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTp0s33t56k

[gray]

I retired at 55, behzad, that was 20 years ago. We've been through the care giver thing for both my family and my wife's. Also main caregiver for an aunt who lived to be 106. She lived in her own home till 103, so yes those times can be draining. First and foremost you have to be financially secure to have a good retirement. Retirement allows you to pursue hobbies or work when you feel like it, or travel. I've enjoyed every minute of retirement and never looked back. I just woke up one day and decided I didn't want
to work for pay anymore. Enjoy your 50's and 60's because your 70's and older are not your best years as you get closer to the finish line. You can't buy time. I've lost more than half the good friends I grew up with now. This year has been a bummer in many ways with Covid, but the end is in sight. We love to travel in the winter. Being a speed freak one of my favorite yearly rituals is to take the Advanced Road Racing course at Bondurant Race School in Arizona. Something I never had the time to do when I was working (next winter for sure). If you are unsure take six months off and see how it works out. By the way I like your illustration. Robert Bateman lives on Salt Spring Island which I look at every morning out my kitchen window. Good luck on your future decision.