Just Received my Retirement Papers

I already have my rocking chair too. It was given to me by my grandma when my first son was born, 23 years ago at the age of 20. I don't sit in it much though, since I am still to wired to sit still for long.

 

My Dad retired after 46 years in Local 959, came to Oregon and sat on his butt for about 3 months and went out and bought a truck and leased it to Interstate. drove that for about four more years till his heart went bad and couldn't get a medical card anymore. I'm 60, and have NO PLANS to quit at this time. Matter of fact I start a new job next week!

 

I know a lot of you guys have been in the trade 30 years or more. And it appears you are union? It seems the country is so anti-union anymore. Did you get a pension? Congrats if that's the case. Or are you relying on savings and SS? I know a lot of the companies offer 401ks now. Do they match contributions? I'm honestly wondering what the retirement picture looks like for a trucker. Anyway, good luck to you and your wife. Big respect to you for taking care of your elderly m-i-l. Especially with Alzheimers. I know that is no easy row to hoe.

 

It's known if you slow down, you'll wither away. But retirement can be a good thing. You can buy a boat and get that fishing rod out. You can take on new hobbies. There are many things you can do to stay busy. There's more to life than holding onto a steering wheel. I know the many times I quit, I always itched to go back and done so. It stays in your blood. But, now is a better time to get out than ever. Things just ain't the same.

It's nice to throw the clock out the window. My front porch is the length of the house. I have a beautiful view of rolling hills and the Tennessee river. And off in the distance I can see the two cooling towers of our nuclear plant.

 

Oh, I am SO jealous. My childhood home had a front porch. I never realized how much I'd miss it until I got married and we bought a home without one. And the older I get, the more I miss it. <sigh>

Funny, though. I have a fantastic view of two cooling towers, too...

 

If you don't have a pension, any job, you have to have a 401K if you want a normal retirement. I would put at least 10% of your earnings in it too. Most companies will match around 4%. Of the many dumb things I done, investing in a 401K is the smartest thing I've done. Last quarter I made a record 13.5%.

 

You must be near TMI? I grew up outside Lancaster.

 

Close, but no cigar! I'm about two miles (as the crow flies) from the Limerick Generating Station -- near Pottstown. I'm on the Chester County side of the Schuylkill River, though.

 

38 years and counting......I have no intention of retiring until I'm unable to do this for some reason, I'm in great shape and feel as good as I did in my 30's.

I have enough money and crap to retire but the thought of not doing this just does not appeal to me...But then I have always loved my work!
I have never been one of those guys that thought of work as drudgery, I chose a career that I was well suited for and have thoroughly enjoyed it for all these years.

Enjoy your retirement...