Not me. I m working from home. I have my retirement date set in stone LOL.

I retired on 31 Dec 2013, and my husband retired 01 Apr 2015. A few days ago we were talking about how we are lucky, relatively speaking, during this COVID-19 mess because we are used to being home a lot, and we haven't lost any income because of work shutdowns, etc. We paid off our mortgage a year or so ago, and our cars are paid for, so we're lucky there, too.

When I was still working, I sometimes worked from home, as everything that I did while in the office could be done from here at home. If I were still working, I'd be working from home without any problems. Many of the State agencies have shut down, but the agency where I worked is an "essential agency," so everyone is still working. Even though I could be working from home, I'm very glad that I am retired.

Nothing to do with the virus but some of the best advice I was ever given about retirement was that I would know when it was right. Some never have that moment or never listen to it.

We've been living 'quietly' for ages, in retirement. This isn't exactly new, but I'm grateful to have DH to share the time with me. Also grateful for all the technology that makes it pleasant -- includig the KT!

Many employers in recent years have put in technology and ways and means to allow folks to work from home. Those efforts and investments have more than paid off now.

Those who are able to do so may be better off continuing their employment for now. If for no other reason than to have that to spend your time.

nycefarm, if you're able to continue your employment from home for now and what's involved is acceptable to you, why not continue? Keep your retirement plan in your back pocket and pull it out when a return to the job-site or other requirements push you to make a change.

Good luck to you and others. The world has changed and won't be changing back for awhile. We all need to do and find what works for our individual circumstances.

I have a friend who has been on the fence about retirement. He’s a lawyer. SAH has given him a chance to take retirement for a test drive, although he is still, working from home. Nevertheless, he is enjoying seeing spring up close for the first time in many years. No commuting, no early/late hours. He’s also growing a beard which is god awful. I really think this experience will push him closer to retirement and he may set a date.

as for me, I’ve been retired for years so I’m used to being home..

I've been a remote worker for almost 14 years. The only thing that's pushing me closer to retirement is my age.....but I still have years to go....the nice part about working from home is I don't feel any stress to set that date.

DH's business is remodeling commercial buildings for a General Contractor. I think "he" should QUIT because of the virus. " He's working alone one week, then 10 others show up the next week...smoking, vaping, bringing their kids on the job site. One guy, Carlos, spits and blows his nose out onto the floor. He's been "talked" to....and he won't stop. He was even "let-go", but now he works for another company & occasionally works on the same job site.

We are having a "discussion". :0)

Yes. We are self-employed and I do the scheduling/office stuff and husband does house calls. Because of social distancing requirements we haven't done a house call in over a month and, since most of our clients are in their 70's, 80's, or beyond, it would be tricky to know when it's safe to resume again. We are loving the downtime so much, we are planning to retire this year.

Nicole, what a disgusting creep, that is just stomach-turning. No one should have to put up with that.

As soon as I can I will retire! Probably 5-6 years though the way things are going.

I'm working from home half the week and going to the office the other half. With few people in the building, it's been quiet and nice to get out of the house and still feel relatively safe. We do a lot of sanitizing.

One thing I know I'll miss are my friends that will still be working. I hope to have some of them retire close to when I do so we can do a weekly hang out. : )

I retired last year, and before that I was only working part time for the previous two years. I do plan to try to find something lucrative to do, but otherwise, I have no trouble finding ways to occupy my time. I've been going through my huge fabric collection (and patterns) to see what I would like to make next. I want to make a new bedspread for my bedroom here - I've already made bedspreads for the bedrooms in Los Angeles.

My friend in Utah was sort of forced into retirement a couple of weeks ago when he wore a mask where he worked at a nursing home. The nursing home told him to take it off or leave, and so he chose to leave. He's 67 and in good shape to retire anyway.

Technically I can retire at 25 years in June, but financially I would benefit more if I wait until I turn 60 in 4 more years. If I can figure out how to make it without going that 4 years then yes, I am out of there.

I have 9 years to go but being furloughed has shown me what my days will be like when I do retire.

SamKaren Your resident dj

I've been retired for 6 -7 years now and am ever so grateful that I'm not worrying about a job or paying the bills. Besides that, I love retirement; there is never a dull moment. I wish I could have retired when I was 40 or even younger!

No, on the contrary it's making me want to work longer. I will be 61 next month, and originally planned to retire at 62. But I really do enjoy my job, and get a lot of personal satisfaction from helping people. It also helps that I work one week on and one week off, so I have a lot of free time on my off weeks. The portfolio took a hit when the stock market went haywire, and I think that will also take time to recover. We have enough to retire on, but the closer I get the less I want to do it.

No, lost a lot of my retirement funds in the last few weeks. I wish I could, especially when we aren't being protected at work.

I would agree if anything this probably is pushing people farther out from retiring. Seeing what this is doing to our retirement funds/stocks is frightening when you are this close to the end!!

Thank you all for your thoughtful insights!
That said, if I thought I could carry on in the capacity that I've been for the last 23 years, I would wait it out a couple more years or more. I just don't see that happening! I loved what I was doing, I don't want to be repurposed doing something else...

Post-pandemic, I think the world will be such a different place.

The hit to the economy has not been encouraging. I am eligible for early retirement, waiting on a buyout offer before I make a final decision. I have a meeting with my CFP this week where we can hash this out and move forward.

My biggest fear is the unknown, so making a decision about this gives me a measure of control over this situation. Once I know, I feel like I can move forward with my life.

Depending on your buyout, take it. Especially true if part of it adds years to your service or the percentage used to calculate pension. My husband was put in without him knowing about it for a buyout. He went ahead and accepted it. Then where he worked changed some of the retirement provisions.

If you can afford it, definitely retire. Why wouldn't you? There are plenty of things to do in retirement. If you enjoy working with students and young people, volunteer to tutor or mentor.

Congratulations on your retirement! Take some time to enjoy it :-)

So glad for you, that things worked in your favor.

Hopefully you will be able to work as a temp when the dust settles.

Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for DH retiring at age 72 last year. He had hoped to work a few wanted to work longer but it wasn't to be. It was a blessing in disguise. We have excellent health insurance and a steady income. Our home is paid for. The options for later retirees have been downsized this year. He would still be out of work during this shutdown. Retirement gave us financial security during this time.

I am so sad for so many of my younger friends who have lost their businesses and have no idea what they will do when the we are past this shutdown. The ones who have reached full retirement age will survive this but the ones who haven't may have their entire financial futures affected. Small businesses will never be able to reopen. The self employed are really hurting. Several equestrian facilities have had to close down and sell off their herds. Local small service providers like hair salons and barbers are losing customers to other more open counties.

Not near retirement. What I find interesting is, those even younger than I am have begun asking if the head of our Institution is considering making working from home more permanent. I gotta tell you, we're still cooking along thanks to technology. Could work. It's interesting to think we may never go into a physical office much again.

I keep seeing "Coy VD", which I guess is a good name for it.

I would like to be able to work more, even though I am retired, as I could use the income. I cannot even rent my second home as a vacation rental for now.

Congrats! I retired in February from a state university. Decided in November 2019 after running numbers and knew we could swing it. The market tanked the following Monday and we’ve been living in the new normal world of COVID-19 since then.

Have been happy with the decision given the uncertainty we live in. I’ve been doing some adjunct work from home on special projects, but that is winding down. A little irritated that they offered a separation incentive plan (SIP) within the past two weeks that I would have qualified for—putting close to 6 figures in my pocket. My timing never was great.

Enjoy your retirement!

I'm already retired and COVID has pushed on my retirement funds.

Wish I could, can't afford to. Covid may have damaged my employer permanently. If business doesn't recover I will be the second to be let go. (There's only five of us) I'm watching to see what happens in the next six months, and trying to see if some industry is willing to hire a 63-year-old seamstress. (Not likely) The marijuana industry is going great guns, I can keep plants alive.

Both my bosses are hyper-vigilant about COVID, and that's getting old. It isn't as if hundreds of people flood into our store every day - maybe three dozen? Breathing through a mask makes my chest hurt. It occurred to me I could apply for Late Husband's social security and cut back to part time. Maybe it's time for that.

Be thankful that you bosses care c t. Be aware that depending on your age the amount you receive from your husband's SS may be reduced by what you earn.

Not near retirement, but started to collect a couple rental properties aside to get ready for the future. Covid makes up sizing looking normal, and pushes more people moving to suburbs and countryside. We are with the escaping to the country crowd.

Flagging spammer

Who is spammer? I didn't see any new posts.

Because when you "flag" them as spam, they are deleted!

Thanks angelaid.

I actually delayed my retirement by nearly a year because of covid. i was planning to retire in February of this year, but since i have been working from home, i postponed it. i am retiring on 1 January though.

Actually it takes more than 2 flags to make spam go away, so you can't do it alone. Which is why we draw notice to the spam so that others will notice it and flag it too.

Being 90+ and over 25 years retired, really glad for those pensions making no worries over income to live on.

Live alone, and when I feel confined, phone a friend.

ole joyful