scale rail posted:

Let's see, I retired when I was 62, then moved to Maui a few years later. Start on bucket list.

1- got a new dog

2-took up diving again

3-made new friends

4-got a new wife...no that's not right

5-took up still photography again

6- met lots of whales with new kayak 

7-most important, learn to relax

I think that's enough. You will learn more and stay young if you keep trying new things. Don

OK, Don, you should be the "Poster child" for this topic! You seem to be having lots of fun.

Maybe if you can touch on how did you find what are to settle in, was it from a previous vacation. I'm assuming you lived in the lower 48 (but could be wrong). If I am correct, how much of the dreaded downsizing did you need to deal with since you may have had some high moving costs? 

Tom 

Thanks Tom, we lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. I had been doing a lot of video work in Hawaii even before I met my wife. Suntrips of Calif. was a package travel company that flew L1011's daily from SFO to Maui, I did their commercials and promo films. Yes we shot those on film. I did Swimwear Illustrated Bikini shoots all over the world but many on Maui, Film again was shot. In all I most likely did 35 or 40 shoots on the islands plus vacation at least once a year. Buying a house in Hawaii can be good in that a lot of homes are sold fully furnished. Sometimes even with a car. The folks selling our house don't want to ship the stuff back to the mainland. We sold or gave away almost all our large things but it was still a challenge to get everything we owned in a Matson container. Shipping one car was a little over $1000. I think the container was maybe $3000  but don't hold me on that. This house had everything from tools, pots and pans, golf clubs, tennis rackets, crystal, dive gear, sheets and towels, everything. I even found a 45 inch flat screen in a unopened box in a closet. The dogs and cat where very time consuming with a ton of paper work and it all had to be perfect or they would be sent back.  The cost is very high also.  Both our dogs were getting up there in years so I told them they had to live at least a year. Daisy made it a few weeks over a year. Our Lab much longer. They loved it here. The cat is still holding on. This house had not been lived in for a couple of years. The people that owned it did not use it anymore as they have five other houses. We are three blocks from the beach and have a view of two other islands and the whales this time of year. We really didn't down size as this house is bigger than our last house with a four car garage. Taxes here are cheap compared to Marin. We were paying over $13,000 a year for a smaller house and now pay about $1,700. You read that right, big difference. Food cost more but most of us take a trip every two weeks to Costco on the other side. We live above Lahaina on the West side. The only real problem is medical. We are at least 45 minutes away from any hospital and it's on a two lane road. This last seven days is an example what can happen. Five people drowned in seven days and the sixth is still alive but they don't know if he will make it. Just my thoughts on it. Don

I retired when I was 60 in 2014...after 33 years on law enforcement.  I'm the housewife now...my wife has 5 more years till she can retire from the San Francisco Fire Department...and I love it.  I cook and clean.   I do home improvements and errands.  I grocery shop. I go to the gym 4 days a week.  My wife and I run 5K races.  I collect wine for my cellar.  We went to Europe.

  I walk my two dogs 2-3 times a day.  I teach at the police academy once a week.  Been pursuing my hobby of photography, I have my model trains and I try to fly-fish whenever I can.  Our 3 kids (2 daughters and a son) are grown and out of the house.  Our 26-year-old son is getting married on February 9.  We have three lovely granddaughters with our oldest daughter.  I am blessed and believe that each day is...just another day in paradise.

Boin106, Matt, it took me years to teach you every thing you know about retirement. Don

Ed, The photographs of you and your family are great!  I enjoyed the photographs of your trips.  We would like to travel a bit; our international travel consists of Niagara Falls back in the early '80s!  Though there is a lot we would like to see right here in the good old U. S. of A.

Hello and best wishes to all! I retired at 61 last May. Having worked for some thirty years, mostly outdoors, as an industrial electrician, I have become somewhat of a weather weeny. 80 degrees is great. 70 and I need heat. 90 and I need cold. So, for two weeks out of the year I get s**t done.  As a hobby, I work 3 days a week at a consulting firm. 4 day weekends has turned out to be 3 days of procrastination and 1 day of preparing to do much work next weekend. And so on. The real intent after last June was to take it easy for a month and clean out the finished 12' x 24' space at the back of the garage and make it my train room, unitizing all of the operating accessories (a bunch), Legacy engines (only 2), 200 feet of track and switches and 1000 lbs. of Meccano, Marklin, Metallus, Erector, Girder and Panel and Lego into a cohesive toy presentation. 2 weeks a year is just not enough time. Here's what happened: Factoring in temperature considerations, sleeping in, a robust daily newspaper, a 70" TV, easy access to MeTV and Starz Westerns, Google for anything I need, or not, which becomes the recipe for retirement. The wife loves that I do some shopping, cooking and cleaning on Mondays and Fridays. I love it too. 2018 will be the start of the finish of my train room. David

The government is still messed up.  I did not want to go on Medicare when I turned 65; however, our HR dept informed me that if I did not sign up for Medicare,  I would not be able to have Social Security and I would have had to return my wife's payments (she started taking benefits at 62). What I think is a rip-off is that my health plan provider, after I turned 65, only had to pay 20% of my hospital stays (6 operations) and Medicare paid 80%.  That and the tie in with Social Security is really a mess given that Medicare is hurting for funding.  Additionally, I am still paying into Social Security even while I am receiving Social Security checks.  It would have been nice for me not to pay in and not to receive benefits until I retired.  One benefit is that I thought I would have to take a minimum distribution of my 401; however, because I am still employed my company and I are still making contributions to the 401 and I do not have to take any out until I do retire.  I really like my job; I can take 2 three week vacations per year (Ireland & France - the Galapagos Islands two years ago  - and Cancun and San Diego last year); company life insurance, I am paid to fly my airplane to audits (4 trips last year Atlanta, Memphis (twice), Detroit,) and Martinsburg drive (2).  I  can telework from our vacation home between trips which permits me to kayak each morning before starting work when I am up north.  If I can still teach flying and I can still walk to my office (from the subway) I hope to still work until I reach 75.  I just got my 3rd level of the layout done (need to do the sidings and fix the 3rd level lift bridge connections).  The 4th level will be the last one and I think the Cancun wedding might be my last photography event.  By slowing down a little, I might be able to adjust to retirement in 3 years.

The government is still messed up.  I did not want to go on Medicare when I turned 65; however, our HR dept informed me that if I did not sign up for Medicare,  I would not be able to have Social Security and I would have had to return my wife's payments (she started taking benefits at 62). What I think is a rip-off is that my health plan provider, after I turned 65, only had to pay 20% of my hospital stays (6 operations) and Medicare paid 80%.  That and the tie in with Social Security is really a mess given that Medicare is hurting for funding. 

Just curious, why didn't you want to sign up for Medicare?
I am retired, but not yet 65, so I am not on Medicare yet.
I have what most people would consider very good insurance. The policy requires that members (retired or not) sign up for Medicare at 65, which becomes the primary insurer. The company becomes the secondary insurer. Don't know the exact mechanisms, I have a while before I need to figure it all out.
From what I understand most, if not all health insurance companies require the same.

Medicare is mandatory at age 65. Your health insurance becomes secondary at age 65.

Medicare is a very good thing as we get older.  I have been to the doctor and hospitalized more in the past few years than I ever was during my entire life.  I am 70.  When I receive the paperwork from Medicare, on my doctors visits and hospital stays, it reminds me that we should be grateful that Medicare and Medicaid were created during President Johnson's term in office.  

looking thru the recent pics, i need a dang dog!!  my wife and girls have 4 cats....  2 years, 5 months and then I'll be on F U time

GG1 2340 posted:

Medicare is mandatory at age 65. Your health insurance becomes secondary at age 65.

Not true. I am 65 and elected not to sign up for Medicare. There is a second window for sign up when I become no longer employed. I am still insured by my company. 

Pat Kn: I stand corrected, when retired it is mandatory, if one is still working not mandatory.

Sorry for the confusion

Pat Kn posted:

GG1 2340 posted:

Medicare is mandatory at age 65. Your health insurance becomes secondary at age 65.

Not true. I am 65 and elected not to sign up for Medicare. There is a second window for sign up when I become no longer employed. I am still insured by my company. 

Absolutely CORRECT!

From the Medicare website (as long as the formatting cooperates):

Tom 

GG1 2340 posted:

Pat Kn: I stand corrected, when retired it is mandatory, if one is still working not mandatory.

Sorry for the confusion

Signed up for Medicare at 65 still working and have insurance with my company. When I signed up for medicare I went down to their off ice with a bunch of questions. My Company insurance is my primary Medicare is secondary. Part B and D can be delayed with no penalties. Once I stop work I have a 6 month time period to apply for the part B and D. There is a limitation as you company must have over 40 people on the company Insurance plan other wise you will be charged a penalty. 

Suggestion: for those who are going on Medicare and still want to work, make sure you make a list of questions and go to get a appointment to visit and chat with the people about your questions and sign up.

Turned 66 and collecting SS and still working

RonH posted:

Suggestion: for those who are going on Medicare and still want to work, make sure you make a list of questions and go to get a appointment to visit and chat with the people about your questions and sign up.

Turned 66 and collecting SS and still working

Good advice. There are other situations to consider. If you have medical insurance through work and turn 65 you have the option to get Medicare Part A but if you also have an HSA (Health Savings Account) you can no longer contribute to your HSA if you do sign up for Part A. Get ALL of the FACTS before deciding one way or the other.

Pete

Plus, as i wrote earlier, the terms of my health insurance requires participants to sign up for medicare, and my insurer becomes the secondary insurer. Your policy may be similar

C W Burfle posted:

Plus, as i wrote earlier, the terms of my health insurance requires participants to sign up for medicare, and my insurer becomes the secondary insurer. Your policy may be similar

I guess that there are a lot of factors as SS is secondary and my companies insurance is primary. I do not have part B or D assigned as I meet all of the requirements not to have it at this time unless I leave work/retire and with that there is a 6 month window to acquire part B & D.

As suggested there are a lot of variables and the best way is to set up a appointment with a list of questions and chat with them.

Enough, and now back to trains

Just remember retirees, even with better health preventive practices, as one ages things keep breaking and/or wearing out (except the prostate just grows).  New medical technology and MD skills plus better and faster access to treatment are the key for one to get "fixed" and keep on keeping on whether with model railroading(even HO), fishing, raising chickens or whatever your druthers. 

Of all the the medical services mentioned, access is the vital element in receiving effective treatment.  My point is to evaluate your place of retirement not only for the quality and range of medical technology available but the the ability to effectively access it.  For example, I learned that rural crooked mountain roads in a snowstorm can often defy timely navigation by Fire Rescue or EMT even if available. I can go about anywhere in deep snow with my big 5400 4wd Deere but obviously it was not a realistic solution for reaching a distant facility. And, the distant small town hospitals or even a larger regional medical facility may only have migrant general practice MDs on duty and most often not the one you saw previously for your issue. And, you better have your own copy of records with you. If a vascular or internal organ issue, the diagnosis is most always to relocate you to a large metro hospital (if the roads are open or copters can fly or, if you are still ticking). 

 As posted on a much earlier thread, I very reluctantly dismantled my mountain cottage layout and relocated for access to high quality medical which unquestionably extended my wife's life and mine. 

Dewey,

   Lots of good advise, except for the HO part! 

   At least for me, having a hospital within 10 minutes in 2 different directions is something my wife and I take for granted right now. If we are lucky enough to relocate upon my retirement, while I'd like to have some space between myself and any future neighbors, the proximity of the nearest hospital will need to be in the top 5 or so items we consider. 

Tom 

Dewey Trogdon posted:

Just remember retirees, even with better health preventive practices, as one ages things keep breaking and/or wearing out (except the prostate just grows).  New medical technology and MD skills plus better and faster access to treatment are the key for one to get "fixed" and keep on keeping on whether with model railroading(even HO), fishing, raising chickens or whatever your druthers. 

Of all the the medical services mentioned, access is the vital element in receiving effective treatment.  My point is to evaluate your place of retirement not only for the quality and range of medical technology available but the the ability to effectively access it.  For example, I learned that rural crooked mountain roads in a snowstorm can often defy timely navigation by Fire Rescue or EMT even if available. I can go about anywhere in deep snow with my big 5400 4wd Deere but obviously it was not a realistic solution for reaching a distant facility. And, the distant small town hospitals or even a larger regional medical facility may only have migrant general practice MDs on duty and most often not the one you saw previously for your issue. And, you better have your own copy of records with you. If a vascular or internal organ issue, the diagnosis is most always to relocate you to a large metro hospital (if the roads are open or copters can fly or, if you are still ticking). 

 As posted on a much earlier thread, I very reluctantly dismantled my mountain cottage layout and relocated for access to high quality medical which unquestionably extended my wife's life and mine. 

Great advise as I always tell people when they move is to make sure that a hospital and doctors are very close to your new home.

"that a hospital and doctors are very close to your new home."

Conversely, try to live at least a quarter mile or further from the nearest expressway or highway.  Roads with high traffic densities generate air pollution (mostly products of combustion, but little pieces of asphalt as well) that increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and death significantly.  Clean air is important.

I'll repeat again from last year,  that if you can wait (as in still working or other investments/income) to age 70 and are in reasonably good health, your median life expectancy is 15-20 years. That means you have a one in two chance of living longer than that.  About 1 in 3 people who make it to 70 will live to 90 by some calculations. 

That means that by waiting until age 70 (but not beyond) to collect your social security benefits, those benefits go up by 8% each year between 62 and 70.  If you live longer than 10-12 years at age 70, you wind up with more total money,  and significantly higher payments each year.  Hard to find an investment that provides 8% annual yield these days.

Pat Kn posted:

GG1 2340 posted:

Medicare is mandatory at age 65. Your health insurance becomes secondary at age 65.

Not true. I am 65 and elected not to sign up for Medicare. There is a second window for sign up when I become no longer employed. I am still insured by my company. 

This is true.

Also true:  Work Sucks.  Trains Do Not.    

Between 5 and 10 years ago my wife and I started talking about where we might retire. In the end, we decided we would stay put. My town has very good senior services, we live in a walkable part, and we have strong ties to the local medical community.

Norton posted:

RonH posted:

Suggestion: for those who are going on Medicare and still want to work, make sure you make a list of questions and go to get a appointment to visit and chat with the people about your questions and sign up.

Turned 66 and collecting SS and still working

Good advice. There are other situations to consider. If you have medical insurance through work and turn 65 you have the option to get Medicare Part A but if you also have an HSA (Health Savings Account) you can no longer contribute to your HSA if you do sign up for Part A. Get ALL of the FACTS before deciding one way or the other.

Pete

Find a local independent insurance agent who specializes in Medicare insurance issues. I've seen many people try the "DIY" route and while their intentions were good, they made uninformed choices, and in many cases those choices had long-term financial impacts. 

John

BlueComet400,

   John I agree with you 100%, in fact even with my  full Va Benefits, I listened carefully to our investment manager's advise.  Took a supplemental Medical Insurance plan because Obama had undermined the VA so badly, slowing our benefits with his hand picked VA administrators, which now are being fired from the VA, and some of these ladies are now headed for the slammer for fraud thanks to the American Legion.  Thank the Lord I took this Medical Supplemental, that comes right out of my SSR.  We ended up needing it badly, until President Trump cleaned house in the VA, and my full VA Medical Benefits were available once again.   Our Investment Manager was the professional who advised me on how important having the Supplemental would be down stream.  The advise was well worth having. IMO use the Pro's they know their business.

PCRR/Dave

I quit the VA a couple years ago, they had some of the worst doctors I had ever been around. They just didn't care and it was like you were bothering them if you asked a question. I don't think they could get a job anywhere else. Went back late last year. Total different VA now. What a difference. Don

You don't have to sign for medicare. And once signed you can't get out. If you have full va coverage it makes no sense. In new york the va provides top-shelf care.

Scale Rail,

   You bet with a President friendly to the American Soldier, VA is once again a great place to get your medial treatment.  Lots of the foreign garbage doctors have been eliminated for VA.   The difference is President Trump, and every Veteran knows it.  A lot more can be done for us Veterans and President Trump is making it happen at record speed, lets hope it continues.  Would love someday to put that SSR money, used for the supplement, back into my personal savings each month.

I do not live in NY, I live in Pa and VA varies from location to location on Dr's and medical service provided.  I have full VA benefits and here in Pa you better have a supplement, I found that out the hard way.

PCRR/Dave

Enough of the retirement stuff. talk trains..

" The difference is President Trump, and every Veteran knows it."

Personally, I'd prefer not to read any political commentary here.  No offense, just think it's out of place. Thanks.

I'll repeat again from last year,  that if you can wait (as in still working or other investments/income) to age 70 and are in reasonably good health, your median life expectancy is 15-20 years. That means you have a one in two chance of living longer than that.  About 1 in 3 people who make it to 70 will live to 90 by some calculations. 

That means that by waiting until age 70 (but not beyond) to collect your social security benefits, those benefits go up by 8% each year between 62 and 70.  If you live longer than 10-12 years at age 70, you wind up with more total money,  and significantly higher payments each year.  Hard to find an investment that provides 8% annual yield these days

An interesting perspective and certainly something that has to be considered.

One also has to take into consideration personal health and family history.

If one has a 1 in 2 chance of living longer, that means they also have a 1 in 2 chance of not living longer.
Plus, there are plenty of people who don't make it to 70 at all.

I thought this was a model train forum, not a soapbox

Thank you Jim - I’m with you 

Some upbeat train stories - how you can now finally enjoy your hobby etc

Or is retirement really that depressing  as some people say ???

Well, I have been working only 3 days a week since mid September, and it has made me look forward to working 0 days a week as soon as I can.  It has proven we can get by with that much less income and still not have an outstanding balance on the credit card.  I have worked as an electronics technician and engineer for 42 years, and have never really liked it.  I tried to do something else several times, and wound up right back.  It has been my calling, so to speak!  As the Tee shirt my wife got me says, I’m planning my retirement.  I’m planning to build a model railroad!

https://nyti.ms/2Frx6lz

Hmm... maybe it's time to do it!

Gentlemen,

   Unfortunately there is nothing more political than retirement, and most of us here on the OGR fall into that age group.  I do believe our hobby has more retired people in it than any other hobby, and there for this particular thread is important to many in our hobby, political or not.

PCRR/Dave

Mark Boyce posted:

Well, I have been working only 3 days a week since mid September, and it has made me look forward to working 0 days a week as soon as I can.  It has proven we can get by with that much less income and still not have an outstanding balance on the credit card.  I have worked as an electronics technician and engineer for 42 years, and have never really liked it.  I tried to do something else several times, and wound up right back.  It has been my calling, so to speak!  As the Tee shirt my wife got me says, I’m planning my retirement.  I’m planning to build a model railroad!

Ive been working 6 days a week for nearly 20 years.  6 days a week for 12 years before that but 5 of those were 2 full time jobs 6 days a week. Glad I was young lol     I bet you do feel like retiring!   I dont know if I could handle it.  HMMM maybe if I had plenty of train money so I could buy stuff to keep me busy!

Jim : )

Jim,  I’ve stocked up on trains and transformers/control system.  That’s the expensive part.  I know how to make scenery at lower cost from when I was a teenager. I have more trains than I can run, so as long as I can pay my electric bill, I should be in good shape!  LOL