« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race  (Read 4052 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline WkillGS

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 1998
The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« on: January 31, 2009, 06:24:32 PM »
I thought I should start a new thread.....
Mark, Glad you found a new job!
I know the feeling. I was laid off from my Engineering job in 2003. A result of the whole technology collapse of 2003.

I took full advantage of the break from the rat race.
I enjoyed my 'trail retirement' for a year... I took several trips...New Orleans Jazz Fest, Mountain biking in W. Virginia and Utah, Iceland, Ireland, and got to visit relatives in Germany for the first time since I was 8 years old. Had a great time.
Then I took a temporary job for a year doing HVAC with a buddy. Barely made the mortgage payments.
I got back into my field, thin film optical coatings, in 2005 with a local company. It's good to have some money in my pocket again!
I'm hoping to retire early, as I can't imaging doing this for another 15 years till I'm 62....or is it 25 more years till I'm 72???
My goal in life is to make it to retirement, and live long enough to enjoy it!

Do you guys want to start planning a retirement community for us ole Buick guys???
Arizona? Tennesee??
Logged
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline 65gs76limited

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 224
Re: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2009, 09:22:29 PM »
Walt,i'll go anywhere that the locals have no idea what a snow shovel looks like!
Logged

Offline WkillGS

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 1998
Re: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2009, 09:34:28 PM »
Ha!
I don't mind the snow too much.... As it means taking a break from all the yard work! Winter is the only time of the year i don't have to worry about the weeds!
So maybe Arizona is the better choice in that respect....but it get's too darn hot!
So where IS the perfect climate???
Logged
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline Chris

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 934
  • "Fast With Class"
Re: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2009, 09:15:55 AM »
San Diego CA!!!!!!!

Chris
Logged
-= A Howitzer with Windshield Wipers =-

 1965 GS Coupe
 1983 Porsche 911 SC
 2000 Porsche 911
 2011 Lamborghini LP550-2

Offline Mark Ascher

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 1615
Re: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2009, 12:28:09 PM »
Walt, thanks! A very challenging job market right now, so I feel fortunate. My wife lost her job right before Christmas, but is still working for her co. for another week or two and then has a package because she's been there for 15 years. I also have another 3 or 4 friends and neighbors who have been hit by current events.

There's no break from the rat race for me. I got started with the marriage/family life a bit late. I'm in my early 50s and have a 12 and 8 year old. Our retirement accounts have taken a major blow as well. We have to get two boys through college, and try and have a life after careers.

I seriously doubt we will be staying in the cold cold north when we retire. Melissa is from North Carolina, so we may explore something down that way. San Diego has an awesome climate, but California is turning into one goofy place. Chris, have you ever been to Palm Desert or out that way?

Mark
« Last Edit: February 01, 2009, 12:30:58 PM by Mark Ascher »
Logged
65 GS HT 4 Speed - BCA Senior 2015; AACA Senior Grand National 2021
66 Impala 396/TH400/12 Bolt "Project Rodent Remediation" - Almost Done
69 Bel Air 2 Door Sedan "Project Junior Stock" - In Process
19 Chev Silverado Pickem Up (daily driver)

Offline Chris

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 934
  • "Fast With Class"
Re: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2009, 02:00:31 PM »
Mark,

No surprise that I'm with everyone else and glad that at least 1/2 your "Rat Race" is better now.  These times are very scary for most of us and my heart goes out to any family this is affecting both short and long term.

I've been as South as San Diego CA ad as far North as LA.  I've yet to make it to the San Fran area although I'd really like too.  In between LA and San Francisco is San Simeon where the Hearst Castle is.  My wife and I've wanted to take a tour through it and this is on my short list of things to do before I die.

I'm with you.... California has a lot to offer... and it seems that a lot of nuts agree?    ;D

Chris
Logged
-= A Howitzer with Windshield Wipers =-

 1965 GS Coupe
 1983 Porsche 911 SC
 2000 Porsche 911
 2011 Lamborghini LP550-2

Offline Mister T

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 494
Re: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2009, 09:37:37 PM »
Mark, great to hear that you're back amongst us working schlepps once again.  :D

As for great retirement locales, I wouldn't mind a lot of dry heat, so Arizona or New Mexico might work for me. I do not like the south east humidity and heat.

There are also some areas within British Columbia that are very temperate, but the cost of living is getting out of hand, even for Canada.

Oh well, guess it's time to buy some more lotto tickets.
Logged
Tom B

Currently bereft of Buicks.

Offline BuickGSrules

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 65
Re: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2009, 01:11:20 PM »
Guys, you are way ahead of me with that retirement, i am only 35 so I have to go another 25 years or until the day i win in Lotto ;D My perfect place would be the area Oceanside,Carlsbad,Encinitas, nice weather and nice people. But San Francisco is a nice place too, but i don?t understand how people can live in LA.
Logged
Jan

1965 Gran Sport HT
1966 Wildcat 3 speed 1 of 23
1970 GS350 4 speed delete car

Offline wildcat65

  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 391
Re: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2009, 01:28:37 PM »
I like these lyrics- follows this thead and my thoughts.  My dad is in North Carolina,
but Ca would be very good weather wise, kinda goofy $$ wise though.
I'm pretty stuck here with my family business for now!


"Tonight, let's flip a coin

Heads, Carolina Tails, California.
Somewhere greener, somewhere warmer.
Up in the mountains, down by the ocean."
Logged
Ted Nagel         65 Skylark GS 4-speed + Wildcats + GS's

Offline dsags

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 1813
Re: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2009, 06:52:09 PM »
Mark,

VERY glad to hear that you are back amongst the gainfully employed. Also sorry to hear about your wife losing her job. Packages are nice but .....
Hope to see you at the 50's in June.

Dan
Logged
1965 Special Convertible, L33 LS, 4L60

Offline Mark Ascher

  • Administrator
  • Crazy about Buick!
  • *****
  • Posts: 1615
Re: The job Market and Retiring from the rat race
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2009, 09:55:43 AM »
Tom and Dan,

Thanks for kind words! I'm still trying to get used to the new routine, but thats good.
Melissa's last day was this past Monday. We've had to change a number of things the past few days as a result: cars, insurance, mobile phones and plans, etc.

Dan, I look forward to seeing you in June!

Mark
Logged
65 GS HT 4 Speed - BCA Senior 2015; AACA Senior Grand National 2021
66 Impala 396/TH400/12 Bolt "Project Rodent Remediation" - Almost Done
69 Bel Air 2 Door Sedan "Project Junior Stock" - In Process
19 Chev Silverado Pickem Up (daily driver)
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »