retirement planning? Retire?, or not!?

[David]

Hello. I would like your opinions on this.
I am 55. Married. Same employer 21 years.
My problem is the drive; I drive 1 hour to work, 1 hour home, each day. 21 years ago, I paid $5 per day for gas. Now I pay $35 per day for gas. AND 21 years ago, it took 45 minutes to get to work. Now it takes 1 hour. Both ways.
So I worry about 12 years from now, when I am 67 and have 30+ years at my job. Do I retire? Or not? I will get social security and my 401K, but that will be 1/3 of my annual income!
And I want to keep working, close to home. But what job? Greeter, or bag boy? Due to my age... I do not want to have more "time at home," I would rather work. But I do not want to give up a great job, great benefits, great medical, just to save gas and time.

What do you think I should do?

[oldman]

You don't say where you live but I'm guessing California. My suggestion would be to retire at 67, sell your home, move to a less expensive state to live in and buy a small business as well as a new home.

[gaillee01]

David,

Is there any way you can get closer to work? I mean, at least until you retire?

You shouldn't have to give up all that you have worked so hard for! It seems that the only thing you can do is get closer, save the money you were spending on gas and you will be better prepared for your next choice.

I do wish you the best as I know that many choices must be made before you go forward. However, I am retired and I chose too. I had my own business for twenty-eight yrs. and I was able to get my college degree and rear my children during these years. It was tough but, I hung in there and now, I can afford my retirement.

If you love your job and what it offers...stay! You are right about getting another job! This may mean you need to make a choice as to where you live...not work. Just my two cents.

I wish you the best in this process.

[Grace]

I wouldn't retire...couldn't stand it. Move closer to your job! You didn't say you were unhappy with your job, just the drive! Good luck!

[lilabner]

Stick with your job. Nothing ever stays the same, not even gas prices. If you have good insurance etc. it will be to your advantage. As for the commute, don't know what to tell you, if there wasn't a wife at home I would say rent a room from a pal at work and go home on the weekends. When you look at 11 years till you can get your SS that's a long time to pay for insurance. Talk to your wife and see what she thinks.

[goldwing]

Regardless of what you do, do not retire...terrible waste of time. Why not start planning and doing a business of your own, get a good employee or two and come and go as you want? 2 hours a day of my life in a car is not something I am willing to put up with today...but there are so many things you can do with your experience, and a bag boy is NOT one of them. Often, with the internet, etc., you can work from home at a reduced salary, etc. Check it out.

[reinformer]

You said it. Keep working.

[c504play]

the choice is yours but it is not easy to live on less i know that for a fact. being home all the time is not what it is cracked up to either especially if you dont have all the money you want to do all the things you want to do. think long hard and pray the answer will come to you in time.

[daisymae]

You should "play" first. Then after you get bored find something that you always wanted to do but the pay was lousy for a career. Be an entrepreneur and buy property and open and Inn.

It depends on what your interests are and what you like to do. The world is your oyster!! But by all means retire!!