My Dad just surprised me

[AmbitiousSaver]

He's 68 years old... and told me on June 1st he told his boss to "shove it" and that he didn't need his job anymore. Grant it, I think he's always worked as a hobby since he retired from the police force... but he's a workaholic, sometimes working 2-3 jobs when I was a kid - I never thought he'd do it no matter HOW many times he's talked about retiring. Two brain tumors and nasopharyngeal cancer wasn't enough to make him retire so I figured there wasn't much else that could.

So he says now he's officially "retired" but within 24 of quitting his job he's already received 5 job offers and he's not sure if he'll take any of them... but something tells me he'll probably be back to work before I know it. He doesn't have any hobbies other than going to Vegas... criminal justice and security is his hobby, his life... what on earth will he do? Can't spend time with grandkids we are all out of state.

Needless to say, I'm excited for him - but shocked

[FrugalFish]

Sounds like my FIL... He would get fed up and "retire," and then someone would show up with an offer he couldn't resist, and back to work he'd go. He's been not working for about 2 years now, so maybe he is finally done with the quitting and going back.

I imagine it must be nice to get to a point in your life when you don't need the money and can negotiate your salary pretty aggressively to make it worth your while.

For a while I kept teasing FIL that he was only retiring to get the cakes

Your dad sounds like a neat guy.

[disneysteve]

I imagine it must be nice to get to a point in your life when you don't need the money and can negotiate your salary pretty aggressively to make it worth your while.

I think much more common among that group is not negotiating the salary but negotiating the other terms - hours, vacation time, etc. Tell the boss you want every Friday off. Tell him you don't want to deal with rush hour traffic so you can come in at 10 and leave at 3. Tell him that you always go to every afternoon game from the local baseball team so you won't be in on those days. Stuff like that. I think most retirees value their time and flexibility more than the salary at that point in their lives.

[FrugalFish]

I think much more common among that group is not negotiating the salary but negotiating the other terms - hours, vacation time, etc. Tell the boss you want every Friday off. Tell him you don't want to deal with rush hour traffic so you can come in at 10 and leave at 3. Tell him that you always go to every afternoon game from the local baseball team so you won't be in on those days. Stuff like that. I think most retirees value their time and flexibility more than the salary at that point in their lives.

That's probably true, but I talk to MIL more than FIL and she is one who focuses on nothing but the bottom line dollar. She's the type who doesn't understand why DH stays in a job he loves, rather than move to a better paying one that he would hate. Everything is bragging rights about money with her- that's another post and rant though

[Exile]

IMHO workaholics are like border collies. They are just not happy unless they're working. Shouldn't they quit kidding themselves and their families about their imminent "retirement"?

Forced retirements are a thing of the past. If you really want to retire, then do so. If not, then don't. It's not like days of old when after working for a company for 30 years or so , you were given a gold watch and put out to pasture whether or not you were ready to hang it up.

BTWI retired 3 years ago and do not plan to ever go back to work. But if I do, I hope that I will able to afford to pick and choose the conditions as so aptly described by disneysteve.

[herm4]

He's 68 years old... and told me on June 1st he told his boss to "shove it" and that he didn't need his job anymore. Grant it, I think he's always worked as a hobby since he retired from the police force... but he's a workaholic, sometimes working 2-3 jobs when I was a kid - I never thought he'd do it no matter HOW many times he's talked about retiring. Two brain tumors and nasopharyngeal cancer wasn't enough to make him retire so I figured there wasn't much else that could.

So he says now he's officially "retired" but within 24 of quitting his job he's already received 5 job offers and he's not sure if he'll take any of them... but something tells me he'll probably be back to work before I know it. He doesn't have any hobbies other than going to Vegas... criminal justice and security is his hobby, his life... what on earth will he do? Can't spend time with grandkids we are all out of state.

Needless to say, I'm excited for him - but shocked

I think that's awesome! 68 isn't really old anymore...it's the new 48!

[ParsnipsRhubarbCelery]

Hope you'll keep us updated if he sticks to his retirement.... or, takes one of those other job offers

[AmbitiousSaver]

I do wonder if he'll stick to retirement. He hasn't said anything so far if he's taken one of the job offers either.

But its nice to know he's able to retire if he wants to... or keep working. As disneysteve said, its not so much the salary my Dad is interested in - its about enjoying what you do.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Good for him.