I'm sorry that you were "thrown out of work". I am assuming that you will have to deal with some acceptance issues because of it. However, retirement in itself is a wonderful thing. It has been for my husband and I anyway. We retired at age 56. We have been retired over two years now. It took us about 9 to 10 months to slow down and start enjoying everything as it happens. Of course adjusting to less income was challenging, but we have decided to make it into a game. We find ways to be creative and save money, yet still get enjoyment out of life. Having the time to learn and do things that we have always wanted to do has been a blessing. Not being a slave to the alarm clock in the mornings is great, etc. etc. etc. So, I hope that once you get past the initial transition period, you too will be able to enjoy the freedom of your time.

I am saddened to hear that you are set on the side lines of the employment force. While retirement is generally something we look forward too we like to be prepared for it and getting sidelined early is usually not a positive action for those plans.
Hopefully you will rebound and find that early retirement although forced on you is quite enjoyable.

Ok..I hear you! I am sorry that you had to leave your work. BUT I am interested in the transition period you are talking about. I have also retired voluntarily for all sorts of reasons which I may get into in the future. However..my job took a BIG part of my day and life..and now its GONE!!! Its weird. I dont feel as important..I feel a bit lost at times..etc etc. Yes, I have 4 adults kids and 4 grandkids..its not that. I mean..I met with them while working also. I am quite busy..swimming 3 x a week. I like it. And I know I need it. But it all still feels weird at times. My partner is much younger than I..so he will not be joining in me in retirement. Anyway..how are things going???

I retired by choice, knowing I was not able to keep up and I was getting too tired to enjoy my work day. I went PT on call for a yr. and that helped me soo much. At first I was depressed and bored. I began to keep an eye out for things to do that interested me, and dabbled, trying volunteering, joining groups and walking. When I retired totallly last summer, and I am so very happy. I do what I enjoy and feel up to doing. I still need to make some retire friends.

I think this is a great idea. I am newly retired myself, and I find myself going stir crazy most of the time. I have so much time to myself these days, that I really don't know what to do with myself. It has been a surprisingly difficult transition thus far, and I think a support group would be just the thing I need.

Sorry you lost your job but at 62 maybe you should sit back and relax, could you get a part time job? Companies now are trying to force retirement early --- it is so sad.

I had to quit work in 2009 due to health reasons. I was 57 at the time. I loved my job alot however it was soooo good to leave too. I had worked at many different places in my life---I would get bored after awhile and then move on. Made more money each time, it was like a game and I learned alot about many companies. My husband just retired the end of 2011 at 62 and we left for AZ for 3 mos.

The biggest problem and expense is health ins----my husband's former employer provides money toward that but we still have to pay alot each month. (he had been there almost 39 yrs) We don't regret retiring early one bit----we both worked our tails off and saved for this time to come.

I know when he is 65 and I am 63 I will go almost 2 yrs with no insurance at all----guess alot of people are doing it from what I have been told. That part of it concerns me.

Well...I think that the downturn has affected a lot of people including myself in that mix....it is believed that hiring a younger workforce by whatever means possible is the strategy many companys are engaged in ,,,after all,,,the bottom line is THE BOTTEM LINE..I worked in social services for about 40 yrs +/- ...at State Agencies and also under pvt companys with State contracts,,,I have a State pension as well as SS retirement and other funds as well...I guess I could have tried for another job and I did try to do that for a while,,,,it was pretty hopeless for the most part ,,so I decided to pull the trigger and get the hell out of the circus,,,
The economy may come back and who knows what the future may yeild ,,,but I am not going to sit and wait till 65..yeah Insurance is definitely an issue for most if not all people in my particular situation,,there is no getting around that ...I am PCIP program which is in the early section of the health insurance affordable care act,,the slimeballs in Congress who are trying to dismantle healthcare will not talk about this part of the law,,,,and for good reason,,,you can guess why ....there is a lot of money at stake,, it has nothing whatsoever to do with mandating coverage,,,that is a smoke screen for the real issue,,,

You know, YOU can start a group for folks who are newly retired. Go to top of this page and click Groups to the far right. On this new page, on the top right look for 'start group' fill out the info and Submit it! I know of several new groups that have been started recently. Go for It !!!