Do you believe it when someone claims to be 'semi-retired' in their 50's?

I call bullshit on it for the most part. I'm no longer working permanent full time but i still work almost the same contracted hours (it's just not called 'full time'), but in no way am I 'semi retired'. I've deliberately reduced my hours of work to give more time to my daughter who is now 5 y/o. I can't conceivably consider 'retirement' until at least age 70 and I'm 53 now.

I've heard of FIRE principle but you have to be some sort of obscenely rich young go-getter exec, or a member of the silver-spoon fraternity, to retire 'early'.

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Rhode57 · 56-60, M

I retired at 50 . Not through choice . Ill health and disability forced it on me and hate it . I loved my job and if I was fit would go back to it tomorrow . If people had told me when younger I would be retired at my age I would have laughed . You never know when lifes gonna throw you a curve ball so take full advantage while you can . No one asks to be disabled or enjoys it believe me its no holiday .

zonavar68 · 56-60, M

@Rhode57 Sorry to hear about that. I didn't consider medical retirement. We have guys at my work who get injured through the job (railways) and get medically retired but they're all in their 60's plus due to serious back and/or shoulder injuries and leave as a result of cumulative long-term damage that either is not fixable enough to go back to work or the injury management contractor stuffs around. Two guys in the 70's have left the job in the last 2 yrs. We just had a guy in his 50's resign with a big shoulder injury after a year long fight with the injury management contractor. He's got no income - used up all his leave credits. Top guy too. He has a big mortgage and now can't work at all.

Torsten · 36-40, M

my father retired in his 50's due to health complications and my mother retired in her 40's. People retire for all sorts of reasons and age isn't a factor for a good deal of it

SW-User

Athletes often retire in their 30s so, lol

Anyway it also depends on health & life goals.

zonavar68 · 56-60, M

@SW-User Professional athletes are rich beyond most people's wildest dreams so they can afford it. I'm a bit concerned when someone on a dating site profile says they are semi-retired in the 40's or 50's since it makes me suspicious.

stratosranger · M

53. Retired. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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zonavar68 · 56-60, M

@stratosranger Ok interesting. I don't have any investments or own a home. I have kids and currently pay $12k a year on child support for my 5 y/o and the same in rent. never had life insurance. Got very little cash. I'd just like to own a home (but getting a mortgage would be difficult). I have a lot of money in super (like 401k) but can't use it yet (not even to buy a home - that's not allowed).

stratosranger · M

@zonavar68 Ah. I started all of this like 30 years ago. I don’t know what else to tell you.

zonavar68 · 56-60, M

My main change has been to reduce my work from permanent full-time (76 hrs per fn) to perm part time (64 hrs per fn) to give more time to my daughter. I cancelled the only life insurance I had (linked with the super fund - so insurance is considered 'junk' anyway) 2 yrs ago. 30 yrs ago I never gave any thought to retirement planning. Not owning my own home is the big thing for me - that makes me worry.

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zonavar68 · 56-60, M

@DoctorGerbils 8-) I'm trying to work out how someone in their 50's (like me) could be financially secure enough to cease working perhaps completely and support themselves *without* any government pension or other help for the rest of their life (lets say to an age between 70 and 80 which is about the norm) unless they totally drop out of society and go 'dark' without any semblence of living in a city, town or community like most of us do.

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