I have been an IT expert for nearly 40 years now. If anything, I would be able to get some kind of work from home gig answering helpdesk phone calls. I can do that in my sleep. (j/k), But devoting 8 hours a day to that is not so appealing, especially for lower pay ($20/hour is lower pay, I started at 40k 21 years ago, and it took that long to get up to $100. I think that is why I was targeted for early retirement actually, once I topped 100k. They all do it, get rid of the older higher salaries and hire lower salaried people. They did the same thing to 3 other people in my department. They lost over 100 years of experience because we all accepted the early retirement). I just wanted to be able to work until was 62 and could add SS to my modest pension.
So at first, I though "I MUST GET A JOB". I was hurt, and somewhat panicky. It was a 'Early Retirement Buyout', so I did get some $ that gives me a cushion to figure this all out. So I got my resume updated and signed up with Indeed. And while I am seeing jobs, I just haven't been motivated to go after one of them yet, even though I think I'm over qualified for most of them. The higher paid jobs (what I was accustomed to earning) will require me to go to the city. And.I.Just.Can't.Do.It.Anymore!
For now, I think I'll be able to get by. Tighten the belt some. No vacations, etc. No home improvements (I really want to get solar installed on my house, but I don't think I'll be able to do that now). I have a small pension, and I have some $ in the governments version of 401(k). I was overly conservative over the last 20 years with my 401(k), and am kicking myself now, but am currently exploring ways to grow that chunk of money. Last month, I made about $3k from it. If I can keep this up, then I won't have to drain that pot of money too quickly for survival.
By the time it runs out, I think my house should be pretty much paid off, or close to it, and then I think I can take one of those reverse mortgages (I don't have any kids, but I am caring for my mom).
I live in the countryside, get to see deer and nature every day. I don't need to go anywhere, but it would sure be nice to feel that I could go back to Hawaii to visit my old friends, or go to some new place for a vacation. But living on a fixed income, I just don't think I should do that with what I have saved.
So, I think I'm going to be OK. I am thankful for the fact that I do have some money saved with the 401(k). The hardest part was to 'accept' that the universe was giving me exactly what I wanted. I really didn't want to go back to commuting, and I'm getting old (arthritis). It is almost as if they had to drag me kicking and screaming from the work force, but in reality, retirement is suiting me very well. I just get a bit scared about the long picture. I don't know if my $$ will last the rest of my life. I don't know how long I'm going to live, but I figure that whatever $$ I have will probably end up going towards moms caretaking.... uugh, I don't want to think about that. Just keep praying she keeps her health like she has. She will be 80 this year. I know I'm a lot better off than many people out there, and have no room for complaints.
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