Yay! I retired!

[UTUSN]

15. Congrats!1 Some caveats

* Time will now, suddenly and immediately, SPEED UP and before you know it you will have been retired TWELVE YEARS.

* If you are younger than 62, you might need to keep contributing to Social Security. Each year you don't contribute into the system is called a "Zero Year." The years you worked/contributed are averaged to arrive at your age 62 amount. This means the Zero Years bring down your average. When they do it, they throw out the five lowest-contributing years, so if you are within five years of the 62, the Zero Years won't hurt. Each one of those over five lowers the amount you get at 62.

* SSA reps give presentations suggesting that most people should take the early/62 retirement instead of the regular age. Waiting to the full age might mean a bit more, but "you never know" what might happen the more you wait and you could well enjoy the earlier option.


Granted, I'm not up on the changes to the age guidelines, but I'm sure somebody knows.

* Even if you were one of those who was reputed to love their job so much they wouldn't quit even if they hit the lotto, I'm betting you will never look back!1

* Within the first six months, the new Now will sink in and you will set about cleaning out tons of junk from your files that you will never need again. And will organize your really important stuff, and pictures, and whatever. Fantastic!1