Retirement Planning

"Doesn't everybody deserve the good life?" - Spaceman, Dave Matthews Band

Retirement wasn't on my mind when 2014 kicked off, but it's invading my thoughts repeatedly this year.

I have a friend who is counting down the hours until retirement.  Literally.  He has an app that tells him how many years, months, days, hours - actually even minutes and seconds- until he retires. It's been a frequent topic of conversation!

Next, a colleague in ad sales at the newspaper where I work is retiring next month. His last day will be the 31st anniversary of his very first day.  Phil is in his early 70s and is such a fixture at the paper, it is hard to imagine the place without him.  He sold the first advertisement for the agriculture publication, Intermountain Farm & Ranch, that I sell for now.   And he was there when the company became partially employee owned, and when  the first website was launched, and for so many milestones.  He was selling online ads like crazy when we re-launched the website a few weeks ago. Phil has at one point touched every account in town, or so it seems.  His tribal knowledge is vast and valuable. He knows a lot and he loves being part of the paper.  He believes in it. Plus he's a genuinely kind fellow.  We're going to miss him when he retires!

The next nudge came when I attended a Civitans meeting recently.  The guest speaker was talking all about Social Security and how much you can expect to collect, depending upon your age, work history and marital status. 

(As an aside, I learned that since I've never been married, I am losing out on Social Security benefits. No spousal or ex-spousal or survivor benefits for me.  Would this fact have made a difference in how I handled past relationships, had I known? Hmmm...)

So lots of 'retirement' references.  Someone's sending me a signal here.

In response, I'm stepping up my 401(k) contributions and I'm starting to consider options for retirement.  If I wait until I'm 67 and eligible for full Social Security benefits to stop working, well, that's almost 20 years away.  20 years seems like an awfully long time to keep working.  But close enough to start making a plan.

Where will I live?  I love Idaho, and my cute little house is here. My sisters and nieces. Wonderful, smart, funny friends. 

Then there's northern Idaho.  Wallace area.  It's like a whole other state up there. 

But I do miss the warmth and diversity, energy and the vast options of California; I can see settling there.

Michigan is an option too; my parents, a sister and my BFF living there, plus lots of other family and friends. Even some 'ex'-es.

Maybe I should be a 'Snow Bird' with a winter place and a summer place?  I do love the sun.

Honestly though, no particular locale is really calling to me right now.  And I do have some time.  But I feel a sense of urgency to get the ball rolling.  I want to find the place(s) and start to meet people and forge friendships and a mission there before I retire, so when the time comes, it's a smooth and comfortable transition. 

My criteria:  wherever I land, (1) it must have plenty of arts and entertainment options - I'm back to practicing my violin! (2) it must be dog-friendly - I can't imagine myself without one or two!  and of course, (3) be within my budget - but I can live well and still be frugal! 

Maybe, inspired by Phil, I'll work well past 67.  I do love my job at the paper, maybe as much as he has loved his. But I'm going to start planning - beyond putting dollars away - for the next phase.

Stay tuned for new posts as I started checking out possible retirement locations!