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^^^^I've done very well in my portfolio..I have split equities into different purpose buckets...in my dividend bucket with a bit of risk a couple good holdings are ARCC and PFFA.....A bit touch higher risk have been Sunoco and Verizon....I don't need the bucks so they are set up as a DRIP. Been living on my cash and a bit out of the portfolio, and also planning to take SS at 70, which will be more than I need considering a career as a salaried engineer... For grins....hit a freaking home run on PLTR.....Bought tons sub 15s....now? Holy shit!

The 650 Versys model is a great mid-size for doing many things. I rode my 650LT on a long 2 1/2 week trip from OH to the CA border--out to TX, across AZ/NM NV, headed north to southern UT/CO and home. Comfortable riding position and great handling with maybe average wind management. DId everything from hooning the twisties in the passes to superslabbing in 108* temps through western TX to some moderate off-roading on Kolob Terrace Rd (north of Virgin UT) to the Shafer Switchbacks and part of the White Rim trail heading back to Moab.

Agree with these statements. If you can live on the standard 4% your balance should grow forever. I also plan to shift some funds a few specific dividend ETFs for income and stability.

What we worked towards was a retirement fund that we could pull money out of, add it to our 2 Social Securities and my partial State retirement and have the same or greater income and never zero out the retirement fund. So the money that we pull out has to be an amount that is generated from the investments growth without touching the principle, based on average performance over the last 30 years. If I retire now and do the above we actually die with more money in the investments than we start with. You cushion the down markets by putting 3 years of withdrawals in very safe liquid holdings. So let's say you are pulling 50k a year. You put 150k in the safe fund. If the market tanks you pull from that until the market recovers, then you replenish it. That way you never have to pull from the main fund and take the loss. What is holding me back is my current income is pretty insane, and I don't have to work hard at all. So the longer I work the better it gets. Debbie already retired so I guess I am the sugar mama.

Maybe I'll jump in this conversation. So I'm at the point where I "could" retire early. Way different circumstances from most of you all. My situation is I am debt free, have almost five times my annual salary in my 401k, almost 29 years of pension build up, and I have a sugar mama that is about to get promoted. That last one is the key for me. I've worked my entire life at a bullshit corporate industrial job to raise my family and put food on the table. Many you probably remember me posting in the past about working all weekends and barely be able to get away and do things. Years ago my wife wanted to go back to school and so I worked so much overtime and weekends to make that happen. The agreement was that I could retire early and she would take care of me in the future. So then last year she went back to school again to get her master's degree in healthcare administration. And in the very near future the manager of her office is retiring and my wife should be a shoe end to take her place which also comes with a substantial pay increase and benefits. And while the thought of retiring early is enticing I'm just happy that I'm at a point to where I could just walk away and say fuck it at any time. I mean that peace of mind is paying dividends as we My work is so slow right now and they're actually talks of layoffs. and it doesn't bother me in the least a little bit. I'll stick around as long as I can or as long as I feel like. I mean let's face it, every year I work is more pension dollars and 401K savings(which I'm currently stashing 30% of my paychecks into my 401k) At this point my income is the play money, and we like to play. So that's where I'm at, debt free, a nice nest egg, empty nesters and a spouse that loves what she does and doesn't mind doing it. Now when I actually do pull the trigger and retire, I don't think I would retire completely either. Would absolutely want to pick up a gig that I like or love. Maybe bounce around different jobs like motorcycle shop or parts counter or even just turn wrenches in my own garage.

Depending on your field, job searching can be brutal right now. I looked at a few Program/Project Manager jobs on LinkedIn that were in line with my current role. There were hundreds (if not thousands) of applicants within a few weeks.

I have an open offer now for a short term severance that is more than I would get walking out. Would rather take a break/slowdown than jump straight into something new but there seems to be a ton of people job searching, cuts and leave offers going around.

Congrats on being able to retire. I’ve been planning on and looking forward to retirement and I’m only 33 😂. I’m trying to get my ducks in a row to retire earlier than normal. The wife and I love to travel, so that’s our retirement goal, I already have too many hobbies between golf, guns, bikes, RC cars, and hunting.

Nothing says hookers and blow like a Goldwing

I don't know about you guys who have matured into Goldwings, but when I get on my bike, I become a 20 year old hooligan again.

Selling these on Amazon and still selling stethoscope holders wholesale but at a greatly diminished volume. https://holdsmithgear.com/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/HOLDSMITHGEAR/page/3C0FD68F-CB0C-4D0A-9B07-001DC24260AE?ref_=ast_bln&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto

Licence Plate of the day....

I was always more into sluts and weed, than hookers and blow 🤣 Lol. I've been bustin' my ass for 30 years just be able to ask the question "how should I spend my free time." After having a few seasons cut short by surgeries, etc. I hope to ride over 20k this year which used to be my norm.

Jesus, what happened to us. We used to be about bikes, hookers and blow. Now it's Medicare and wtf to do with our time.

While not retired yet I have been loading up on hobbies. Big into Pickleball, on a few leagues. That has turned into new friendships and things to do with them. Also hardcore into airsoft. It is a blast shooting people with a high powered bb gun.

I retired in Aug '22 as soon as I was eligible for Medicare. I'm holding off on collecting SS until I'm 70 and can get the max payment. I had planned to not work and bought an $800 project bike to keep me busy. Then I started getting offers for jobs... My last employer asked me to come back as a 1099 contractor doing my old job (machine controls software) but I wanted nothing to do with that - I left that place for good reasons! I landed at a small scale (<10 employees) automated machine builder and I've been having a blast working around 20 hrs/week on 1099. My advice for coping with retirement is to take a month or 2 and consciously work on detoxing from being employed. Learn to enjoy relaxing, drink your morning coffee in the back yard listening to birds, and avoid going to stores on weekends.