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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.

Yea but who sold more merch? HD is America's largest cosplay business.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The way healthcare is paid for in this country is bullshit.

I quit working a year ago in February. I had a fun year doing motorcycle trips with a day or two notice depending on what the weather looked like where I wanted to go. Was getting fairly bored at times but not enough to get a job because I would need a completely free work schedule with the ability to not work for weeks at a time. I'm old enough for S.S. but my income keeps me from taking it because I would just have to give it back. We are lucky with healthcare as that's covered by her employer which she is retired from. If it wasn't for healthcare coverage I wouldn't be retired. Three years age I was paying $1,740 a month for single coverage as an only employee. Now I can't work if I wanted to because I'm getting a hip replacement on the 10th and intend to get the second hip replaced in November.

Make sure you maintain medical coverage. If not when you go into Medicare they will charge you quite a bit extra for part B coverage.

I am at the same point. I intend to work till late spring or early summer and call it a day. Also 90 percent there in my head. Won't file for Social Security until next year. I'll be way over in income so I would have to give it back any way. So might as well get closer to 66 and 7 months. I will continue my part time cyber security gig at the school which will keep me from going insane. I won't file for the State retirement until I stop doing that as the monthly payment goes up 200 bucks a month for every year I wait. So for side gigs, you can get a retail job in a heartbeat. Any big box, department store or grocery store will hire you instantly. But you should look at options in your current field. Reach out to customers, suppliers and so on. Part time parts sales at a motorcycle dealership? Male hooker pays well, but is a pain in the ass, literally.

BMW doesn't even deserve a mention. https://ride-ct.com/honda-sales-leader-in-u-s-in-2024-worldwide-leader-too/

A woman was waiting to board a bus when she realized her skirt was too tight to lift her leg high enough to step onto the first step. Feeling a bit self-conscious, she smiled at the bus driver and reached behind to unzip her skirt slightly, hoping to create enough slack to step up. However, her first attempt failed. With another polite smile, she tried unzipping her skirt a little more, but still, she couldn't manage the step. Frustrated yet determined, she gave it one last try, unzipping her skirt even further in hopes of finally getting on the bus. At this point, a large Texan man standing behind her gently picked her up by the waist and placed her on the first step of the bus. Shocked and outraged, the woman spun around and yelled, "How dare you touch me! I don’t even know who you are!" The Texan, unfazed, tipped his hat with a grin and drawled, "Well, ma’am, normally I’d agree with you. But after you unzipped my fly three times, I figured we must be friends."