Post planning career

[zrman]

After 25+ years in the planning profession (mainly transportation), I'm thinking about early retirement and trying a new career. What would you do if you had the opportunity to quit planning and do something you really liked?

 

[Downtown]

Oooh. Good question. Ok, when i retire after 30 years of planning, at age 55, I don't think I'll get another full time job. I think I'll become a children's book reader at the library or at a pre-school. And spend the rest of the time running a community garden.

 

[NHPlanner]

I've always wanted to be a college professor....

 

[nerudite]

Unrealistic: Location Scout for movies

Realistic: Work at an independent bookstore or travel agency part time, or work for a non-profit in the environmental/planning field part time.

 

[Repo Man]

Post planning I am going to retire, travel and not work at all. I would like to say I am going to volunteer at the loacal hospital or something, but I probably won't. After workin' for the man for 30 plus years I will spend the rest of my life being a grumpy and/or dirty old man.

 

[Tranplanner]

They are planning on scrapping the mandatory retirement age around here, so theoretically I could keep on working as long as I want. I don't know what I'll do - If I have enough money I'll travel and volunteer. If I don't I'll pick up some part time work doing something that won't interfere with golfing season.

 

[PlannerByDay]

HMMMM that's tough.

First off I don't know if I'll make it 25 or more years in Planning. But regardless, once I retire I will fill my spare time with some sort of environmental education or activitism. Maybe work of a nature center, environmentally focused elementary school or something like that.

DOWNTOWN - I too think running a community garden sound like a great thing, I never thought of that.

 

[donk]

The way things are going with my retirement fund I'll be working even after I die.

If I new what I wanted to do in 25 years from now, I'd be doing it now.

 

[Richmond Jake]

I'd like to become a long-haul truck driver and see the country.

 

[SGB]

I would probably go to work part time for an environmental group, and make life a living hell for local planning & zoning boards that ignore procedural and/or substantive due process.

 

[pete-rock]

Maybe more alternate careers than post-retirement second careers:

1) author of non-fiction, writing planning-related articles and books;

2) college professor.

 

[Planderella]

I've always wanted to be a college professor....

Ditto

 

[michaelskis]

High School English or Geography Teacher, own a bar/ night club.

Oh and I would spend alot of time skiing, and fishing.

 

[el Guapo]

Two Words: Geriatric Porn. - Not really.

I'd like to be a scale model builder for movies and industry.

 

[Repo Man]

I saw an interesting ad in the local weekly paper that said something along the lines of "BOZA BLUES? - We can help prepare your zoning appeal, zoning change, or any other City permit, please call ______" That might be a nice retirement option. Since I know how the system works, I could make some coin helping people get throgh all the hassles. It would be intresting to be on the other side of the fence.

 

[giff57]

I'm going to buy a strip club

 

[Sue]

I'm going to do custom stained glass peices and sell glass supplies out of my home studio.

 

[H]

I'm going to buy a strip club

What are you going to call it?

Strip clubs get so creative with names!

The favorite I’ve seen (be it simple): The Booby Trap

 

[Mud Princess]

I would probably go to work part time for an environmental group, and make life a living hell for local planning & zoning boards that ignore procedural and/or substantive due process.

Can I join you, SGB? We could be the Two Yahoos.

 

[pandersen]

Post Planning Career

Me, I probably spend my idle hours making custom furniture.

I've also already given some serious throught to writing a book dealing with humorous planning anecdotes. I just cant decide whether there is a large enough market for this type of publication. I know I see lots of good material for such a book right here inthe "Friday Afternoon Club" Any thoughts on the merits of this idea?

Let's face it though, in this profession, if you can't laugh about your work your destined for the "funny farm".

 

[SGB]

Can I join you, SGB? We could be the Two Yahoos.

How 'bout "Yahoos, Inc.?" I think once we get such a business rolling, there will be lots of other planning retirees that will want in on the fun!

 

[GeogPlanner]

a bar...maybe just a wine bar...but even a coffee car would be fne my me...just somewhere to drink something...that would be my choice...

 

[The Irish One]

I'm going to do custom stained glass peices and sell glass supplies out of my home studio.

bubblers and chillums?

MULE -from the direction he's looking -I'd say that pic is w/ Phil.

 

[Trail Nazi]

Unrealistic: Location Scout for movies.

I have always thought that being a location scout would be a fun career. My other ideas would be to go back to school to get a PhD in Forensic Anthropology - something I have wanted to do for over 10 years now, to do something with foreign policy for the feds, and / or run an ice cream shop photography gallery on the beach with my husband. If those things do not work out, maybe I will write children's books.

 

[Runner]

After retirement from a planning career (which will be retirement number two) I think opening a pottery studio will be in the works.

 

[Cardinal]

Teaching college would be fun. Maybe NHPlanner, Pete-Rock, Planderella and I can open up our own university.

 

[NHPlanner]

Teaching college would be fun. Maybe NHPlanner, Pete-Rock, Planderella and I can open up our own university.

On-line courses from Cyburbia....now there's an idea!

 

[Chet]

I wont have one - here's why...

In 6.5 years I max out the part of my state pension formula for 'years of service' and my pension will only increase based on the balance of the formula, calculated on my 'three highest years earnings'. Being waaaaay too young to retire, I'll move on to a career in another state (preferrably one like NV or FL with nice climate and no state income tax), start over in another state pension system, work antoher 15 or more years, and retire with two sizeable pensions, my own savings, and if it still exists, social security as an unexpected cash stream.

Ironically, despite advances in modern medicine, the men in my family die young and that will leave me an anticiapted 1.7 years before my estate gets divided up....

 

[Rem]

What will you do in retirement?

Sorry if I have the protocol back to front but I have searched for an old "what will you do in retirement" thread instead of starting a new one. Please split it off if I have done the wrong thing.

Today I attended a funeral for a guy who worked at my place of employment for 34 years. He retired last October due to ill health and died last week. He was 54. He was a very nice man, well respected by his colleagues. We weren't close but he worked in a section that I am responsible for at the moment (the Rangers) so we had enough contact for me to conclude he deserved a long and happy retirement. He was the sort of fellow that would indeed have sucked the juice out of a lifestyle without work. His family is struggling to accept he has missed out on that.

One ambition I now hold is to not work for 35 years and have a 3 month retirement wracked with pain and the nausea of chemotherapy. I believe I need to think about what I will do when I retire and when I should be aiming to retire. My assumptions up to now were that I would never stop working, only reduce commitments over time, do some teaching and writing, take on small projects that interest me etc. but basically never really stop working. Maybe it's the emotion of the day but as I say, I am rethinking.

Anyone want to revisit their old post or maybe throw up some new good ideas for a happy retirement plan? I would appreciate your input.

 

[el Guapo]

Sorry about your co-worker, but the man is oppressing us all. This isn't a happy thought, but right now if I was able to change careers to anything I wanted it would be to this....Door Gunner on the Setback and Sign Ordinance Enforcement Chopper.

 

[Planner Groupie]

I'm going to buy a strip club

I've had this idea for a strip club for the last two years. Unfortunately, it is definitely not a kind of strip club any man would be interested in, but I'll take any monetary back up I can get...

 

[Michele Zone]

I am with Donk: if I knew what I wanted to do "in retirement", I would do it now. Only: I do know what I want to do and I am doing it.

When I was diagnosed with my disorder, my husband of many years immediately returned to college on the theory that he would need to plan on supporting me for the rest of my life because I "might never work" due to my medical handicap. I guess I wasn’t “working” all those years that I followed his military career around the world while raising and homeschooling our special-needs kids.

Obviously, I had the option of "agreeing" with my husband that I cannot work and then taking to my bed and letting the world stamp my forehead with “factory reject, undeserving of a full life”. Instead, I returned to college (while continuing to fight for my life), I went deeply into debt to get my certificate in GIS, and I am in the process of launching probably 3 businesses so I can make my own money and leave his sorry a$$.

Life’s a bitch and then you die. If there is something you WANT to do with your life, IMO, you should start doing it now. Heck, you could be hit by a truck tomorrow – or even later today. [Politically Incorrect] On the other hand, that might be good for some of the folks who seem to think they are prisoners of their healthy bodies and jobs. Nearly dying is wonderful for putting stuff into perspective.[/Politically Incorrect]

 

[donk]

EG, here is a community that needs your help. Maybe this would be suitable for a new time wasting game. Anyone skilled at this sort of thing?




On a serious note, it is sad to hear that someone who worked so hard did not have time to enjoy his retirement.

 

[JNA]

The way things are going with my retirement fund I'll be working even after I die.
If I knew what I wanted to do in 25 years from now, I'd be doing it now.

I started late at 35 yrs old - so that's why I agree with Donk on this.

 

[NHPlanner]

I've had this idea for a strip club for the last two years. Unfortunately, it is definitely not a kind of strip club any man would be interested in, but I'll take any monetary back up I can get...

Good luck finding a location if you go for it.....most NH towns and cities have Sexually Oriented Business (SOB) ordinances, and not many NH communities have areas left available for SOB's.

 

[Planner Groupie]

Good luck finding a location if you go for it.....most NH towns and cities have Sexually Oriented Business (SOB) ordinances, and not many NH communities have areas left available for SOB's.

Who said anything about doing it in NH? I'm not concerned about ordinances. You just have to know who the right people and know what makes them tick if ya know what I mean ;-)

 

[NHPlanner]

Who said anything about doing it in NH? I'm not concerned about ordinances. You just have to know who the right people and know what makes them tick if ya know what I mean ;-)

I do know what you mean.

Though it seems like you'd be losing some groupie status if you just go about disregarding ordinances and such.

 

[Planner Groupie]

I do know what you mean.

Though it seems like you'd be losing some groupie status if you just go about disregarding ordinances and such.

I said nothing about disregarding. There is a way around everything. As far as the groupie status is concerned, I'd rather be making millions then stay a groupie. Sorry folks..

 

[Seabishop]

In 6.5 years I max out the part of my state pension formula for 'years of service' and my pension will only increase based on the balance of the formula, calculated on my 'three highest years earnings'. Being waaaaay too young to retire, I'll move on to a career in another state (preferrably one like NV or FL with nice climate and no state income tax), start over in another state pension system, work antoher 15 or more years, and retire with two sizeable pensions, my own savings, and if it still exists, social security as an unexpected cash stream.

Ironically, despite advances in modern medicine, the men in my family die young and that will leave me an anticiapted 1.7 years before my estate gets divided up....

Will you marry me?

 

[Zoning Goddess]

Work in the local library, or
Move to a condo at the beach

 

[Plannerbabs]

Teaching college would be fun. Maybe NHPlanner, Pete-Rock, Planderella and I can open up our own university.

Sign me up, too. My retirement plan is getting a PhD and teaching until I fall over at the lectern. We have a pretty good retirement plan, but I know a lot of people who retired, promptly started doing lots of puttering around because they thought they were supposed to do that, and then ended up getting very sick or going senile, probably from boredom after working full-time for 50-odd years. I'd like to avoid that, by becoming the ditzy professor whose classes everyone skips because they're nothing but tangents.

 

[mendelman]

Kayak the length of all the major rivers in North America and maybe kayak across a couple Great Lakes. Do this with a bunch of good friends. Hell, I might do this in the next couple years.

I would still live in my comfy Chicago bungalow and manage the small number of residential/commercial rental properties I would own by then. Re-finance them every so often and get my equity back in cash.

Make my backyard into a lush temperate forest.

Have fun with grandkids and then send them back to their parents.

 

[Big Easy King]

I would either become a college professor or a restaurateur.

 

[SlaveToTheGrind]

Since my dream to play on the PGA tour did not come to fruition, I will settle for playing everyday after retirement.

 

[mendelman]

Mmmmmmm, that's some good ecosystem degradation!

 

[Cardinal]

Kayak the length of all the major rivers in North America and maybe kayak across a couple Great Lakes. Do this with a bunch of good friends. Hell, I might do this in the next couple years.

Why wait? There is a great stretch of the Green River from Green River, UT to Lake Powell, without a single road crossing it. Or maybe the headwaters of the Missouri, to commenmorate Lewis & Clark's trip? I'll be ready this summer.

I can't see myself giving up this kind of work as long as I continue to enjoy it. As soon as I start to dislike it, though, I'll be making the change. My father and grandfather both retired and continued to consult with their former employer for a few years after. It seems like a good way to transition into full-time retirement.

 

[mendelman]

Why wait? There is a great stretch of the Green River from Green River, UT to Lake Powell, without a single road crossing it. Or maybe the headwaters of the Missouri, to commenmorate Lewis & Clark's trip? I'll be ready this summer.

Well, I only have 2 weeks vacation and many familial responsibilities that take all that time. Plus my kayak is still at my brother's house in Alpena, MI (8 hours away) where it's been since summer of 1997. I do not yet have storage space for it.

but soon will have space. I love kayaking! :-D

 

[Cardinal]

Well, I only have 2 weeks vacation and many familial responsibilities that take all that time. Plus my kayak is still at my brother's house in Alpena, MI (8 hours away) where it's been since summer of 1997. I do not yet have storage space for it.

but soon will have space. I love kayaking! :-D

You could always store it in my barn. I couldn't imagine only having two weeks of vacation. I need to get out and explore more often than that. :c:

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

-Certified Zombie Hunter would be fun...

-I'm thinking of the self-employed kind of business, rumpy's rampage (TM), buying and rehabbing older buildings, and exerting my wrath on the local planning board and zba. Maybe get into the political arena eventually....

 

[tsc]

Find a nice old farm in the Catskills, Adirondacks, or Vermont and make maple syrup, sell christmas trees, or run a XC ski center, then head to the Keys for mud season. I got about 10-15 years to go though.