My sister noted that she once had an expert testify at trial that women tend to retire 2-3 years before men so I looked it up. It’s true. In the U.S., men tend to retire at 64.5; women at 62.5. Almost no one waits until the full retirement age of 67. As explained by Yahoo Finance, there is some logic to all of it. First, the ages folks tend to retire match up to Social Security benchmarks when individuals can retire and begin to take benefits. Second, many women who may have had many caregiving responsibilities tend to leave the workforce earlier than their spouse. Finally, there is a typical two-year age gap between spouses with men being slightly older and both spouses retiring together.
Into that mix, is my mini-obsession with retirement. Honestly, I’m torn. I would like to get at least one more year out of my microbusiness. That would prove that it survived well past the two-year failure rate for most small businesses. Plus, one more year of decent income would be hugely helpful for us. It would pay for the garage and put cash in our pocket for the first years of retirement. Finally, I still love a new project when it arrives. I love figuring out the puzzle and doing something meaningful. I wouldn’t want to lose that yet.
At the same time, I’m very aware that my husband went 8-9 months without work during his early consulting days and that could happen to me. If it did and his company sells in the meantime, I may not really work again. I’m also aware that my skills may have finally expired and I’m no longer all that valuable in the workforce. If that is true – again – I may not do any future meaningful work.
I’ll be honest – it’s a little scary thinking I won’t work much into the future. I’ve had a job since the day I turned 16 and begged my parents to take me to the local McDonald’s so I could apply. Plus, it would be less of a planned exit from the workforce than I anticipated. I really did want to make it 4-5 years when I started my little microbusiness.
On the other hand, there are parts that appeal, particularly now that it’s summer. Honestly, we live a very busy life. With four rescues, a huge yard and even bigger gardens, a four-bedroom home and a lifestyle that honors cooking from scratch and hanging clothes on a clothesline, there is always plenty to do. And I find that work uniquely fulfilling. I love being a homemaker in a way I never imagined. In a sense, it’s not about working vs. not, it’s a sense of doing a very different type of job. There are days I barely sit down and when I do, I’m exhausted. There are days that I do little, true. But most of the time, I am quite busy.
I ask myself that if the money were taken care of, would I still be working and the answer is truly that I don’t know. I do like the challenge of work and figuring out the puzzle, but I really love the physical and calm aspect of being a homemaker. I also feel like time is more precious than it ever was before. Do I really want to spend that time chasing my tail? Or do I want to spend it enjoying the heartbeats that love me back? Add into the mix that the money is not fully taken care of and the scales tip back towards work. Yet, I may not find it… Eh gads! You can see my confusion.
The cycle can become endless and it’s a little bit of the way my mind works. I keep trying to do the math and I keep coming up with different answers. It’s time, I think, to just let the next few days go and enjoy this week. It’s also time – for the very first time in my life – to trust what will be. I will do my part and I will search for work. However, I will also let Fate guide me for once. Somehow, I think it knows better than I do what happens next.
The Yuppie Homesteader 