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I retired twelve years ago from the US State Department Foreign Service after twenty years and hitting mandatory retirement. My spouse retired after twenty-one years of US federal service. Between our two pensions checks, two social security checks and required monthly withdrawals from our TSP (401k) we are definitely enjoying our retirement. We’re not wealthy, but never wanting. I still love listening to you and always come away buoyed and with a new idea or two. Thank you, Tom. Keep it up.

Those 'beach paradise' ads are very deceptive, so few of us are going to be able to afford beachfront property, and I'm not blowing my life savings on a single trip or 'experience'. Better late than never, but I suggest one finds what they love and begin their health-fitness journey prior to retirement.

I haven't skateboarded in decades, although I am doing a long climb and downhill on the mtn bike tomorrow. 2 wks ago I was riding at a bike park, the teens on the smaller bikes really fly these days! It was fun riding the bike slalom course yet having to know my limitations. I've got a plate and rebuilt rt knee already don't need another!

Always enjoy your posts Tom...you're an excellent role model.

Our health is our true passport in life.

love you always sir !

I've got to say Tom that your emphasis on body maintenance is very important. Since I've been retired and watching your videos (Actually watching them well before I retired), I've lifted my body maintenance game. If nothing else, I make sure I get at least 10,000 steps walked per day, usually closer to15,000 with close to 9000 being a continuous unbroken effort at night. Thank you as always for your wisdom and insights. Sean.

My old school friend who I’ve known since we were 5 years old just retired. I retired 6 years ago, she’s been retired 2 weeks and is scared… I’m reassuring her but she’s approaching it as a terrifying unfamiliar unpredictable thing. Her hobby of hill walking is limited by her health- she’s now regretting not retiring earlier, but financially it wasn’t on the cards for her. So she’s going to struggle…

I love your attitude, encouragement, and wisdom, thank you Tom!

Thank you for all you share. Helpful and informative.

Retirement is poverty in the us

Great message again Tom! More people need to tune into your channel! Cheers, Stu

Thank you.

Thank you

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be

To stop working for an income is no longer a goal for me. I enjoy doing things. A trial retirement showed me I am happier if I'm busy. Thank you for sharing your insights.

Excellent video. With respect to the questions in the video, it will be difficult to be happy if your partner is not happy so to an extent, one's happiness is dependent on others as well.

very beneficial thank you

For me location offered me the fantasy of true joy, then I relocated there (my home town)…. now I’ve been here 7 years and I’ve been far happier in myself than for several decades. I came ‘home’ to the sea.

Thank you Tom, it explains how I’ve been feeling recently. I feel so happy since we decided not to move house, I can forget about it and enjoy life more. I love working with textiles, I make patchwork quilts and have dabbled in doll making. I really enjoy it, I love what I’m making, but when it’s finished I loose interest and it gives me great pleasure to give them away. I recently joined a volunteer group who make wall hangings and other items for a National Trust property and other similar organisations. It’s a great way to contribute and make friends too. Things don’t make us happy, it’s just clutter.

Great insights Tom. Personally, I find that happiness comes and goes, as does sadness. These are normal emotions and reactions that often depend on outer and inner circumstances. However, for me inner peace tends to more of a constant in my life these days (as a retiree). Just being alive and in reasonable health keeps me grateful and appreciative. Thank you as always. Sean.

Good video Tom !! I feel like the key to a great retirement is involving others in your life and helping them. Volunteering, helping family, strangers, this will bring happiness and leave the world in a better place.

I was bummed to learn I missed out on music and the local county fair 2 wks ago, as I was totally preoccupied with moving, settling in, and lots of yardwork. Yet I learned there's still 2 more wknds of music on the lake nearby. Tomorrow's Country night, not my thing, but the final show the 14th is the Susanville Symphony. Get a free show to see if they're worth $35 a ticket later! I experience incredible happiness at these free concerts, and usually meet up with and/or make new friends too!

Beautiful message today! My nieces love skiing w/uncle, and I love their company and energy, and skiing w/friends increases each of our happiness, so I'll keep following my heart to the mtns. Location is important, my hearts in the mtns and I'm much happier having returned for a month now. The beach, forest, mtns, ocean, etc have to be far better than the 4 walls and concrete jungle of the cities. I was having a blast cycling my old loop with new paved roads, I learned there's a gravel/rock quarry within a mile of my house today. I find hrs go by just doing yardwork and moving the wheelbarrow about. I'm a happy country bumpkin now!

I'm just wondering how some people have retired early in their forties or very early fifties. I know you can't touch your retirement funds before 59 as there are penalties. Any way to start? I'm in my early fifties...

Tom, thank you for doing these videos. The wisdom you share has made a difference in my life and I'm sure many others as well.

Very wise words. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Happiness is peace of mind..no worries no health issues enjoying simple things in life helping others = Happiness.Only my opinion ❤

Hi Arthur, I'm Ray, married to an Australian for 18 years, and we live in the Philippines after he retired early in 2015 at the age of 60 after 43 years of working as a Registered Nurse, he travel to back Australia in 2021 to fix his government pension, after 3 months he fly back to Philippines without knowing the new law was changed in 2014 that you cant bring out of the country your government pension. As soon as he arrived in Philippines airport he received an email stating that his pension was suspended because his out of Australia. Since then he got depressed again, and we spend 800 dollars per month for his permanent medication. We are looking for help because most of the time we cant afford to get his medicine. He is 69 years old now and not doin well thinking so much about what happen to his pension. We hope someone can help us. We even think to right to Australian Embassy. Thank you for reading and commenting.

Wow! You hit the nail on head.

I am semi-retired. Sometimes it feels like summer break from school. We had to keep ourselves occupied back in those days. Fast forward 56 years and I am doing it all over again.

Excellent video geat advice Arthur really enjoyed this one .Think im all set/ready for exit at 62 latest or tomorrow if im Really fed up with the job😂.The money side worries me more than anything but i know ive enough ....its very difficult to start drawing down pensions and savings when you've saved and struggled over the years.

Thankyou Tom, for this good retirement video you done. I always watch your videos with great interest. Very helpful advice.

❤❤❤

I plan on volunteering, traveling, hobbies, and spending more time with family and friends. I wouldn't mind substitute teaching or even being a docent at a local museum.

I retired two months before Covid hit. The first two years I had caring responsibilities for my very elderly and ill parents, they both died two years ago, still in their own home with all the closest family around them. Now I have freedom I don’t think there’s anything I have a burning wish to do. I’m restricted because of my dog, I lost one two months ago. I visit my daughter in Cyprus in the spring but on my own because my husband stays with our dog. However, we have a very peaceful life, especially as we just decided not to move house. Life is finding happiness with what you have and where you are,remember the alchemist.

To avoid future resentment I'm restating 'retirement' as 'I took my pension early to relocate and work PT'. I don't have to work, but my home insurance quadrupled (I only anticipated it doubling), I'm youngish (53), and I'd like to pay off my mortgage by the time I could collect social security at 62. Only 1-2 shifts per wk. I've got all the house things to do-roof, paint inside & out, new carpets and floors, tree trimming, etc. Plenty to do. I'll be skiing a whole lot more I hope and plan. Spent majority of my afternoon today assembling my new home gym, and some car stuff. Home gym is bit of a dream and now a budget compromise too. I vowed to get more out of my property if I got another chance, and I do it more by the day now. Having the time and ability to cook, even if simply, is an unexpected highlight and joy too.

Thank you for your excellent videos and information.. ~ 08:00: "...this is the opportunity for me to do what I've wanted to do all my life". Ironically, I have already been doing just that: work/save, play the piano, ride the bike, maintain the house and yard. For the recent three years, I've been planning for change: I bought a grand piano and a new bike. However, In a year it will make no sense for me to continue earning because what I earn above social security + required IRA distributions will be eaten by taxes. I really don't know of anything I've been wanting to do all my life which I've not been doing. As you mentioned elsewhere, ask yourself, "*what* (not who) am I"?

Finding your purpose is the key to a long, successful, and happy life imo.

Hello Tom. I retired just as the plague was starting , so it took a while to accumulate to the situation. Doing well now. Always learning each new day. Best wishes 😊👋🐿️

Great insights Tom. I may have mentioned before, that in recent years, I've become a member of The Men's Table (of which there are around 200 Australia wide) which a is similar organisation to The Men's Shed. We meet every month and many of the men there are retired. It's a great boost to be able to relate to each other and exchange views and ideas about retirement and life in general. Thank you as always, Sean.

Hi Tom...I found the first 2 years or so to be the most difficult i.e finding a stride or rhythm being a structured type person. I started volunteering at my church doing maintenance projects with a small group of like minded fellows and this really helped me find the ''zone'' I needed to keep mentally and physically sharp...always something to do and home for lunch with the wife for a quieter afternoon...good vid my friend.

Other factors. Changing desires. I did my "bucket list" travelling in my late 40s knowing I wouldn't want to do it later. I was right. One may have a partner which means compromise and sacrifice. Gratitude is valuable if you can find it. Be thankful for what you have every time you wake up :)

conditioned to authority, then you have to trust your own authority

I’m struggling. I just retired. This is helpful I thought I was going crazy.

I saw someone else say "family, friends, faith, and work" were four things to focus on. Similar story to your words today. Many thanks. Best wishes to you, Sir.

Spirituality something that I certainly lack is inclusive and does not have to be peg with any specific religion or any religion at all, so we are all in weather we like it or not, so perhaps it is just better to be open minded and be curious about it.

You are a treasure I've always wanted everyone who crosses my path to benefit in some way,my regret is not being smart enough to understand how best to benefit in each opportunity Peace

Providing your financial planner is competent and has your interests at heart rather than their own. Thanks for the video.

Thank you Arthur.