What to do in retirement?

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Okay, let's just suppose, hypothetically, that you were 48, and that you were about to retire from your job. You would have health insurance for the rest of your life (a BIG concern in the USA), and your pension was maybe okay to get by on, for basic expenses. BUT, you have a son who will go to college in a couple of years, a daughter six years later, etc. (College is expensive in the USA).

What would you do?

What kind of jobs/work would you seek for a little extra income?

Would you just spend more time on what your personal obsession happened to be, like writing on internet forums, or making certain that your collection of fruit stickers was complete?

Would you try to do some kind of community service? Would you sell real estate or used cars? Would you get into network marketing?

Put your Aspie imagination to work here, you outside-the-box thinkers!

My retirement project?

I'd set up my studio and go full time into my art, sculpting, and pottery.

No way will I be retired at 48. Also, I wouldn't want to. I plan to work until I die, or close to it.

You sound exactly like my father, who (I think) was a lot more autistic than I am.

My mother was the exact opposite (in terms of desire to work).

Unfortunately, neither were at all intelligent with financial planning.

Now, I'm at a juncture where I have some options. I can continue working, but at something else. And, I won't have as much pressure as a lot of other people. That is, assuming that everything goes according to plan in the next few months. If everything falls apart, then I'll be totally screwed.

Anyway, full time art sounds like a good idea.

Any fresh ideas, anyone?

College is a waste of time. But if they really want to go, they can work their way through and/or get scholarships.

This coming from someone with a degree, who realizes now what a waste of time it was.

I have two master's degrees, and regard higher education as very important. But, I know that others don't.

When I started college back in the 1970s, there was plenty of financial aid for students. I went to one of the best undergraduate liberal arts programs in the country, and it was affordable.

Now, the emphasis is on student loans rather than scholarships, and a lot of people are graduating with incredible debt.

Anyway, that's a bit beside the point.

I was thinking that I could take some community college classes, learn something like accounting, and maybe do that on a part time basis.

If I were single, I would take off and travel the world, but I can't really do that.

Except maybe in moderation.

I wish I could retire now...never have to work again...be sweet

If I were retired I might consider going back to school and studying something I enjoyed, and possibly starting a second career. Or maybe there is a part-time job out there with a pace that you enjoy and good working conditions. It would be good to be able to work intermittently, that way if something came up you could take off for a while. I don't think I will ever want to completely drop out of the workplace, but when I retire I would love to have a lot more control over my work situation--working when and if I wanted to.

As far as student loan debt, usually when people get into trouble with student loans it's due to poor decisions made on their part, either going to a too-expensive school [unless you are literally looking at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc. you're better off going to a public university. Second-tier or lower private schools are a waste of money] or majoring in something unmarketable [I made this mistake as an undergrad but fixed it by attending grad school in something else.] It's also really good to go to community college for a while and then transfer in to a four-year school. Quite a bit of money can be saved that way.

Scholarship money is easy to get in bits and pieces--the "full ride" scholarship is pretty hard to find, but you can get some money here and there, often just by applying for things, because a lot of people never bother to even fill out an application. This can lower student loan debt considerably.

College is not a waste of money. I used to think that too, but I'm so happy I eventually straightened out the mistakes I made as an undergrad. The master's degree is the new bachelor's degree anyway.

They probably won't listen, but really try to get your kids to major in something marketable. They can minor in the more obscure stuff or take electives. They will have a much easier time after college if they do that. I won't be starting my "real" career until age 36 due to not following that advice, and it means I probably won't be able to retire until much later in life than I would have if I'd been in a better work situation right after getting my bachelor's degree.

Oh, and accounting is easy to get started in...you can start doing bookkeeping work after only a few classes. That's an excellent idea.

48? dang...passed that 2 years ago...Social Security would look more like bus fare at that age..

There are other options; you can find some companies use 'semi-retired' people to be mentors, or part-timers, etc., you still bring in money, just not as much.

If you have a physical disability (diabetes, asthma, etc), you can make a case for disability, but I don't know your situation.

I was just thinking -- maybe if I try to learn a little more about computers.

For example, look at Alex -- he is only about 20 (I think), and he is already world famous because of this and other websites.

What are your MS degrees in and what kind of work have you been doing for the past 20 years? Can you apply your experience and education to teaching? Maybe an adjunct at a community college or vocational school? A nightclass or two? Having two Master's degrees is pretty rare!

I would have more ideas if I knew at least a little bit about your background. Or maybe you are looking for something totally different?

This is more along the lines of "a little extra income" then along the lines of fun:
Many small businesses use part-time accountants/bookkeepers. That's seems like a good idea.
Do you like the outdoors? Are there any parks near you?
Do you like to drive and listen to music, you could be a courier.
Do you have any experience in the healthcare field of any kind? That would make things pretty easy.
Is there a novelty store you can work at that is inline with any of your hobbies/obsessions? Electronics, scrapbooking, photographs, etc...
What about a soft public job? Work at the library. Officeworker for the county, town, college. Find a government job posting board. Both online and literally the board on the wall at government office buildings.
Umpire softball games.
Coach a highschool sport (not really an aspie thing, just thinking outloud here).
Work at a nursing home or be an aide working with children.
Many churches and volunteer organizations actually have paid positions, some fulltime, some parttime.
Teach music to beginners.
Work at a video rental store parttime for the free movies.
Be an event planner.
Work at a flower shop.
Work at an old-fashioned bakery.
Ok ... I have no good ideas

Will your kids actually get better aid if you are retired and show a smaller income?

What are your MS degrees in and what kind of work have you been doing for the past 20 years? Can you apply your experience and education to teaching? Maybe an adjunct at a community college or vocational school? A nightclass or two? Having two Master's degrees is pretty rare!

I would have more ideas if I knew at least a little bit about your background. Or maybe you are looking for something totally different?

This is more along the lines of "a little extra income" then along the lines of fun:
Many small businesses use part-time accountants/bookkeepers. That's seems like a good idea.
Do you like the outdoors? Are there any parks near you?
Do you like to drive and listen to music, you could be a courier.
Do you have any experience in the healthcare field of any kind? That would make things pretty easy.
Is there a novelty store you can work at that is inline with any of your hobbies/obsessions? Electronics, scrapbooking, photographs, etc...
What about a soft public job? Work at the library. Officeworker for the county, town, college. Find a government job posting board. Both online and literally the board on the wall at government office buildings.
Umpire softball games.
Coach a highschool sport (not really an aspie thing, just thinking outloud here).
Work at a nursing home or be an aide working with children.
Many churches and volunteer organizations actually have paid positions, some fulltime, some parttime.
Teach music to beginners.
Work at a video rental store parttime for the free movies.
Be an event planner.
Work at a flower shop.
Work at an old-fashioned bakery.
Ok ... I have no good ideas

Will your kids actually get better aid if you are retired and show a smaller income?

My first MS degree was in Biostatistics, and my second was in Agricultural and Resource Economics.

My BA degree was a double major in French and Biology.

I can still speak French and Spanish pretty well.

For the past 20 years, I've been employed as a statistician with various agencies of the US federal government.

Maybe I could give teaching at a community college a try. Part-time library work sounds relaxing.

Yes, I would spend a lot more time enjoying myself, doing things that benefit me and make me happy. That would include spending more time on my obsession at the time.

I think there comes an age, where you have to forget about everyone else and spend the remaining years of your life relaxing.

If I needed some extra money for any reason I would try and sell my crazy, abstract artwork that I indeed, would still be painting for personal pleasure.

I'll probably be retiring when I'm around 57, assuming I live that long, because that's when I'll have 30 years in at my current job, assuming it lasts long enough for me to retire from it. By that point I plan to be living alone or with a pet, in a home that is completely paid for, and living off my retirement salary. I'll amuse myself with my various hobbies, and if I get bored, I'll take an interesting class or two. Maybe do a little volunteer work. Repair people's computers for them or something.