FIRE? Unless you hate or are bad at your job, isn't work the best part of life?

zagfles

RogerIrvine said:

CloesUnc, I'm retired (just) . And there's a lot about work that I miss.
"Best of both worlds" is a nice thought, zagfles, but I'm not sure reunions really work like that, after the polite stage. When it's over, it's over. 

We had ex- colleagues who retired 15 years ago at our Christmas party!

RogerIrvine

That's great. But imagine how boring to listen to "the boring stuff" is for those who have left the culture altogether. Like listening to Klingon. But it cuts both ways; very often that's the shorthand, the glue that binds a workforce together. That's kind of the point of it, it's not interesting to anyone outside. 

zagfles

RogerIrvine said:

That's great. But imagine how boring to listen to "the boring stuff" is for those who have left the culture altogether. Like listening to Klingon. But it cuts both ways; very often that's the shorthand, the glue that binds a workforce together. That's kind of the point of it, it's not interesting to anyone outside. 

We don't tend to talk about work at Christmas parties, people yes, but not the actual job, that would be like being at work! Although stories of the old days are always good. Catching up with the retired guys is the main reason I go to the parties, I talk to current colleagues all the time at work.

RogerIrvine

Fair enough. Go well.

hildosaver

If I could afford to retire today I'd be long gone. 

cfw1994

I've had a few meals/beery sessions with some fellow retirees and also wannabee retirees (ex workmates).....work chat is all at a minimum, & essentially the ones still working are mildly enthused by hearing how we spend our days - we are the example they want to follow!
To the younger ones who are not close to retiring, they still enjoy the banter of us older lags.  They have enough work chatter at work and at 'normal' work socials!.
We have a non-work "linked-in <company> Alumni" group that tries to get together when we can.   It is great to catch up with the wider group, although there are a couple I won't waste time on (& I'm sure that is reciprocated!).

Of course every company is different - ours has (had?!) a great culture, & many of those I worked with across the globe I consider good friends & keep electronically in touch with regularly

Albermarle

Apart from the usual methods of communication , we also had an informal  Whatsapp group for people doing a similar job but in different countries. Although I left nearly 5 months ago , I am still an active member !

RogerIrvine

Yes, I suppose that can work when your work-buddies are in disparate places. Sort of levels up the sense of inclusion.. But there is still that inside/outside thing - you can have a foot in both camps but surely you must be aware they're drifting away from each other...

SouthCoastBoy

Having worked for over 35 years in a number of companies there are very few people I have kept in touch with, I could most probably count them on one hand. Loads of great acquaintances at the time but very few friendships that have stood the test of time. Oddly I am still in touch with more people from school than work.

femalemonarchfemalecanine

RogerIrvine said:

Tenure to a paying post seems to be an invaluable perk. For example septuagenarian Paul Dacre has recently demurred from re-applying 

for the prestigious chair of the kingdom's media regulator to be parachuted into a more lucrative private sector post. In his 80th year, great football manager Sir Alex Ferguson continues as Manchester United's Global Ambassador, after a stroke. 

Acknowledged that us in the middling MSE crowd don't have that leverage, still, isn't it better to have the focus of a job? I may be wrong and obviously no disrespect intended  but get the impression that tax-considerations or, even worse, a failure of imagination lies behind this FIRE goal.

thinking you need a job for 'focus' sounds like a monumental failure of imagination to me. what a weird notion.