I could go to Kauai this weekend, Thurs., Friday, or Saturday for a bargain!

[rickandcindy23]

Alaska Airlines has airfare from Denver, one stop in Seattle, for $644 RT on any of those days. There are lots of timeshares available, too. So we could head off to Kauai and stay in some nice places for a budget price.

I want to have the courage to do this sometime, to just take a whirlwind trip to Hawaii without planning for months in advance. It would be fun to be spontaneous, hurry and pack, then head off to the airport without giving much thought to it. Every year we have gone to Hawaii, the next year's trip is already booked. Well, at least the timeshare part.

Rick says maybe when we retire. Well, I am not planning on retiring from real estate, and he has a while to go on the fire department. I guess we won't be doing this very soon.

[talkamotta]

Cindy:

You look too young to be thinking of retiring. Just keep working.

I loved selling real estate, did it for 10 years. Didnt make a lot of money but with the houses I bought it now pays for my traveling and later will help with the retirement.

I did it part time w/a full time job and 5 kids. I mainly worked with buyers that knew and were willing to wait for me. It was great, could satisfy my need to shop on someone else's dollar.

Timesharing has made me more spontanious. I see a place I want to exchange to and I book it. Still not as ambitious as others on this site but we are working on it. Timesharing has made me a funner and more adventurous person. And it sounds like its working on you, too.

[rickandcindy23]

Well, we are 53, so the retirement bug has definitely hit us over here.

Rick will be the last person in his "coming on class" that will retire. He was 20 when he was hired, and almost all of the other guys were 30+. So he has a little ways to go before he can "drop."

Money is a big consideration for retiring. We need a bit more of a nest egg before we can even think about retirement.

That picture was taken in May of 2005, when we took our daughter and son-in-law to Hawaii with us for their 1st anniversary to Maui. Life is GRAND! Now they give us a granddaughter. How can it get better than this, unless it's more grandkids.

I need to lose some weight to enjoy our vacations more. I am working on that one.

[Fern Modena]

Cindy,
Rick doesn't have a "safety retirement" as a fire fighter? In California once you have 20 years in you are eligible, and at age 53 with 33 years service just about everybody (except a chief) would be gone.

I was retired by then. But maybe my expectations/needs were/are less than yours.

Fern

[talkamotta]

Im almost 55 but only have 27 1/2 years with the company I work for. So I plan on retiring in Jan 2011. No one ever knows until it gets there but thats the plan. Most of the people I work with have 35 years and were eligible for full pensions 5 years ago but they started at 20-23 so 53 was a little too young for them to retire.

I guess it depends on what you want to do. I have 7 grandchildren and they are spread all over the country now. I want to be able to see them and take them places. So that means more $$$. My parents passed away when my kids were too young, they missed out on all the good stuff. It seems like when the kids were young, I was busy doing all kinds of stuff between working, soccor tournaments, scouts, whatever, Now I just want to enjoy the grandkids. Read them scary stories, play dolls or cars, let them bury me in the sand on a beach. Thats my dream.

That is one of the biggest pluses for timeshares. Sometimes you can get 2 or more at the same resort and everyone can be there and be comfortable. It always costs me alot more but it wouldnt have happend if I didnt do it. The phrase "Im spending my children's inheritance" works for me.

[rickandcindy23]

Originally Posted by Fern Modena

Cindy,
Rick doesn't have a "safety retirement" as a fire fighter? In California once you have 20 years in you are eligible, and at age 53 with 33 years service just about everybody (except a chief) would be gone.

I was retired by then. But maybe my expectations/needs were/are less than yours.

Fern

The average age for retirement from Denver is 60. Of course, Rich Montoya at Rick's firehouse was killed in a burning house (full of junk and teenagers smoking pot, which caused the fire ) at 61, two months before he was to retire. This was two years ago this month.

You have to be 50 to retire from the department with 50% retirement, then there is a period of time that you must work past your eligibility to get maximum retirement benefits. I don't know the formula, but I would recognize it if I heard it.

Rick still loves his job. He loves being an engineer, operating the pumps. Everyone should love what they do, but most don't, and he considers himself blessed to have such a great job, working with great people. He used to hate going on vacation because he loved his job so much. Now he loves vacation and isn't anxious to go back to work. Things are changing a bit, as they should.

One of the guys just retired recently, a captain that was in Rick's hiring class. He is miserable, and he was such a workaholic, I know he was regretting his decision to leave for a while before he went. I feel badly for his wife, who is about ready to go crazy with him at home all the time.

[x3 skier]

Originally Posted by rickandcindy23

One of the guys just retired recently, a captain that was in Rick's hiring class. He is miserable, and he was such a workaholic, I know he was regretting his decision to leave for a while before he went. I feel badly for his wife, who is about ready to go crazy with him at home all the time.

True for more people than you think. Me, I retired in January and three days later was in Steamboat Springs with a place to stay, a season ski pass and was on the mountain skiing my a** off until the end of the season. Still have the same plan Jan to April every year. Last year was the 12th season and plan to continue until I get buried in an avalanche somewhere.

Some people just can't turn off the lifetime of toil. Me, I never looked back although I still do some part time consulting to help pay for our small extravagances.

If I were you, I would take the Alaska Airlines deal and go for it. Nothing like a occasional wild fling to keep the juices flowing.

Cheers

[tmartin1]

One of the teachers at my DH's school district told him an interesting statistic. I don't remember the exact numbers, but you'll get the idea - Of the teachers that retired at the age of 65, the average # of years they lived after retirement was 5. Of the teachers who retired at 60, the average # of years they lived after retirement was somewhere between 15 to 20.

That was enough to convince my DH to retire at 60. Too bad we have 10 more years to wait.

Theresa

[JackieD]

Cindy,
I think from previous posts, you are from right across the street (well I-25) from me. I'm in Broomfield. I was thinking the same thing as you (not retiring b/c we're 42 & 47) but the last minute trip to Hawaii. You're right, there are tons of TS availabe for short notice right now. I never find 'great' fares from Denver to HNL or the other islands though. I saw the Alaska one you talked of, have you seen others recently? I just found airfarewatchdog b/c of another post so now I'm checking that daily. I am not very good at spontanaity either BTW!
Jackie

[rickandcindy23]

Jackie, we are here in Thornton! We live approximately 112th and Colorado Blvd.

Yep, those last-minute trips are really tempting. I use sidestep.com for searching airfares. Southwest is the only airline I check regularly that I cannot see with sidestep.

I have seen Denver to Maui for $396 a few times in the past year, but not since Aloha and ATA went out of business. I know there is going to be another carrier that will take ATA's place from Denver soon. Maybe it will be Frontier? That would be ideal! I can build those FF miles really fast on Frontier.

[Talent312]

Originally Posted by rickandcindy23

Yep, those last-minute trips are really tempting. I use sidestep.com for searching airfares. Southwest is the only airline I check regularly that I cannot see with sidestep.

Just think, while you're lounging at the pool or beach in Hawaii, you won't be out driving around, spending your hard-earned cash on the high price of gas for your car. Thus, this trip would actually save you money!

[JackieD]

wow, Cindy! I am at 136th & Zuni! We are really close. We'll have to vow to keep each other informed of the great Denver airfares. It's been awhile since I found a screaming deal.