Maybe I will spend some time here posting ways I learned to survive.

I'm sure others here can give me a few tips.

away, but I look forward to that milestone, too. Good for you!

I'm starting to think of it as the start of my life. It's the first time ever that my time is actually my time.

There is so much I want to do that I never had time for.

I'm nearly 10 years from retirement, but fortunately have a decent paying job that doesn't wear my body down.

Even if it means sleeping in to 7:00 AM, and staying in my pajamas while I work on long neglected crafts.

Thank you for your well wishes.

Have a great retirement!!

My dog disagrees. lol

Thank you so much. , too.

Work in food industry and just did a 12 hour shift yesterday. Of course there was no break or time to eat. People are less valuable than the broken down equipment this 2 billion dollar of profits per year corporation doesn't give 2 shits about. I'm over 50 btw. Just hoping I'm physically able to enjoy retirement when I get there.

I hope to be able to give more time to the community that I have lived in for so long.

It's a given that I will not be relaxing in the Caymans. LOL

as I became eligible last year. I still work part-time, but earn nowhere near the $15K limit. The SS has been a godsend. For the first time in a long time I am able to pay my bills without too much of a struggle.

but my SO is in bad health and needs me here at home.

SS is truly life saving. We must do all we can to preserve and expand it.

Thank you LibDemAlways.

Some states have programs that will compensate family members that are full time care givers for qualified persons. Might want to check it out.

the things you want and enjoy.

please keep us posted, and we will happily send along tips as needed.

I hope to keep posting and I appreciate all tips.

PS: I wasn't always poverty stricken. WJC signed banking reform and NAFTA. GWB became governor of Texas. Shit happens.

I'm looking into a $48 million dollar deal with this nice widow lady in Nigeria; I could cut you in.

I can get the whole on my own. LOL

That's MY money!

You worked hard and I hope you enjoy your respite.

I am uplifted by all the encouragement I am receiving here.

to one I consider a fighter.

some people who have recently gotten their Social Security. SS gets raves. They still work, and still pay into SS, but get a monthly check.

Re your crafts, I have a story to tell you about a college-level student of mine who has an Etsy store. This student does wood carving, and just before Christmas, he and I had to spend some time waiting together. I was curious about what these sounds were that were going off on his tablet. He seemed to be smiling happily each time that would happen. I asked him, and he told me those were Etsy sales. He was particularly happy that one item sold within two hours of listing it.

Of course, this is Christmas.

My student makes his items out of discarded stuff he finds at the curb. One item he sold that morning was an illuminated lighthouse that he made out of a bedpost. Consequently, he has no overhead other than his time. He told me that is his big thrill--making money off of something that cost him nothing.

I think it's great 'cuz it keeps stuff out of landfills.

Oh--one other story. One day he came into class with the biggest smile on his face. He showed me an antique mitre box he had seen in a window in a secondhand shop near the school. He knew the value of it--around $300--so he told the owner of the store it was worth a lot more than the $25 the shop owner was asking. Long story short, my student took a photo of the item, sold it for the $300, and went back a few days later. The secondhand store owner had not checked out the value like my student had told him to, so he was more than happy to sell the item for the $25. Net profit to my student was $275.

I guess my point is that if you enjoy that sort of thing, there may very well be a way you can turn your new found time into some extra $$.

If you want to see my student's Etsy store, PM me and I'll send you what to put in the search engine.

I'm happy for you, malokvale77. As a school teacher, I do get lower wages than what I'd have gotten in corporate America, but I get a decent amount of time off, for which I am very grateful.


Cher

may I get back to you?

would love to see.

I'm 420high at this time.

I plan to enjoy every bit of my time until the day I die.

Take some time off and if you want to return to work to pick up some extra cash I'm sure that something will work out for you.

Thank you TT.

I cannot express how much you have meant to me here on DU.

Right back at ya

I'm off to dreamland.

I was unemployed when I signed I for SS. had saving though. it is nice to have a regular check.

Happy for you!

Take a well earned rest.