Retirement

[RichardB]

It began to dawn on me in the last couple of years that I'm going to have to scale down my teaching position in about four years' time and retire from it altogether in maybe seven years' time (always assuming I'm still alive by then!), which I find rather sad, not just because the periods of "proper" employment in my life haven't been sufficient to generate a decent pension, but also because I feel that with all my experience and a fairly extensive body of creative work, I'm just now beginning to think I might have a significant contribution to make to succeeding generations through my educational work, shortly before being thrown on the scrapheap so to speak. US universities have a far more civilised approach to this issue, parallel to what EH was saying about the media. Otherwise of course I'm not planning to retire.

[richardfinegold]

The US seems to have a much more enlightened attitude to “elder “ employment. My area (tv and film) is still very ageist with very few presenter/reporters in their 60’s and it’s the same pretty much the case behind the scenes ; whereas US news esp local programmes always seem to have plenty of grey hairs. I guess the pensions and health care costs mean you have to keep going into your sixties. Just about every UK GP I know retired at sixty on fifty per cent salary as a pension and that index linked ; plus their share of the practice bought back. Things have changed a bit within the BBC as compulsory early retirement at 60 was made illegal several years ago so you know have a few taking a final salary pension , still working , and paying into a defined contribution pension - probably to avoid a big tax bill. I suspect that’s pretty common in other areas.

The Health Care system is different here (well, that’s an obvious statement); the current trend is for Hedge Funds to buy large Physician Groups (which amalgamate in the hopes of being bought out). I had actually sold my practice 10 years ago at the beginning of the trend and have worked for others since. My current employer, CANO Health, started in Florida then moved to other states. They were bought by a Hedge Fund but the founding family maintained control. They were throwing money around when they decided to expand into Chicago; a year later there was a billion dollars unaccounted for, the Cuban/American family that founded had paid themselves millions in undeserved revenue—the hedge fund has issued public denunciations-and now CANO has pulled out of every state except Florida. They haven’t bothered to notify the patients, which is illegal but no one seems to care at this juncture, and we Physicians have to tell patients at their visits. Imagine a visit that goes along the line of, I’m sorry mam, the tests show that you have cancer, and by the way your Doctor will be leaving for paths unknown in 4 weeks.
I digress. However on a personal level money is not the issue. Unless an economic meltdown of Weimar Germany proportions occurs, we are set. Elon Musk would no doubt sneer at our assets but it’s enough for us . It’s the mindset. It’s a daily conversation-yes, we can and should retire, think of spending the entire day doing what we want, not having to work and worry about others—but we both become anxious at the thought of calling it quits. I also think about this large body of knowledge that I have acquired to do my job, and what a terrible waste, or void, it will be not to be utilizing it. Volunteering should be an option here, but it isn’t due to the Malpractice Situation (the main options for this are in rural areas, and would require relocation. There is also the self image thing- hearing myself referred to as “Dr. Finegold” vs “that used to be Dr. Finegold “. So I have signed up for one last tour of duty,but my enthusiasm level has never been so low-one of my interviewers has told me that “provider burnout “ is very evident.
And if I was fully retired, can you imagine how many posts I would be flooding this forum with?

[eighthobstruction]

.....goodness....a quick google and search ref CANO and MSP leaves no doubts of the absolute mess for staff /patients and stock holders...

....I'm just waiting for the first signs of corruptions coming from Super Practises etc in this country since 2012 Health and Care Acts

[Dave2002]

The Health Care system is different here (well, that’s an obvious statement); the current trend is for Hedge Funds to buy large Physician Groups (which amalgamate in the hopes of being bought out). I had actually sold my practice 10 years ago at the beginning of the trend and have worked for others since. My current employer, CANO Health, started in Florida then moved to other states. They were bought by a Hedge Fund but the founding family maintained control. They were throwing money around when they decided to expand into Chicago; a year later there was a billion dollars unaccounted for, the Cuban/American family that founded had paid themselves millions in undeserved revenue—the hedge fund has issued public denunciations-and now CANO has pulled out of every state except Florida. They haven’t bothered to notify the patients, which is illegal but no one seems to care at this juncture, and we Physicians have to tell patients at their visits. Imagine a visit that goes along the line of, I’m sorry mam, the tests show that you have cancer, and by the way your Doctor will be leaving for paths unknown in 4 weeks.
I digress. However on a personal level money is not the issue. Unless an economic meltdown of Weimar Germany proportions occurs, we are set. Elon Musk would no doubt sneer at our assets but it’s enough for us . It’s the mindset. It’s a daily conversation-yes, we can and should retire, think of spending the entire day doing what we want, not having to work and worry about others—but we both become anxious at the thought of calling it quits. I also think about this large body of knowledge that I have acquired to do my job, and what a terrible waste, or void, it will be not to be utilizing it. Volunteering should be an option here, but it isn’t due to the Malpractice Situation (the main options for this are in rural areas, and would require relocation. There is also the self image thing- hearing myself referred to as “Dr. Finegold” vs “that used to be Dr. Finegold “. So I have signed up for one last tour of duty,but my enthusiasm level has never been so low-one of my interviewers has told me that “provider burnout “ is very evident.
And if I was fully retired, can you imagine how many posts I would be flooding this forum with?

Interesting. Keep well, and don't get burned out. However you may like to think that you are doing good by carrying on even in a reduced capacity. I knew one obstetrician in California who for various reasons was carrying on, even though he was over 70. I believe his patients were very grateful.

In countries like the UK and probably the US volunteering might not be an option for doctors if not least because of issues relating to insurance. I have known doctors who would keep their status very quiet - for example on flights when there has been an announcement about "is there a doctor on board?" - as they are aware of incidents in which claims for medical negligence have been brought against people trying to help. Similarly for road accidents - though I think that common sense usually prevails in the UK - and if someone appears to be competent and qualified and no other options are possible, then assistance is welcolmed. I think if you keep working, even very part time, for an organisation then such issues can be minimised.

You probably don't want to leave your country, but there are countries where your knowledge and expertise may well be appreciated, if you could face the challenge and upheaval. OTOH I don't think anyone would object if you wanted to retire and spend your time listening to music.

[gradus]

Richard what a wicked waste of skill and experience to preclude voluntary work from your options because of the 'Malpractice Situation'. Nuts just Nuts!
Does any political figure in the US care enough to do something about this?

[Old Grumpy]

Does any political figure in the US care enough to do something about this?

Political figures probably lawyers...


... so answer probably no!

[richardfinegold]

Richard what a wicked waste of skill and experience to preclude voluntary work from your options because of the 'Malpractice Situation'. Nuts just Nuts!
Does any political figure in the US care enough to do something about this?

Short answer: no. Grumpy nailed one good reason, and Dave fleshed out the others. Another is that Politics here is Theater. No one prioritizes actually fixing anything.

[richardfinegold]

It looks like I will be retiring after all. The job offer that I had accepted was rescinded. I actually feel a huge sense of relief, as I was girding myself to work a few more years than I had really wanted as would have felt obligated. My present position ends in two weeks. There is a possibility that I might assist at a Clinic where my daughter works for a few hours a week, I’ll know more about that next week, but the big attraction there will be a little structure and getting to have lunch with Jill .

[Joseph K]

It looks like I will be retiring after all. The job offer that I had accepted was rescinded. I actually feel a huge sense of relief, as I was girding myself to work a few more years than I had really wanted as would have felt obligated. My present position ends in two weeks. There is a possibility that I might assist at a Clinic where my daughter works for a few hours a week, I’ll know more about that next week, but the big attraction there will be a little structure and getting to have lunch with Jill .

Sounds good, glad you're relieved.

[Dave2002]

No one prioritizes actually fixing anything.

Glad that things seem to be working out better for you now. I did intend to retire early, but in the end actually worked slightly longer by a month or two than my base contract stated.

Several people said I would probably be busier after retiring - which to some extent happened, but was only partially true.

Re getting things fixed - sounds like the UK. Here we have a bust NHS, bust transport system, now we have food banks and homeless people, and we're allegedly in the top 20 countries in the world.

In the meantime I have barely fixed or done some of the things I thought I would spend time on after retiring. I bought several turntables cheaply thinking I would fix them - get them working - kind of a fun project - but they'll probably just have to go to auction or the dump. I'm ten years in, and they've not been touched.

Apart from personal tardiness in getting things done, it's also just oh so slow trying to get others to do anything - even for money. Too many things are compartmentalised, or run inefficiently or with many administrative [though perhaps sensible] obstacles. Getting work done on houses, for example, often leads to material to be disposed of - but in the UK the trades people hardly ever take things away - because - perhaps rightly - they are charged for taking rubbish and unwanted material to the dumps. There is very little joined up thinking, or making projects work smoothly.

Even a capitalist/commercial model of society - as it is in the UK - doesn't work well, as some things just don't happen because nobody wants to do the work - not even for modestly reasonable amounts of money.

[richardfinegold]

Glad that things seem to be working out better for you now. I did intend to retire early, but in the end actually worked slightly longer by a month or two than my base contract stated.

Several people said I would probably be busier after retiring - which to some extent happened, but was only partially true.

Re getting things fixed - sounds like the UK. Here we have a bust NHS, bust transport system, now we have food banks and homeless people, and we're allegedly in the top 20 countries in the world.

In the meantime I have barely fixed or done some of the things I thought I would spend time on after retiring. I bought several turntables cheaply thinking I would fix them - get them working - kind of a fun project - but they'll probably just have to go to auction or the dump. I'm ten years in, and they've not been touched.

Apart from personal tardiness in getting things done, it's also just oh so slow trying to get others to do anything - even for money. Too many things are compartmentalised, or run inefficiently or with many administrative [though perhaps sensible] obstacles. Getting work done on houses, for example, often leads to material to be disposed of - but in the UK the trades people hardly ever take things away - because - perhaps rightly - they are charged for taking rubbish and unwanted material to the dumps. There is very little joined up thinking, or making projects work smoothly.

Even a capitalist/commercial model of society - as it is in the UK - doesn't work well, as some things just don't happen because nobody wants to do the work - not even for modestly reasonable amounts of money.

Yes, I’ve gotten many lectures on how I need to have a plan. Somehow the option of sitting around half the day, quietly reading and listening to music, after a lifetime of toil, is striking so many people as unacceptably slothful. I do want to take some courses, primarily in creative writing and history, and will probably resort to Zoom. I will try to do some volunteering for local community orchestras, and since we will probably dispense with our bimonthly cleaning service and our lawn services as a way of economizing, some time will go into those activities while I am still physically able. Our local classical radio station WFMT sustains itself with fund raising drives that require volunteers and that might be a way to meet retired like minded music lovers. Our local library also has a couple of senior oriented book clubs going.

[Serial_Apologist]

Too many things are compartmentalised, or run inefficiently or with many administrative [though perhaps sensible] obstacles. Getting work done on houses, for example, often leads to material to be disposed of - but in the UK the trades people hardly ever take things away - because - perhaps rightly - they are charged for taking rubbish and unwanted material to the dumps. There is very little joined up thinking, or making projects work smoothly.

Even a capitalist/commercial model of society - as it is in the UK - doesn't work well, as some things just don't happen because nobody wants to do the work - not even for modestly reasonable amounts of money.

Here two of the flats in our block of 14 have had heavy extensive alterations and roof extensions carried out involving private building contractors. From what we have all ascertained one of the problems consists not in the amounts of disposables from said works but incomers using the skip to dump their own stuff. So, more a problem of the local authorities obstructing and limiting access to official dumping sites.

[Dave2002]

Here two of the flats in our block of 14 have had heavy extensive alterations and roof extensions carried out involving private building contractors. From what we have all ascertained one of the problems consists not in the amounts of disposables from said works but incomers using the skip to dump their own stuff. So, more a problem of the local authorities obstructing and limiting access to official dumping sites.

If the private contractors hired skips, then there ought not to have been a problem, as authorised skip contractors are usually pretty good at taking stuff away - and hopefully doing it in a legal way. There is admittedly the added problem of free loaders dumping more stuff in. I would hire a skip for some of the stuff we have here if it would help - but it wouldn't because it's far too heavy for me to move. I couldn't move it even with the help of a couple more people. So as so often happens in the UK, installers have not done the whole job, and left me [the consumer] with at least one more problem to solve. I don't want to blame the installers of the latest "improvements" too much as I think overall they had done a reasonable job, but I really get tired of hearing things like "we can't do that - it's against the rules", or "it'll cost more if we do it" etc. Yes - in many cases it might cost more if installers/improvers are asked to do a complete job, but overall that may often be worth it as at least they might be able to do some of the work more effectively.

Regarding skips, when we moved last, we hired a skip for everything we wanted to clear out - and everything worked fine. We also had some building work done some while back, and the contractors then hired one or two skips which were managed very effectively.

Too often in the UK contractors only do half the job - claiming that what's left is easy to do and complete - which is not always the case.

[JasonPalmer]

I am a bit like a retired person but housework and childcare hoover up a lot of my spare time, still, have more spare time than if i worked.

[RichardB]

Somehow the option of sitting around half the day, quietly reading and listening to music, after a lifetime of toil, is striking so many people as unacceptably slothful.

Your plans actually look pretty extensive as well as enjoyable and helpful. What people actually deserve after a lifetime of work is to make their own decisions about what they do with their time and not listen to anyone else's opinions or advice!