The End of the Line
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The End of the Line
It's the end of career week and I've got a poll to close out the week that seems fitting. It's not necessarily something many of us think about, but we all eventually will. So the Friday poll is:
Are you looking forward to your retirement from IT?
I've see-sawed on this topic as my career has progressed. When I was younger I loved working in this business and was something of a workaholic. Having to be at work 60 hours a week was something I relished. At the time I looked forward to moving up in management and thought I'd work towards a CIO/CTO position and eventually I'd want to retire in my 60s.
As I had a family, and especially kids, I all of a sudden looked forward to getting out of the rat race of IT. I wanted more time for my family and hobbies. My wife and I talked about each retiring for 6 months when we turned 40 and having the other support the family. We both talked about moving out of IT into some other field someday.
I've been lucky enough to get lots of this, though as I approach 40 this year, I have no interest in retiring. Instead, I've become a little more enamored with my IT-like career. Even though I'm not doing the nuts and bolts work many of you do by managing servers everyday, I still enjoy working with and writing about SQL Server. And I think each time I learn something, it's still pretty cool.
So to answer my own question: No, I'm not really looking forward to retiring from IT. Since I don't have some great passion that would fill my time, I'm enjoying my work and the challenges it brings each day.
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I'd have to say yes, as long as my "better" half could do the same. Just being able to do and go where ever and when ever.... bliss.
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Normal chaos will be resumed as soon as possible. :crazy: -
I could quite happily retire tomorrow and certainly would if I won the lottery as I want to be able to enjoy all the other activities in my life while I'm still young enough and fit enough to do so. All that's lacking at present is the money
The extension would get built, the house and garden sorted and there would be plenty of time for sailing and travel
It wouldn't be switching off from IT totally anyway as I would be able to put more time into the websites I run as part of my sailing hobby.
Dream on!
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Only 40!!!!
Not time to start dreaming about sleeping late or just laying in the sun.. Now I am among those that started out in IT way back when we called it Data Processing.. Hmmmm, name really says what we do..
Anyway, in 2 years, 4 months and 26 days, I will be RETIRED.. What does that mean? Right now I am just going to catch up on rest and not worry about any of the stuff that used to, and still does keep you up with worry - note to those that do not worry - worry your job depends on it.
The issue for most IT'ers is that we were whores. Went where the money was - at least most did - and therefore the company pension plans never had a chance. I really think that money will be the biggest issue. I would start thinking of what to do about that new, cause it gives you many years to do something about it..
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In 8 years our youngest will graduate from High School. We have talked about a year or so after that of moving to Charlotte or some warm city in the south and get away from Winter in Ohio. My only fear is that I will be over 50 and wonder who many companies will be wanting to hire an over 50 year old DBA....
Retirement... can't even think about that... need to build up 401k and savings... I fear I will never have enough socked away to retire until I can no longer physically work...
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Retire? What the heck is that?
I don't know that I can "retire" from being a geek. Even if I stop earning a living working with computers, I'll still be doing a lot with them for fun on the side, probably including development & database work. However, I've been thinking (since turning forty a few years ago) that pursuing a different career would be interesting. Maybe after the house is paid off & the kids are on their own.
Still, as long as I'm able to keep the skill set up to date and someone is stupid enough to pay me for doing things I'd probably do anyway... what the heck.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore RooseveltAuthor of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning -
I've already retired once (from the Navy after 20 years) and it was a good feeling. Part of me would like to give up the IT rat race, constant training, certification, etc., but it also keeps me young. Besides I need the income!
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I don't want to retire. I think we do best when continually challenged, when we need to perform (this survival instinct has been fine tuned since the first hominids ventured across the savannas)
A bit more flexibility might be nice though.
jay
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-- FORTRAN manual for Xerox Computers --
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I've only been in the IT business about 10 years, I've done all manner of things from independant consulting to wokring for the state and fed government. Although I'm no where near close to retiring I do look forward to the prospect, as I won't really retire just attempt to make one of my hobbies my primary income. I enjoy brewing beer (and I've been told some of my brews are quite good) and eventually want to find a way that I can do that and make money, say with either a brew-pub of some sort or a regional brewery.
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I too am not looking forward to retirement, but when I do I think I will continue to play with computers as his passion started as a hobby at 16 with my first computer (Apple ][+). My retirement will include other hobbies and interests that my wife and I share, some travel and hopefully help take care of our grand children, althought not there yet. I also plan on help out others. My convern is not what I'll do with my time but that I will still be healthy. Most people I know get sick/die shortly after retirement. One thing is for sure, I'll still read SQL Server Central and maybe you'll have an article on SQL Server 20.0
Rudy
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I'm looking forward to it. At 57, I've been in this business since plugboards. I am quite burnt out. I do not look forward to each day as I used to and am now doing things that I find annoying instead of challenging. I plan to retire from this job this year. We have set ourselves up so we can do that (my wife is on disability). Yes, I will still be working somewhere but not with the long commute and maybe not with IT. Hmm, a Walmart greeter sounds less stressful....
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Yes, I look forward to working for money less. Being able to live without having a mortgage to pay. Not having to worry about will I make enough, or have enough to retire on. I really look forward to getting over the hump of having to work so hard due to fear of losing a job or fear of struggling during my later years in life.
The funny thing is, every so often I realize that it will turn out ok. There are people who don't have a whole lot of retirement built up but are still content. They are able to enjoy friends and hobbies anyway. This is all I really want, to enjoy friends and hobbies.
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Yes, I am looking forward to retirement as well, although at 45 I still have a little way to go. I agree with Steve, the older you get the more other priorities come in to play. Kids, college, savings, etc. all play a role. My wife and I just purchased a vacation house in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, so I'm sure I'm going to want to spend more time there. I also agree with others who have mentioned the ability to help out other people. I'm leaving tomorrow (1/6) for Mississipi with a Hurricane Katrina Relief group to help with the continuing rebuilding efforts there. I went with the same group back in June of last year. It made such an impact on me that it's something I'd like to spend more time doing. Being retired would definitely give me more opportunites to do that kind of work.
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I'm 34, been in IT since grad school- almost for 13 years now. I enjoy my job, but the hectic IT industry is taking its toll. Due to a recent truck on bike wreck, my wife is having to drop to 3/4 time. I plan on joining her in another 2 years. My concern about full time retirement from work is not using my brain. My father retired at 50, by 70 he had alzheimers. Using the brain is the 1 proven method of holding off age related brain diseases (alzheimers, parkinsons, dysphasia ...).
So does working provide therapeutic benefits? Or do the effects of stress and the chemicals being breathed during the daily commute, from car exhaust, outweigh this benefit?
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I am in IT business for 22 years, and I have to say I got burnt out too. Most companies these days do not appreicate good employees, with layoff and outsourcing ; also I met too many incompetent developers getting promoted because they know someone working in the upper management in the company or they know how to please the upper management.
Technology is moving too fast, I feel that I have to keep up with the latest knowledge all the time. I am getting tired of doing this especially I am getting older not younger.
I saw my son and his friends (junior and senior in high school) writing C and Java programs, building web pages, learning all kind of new technology without any effort. I definitely felt old.
I want to quit IT but I don't want to retire. I want to do something I like.
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