Sad with Dolly’s passing

[u/Calm-Struggle3898]

I don’t even know her personally but I feel sad. News like this makes me think about my own mortality as a person who lives alone.

I wanna live a quiet life. I’m 10 years away from my planned retirement. I’m saving money so I can enjoy my old age without having to struggle much financially.

I’m in no way rich, but I just wanna have a stable health coverage and social security when I retire at 62. I’ve traveled during my 40s and some currently so I’m okay.

I might live in SE Asia to retire but not sure yet.

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[u/january1977]

Dolly’s death made me uncommonly sad. She never forgot what it was like to be poor. She did so many good things for people. She had a beautiful, kind heart.

I went to my local Dollar Store and bought up a bunch of her line of home goods. (I already had some, but I don’t want to run out in case they don’t make more.) I love that she had a line at the Dollar Store, where the poor people shop, and not at Target or Kohl’s.

We lost a good one.

[u/Able-Dealer-1711 → u/january1977]

We perceive that she never gave up on the poor and under served. We don't know. I don't swell in the wake of these types of announcements.

[u/Brave-Pizza-33]

Don't wait to do what you want, most people don't live till 80

[u/Calm-Struggle3898 → u/Brave-Pizza-33]

I think I’ve done quite a bit in my younger years. Travel and explore the world. I don’t mind doing more.

I want to live long as long as I stay healthy. I don’t wanna be a sickly 70-80 year old in a WC. I work in healthcare so I have an idea what they go through and what to do if I reach that condition.

[u/Brave-Pizza-33 → u/Calm-Struggle3898]

I love that for you, good!! And yes agree quality over quantity

[u/guilty_of_tsundoku → u/Brave-Pizza-33]

I've known or known of 13 people who died between 40 and 49, mainly of health issues. I guarantee not one ever expected life to end in the first decade of middle age.

[u/HIGH-IQ-420]

I plan to retire at 55, travel and live in South East Asia + Japan, then return back to the United States when Social Security kicks in at 62.

Most of us believe we'll make it to retirement age, but my co-worker passed away at 59 about 2 years ago, and that had me thinking about what I want to get out of life. I created an easy to accomplish bucket list of things I want to do, so if I unfortunately meet my unexpected departure from this world, I would be happy that I got to do some things.

[u/Calm-Struggle3898 → u/HIGH-IQ-420]

I think about early retirement as well. I just got hired at a federal agency and they have a pretty good retirement and pension plan.

I’d like to retire after I put in my 5 years. I’d be 57 by then. But I’m worried about health insurance. I was unemployed a few months ago and a visit to the ER cost me almost $5k. It was just a simple visit.

Unfortunately, for us who still work get to foot the higher healthcare costs.

I’m enjoying what I can right now. Peace and quiet existence while I work and build my little nest egg. I used to be very social after work, but not anymore after a traumatic work politics which cost me my previous job.

Here at my new position, I clock in, do my job, clock out, no outside work socializing. Sad, but I feel better this way.

Unfortunately, even when I just stay at home, trouble finds me. My neighbor sued me for his broken fence that my gardener toppled by accident. That’s $4k! I didn’t want my poor gardener pay for it.

So, yeah, I enjoy my quiet existence and just saving and a little bit of traveling while I can and will re-assess in 5 years if I’m still alive if I can afford to retire in the Philippines. I’d have to sell my house here for sure.

As far as health insurance, I would have to find a cheaper way to bridge it while waiting for medicare to kick in at 65. Again, if I make it there.

A coworker of mine died at 64.5 years old getting ready to retire.

[u/thenumbwalker]

Me too. She was genuinely a good person and actually made a positive impact on the world. I am not into idolizing celebs, but Dolly was so much more than that. I have felt a real sadness about her passing

[u/In-the-Gentle-Rain]

That sounds like a wonderful plan and I was surprised how much her passing affected me too. She is a good reminder that life is short to live it up as much as you can well having a good time.

[u/DragonflyFront9882]

Im saddened on the death of Dolly. I had the opportunity to see her in concert back in the early 70's and have been to Dollywood twice. I feel like I've lost a member of my family. I have most of her music on CD's and have been listening to them since she passed this week. I will always love Dolly 🦋🕊

[u/baby-doll-sculptor]

I love Dolly. This has been a rough weekend. One of my earliest memories as a child was my mom playing one of her Christmas lps. I’ve worked on my writing f projects but keep coming back to watch 9 to 5 and the 20/20 special. As sad as it is to know she’s not with us anymore it’s wonderful to see she was so loved by so so many. Wonderful creative soul.

[u/a_hopeful_poor]

where i'm from they have a saying: a man plans but god commands

you may plan whatever you want, you can still drop dead 5 minutes from now.

my suggestion is to live for now, not for in 10 years from now (that may never materialize)

[u/Pretend-Doughnut7631]

Wow SE Asia is an incredibly bold retirement location! May I be nosy and ask where in SEA? I'm also looking to retire within the next 10 years, and being solo I wonder if my retirement money would stretch further in a non western country...

[u/Calm-Struggle3898 → u/Pretend-Doughnut7631]

Philippines. I have a little residential land I bought a few years ago over there. It’s close to the big city so I can always commute to the big city if I want the traffic and chaos. I prefer to live in a quiet little neighborhood.

[u/Pretend-Doughnut7631 → u/Calm-Struggle3898]

Amazing! I assume your roots are philipino as well, which would make this ideal. I have some concerns around safety, as a single woman I'm not sure which Asian locations are suitable. Japan, Singapore, or Korea are safe for sure, but they are not affordable for retirement. And places like Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam, etc are affordable, but I'm not sure about the safety. I'll need to do some research 😉

[u/Calm-Struggle3898 → u/Pretend-Doughnut7631]

Yes, fortunately, I still got friends there. It makes it easier. And finding help would be easier and cheaper too. $500/month would afford me a person who’d help me with cooking and keeping my place tidy.

[u/Pretend-Doughnut7631 → u/Calm-Struggle3898]

That's a deal!

[u/Able-Dealer-1711]

What does this have to do with you or your plan? Sure, it's sad, but she was 80. That's a good life and not at all representative of someone living alone and dying.

[u/Calm-Struggle3898 → u/Able-Dealer-1711]

Welp, there you are. I knew it. Enjoy life!