Yes, 'happiness has little to do with money.' But it does relieve the mind and heart when there is enough to hold back the worry and anxiousness, when there is enough to have the basic needs and some play dough left over. What's helpful, if not needed, in any case, is an attitude that I will survive, and thrive, REGARDLESS of future uncertainties. A lightness of being, if you will.

Money doesn't always guarantee peace of mind. The minute you figure out that there are no guarantees in this life, you'll be able to find your way and not fear losing your prop (good old money)

By that man's standards, I should be pretty miserable. But so far I'm not. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

As a resident of a modest assisted living facility, I am always interested in the amenities that are available at the high end places. You know, the places with suites, pools, gourmet food and pictures of healthy, happy resident seniors frolicking about. While I know that these places exist, and new ones are being built everyday, I am just wondering where people get the money to live in these places with some rents going for as much as $10,000 a month. I worked all my life, had a decent job, a 401k, CD's and an IRA and never amassed anything close to a half a million dollars. Reading that so-called advice from "experts" makes me wonder what I did wrong, which in turn make me depressed which in turn makes me unhappy.

Due to being in the right place at the right time, I was able to exercise some stock options that were actually worth something, allowing me to retire in 2000. Still, it doesn't mean I'm automatically happy all the time (an impossible state in any circumstances).

What *does* make me happy is that six months ago, at the age of 61, I FINALLY started taking a drawing class! I've been in classes since than, adding a pastels class most recently. Surprisingly, it's made me more interested in the world around me.

Money is a tool, nothing more. It gives you stability and flexibility, no small accomplishments, but happiness and contentment come from elsewhere.

My husband and I teach a workshop called "Non-financial Retirement Planning: Who Will I Be without my Job?" We try to get people to think about what they want do in retirement, because many people are so deeply identified with their careers.

I've been retired for almost three years. The first year I lived without my pension because I wasn't yet 65 (my husband was still working). The second year I got my pension and Social Security too, after I turned 66. Now, as I'm nearing 67, we've received an unexpected inheritance that has given us more money.

Looking back, I can't say that I've gotten happier with each new shot of income. It's nice to be comfortable, but the big thing for me in retirement is having the time to do what I want to do, without the heavy obligation of 40 hours a week in the office. I have several volunteer gigs, swim three mornings a week, go to a weekly yoga class and have leisurely visits with friends. I also have a small freelance editing business that I find very satisfying.

So, I'd say that having adequate income is important, but having friends and interesting activities that allow you to give back is more important.

wow Alan G.....that is so sad and "funny"....for I just stopped smoking after a 20 year 1 pack a week habit....I never understood why I started but I don't understand myself anyways and now with no money and a need for an occ. puff or two....I have to pretend on my electronic with no refills left. Funny how life goes.

I live in a condo-community, no age restriction, but most of us are around 50ish & older. Within the past few months 2 women who were fairly active (ages 87 & 89) moved just down the road a piece to a rather nice assisted living facility with a small nursing care unit.

Both of their daughters told me that the reason they were able to do so is because over 25 yrs. ago they purchased insurance that pays for everything at the facility except for some special luxuries. Now that's what I call sound retirement planning.

According to the daughters the premiums were manageable because both women were very good money managers, with only one of them working outside the home. Wish I could afford that insurance now, but it's astronomical today & one large insurance co. I know of dropped it altogether. Dee

I'm wondering what Thoreau might have commented here. After a sudden and completely unexpected end to my husband's job last year, we are struggling financially and will probably continue to do so for the rest of our lives. He was fortunate to qualify for VA healthcare assistance, being a veteran with low income, so he has continued to be able to see physicians and get his medication after his employer based insurance ended before he turned 65. Yet, we are loving the time together that we didn't have for many of the years we were in the rat race. We both worked ridiculous numbers of hours at very stressful jobs, but still made little money. So now we still have little money, but we have precious time and are able to read, watch documentaries, garden, and simply enjoy life more than we have for years.

Health is my number one. With three major surgeries in the past few years, every day with lessened pain is grand stuff. Right now, I am better off than I have ever been before in my life, and that just proves money is useful. What we do with ourselves makes happiness. There's a lot of happiness in this house.

We are happy in retirement. We love scheduling our time and spending most of it together. We watch for inexpensive but interesting entertainment like street fairs and art exhibits outdoors. We consider cable a luxury but we use it to watch some good movies, documentaries and just relaxing "trips" to other places without leaving home. Internet is another luxury we enjoy. We have a very nice one bedroom apartment with a view of a huge grassy hill and lots of woods. We see all kinds of birds, deer, rabbits and other wildlife each day just by looking out our living room windows. We have nice heating and air conditioning and a little fireplace. We are thankful to always have food. We dont have new or fancy furniture and the interior design does not look like it came out of a magazine but it is organized and comfortable for our needs. I am handicapped and my husband is losing much of his mobility too. We just help each other fill in the gaps with what we can do for ourselves and each other. I do so wish that we had paid for assisted living insurance many years ago. The stress would be less knowing that would be a very real option when neither of us can care for ourselves or each other without help. Trying to check into all the possibilities for that situation now. Generally, though, we are very happy and try to live in the moment but of course do some research and planning for future.

Thanks Alan G.I'll be 71 in aug. That is why ....each day is a present and yes Darlene we have our home ....

Meg, your bag lady comments gave me a chuckle; I have been a single woman for many years and that has consistently been one of my fears!

Usually I don't comment. Most of the time I read your entry and I nod as I read and usually by the end I think you have really done a good article with a good conclusion. Today was no different. But I am commenting anyway! Those guys...those people who need all that money...their happiness is not the same as mine. I am happy to watch the grass grow and the cucumbers and the beans and I will be very happy tomorrow when I can put a plateful of delicious vegetables from my garden onto the table. And I am very happy to have the time to work in that garden now that I am retired. And to watch the worms crawling in that garden!
And I, too, miss your blog Darlene

I'm feeling very fortunate that I had both SS and a pension, but my income is still only a little higher than what the "unhappy retiree" of these pundits lives on. I admire Debi for her ability to manage on such a small income. But that's really the trick, isn't it? We manage---whatever we end up with. One of the things I learned after retirement is that one's expenses can go WAY down. When I feared retirement I was thinking about another way of life, but after retirement I realized that, among other things, I didn't need a new car every few years. With more attention paid to maintenance, my 26 year old car still suits me just fine. Being at home with no dependents provides time and opportunities to be more frugal and means a much lower budget for all household expenses, including utilities. So Su, you may find that you don't need as much as you think you need to be reasonably comfortable, and I have no doubt that Medicare will somehow be rescued.

What those retirement gurus seem to forget is that we retirees are not forced into the rat race anymore and can do what we want. Every time I feel a little down, I think of that and it makes me very, very happy.