Two years into retirement and we have been quite disciplined in limiting the amount of money that we draw out of my IRA/401K. I seem to have an emotional resistance to drawing out money for vacations even though I know, intellectually, that we are being very conservative and that my wife's SSA, IRA's, and two small pensions have not even kicked in yet.

Is anyone else experiencing this? Maybe I am missing part of the "fun" gene.

quote:

Originally posted by Pecos:
Two years into retirement and we have been quite disciplined in limiting the amount of money that we draw out of my IRA/401K. I seem to have an emotional resistance to drawing out money for vacations even though I know, intellectually, that we are being very conservative and that my wife's SSA, IRA's, and two small pensions have not even kicked in yet.

Is anyone else experiencing this? Maybe I am missing part of the "fun" gene.

Pecos, I've talked to my Mom about this (she has been retired for some time now), and she was the same way at first. Even though you know, intellectually, that you are in good shape, something (maybe the lack of a real "job") holds you back from just doing stuff that costs money.

Eventually it goes away, and you begin to realize that you do have the resources to do those things you've wanted to do.

She has taken numerous bus trips with other groups of grey-haired old ladies, and has spent tons of money on her quilting projects (most of which she gives away when finished). And, like you guys, hasn't even begun to draw from her TSAs (the precursor to IRAs that many teachers used).

I'm glad that I am not the only one. Maybe I am still influenced by my Depression Era parents who always thought that they were one meal away from the onset of starvation.