My life and what it entails.

Looking to retire at 65

Are you looking forward to retiring? After working for years at one or more jobs throughout your lifetime, you finally reach retirement age. Depending on the type of job you are currently working at, you are typically very lucky to still be working at 65. The mentality of many workplaces is of the opinion once you reach 60 years old, they will start looking for someone to replace you, no matter the experience you have, at the end of the day you’re expendable.

New Zealand's successive Governments have had discussions on lifting the retirement age from 65 to 67 for years, and discussions continued with the current Government in power, until Winston Peters, despite National and ACT’s pledges to lift the superannuation age from 65 to 67, NZ First’s stance on the issue was unequivocal: “The age of retirement will remain at 65 years. No ifs, buts, or maybes.” Pensioners barely make enough to live on through their fortnightly pay weeks, depending on what type of pension they receive, disability, sickness benefits, etc.

Most people will say, “What’s the difference, it’s just a matter of two extra years before we retire.” As stated above is reason enough to frown on this suggestion, take it from me, I had it happen to me. I will not go into details but I knew they wanted to replace me with someone younger. At the time I was 61, 62ish, a machine operator at a sawmill, then management moved me to the “Drying Line” once again a machine operator for a time. Finally removed as the machine operator to physical work on the drying line. I didn’t mind physical work even at the age I was at the time, but I did feel the suspicion creeping in, I was being pushed out.

Then in 2020 the Coved epidemic finally hit New Zealand and the country was basically shut down. We were told to stay home until further notice from the Government with 80% of our wages paid to us while the epidemic raged through our society. A few months later I received an email from our new management team to which we must reapply for our former positions within a new company. I knew in my heart and soul I’d fail the application due to having to submit to a medical (usual practice for any applicant to such a dangerous job), I was starting to have heart problems that would be discovered during the medical examination. I don’t know what the medical term is but basically, my heart beats too fast, and not enough blood circulates causing a whiteout effect which makes me a risk to employ.

Since then I received medical treatments that helped in my recovery process though, other ailments have raised their ugly head, and being treated for those as well. All in all, I am looking forward and loving my retirement status with gusto. I am 66 years old soon to be 67 in five months time, I now spend my time building Discord servers, Proboards Forums and such, my life is what it is and will be until I leave this plane of existance.