2-25-2025 3:47pm

Are You Ready to Retire?

Christine Larkin Editor

SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - ARE YOU READY TO RETIRE?

Most of us are working longer than we expected. Some of us want to continue to work well into our 60's while others have no choice. Are you ready to retire?

Doesn't it feel like we've been working forever? I began working at 16 years old when I was a junior in high school. With the exception of a year or two off in between jobs or career changes, I have been working my entire adult life. I've had some very good jobs, and I've had some bad ones, too. I always managed to get back on my feet and reinvent myself when a job didn't work out for one reason or another. But now, I'm ready to retire. Or am I?

In the last few years, we've seen unprecedented inflation. Food prices, gas prices, housing. Where will it stop? What does the future look like? Will there be enough money? Will I outlive my money if I retire now? These are some questions that can keep you up at night.

I took my Social Security in 2024 like so many other baby boomers who reached their cap age of 66.5 years old. What a privilege. I paid off my last big credit card. I still have a car payment, but I just refinanced that at a lower interest rate with my credit union. I'm saving over $8,000 over time because the loan went from seven years to five. Don't finance your car through a dealer if you can help it. There are much better rates if you take the time to shop around.

According to recent data, approximately 19% of Americans aged 65 and older are still working, which represents a significant increase from previous decades, with many choosing to work into their late 60s; this statistic comes from the Pew Research Center and the US Census Bureau's Current Population Survey. Key points about Americans working into their late 60s:

Percentage employed: Around 19% of Americans over 65 are currently employed.
Trend increase: This number is considerably higher than in previous decades, showing a growing trend of older workers.
Age group participation: The highest labor force participation rate among older Americans is usually seen in the 65-69 age bracket.
Factors influencing participation: Reasons for working later in life can include financial needs, desire to stay active, and job satisfaction.

If you're lucky enough to still love your job, then why retire? God knows we need the money, right? It's nice to have two incomes if you're collecting Social Security and still working. You finally get to pay off those bills that you've been chipping away at for many years. But when should you retire? This is the nagging question.

I think it's a personal decision. It's also a financial one. In the 80's, the market was very strong and most of us were making a good salary. I remember during this time that I could walk into a building and go straight to the Human Resources Department and drop off my resume. Most times, I got a phone call within a few days to come in for an interview. It was very easy to get a job back then. It's not the same way now. And that's very unfortunate, especially for older Americans. There are other options though.

One sector that still hires older people is civil service. If you get yourself on a list whether it's the state, town, or county you live in, you'll get notified by email when tests are being given for these jobs. Some jobs don't require testing, and those are posted on the websites as well. These are the jobs you might want to look at first because you won't be on a lengthy waiting list. The benefits of working for civil service are that they still offer a pension. Most are vested at five years, so if you are in your mid 60's and don't have plans to retire just yet or if you are retired and want to go back to work for a few more years, civil service can be a great option.

Civil service jobs are not hard, stressful jobs for the most part. They are mostly administrative with tasking that is easy to do. There is plenty of training and tutorials, and the hours are good, too. There is no overtime. You would be surprised to see how many jobs there are under the civil service umbrella in your area. There are opportunities if you're not quite ready to retire for good. You're never too old to start over. Mettiamoci al lavoro! Let's get to work!

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and beyond, if we're healthy and active, we can work a few more years.

Here are some websites for Civil Service jobs:

New York State jobs: New York State Department Of Civil Service

Suffolk County jobs: Employment

Nassau County jobs: Nassau County Civil Service Commission

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SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK

If you love jazz like I do, then you'll want to tune in Saturday nights at 8:00pm on WNYC 93.9FM and listen to Paul Cavalconte's New Standards. Each week, Paul introduces some new music in the jazz standard tradition. They might be new songs or old songs rearranged. You can listen on your smart phone on the Simple Radio app, on the WNYC website at www.wnyc.org, or on the old-fashioned radio at 93.9FM. Either way, you'll be tuned into one of the best radio shows around.

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SKYLARK'S HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Spring is in the air. The highlight of the week for me was the very beautiful, red sunset Sunday evening. If you blink, you can miss the colors that change every second. I try to catch sunset each evening. It's always different, and it's always beautiful.

SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK

I'm thinking Spring! Primavera!

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SKYLARK'S PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Dear God,

Please watch over Pope Francis with love and grace. Amen.

SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK

If you could ask Pope Francis one question, what would it be?

Please put your answer in the Comment section below in this post. Thank you.

SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG by ROBERTA FLACK

May you rest in peace.

Lyrics

Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly
With his song
I heard he sang a good song
I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him, to listen for a while
And there he was, this young boy
A stranger to my eyes
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly
With his song
I felt all flushed with fever
Embarrassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters and read each one out loud
I prayed that he would finish
But he just kept right on
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly
With his song
He sang as if he knew me
In all my dark despair
And then he looked right through me as if I wasn't there
And he just kept on singing
Singing clear and strong
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly
With his song
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me
He was strumming my pain
Yeah, he was singing my life
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song

ABOUT MY BRAND, SKYLARK LIVE -60 AND BEYOND WITH SKYLARK

My brand was born out of my turning 60 and noticing a profound shift - mind, body, and soul. I wanted to talk about it and share what I was experiencing with other women to help them navigate this age as well. My brand consists of a weekly newsletter and a monthly vlog designed to motivate and inspire women over 60 to thrive in older age through knowledge and self-awareness. I will also consider in-person one-hour chats called The Skylark Sessions in your home or at a local library or senior center. Email me at christineskylark@aol.com
or call me at 917-903-5713 if you are interested. This can be one-on-one or with a small group of women.

Weekly Newsletter - My weekly newsletter features articles about human interest, nature, general observations, happiness, dreams, inspiration, motivation, music, and ideas I want to explore. The topics are endless. I represent Bay Shore and the greater Town of Islip community. There is also a calendar of events. I throw in Italian words, too, because I love the language and all things Italian. Bella Italia! As a paying subscriber, you will receive my newsletter each Wednesday morning in your email. That gives you a head's up, but you can also subscribe for free. And you can advertise your business or event in my newsletter as well. Just click this link below to subscribe:

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Monthly Vlog - My vlog goes live on my YouTube channel on the first Monday of each month. It's a recap of the previous month’s newsletter articles and then a conversation on a new topic. It is then uploaded to my Patreon account as well as my social media platforms. Just click the link below to subscribe and click the bell to get notified when a new video is uploaded: www.youtube.com/@christineskylark

WHERE TO FOLLOW AND SUPPORT ME

Patreon - This is my general brand page where you can support everything I do under my brand in one place. I appreciate any level of support that enables me to carve out time to write my newsletters, create my vlogs and continue to expand my brand. Just click the link here: www.patreon.com/SkylarkLive

Social Media - You can follow me on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live.

Thank you for your love and support! Grazie per il vostro amore e sostegno!