I also did the "scrimp & save" for many years so that I wouldn't be cash strapped in retirement. We don't live in a big house, have fancy cars or go to dinner often (one exception - my Project One Trek but I road my last steel bike for 17 years!.) AND, I have to remind myself, that unlike so many of my peers, I hung in with my job because I had a pension coming at full retirement - called "golden handcuffs." We did pay off the house & the car loan shortly after I retired so we could be debt free. Our vacations are not frequent. The only reason I don't clip coupons is because I don't eat sugar puffs, boxed mac & cheese, etc.

Many of my friends jump from job to job & now at ages 50-60, they have very little savings & their retirement will come mostly from their social security check. Believe me, there were days/weeks/months that I wanted to say, Screw You and walk out, but I didn't. At the University, if you aren't faculty or a student, you are on the bottom of the food chain. I was considered management, had the fiscal and human resources responsibilities for a school but yet if Joe Blow Faculty member was trying to get a grant in on December 24, (because he procrastinated until the last minute) I had to be there, crunching the numbers & putting it together for submission (it happened - and then the jerk decided at the last minute to NOT submit!) So, yeah, looking back, I did earn it.

OK - so how do you handle the jealousy? I'm riding today with a friend who believes that I sit around all day long & do my nails. I get the "Gee, it must be nice!" comments. Maybe I need to get different friends. Yet, I do volunteer work and keep really busy with the things I always wanted to do when I was doing the 8-5. DH is a cancer survivor and diabetic, so I spend time cooking because I'm a huge believer in food as medicine. I actually have time to work with my dog in obedience & agility. And it goes on. So, my nails are usually fairly ragged & certainly not as nice as when I was working. A computer keyboard is much easier on cuticles!