Future of Mobile Lifestyle Getting Harder or Easier?

[QinReno]

On nomadic jobs being great for young people, I don't think being a migrant farm worker has much of a future. You make enough to get to the next job, but then what happens when you are too old for that kind of work?

Many in the Amazon Camperforce are in their 70s, and some even in their 80s. Living on ibuprofen. Some retirement.

 

[Canine]

As a society, we have come to expect a retirement; however, that has historically has not been the case. We work and make our way in this world all the way to the end. Getting old sucks. In life there are no guarantees. I chose to forgo a retirement fund in order to enjoy what's left of my youth while I have it. After having watched one coworker have his wife die a year and a half before he retired and him dying 6 months after he retired, I realized I didn't want that. Then in the same company a guy retired then bought a new bicycle because he wanted to enjoy his new found freedom. He passed out and wrecked the first time he rode it. His health had deteriorated because of old age he couldn't perform physical to any level.

I'm willing to forgo a retirement and sneak around in order to enjoy my life. Will I pay the price if I live long enough? You bet I will. At least I will have comfort in the knowledge that I have lived my life- if the NIMBYs let me.

 

[Canine]

Amazon has had some horror stories about its work environment. I can tell you first hand many times that occurs with great regularity in other jobs. I can tell you many stories of how I and my coworkers have been abused and neglected. The one where I was coughing up green paint and blood is a good story. Or the one where I was lowered via a rope over a running, industrial wood chipper (a very very very strong, very, very dangerous machine).

We've heard the stories of pensions being denied because the monies were gone by the time retirement came. Then the stories of how people lost it all in the stock market then are destitute after they gave their lives to work.

All I can guarantee myself is me in the now and so far that is keeping me happy. I'm not sure how I would react if I had to go back into a house and work my life away again. I would love to sit on my laurels in old age, but that probably isn't going to happen.

 

[QinReno]

I'm willing to forgo a retirement and sneak around in order to enjoy my life. Will I pay the price if I live long enough? You bet I will. At least I will have comfort in the knowledge that I have lived my life- if the NIMBYs let me.

The middle course is usually the best course. Always have a backup plan. One way or another, best to keep a little bit in reserve for retirement. Whatever Social Security gives you hardly covers the bare necessities - at least for most people.

Speaking of which, it's more crap piled on crap. SS was originally setup as a safety net for the poor during the depression, but very well to do people get something on the order of $30,000/year today from SS. The ones that hardly need it. Somehow the whole thing got put upside down.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Social_Security_in_the_United_States
"A limited form of the Social Security program began as a measure to implement "social insurance" during the Great Depression of the 1930s, when poverty rates among senior citizens exceeded 50 percent".

 

[QinReno]

Or the one where I was lowered via a rope over a running, industrial wood chipper (a very very very strong, very, very dangerous machine).

Anyone who's ever seen Fargo the movie will avoid wood chippers.

 

[lenny flank]

As a society, we have come to expect a retirement; however, that has historically has not been the case. 

Well, historically most people also died in their 30s from some preventable disease. Fortunately we live in a civilized society now. Well, mostly civilized.

 

[lenny flank]

Speaking of which, it's more crap piled on crap. SS was originally setup as a safety net for the poor during the depression, but very well to do people get something on the order of $30,000/year today from SS. The ones that hardly need it. Somehow the whole thing got put upside down.

Social Security is not a handout, or a welfare program, or a giveaway. It is not means-tested. It is "insurance", and people get it because they PAID FOR IT. If you make people pay for it and then don't give it to them, we call that "theft".
There is a lot of rich-people-welfare to complain about, but Social Security ain't one of them.

 

[QinReno]

Call it what you like, but today's form is a perversion of the original intent. See where it says implemented "during the Great Depression of the 1930s, when poverty rates among senior citizens exceeded 50 percent". How many people have been wailing on this forum about the high cost of surviving today? Most of them.

https://money.usnews.com/money/reti...01/how-to-predict-your-social-security-payout
"In June 2011, the average Social Security benefit was $1,180.80 per month". That's somewhat less than $30,000/12. And of course, about half the people are getting less than the average. Also, you may not have been paying attention to the Casandras in Washington who are screaming that it's breaking the budget, which if course is conflating issues.

SS should be means-tested. It will still be there **IF** someone really needs it. That's what insurance means. Want to know how much I've paid in car insurance in my life, and not gotten anything back?

 

[lenny flank]

So then you're in favor of not giving people something they've already paid for..........?

 

[wayne49]

I'm somewhat amazed that this thread has not been closed.

Dignity is not a function of government.

We give up dignity, when we give up individual sovereignty to be subservient to a government.

More government is not a solution to any problem that has its roots in a system that allows, and rewards, wealth inequality.

 

[QinReno]

So then you're in favor of not giving people something they've already paid for..........?

"It will still be there **IF** someone really needs it".

Is my car insurance company going to give me back the many DECADES of payments that I gave them? Not hardly. I just hope if I ever do need it, they won't nickel and dime me to death on any auto claims, but I'm not holding my breath on that one either. 

Actually, I would be in favor of "everyone" getting the "exact same amount" every month from SS. Then some poor saps won't be eating dog food while the 1%ers are using their $30,000/year to play golf. Didn't see that one coming, did you.

 

[QinReno]

I'm somewhat amazed that this thread has not been closed.

Dignity is not a function of government.

We give up dignity, when we give up individual sovereignty to be subservient to a government.

More government is not a solution to any problem that has its roots in a system that allows, and rewards, wealth inequality.

I don't think this thread had gotten that bad yet. I don't see that this discussion has anything to do with dignity or subservience, as related to "politics". Every one of us is in the same boat here, in having to deal with the reality of life today.

First thing you have to do is live with what you've got. After that, you can try to change the system, but this isn't a forum on politics, it's a forum on living in the real world.

 

[lenny flank]

I think you missed my point.

 

[lenny flank]

I'm somewhat amazed that this thread has not been closed.

I'm sure it will be.  

 

[Canine]

Oh, I don't know about closing the thread. It has given me some differing view points and some good info I've yet to think about.

 

[QinReno]

Oh, I don't know about closing the thread. It has given me some differing view points and some good info I've yet to think about.

Good, some threads get too far into politics, and that's a boo-boo around here. (I should know, I'm the Bad Dog).

 

[John61CT]

The idea that it isn't government's job to facilitate the dignity of its disadvantaged citizens as much as is practical, sure seems like a radical idea to me, guaranteed to bring on a Mad Max style dystopia.

 

[QinReno]

The idea that it isn't government's job to facilitate the dignity of its disadvantaged citizens as much as is practical, sure seems like a radical idea to me, guaranteed to bring on a Mad Max style dystopia.

As indicated, for maybe a quarter of those on SS, it doesn't provide enough to live on, given what rents are today. That's not very dignified. OTOH, if SS gave everyone the exact same amount (even letting the 1%ers in), then everyone would be dignified. Right? Not hardly. I don't this is an issue of dignity in any sense of the term.

 

[closeanuf]

I've been on SS since I turned 62 and I'm now 70.  I had the option to wait until I was 70 but opted for 62 instead.  I assure you I'm not one of the wealthy but I accept the fact that I chose to take it early so I don't bitch about it.  I got a COLA raise this year that amounted to about $8 and my medicare premium when up $8.  The man who I used to work for is what I consider rich and his monthly SS checks go down every year due to means testing.  There used to be a SS trust fund but congress decided to just spend it.  I don't have a 401K but will not be surprised when the government decides to blend that program into SS.  JMHO

 

[rvwandering]

This thread is getting too political and has drifted off topic. I deleted a series of posts. Please stay on topic and avoid any back and forth bickering.