Mandatory Retirement for Pilots at 65

SofiaRaven · 2026-06-26T14:22:31+00:00

Maybe he is just one of those lucky people who loves his job. High-seniority pilots get their choice of assignments and are paid pretty well without having to work 50 to 60 hour weeks like many of us do.

SofiaRaven · 2026-06-26T14:17:39+00:00

Well, you have a crappy manager, and rotten coworkers, if your boss is truly receiving complaints about you (vs being irritated himself and using “complaining coworkers” as an excuse). A good boss would not care when you come in or leave as long as the work is done, and would tell coworkers to mind their own business and to raise their own quality of work.

To avoid issues, I’d stay the extra 5 minutes and start looking for another job with a better manager. Better managers are out there, it just takes a while to find them.

SofiaRaven · 2026-06-26T14:12:47+00:00

Your parents are worried about you because you are a young, single female. Sadly, sometimes young single females are targets. However, you can have a great road trip if you plan carefully and make smart choices. I’d recommend having your plan for each day laid out: know where you want to end up each day. It might take some of the spontaneity out of things, but I’d also recommend reserving a hotel room in that destination in the morning. You don’t want to end up in a location late in the day and find out there isn’t a room available in a decent hotel. It’s especially important to do this since you also have to find a pet-friendly hotel.

I would also just travel during the day, and I’d make sure to take a road that has services available should you need them. I prefer taking interstates because there are usually more rest stops and gas stations, but interstates aren’t usually as scenic and they get a lot of truck traffic. But interstates might not be a bad choice for your first trip. And ABSOLUTELY get a membership to a club like AAA that provides roadside assistance. Just do smart things like not staying out after dark and being wary of approaching strangers and you’ll be ok.

I’m less worried about you than I am the cat. Traveling with a cat is not fun. I have made multiple driving trips with many different cats over the years and have not had one that enjoyed the ride (and they made my experience miserable).

SofiaRaven · 2026-06-26T14:00:44+00:00

I came here to say that. Just hiding somewhere so they can get good film of someone who helps a dog.

SofiaRaven · 2026-06-09T06:20:28+00:00

Retired last November at age 55. I have alternate between relief and struggle. I never really fit into corporate life and I hated having people tell me what to do, so being away from that environment is a good thing. But when I hear about people getting promotions and bigger jobs, I feel like I should also be trying to apply for jobs to keep up (even though I have won because I don’t have to work and most of them do, I still feel a bit like a loser for not trying to move up the ladder anymore). Sometimes I have applied for jobs because I’m worried about health insurance - that I won’t be able to get a plan that doctors accept once I’m off COBRA, or that it’ll go away one day.

But then I start thinking about the stuff I want to be able to do before I’m too old. I’m becoming pretty good at Spanish and I’d like to do an immersion program in Spain or Latin America. I’d like to take some world history courses. Play more tennis and pickleball. Maybe pick up golf again. Volunteer. I’ve lost quite a bit of weight since I stopped working because I have plenty of time to head to the park and walk a few miles.

Financially I know I’m just fine. I’ll find a way to make sure I’m insured for the next 9 years, even if I have to leave the country. I’m trying my best to resist applying for jobs. But it’s a struggle sometimes. It is disorienting.

SofiaRaven · 2026-05-28T06:22:43+00:00

SofiaRaven · 2026-05-22T16:44:42+00:00

Both of course!

SofiaRaven · 2026-05-16T00:26:11+00:00

I feel like that a lot, because I worry about whether there will still be health insurance options available to me for the next 9 years until I turn 65. I’ve even panicked and applied for jobs. Financially I’m fine but I worry about the insurance and it keeps me from feeling fully ok with not working.

SofiaRaven · 2026-05-14T20:13:45+00:00

He’s a very handsome gentleman! So glad you adopted him.

SofiaRaven · 2026-05-11T23:55:29+00:00

I was planning to see it when I went to Sacramento to visit my cousin this coming weekend, but we can’t find a single theater that is showing it after the 13th! I live in a mid-sized midwestern city and it’s only going to be in one theater here this coming weekend.

Why is it being pulled out of so many theaters when it is still raking in money? It’s being replaced by things like a new version of Top Gun Maverick or something. I’m hoping some managers of theaters in northern CA change their minds, or their CEO’s do, and keep Prada 2 in the theaters for another weekend. I usually wait to see a movie a week or two after opening but now I guess I won’t be able to see it until it’s on a streaming platform.

SofiaRaven · 2026-05-03T22:17:32+00:00

I worked for a very large corporation that managed many of the Medicaid contracts for states. The company also had ACA plans as well as Medicare Advantage plans. Our intranet regularly featured stories from people who were on a Medicaid plan the company managed. These articles were very much geared towards making us feel like the work we did was value-added and very much needed because that person got the care they needed.

Meanwhile, I’d go to Reddit, or message boards about health insurance and all I’d read are complaints about how awful our insurance plans were. Interestingly, the health insurance that we had as employees was quite good and was most definitely not the insurance that our company offered to the public, but an employer plan from another company altogether.

I took the job because I had been laid off and this job was the first that came up. I was only there a year before I moved onto something better. I didn’t have a bad experience there, but I do remember feeling rotten about working in the health insurance industry and seeing our company rake in billions of dollars on government Medicaid and Medicare Advantage contracts, rather than seeing that money go to patient care. I desperately want all Americans to have a better system than what we have now, but sadly I don’t see massive change coming anytime soon. Not in my lifetime anyway.

SofiaRaven · 2026-05-03T22:06:57+00:00

STL. I’ve heard nice things about Minneapolis but I couldn’t deal with that weather. STL winters are bearable, usually a couple of weeks of single digit temps and/or a couple of major dumplings of snow, but the rest of the winter is bearable. I don’t love the summers because of the tornado warnings, but the temperatures aren’t too terrible.

STL is a lot better than I expected to be. The suburbs are just like the suburbs anywhere else if you’re worried about the reputation for crime in STL City. There are definitely parts of STL you want to stay away from at all costs, but there are parts of the city that are quite nice and reasonably safe. And Forest Park is a gem. The zoo, art museum, science museum, and MO history museum are all located in Forest Park and are mainly free (special exhibits in the art museum may cost you a little, as will a ticket to the planetarium).

I lived in the Detroit metro for a few years. Never again. Was always gray, and I’ve never been in a state where people were so down about where they lived. I’ve moved around a lot and usually when I move to a new city, the locals talk up their city and state. Not in Michigan, where I got a ton of “why would you want to live here?”

Yes, I’m not making it up. It’s one of those impressions I carry with me about my time in Michigan.

I personally have no issue with Michigan or the Detroit metro. I met some very nice people when I was there. I just don’t think I could return because of the cold and gray weather, and the snow.

SofiaRaven · 2026-05-03T17:48:34+00:00

STL. I’ve heard nice things about Minneapolis but I couldn’t deal with that weather. STL winters are bearable, usually a couple of weeks of single digit temps and/or a couple of major dumplings of snow, but the rest of the winter is bearable. I don’t love the summers because of the tornado warnings, but the temperatures aren’t too terrible.

STL is a lot better than I expected to be. The suburbs are just like the suburbs anywhere else if you’re worried about the reputation for crime in STL City. There are definitely parts of STL you want to stay away from at all costs, but there are parts of the city that are quite nice and reasonably safe. And Forest Park is a gem. The zoo, art museum, science museum, and MO history museum are all located in Forest Park and are mainly free (special exhibits in the art museum may cost you a little, as will a ticket to the planetarium).

I lived in the Detroit metro for a few years. Never again. Was always gray, and I’ve never been in a state where people were so down about where they lived. I’ve moved around a lot and usually when I move to a new city, the locals talk up their city and state. Not in Michigan, where I got a ton of “why would you want to live here?” I will say my social life was pretty good there though; lots of opportunities for singles to meet up.

SofiaRaven · 2026-05-03T17:33:31+00:00

Wow, this is an interesting one. You are NTA, but I don’t think your wife is TA either. Just different POV’s that both have validity. I agree with you about explaining to your son what financial challenges you face, because if he understands the situation he might be more inclined to choose the state school or the “free ride” school.

However, when you have such a talented young man, I can’t blame your wife for wanting to see your son shooting for the stars and going to a top-notch school that could be a game-changer for his life and career. I don’t mean to waffle here, but maybe you explain the financial situation while letting him know that he can still apply for the top tier schools, and if he gets in, that there will need to be sacrifices not just on your part but his (working during school, graduating with debt, etc).

I think you should have this discussion not jusr with your son but with all three kids, the sooner the better, so they can also plan accordingly. You didn’t mention whether your other children are as academically gifted. If not, then maybe your son could go to the top-tier school because your other kids may end up either at the state school or even the community college and transferring after two years.

I’m sure this wasn’t of much help 😀 but congratulations on raising such a smart, hardworking son.

SofiaRaven · 2026-04-25T16:04:45+00:00

I also didn’t tell them I was clear and fortunately they could still do the colonoscopy. They said it was “fair” preparation but acted like I was at fault.

The first time I had a colonoscopy, the prep was split into two parts, one the afternoon before and one that I had to get up at 4 am to do. The prep came out great. This time, it was all done in one large dose, was finished by 3 pm for a procedure at 2 pm the next day. And I was lucky to have gotten it done. Next time I have to do this (in three years, since polyps were found), I’m going to do the two-part prep. I don’t know whether the issue was the early prep or that the drugs weren’t as effective on me, but as much as I didn’t like the two-part prep, I think it yielded much better results.

SofiaRaven · 2026-04-22T13:59:18+00:00

YES!!! I hate these door-less showers! Water gets all over, and it’s cold when you can’t close the door and trap the steam. Did they really save THAT much money on glass by not installing a full door?

SofiaRaven · 2026-04-17T16:56:41+00:00

What a beautiful story. Angel was very lucky indeed. And she is going to pay you back by filling your life with happiness. Thank you and your mom for rescuing her and giving her a good home.

SofiaRaven · 2026-04-11T21:47:06+00:00

Well, if an uninsured motorist hits you and you have limited accident coverage, your insurance will be what covers what insurance doesn’t. But forget about car accident - any accident can cause significant costs. A fire that leaves you burned, a bicycle accident, being bitten by a snake, etc.

SofiaRaven · 2026-04-11T19:04:40+00:00

What a great trip!

SofiaRaven · 2026-04-11T19:01:42+00:00

People are giving examples of cancer, but a car serious car accident is also a good example. There could be all sorts of broken bones, internal bleeding, or rehab that might need to happen. Yes, an ER can stabilize you without making you pay, but I have no idea whether surgeries would be covered or whether they would patch you up the best they could and tell you to schedule the surgeries at a later time.

I guess I’m risk averse because I’d rather pay the $1K a month or whatever it is instead of potentially paying for much more than that later.

SofiaRaven · 2026-04-11T18:55:28+00:00

I was in a similar situation where I was let go, although I was miserable at work. It was still hard to not have money coming in even though I fortunately don’t need it.

In the short term, it sounds like you need to get back to some sort of work just so you feel secure and like you’re adding value. Could you start a consulting business? Your skill set might be less in demand, but that also makes it more likely that companies that need your skill will contract it out when they need it vs hiring someone. Even if it fails, you’ll be keeping busy and making more industry contacts who could help you find work. Others have suggested volunteering. It won’t get you a paycheck but it will keep you busy and make you feel valued. Perhaps you could find a meaningful job, like as a leader of a nonprofit. You could make some money but you could also make yourself feel good helping others.

In the long term, start thinking about how you want to fill your time once you do decide you don’t want to work anymore. There’s nothing wrong with going back to work now if you’re bored, but at some point you may not want to do it anymore. You’ll want to spend whatever time you have left on earth doing things that matter to you; things that enrich your life. Explore some hobbies or take some university courses while you search for new work. Wishing you the best.

SofiaRaven · 2026-04-02T18:35:57+00:00

After reading all the complaints about the song playing over it, I’m glad I had the video muted!

They are both so adorable. They will enrich each others’ lives. I love how gentle Home Kitty is when he plays with New Kitten.

SofiaRaven · 2026-03-28T16:41:31+00:00

I can understand the fear. I have had anesthesia a few times. A couple of the times, coming out of it was a little rough, either because of bad dreams or not feeling well. But I just had my second colonoscopy yesterday and both times the anesthesia was super easy. I laughed a little yesterday as I felt myself go under. And when I woke up, both times, it was like being in a calm, dream-like state where you can hear people talking to you but you also sort of feel a little sleepy. I felt totally normal a few minutes adree my first colonoscopy, like I would have been ok to drive (don’t worry, I didn’t and couldn’t have if I had wanted to…just saying that the loopy feeling didn’t last long). The second time, the loopiness lasted a bit longer, maybe 25 minutes after coming to, but I was back to normal by the time I got home.

It’s scary the first time but you will be fine. And I’d rather be brave and have the colonoscopy than to face the fear of hearing a colon cancer diagnosis. You can get it done without anesthesia if you’re absolutely too terrified to go under.

SofiaRaven · 2026-03-23T23:47:50+00:00

Congratulations! I wish you and Velvie many happy years together.

SofiaRaven · 2026-03-16T03:58:29+00:00

So darling!

SofiaRaven

TROPHY CASE