Off Topic » COVID (again)

Well...we've just had a holiday weekend in the US (Labor Day). My wife flew to the east coast to attend a wedding. When she returned, she was coughing. Next day...same. Took her to an urgent care facility, as I suspected COVID. Sure enough...she has it.

Point being...there are new variants making the rounds, but more importantly, my wife reported that at every airport visited there were huge crowds of travellers. People are packing themselves into airplanes, to stadiums, etc., coughing into the air, without masks. My wife is athletic and very, very healthy. She hasn't had a sick day in at least 20 years. Until now...

I think we're in for a large increase in COVID cases in the next 3 months.

I’ve heard of a few cases amongst colleagues in US, both in Pensilvania and Texas, seems that there is a new spike and with colder weather ahead you can wonder how this autumn will work out.

I have 3 overseas trips between now and mid October, maybe I’ll return to wearing a mask in airports and planes. I’m due a hip replacement in mid October, I don’t want to have to postpone that due to Cv19, my aim is to be well recovered for next spring and the riding season.

Zitat von Boxerboy im Beitrag #2

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I’ve heard of a few cases amongst colleagues in US, both in Pensilvania and Texas, seems that there is a new spike and with colder weather ahead you can wonder how this autumn will work out.

I have 3 overseas trips between now and mid October, maybe I’ll return to wearing a mask in airports and planes. I’m due a hip replacement in mid October, I don’t want to have to postpone that due to Cv19, my aim is to be well recovered for next spring and the riding season.

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Good luck everyone. I'm concerned, simply because people were flying all over the place, in packed planes, last week and then dispersing to who-knows-where, spreading the virus. If there's not an outbreak, it'll be a miracle.

It is definitely going around. Some colleagues had it in recent weeks. But none with serious illness.

Having went thru it in June 2022, it's not a fun experience. I had a very mild case, but my spouse has asthma. So, it was two weeks of in-house isolation to keep her COVID-free.

Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #6

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Having went thru it in June 2022, it's not a fun experience. I had a very mild case, but my spouse has asthma. So, it was two weeks of in-house isolation to keep her COVID-free.

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I'm not sure how an over-50-year-old teacher would handle this situation. Back in the day, by that age, teachers could retire without penalty. Today, that's not the case in many places. In my state, the pension plan for new hire teachers doesn't allow withdrawals before 65.

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #10

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Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #9

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I'm not sure how an over-50-year-old teacher would handle this situation. Back in the day, by that age, teachers could retire without penalty. Today, that's not the case in many places. In my state, the pension plan for new hire teachers doesn't allow withdrawals before 65.

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age limits are lower in the UK. I took my employment pension at 60 but could have done so at 55. I will not get the state pension until age 67.

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #8

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Zitat von Boxerboy im Beitrag #2

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I’ve heard of a few cases amongst colleagues in US, both in Pensilvania and Texas, seems that there is a new spike and with colder weather ahead you can wonder how this autumn will work out.

I have 3 overseas trips between now and mid October, maybe I’ll return to wearing a mask in airports and planes. I’m due a hip replacement in mid October, I don’t want to have to postpone that due to Cv19, my aim is to be well recovered for next spring and the riding season.

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it's in the UK. A friend was confined to home last week and could not compete in his Hill Climb event. He's a millennial from that London where it is rife in that generation, apparently. As they are the breeder generation, it will be rife in schools soon

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Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #11

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #10

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Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #9

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I'm not sure how an over-50-year-old teacher would handle this situation. Back in the day, by that age, teachers could retire without penalty. Today, that's not the case in many places. In my state, the pension plan for new hire teachers doesn't allow withdrawals before 65.

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age limits are lower in the UK. I took my employment pension at 60 but could have done so at 55. I will not get the state pension until age 67.

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That was the old rule for teachers or state employees in PA, age plus years of service time greater than 90 qualified for a no-penalty pension if you were 55 or older. Your state pension is what we call social security. For me, I can take that at 67 without penalty or delay until 70 to get a higher benefit.

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My opinion, but screw the extra dollars, I'd rather be out riding for those 8 years instead of working!

Agree entirely, took mine at 59 in 2013, one years tax free salary to 'go away' and a "tax free lump sum" from company pension with reduced future payments from the next week.

11 years later ( at 65 with government national insurance pension added) I've had 4 europe trips, Norway arctic circle a highlight, "we" still have my/our lump sum nestegg. We've been on many europe, med, scandinavia cruises although last 4 covid years have put these on hold.

Always wondered what happened to those who refused to take the offer, our union explained the best way to leave and I am so glad I did as advised.
Those 1 year lump sums became reduced, financial stuff hit pensions if you left at the wrong time and taxes change (never go down!)

Again that extra money at 70/80 years sitting in a rest home wishing you never stayed at work so long will just be a fading memory.
You may have the funds but no ability to do the things you 'put off until retirement'
Of the 12 of us "escapees from 2013" one manager passed away from a heart attack after less than 4 weeks of his retirement, very sad, he was one of the good guys..

It is a very important and tricky decision to make, with lots of time to regret it if you retire too early.
A good friend of mine retired last year at 65 and has just got a serious cancer diagnosis - after 6 months of chemotherapy she will never be the same even if she does survive it.
I'm 57 and almost ready to go but have a very tempting new job that hopefully I will be offered in the next few weeks. But not planning on that lasting more than a few years.