Strange Day

[Ramie]

I know it's not uncommon for people to retire, happens every day.  But, being my last day at work its a very strange feel for me. 
I've been working since I was 10 years old.  I've been working in IT before they called it IT, before they had anything like a PC or even a digital calculator. 

I started working in the basement with my father repairing radios and TV's.  You could hardly walk around down there sometimes, of course that was in the day when people didn't just throw things away, they fixed them.  I still remember the first TV we got, a little round 5 inch screen.  We lived far enough away from the broadcast towers that half the time you could only make out a shadow amidst the snowy screen.

I worked missle sites in the Air Force, worked on all kinds of electro mechanical devices in a number of jobs after.  Worked with the first Programable controllers that used bubble memory and a 20 ma current loop for a network.

Worked on the newest Air Traffic Control systems, all kinds of networks, servers, Routers, switches, PC's laptops, Software etc...  Funny thing is, I've never taken a computer course in my life. 
I take that back, I did take some Oracle training a couple of years ago just because Oracle is so F*****up.

For the last 20 years I've been here at a local college and I thought about working longer but it's time for something new. 
I've got money in the bank, a pension, SS. A healthy HSA and differed comp accounts and a wife who will contiue to work for a few years to provide me with insurance.

Work isn't the same as it used to be, to much politics, to little commitment to doing a good job. 
 It seems to many young folks don't see their work as a relflection on them as a person.  My father taught me that no matter what you do, how you do it is a reflection on your character.

The education institution I've worked for the last 20 years like most today is basically a money mill with all the insane courses that offer no real benifit to the students other than to make the feel good about themselves.  I believe I learned more in high school then they ever will here and it depresses me when I think about the future of our amazing country.

The good news is I'll have more time to ride, more time to learn some new skills, (just picked up a plasma cutter and am excited about learning how to use it.)  Time to take care of a growing list of projects around the house.  Time to spend with my grandkids and see a few of their ball games.  Probably more time to spend on the forum bugging people with kitten videos and the like.  (don't worry, I hate kitten videos)

Now I have to learn a new routine, I no longer have to get up at 5 in the morning.  It probably won't make any difference to my 10 month old golden, he'll still want me up to feed him at his normal time but at least I can go back to bed if I want.  No more 35 mile drive into the heart of the city, no more TRAFFIC jams unless I choose. 

That all sounds good but I can't shake the feeling that it still feels Strange that I'll have the days to do what I want, accomplish what I want.

Hopefully when I wake up tomorrow morning it won't.   

[Oss]

You can now live the life you only dreamed of

Enjoy every minute

[old2soon]

               Ya know how when people say trust me and THAT'S the last thing ya wanna do?   But Trust me on this-you WILL figure it out. I'd thought-wrongly it turns out-that I'd miss trucking. For awhile I did until I watched a blizzard report on the T V that I could have well been in had I still been an over the road trucker. You learn to adjust and sounds like to me anywho you have a plan goin in. Do NOT under any circumstances get too much set in concrete. Be flexible. Let the collective here know how long it takes to no longer unass the bed at 0500 everyday.   You'll figure it out as others here have and others will. You feel frustration settin in throw a leg over and RIDE!  
                                                     RIDE SAFE.

[f6john]

You have attained the American dream, congratulations and enjoy your future.

[DIGGER]

Retirement is awesome .  Been retired 3 yrs this August .  Wife retired last December.   Didn't know how she and I were going to do together 24/7 but we have done well.   Closer now than ever.    Best thing is you can ride when you want and can pick your weather to ride.    I always heard retired people say they don't know how they got things done when they worked.   I believe it now.  Wife and I are always on the move.  You will love it.

[DIGGER]

My last day as I drove out of the parking lot I took a picture of the place in my rear view mirror.

[Rams]

You have attained the American dream, congratulations and enjoy your future.

What he said!

Having retired (partially) three tears ago, I can assure you, you will find more things to do than time to do them..   Enjoy, you have earned this.   

Rams

[Skinhead]

My last day at work is Aug 30, I have 12 VAC days I have to use between now and then, so I plan to start taking Fridays and Mondays off and working 3 day work weeks starting July 20.  When I decided to go last year, I planned to find me a nice place in TN, and be half moved in by now, then sell my place in MI and complete the move after I was retired.  Unfortunately, my wife's fear of moving to a new location, put a kink in those plans, so I'm not looking forward to retirement as much as I was last year.   I'm still working on her, but she's not making this easy.  I guess the 3 day work week will help me adjust.

I'm like you, been working since I had a paper route and I'm sure it will feel strange for a while.  Last night I tossed and turned most of the night thinking about things I might like to start doing once I go.  No matter what happens, I'm sure it will beat working for a living.

Good luck and wishing you a long and healthy retirement.

[hubcapsc]

Unfortunately, my wife's fear of moving to a new location, put a kink in those plans

Maybe a summer (or winter!) vacation for a few weeks in a rented house
in Tennessee would help... it would be hard to leave friends behind though...

-Mike

[Skinhead]

Unfortunately, my wife's fear of moving to a new location, put a kink in those plans

Maybe a summer (or winter!) vacation for a few weeks in a rented house
in Tennessee would help... it would be hard to leave friends behind though...

-Mike

Thats what I was thinking.  But I wanted to have things in place by now.  It's never too late.

[0leman]

I pulled the plug 01/01/09, just walked out and never looked back.  30 years as a field forester and 10 years a IT guy (I know how did I make the switch-long story for another day).  I too use to get up at 5:00.  Took me two months to sleep in till later.  Now I think 5:00 doesn't exist in the real world. 

Enjoy your retirement, and yeah you can ride now when the weather is good not just on the weekends.   That's one of the great things about retirement. 

[John Schmidt]

The day I retired after 30 yrs. with the organization, it was a bit emotional because I had worked with and for my lady boss for most of that time. As I was preparing to walk out of my office for the last time, my wonderful wife told me to go in her office and shut the door and spend some personal time with her. I did and glad I took the time. We took some trips down memory lane, then when I finally got up to go she stood up and walked up to me....then hesitated. I just put out my arms and with her next move along came her tears. It was a hug to remember, not passionate....but quite emotional. We had been through a lot in that 30 years and never fought over anything even though we didn't always agree. I then showed her what my next move was....I had a tape of that old song "Take this job and shove it" and placed an old portable tape player at the exit door with the tape, turned up the volume and walked out the door.

The next morning I slept in til 7:00, took me about a week to adjust to the new routine, then it was on to the "honey do" list. You'll wonder how you ever found time to go to work!  

[Willow]

Congratulations, Ramie.  I hope you adjust well to retirement and enjoy it.

I, too, went to work in I.T. when it was called Data Processing (1969).  It's been good to me but the time has come.  I'll be sixty-eight next year and no one should keep working after that.

quote author=Skinhead link=topic=102118.msg1017423#msg1017423 date=1531232046]
... I planned to find me a nice place in TN, and be half moved in by now, then sell my place in MI and complete the move after I was retired.  Unfortunately, my wife's fear of moving to a new location, put a kink in those plans, ...  [/quote]

I've set my own retirement for the end of February.  I had thought that by now I would be living somewhere in South Texas but my life partner explained to me that unless someone moves those grandchildren we're not going anywhere.

[Pete]

If you have thing you want to do and/or hobbies, retirement is great.
But without something to do it can drag and you may want to volunteer or parttime something.

Been retired 18 years, still have not run out of things to do. My dad was retired for 27 years never ran out of something to do, for 14 of those years we were both retired, it was blessing.

It is a major adjustment, so take your time and work it out.

For some having the wife with you is a blessing(includes me) for some it is not. You decide.

[Challenger]

I bailed out March/9 this year after 44 years at the same J.D. dealership. Wasn't figuring on retirement for a couple more years, but things started working on me. Friend (younger than me) diagnosed with ALS, My wife's heart condition and so on. All trepidation about quitting disappeared March 10th   Only been four months so far, but it has been great. Getting a lot more miles on the Valk   I say go for it and don't look back.

[Mr Whiskey]

The good news is I'll have more time to ride...

Dude, I'd be in the wind so fast....
Congratz, enjoy!!
https://youtu.be/rMbATaj7Il8

[..]

Unfortunately, my wife's fear of moving to a new location, put a kink in those plans

Maybe a summer (or winter!) vacation for a few weeks in a rented house
in Tennessee would help... it would be hard to leave friends behind though...

-Mike

Thats what I was thinking.  But I wanted to have things in place by now.  It's never too late.

Ditch the wife  

[Jess from VA]

Congratulations to a working life well lived...... and now finished.  

Retirement is what you make of it, like all life.  Take it easy, and enjoy whatever you do.

I've been futzing around for 8 years of retirement, and I'm still not sure what I want to do when I grow up.  

The old saying .... work expands to meet the time allotted for it is true.   I wonder how I found time to go to work all those years.  Lots to do, lots to fix, lots to throw out (where did all this sh-it come from anyway?).

My advice is to break things (to do in retirement) up into smaller pieces.  Do some work, and do some screwing around or just fun stuff..... every day.   The work ethic is a great one, but let it morph to include some fun and laughs, and rest.       


 

[DIGGER]

Unfortunately, my wife's fear of moving to a new location, put a kink in those plans

Maybe a summer (or winter!) vacation for a few weeks in a rented house
in Tennessee would help... it would be hard to leave friends behind though...

-Mike

Thats what I was thinking.  But I wanted to have things in place by now.  It's never too late.

Ditch the wife  

I have a 87 yr old uncle who rode BMW motorcycles all his adult life. .  He traveled all over the US on his BMWs.    He quit riding about 5 yrs ago.  He worked hard all his life for the railroad and then Continental Airlines.   His wife had an accident (not motorcycle related) and severed the nerves  in her face that disfigured her face and she became a hermit and wouldn't leave the house for the rest of her life.   When Hi retired he told her he wasn't gonna sit in that house the rest of his life and she could either go travel with him or move to Florida and live with her sister.  She chose Florida.    He continued his riding after retiring taking many motorcycle trips.     He even did the 4 corners of the US twice.  Occasionally he would ride to Florida to see his wife.    She died a few yrs ago.    He is still alive and misses his wife and his riding every day.

[ridingron]

I grew up as a military brat. Not moving wasn't an option. The only problem was packing your stuff. Around my house the phrase was you pack it or I'll pack it. Lost some good stuff a time or 2. My next move,  I plan to contact one of those "ugly house" buyers and see what kind of price they'll give me to pretty much walk away and leave it as is. Other wise there will be a dumpster involved.

A P.U. truck and trailer for my tools and bike stuff and a few other odds and ends. Cost more to move it than it's worth.






You have friends here? You'll have friends there!

[Skinhead]

Congratulations, Ramie.  I hope you adjust well to retirement and enjoy it.

I, too, went to work in I.T. when it was called Data Processing (1969).  It's been good to me but the time has come.  I'll be sixty-eight next year and no one should keep working after that.

quote author=Skinhead link=topic=102118.msg1017423#msg1017423 date=1531232046]
... I planned to find me a nice place in TN, and be half moved in by now, then sell my place in MI and complete the move after I was retired.  Unfortunately, my wife's fear of moving to a new location, put a kink in those plans, ... 

I've set my own retirement for the end of February.  I had thought that by now I would be living somewhere in South Texas but my life partner explained to me that unless someone moves those grandchildren we're not going anywhere.
[/quote]

I guess this is when we find out who really makes the rules.....

I could move as planned, I would just have to do it with half of what I planned to do it with. 

[henry 008]

good luck to you! my wife retired last month. she's SO much happier now and I think she got a few yrs younger too!

[hubcapsc]

I think she got a few yrs younger too!

RIP OFF!

-Mike "retired, but still old and fat..."

[Ramie]

Lot's of sound advice here, appreciate it.  Today the dog got me up at 6:30, I showered, made some breakfast and now it's 9:30 and I'm sitting in my recliner in my robe on the forum.  

Congratulations, Ramie.  I hope you adjust well to retirement and enjoy it.

I, too, went to work in I.T. when it was called Data Processing (1969).  It's been good to me but the time has come.  I'll be sixty-eight next year and no one should keep working after that.


I've set my own retirement for the end of February.  I had thought that by now I would be living somewhere in South Texas but my life partner explained to me that unless someone moves those grandchildren we're not going anywhere.

Sounds like were the same age, February isn't that far away.

Congratulations to a working life well lived...... and now finished.  

Retirement is what you make of it, like all life.  Take it easy, and enjoy whatever you do.

I've been futzing around for 8 years of retirement, and I'm still not sure what I want to do when I grow up.  

The old saying .... work expands to meet the time allotted for it is true.   I wonder how I found time to go to work all those years.  Lots to do, lots to fix, lots to throw out (where did all this sh-it come from anyway?).

My advice is to break things (to do in retirement) up into smaller pieces.  Do some work, and do some screwing around or just fun stuff..... every day.   The work ethic is a great one, but let it morph to include some fun and laughs, and rest.      

Yup, been in the same boat, not sure what I want to be when I grow up.  My problem has always been I've been interested in to many different things now maybe I'll have the time to put into them.