Well after 38 years - forced retirement and time to enjoy life for awhile

[Strider]

During my last trip to Africa, on January 10th was 38 years with the company and that month was also my 8th year in Africa.  On January 29th, the day before I got on the plane to come home, it took the country manager less than 10 minutes to tell me that they were forcing me into retirement (another way of saying I was being laid off - RIFFED).  Another position we thought would become available in Tunisia and then on Feb 19th, that fell through and less than 2 hours after the deal in Tunisia fell through, I got an email from HR in Africa saying that 10 days later was my last day with the company (Feb 29th).  They wouldn't even give me one more day so that I would have insurance through March.

Well, since I felt it was coming, I was able to get everything arranged for Bonnie to get on Medicare when they dropped the hammer and line up my finances.  During that 10 days, I had to call HR myself here in America to arrange a meeting so they could lay me off (wait, I mean retire me).  Did it a week ago.  Done deal now - I am now retired.  WHOOOOOOO-HOOOOOO.  Doesn't make me mad that it happened, it was just how it happened - not even the decency of a phone call or anything.  When I went to the HR meeting that I arranged to sign the papers, the dude even called people into his office to tell them "Man, this guy hired on in 1978!"  Yeah, well, you just laid me off dude!  "I want to thank you for your dedicated service."  Dude, let's not even go there..... "Well, let me take you to lunch."  Ummm, my wife and I are going for a sandwich.........

Well, guess that was my last trip on an airplane.  I figured that one way or the other, I have flown across the Atlantic 108 times and twice across the Pacific for the company.



I guess it was time.  The Lord has a purpose for everything, so I am just going to relax, hang up my spurs and say Adios to the oilfield after all these years.  I don't think Bonnie had another 4-7 years of me working in Africa left in her anyway, so perhaps it was meant to be - just to relax and enjoy each other.  I know the critters sure are digging having me home..........



So, if you have to ride over to your old office to get laid off after 38 years, may as well ride.......



After you get laid off, well...................may as well ride..................



Made a garden - at least we can live off maters and okra if need be....... 



Volunteered to help with the Royal Ambassadors of Christ boys at church.......




And just digging on life right now.  After 8 years of commuting to Africa, there is still a lot to catch up on around the house - then going to enjoy some wind I think.  Well, not how I thought I would walk out the door, but the Lord is providing for us - we may not be able to have everything we may want, but we will have everything we need, so for now, just going to kick back and enjoy life for awhile - been working (or on days off) every day since I was 20 years old.  My beautiful wife had this waiting on the counter for me when I got home.......



So, after flying over 900,000 miles, those days are over and now I get to see if I can catch up with that number on a bike now........

[RDKLL]

Strider, congrats on a great and most likely an interesting career...but F*ck them on how they say goodby...plenty of time to ride!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Strider, I'm glad you are taking the situation with good humor.   I love the plaque your wife had waiting for you.   The way I see it there are many winners in this situation. Your grandson gets some more rides with his grandpa, your wife gets more of your quality time, the pets are diggin it, the church gets a great role model to mentor the youngsters, and we get to see more of your posts on here.   I'm glad for you buddy ! (How come everybody in HR seems to be douches ?)

[Skinhead]

Enjoy it.  You've earned it.

[Serk]

...the high price of cheap gas...

Glad you made it as long as you did... I was cut from my oil patch job about 1.5 years ago, but no where near retirement so I found another gig.

Looks like you were able to land on your feet, hope to see you at Hot Glue's next month!

I know it sounds silly, but even after just 3 commutes to Africa, I actually miss the place... Strange as that sounds.

[Pete]

Welcome to the retirement side of life.
I love it been there 15+ years and it is great.

Forget the company and there ways and enjoy life, it is great.

[J.Mencalice]

Had a very good friend retire about 2 weeks ago after 30 someodd years working for the local hospital.
She just got fed up with the baloney and lack of sincerity from the manager of our laboratory; decided to exit and begin a new portion of her life.

I'll say the same thing that I said to her: "Don't bother looking in that rear-view mirror; just focus on what's down the road and what you are seeing ahead.  It's a better view."

Happy trails and ride that puppy.

[Oss]

Welcome home my brother

See you in a few weeks.

Its all good and now every day just belongs to you and Bonnie

[Black Dog]

Warren,

I too hired on in '78 (AT&T)...  April 1st of last year was 10 days short of 38 years for me.  Saw the writing on the wall. Been working since I was 13 (paper boy).  I took the 'package' they were offering, and have never looked back.  Been 'retired' for almost a year, and seem to be busier than ever.

Enjoy the freedom, wake up with Bonnie every morning, play with the Fur Children...

You deserve it 

Black Dog

[cookiedough]

congrats are in order vs. no negative thinking on the way the company let you go. 

My mother in law had less than 1 year to go before age 65 when she was 'ready' to retire officially from the company she devoted over 20+ years into.  The technology was overtaking what she could handle re-learning new programming at her age wasn't going to happen mentally.  They let her go before age 65 but gave her a 5-6 month severance package to get her buy before age 65 set in which was a nice thing to do.

A lot of companies nowadays (HR sucks) let you sit down at your desk in the morning for 1 second,  HR comes up to you and escorts you ASAP out the door telling you that your are fired with NO rhyme or reason not even allowing you to pack up your things.  NICE - NOT!!!  No loyalty nor respect for all your years of hard work at all. 

My uncle having a whopping 52 years in with the same company (now age 72) wants to break the record at his same employer which is 53 1/2  years in.  Not so sure why since 10 years from now NO ONE will remember who he was and how long he worked for the same company.  My theory, life is way too short to stick it out for longer than you really need to as long as retirement is feasible money wise NOT working.  For instance,  my former co-worker age 66 was going to retire in 2-3 months in VERY good physical condition having been there same company for well over 33 years.  He recently died having a heart attack out of the blue NOT even having a chance to enjoy his retirement.  Never know when the grim reaper will punch your clock out for good.   

[..]

When I got dumped by Coke during the great blood letting of 2000 I received this from a co-worker.

BEGIN AGAIN

One of the best things we can do in our lives is this:
Begin again.

Begin to see yourself as you were
When you were the happiest and strongest you've ever been.

Begin to remember what worked for you
(and what worked against you),
And try to capture the magic again.

Begin to remember how natural it was when you were a child --
To live a lifetime each day.

Begin to forget the baggage you have carried with you
For years:
The problems that don't matter anymore,
The tears that cried themselves away,
And the worries that are going to wash away
On the shore of tomorrow's new beginnings.

Tomorrow tells us it will be here every new day of our lives;
And if we will be wise,
We will turn away from the problems of the past
And give the future -- and ourselves -- a chance
To become the best of friends.

Sometimes all it takes is a wish in the heart to let yourself ..
Begin again."

And this from another

"Live as if to die tomorrow.
Learn as if to live forever."
--- Ghandi

[hubcapsc]

D'OH! Watch your back, that guy behind you is on the witness
protection program 



I bet things will go great for you, congratulations!

-Mike

[Jess Tolbirt]

gonna happen here too.. the end of June is my last days at the company i work for,,only i dont have a thing saved up for retirement,,ssi will get me about 1500 a month if i collect now,at 63 and i will have to make about 1500 a month to "make it" until i get this new truck and new bike paid for..
if you ever get up this way give me a shout and i will take you on some nice roads, and even have a bed for you to sleep in,,,
good luck my friend,,

[Crazyhorse]

Welcome home my friend. Good days are ahead.

[fudgie]

Congrats. Hope to see you on the road again. 

[Valkorado]

Congrats Warren!  Carry on...

[Stanley Steamer]

Welcome home....I'd say you've earned a much needed break....

[robin]

Congrats Warren and enjoy i retired this year also just have to figure it out

[John Schmidt]

Warren, that selfie taken in the plane was of what appears to be a tired man. Now's the time to refresh and regroup with those around you that love you. Granted, the method used to force you out was underhanded, but I feel it also comes with a bit of relief on your part. Had to chuckle at the picture of the pooch.....yeah, really excited. ZZZZZZZ    Now's the time to put some miles on those bikes and enjoy the fruit of your many years of labor. I retired 12 yrs. ago next month at age 66, made me the happiest man on earth. I had a great retirement party that left me with some fond memories. But, after a year there were only a couple people I would ever care to spend time with now. I found there is much to do and how did I ever find the time to go to work. Enjoy the time.

[Charlie McCready]

Strider, congratulations on retirement. Knowing you I'm sure you'll love it.  I agree with what John Schmidt says....'I don't know how I ever had time to work'.  I'm sure DDT and Hard 6 can help you some !!   Looking for you in Morgantown, WV in June !!!

[old2soon]

I've been retar-er-retired-yeah that's it-retired for the last a bit over 7 years.  Won't go into the gory details of my forced retirement but after it happened I'm really good with it-Now!  Warren my friend-take some time to smell da roses pat mama on da butt git some wind and find some gol durned pie to eat!  C-ya at I-16.  RIDE SAFE.

[0leman]

Congrats on the retirement.   

Mine was planned.  After 40 years plus of working for the Fed Gov, decided that was enough.  Said that 01/01/09 was last day.  Left a lot of info on our office, was a Systems Admin, in a file and walked out.  Only time I came back in was for going away party two weeks later (was a joint going away party with several others).   Didn't/haven't looked back.

So enjoy your time with your DW and Dog.

[RainMaker]

Congratulations on a successful career.  Savor each moment as you enjoy your well earned retirement.

RainMaker

[Warlock]

During my last trip to Africa, on January 10th was 38 years with the company and that month was also my 8th year in Africa.  On January 29th, the day before I got on the plane to come home, it took the country manager less than 10 minutes to tell me that they were forcing me into retirement (another way of saying I was being laid off - RIFFED).  Another position we thought would become available in Tunisia and then on Feb 19th, that fell through and less than 2 hours after the deal in Tunisia fell through, I got an email from HR in Africa saying that 10 days later was my last day with the company (Feb 29th).  They wouldn't even give me one more day so that I would have insurance through March.

Well, since I felt it was coming, I was able to get everything arranged for Bonnie to get on Medicare when they dropped the hammer and line up my finances.  During that 10 days, I had to call HR myself here in America to arrange a meeting so they could lay me off (wait, I mean retire me).  Did it a week ago.  Done deal now - I am now retired.  WHOOOOOOO-HOOOOOO.  Doesn't make me mad that it happened, it was just how it happened - not even the decency of a phone call or anything.  When I went to the HR meeting that I arranged to sign the papers, the dude even called people into his office to tell them "Man, this guy hired on in 1978!"  Yeah, well, you just laid me off dude!  "I want to thank you for your dedicated service."  Dude, let's not even go there..... "Well, let me take you to lunch."  Ummm, my wife and I are going for a sandwich.........

Well, guess that was my last trip on an airplane.  I figured that one way or the other, I have flown across the Atlantic 108 times and twice across the Pacific for the company.



I guess it was time.  The Lord has a purpose for everything, so I am just going to relax, hang up my spurs and say Adios to the oilfield after all these years.  I don't think Bonnie had another 4-7 years of me working in Africa left in her anyway, so perhaps it was meant to be - just to relax and enjoy each other.  I know the critters sure are digging having me home..........



So, if you have to ride over to your old office to get laid off after 38 years, may as well ride.......



After you get laid off, well...................may as well ride..................



Made a garden - at least we can live off maters and okra if need be....... 



Volunteered to help with the Royal Ambassadors of Christ boys at church.......




And just digging on life right now.  After 8 years of commuting to Africa, there is still a lot to catch up on around the house - then going to enjoy some wind I think.  Well, not how I thought I would walk out the door, but the Lord is providing for us - we may not be able to have everything we may want, but we will have everything we need, so for now, just going to kick back and enjoy life for awhile - been working (or on days off) every day since I was 20 years old.  My beautiful wife had this waiting on the counter for me when I got home.......



So, after flying over 900,000 miles, those days are over and now I get to see if I can catch up with that number on a bike now........

I feel for you. I am expecting a phone call any day also. Would think they would offer a early buy out, but no just turn the guy loose. Congrats on the retirement, but just don't like the way they handled it.
David

[wiggydotcom]

Congrats on your retirement, Strider. I hope you still have a lot more happy adventures, albeit in a different way.

[Disco]

Congratulations, Strider!   

[Willow]

A little over a year ago the company for which I had worked for fifteen years announced they were terminating my job.  They terminated that job because they had contracted with a larger external company to do the job I did, maintaining the operating system on a couple of large mainframe computers.  So I retired as they had forced me to do.  The company with whom they contracted to do my job was interested in hiring someone to do just that until and after they migrated the environment from Topeka, Kansas to Little Rock, Arkansas.  Guess who?  Yep, slight salary increase ( complex explanation) and the addition of a monthly retirement check.  Because of the short longevity of my stay, the retirement check is only about 1/4 of my working salary.  Honestly with the addition of Social Security monthly benefit I will be able to live fine in retirement when it really arrives.

Sometimes in the things that come our way, however unexpected or underhanded, it appears Someone else is in charge.  That's a good thing, isn't it.

Do well, Warren.  I'm sure you will.  Keep an eye on the improving side of life.        

[big d]

Warren, sorry to hear that they were such scumbags in the way they let you go.
 But I hope that means your family including us get to see you more frequently.
 Best of luck in your future happiness.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I wish you well Warren and hope everything works out for you. 

[jdp]

You said you are going to enjoy for awhile????, let's say enjoy for a long time, congrats and have fun.

[C908]

Strider we met years ago at one of the rallies when I was the Missouri State Rep for the VRCC. I was also forced into early retirement on May 1st, 2012. Three of us were read a script advising due to restructuring our retail management positions had been eliminated. We were then escorted out the side door like criminals before the store opened. We had zero notice and it just so happened we were the three oldest with the most senority. Just the year before I was receiving awards for top performance in the district. Seems like these are the times we live in.

[cookiedough]

Seems like these are the times we live in.

Yep,  sucks but true.  You could have 30 years in and the best employee there, and they have the power to escort you out the door on a minutes notice with some lame excuse.  My wife's employer does it routinely every single year to people there longer than her there at 25 years now.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Warren I'm still indebted to you for that time back in 07 when you came to my house. I now live out west in Clovis NM. We got some good riding out here and I have a comfy couch for you anytime.

When you get out here we'll ride around a spell. I have a KLR so bring that Vstrom or ride the Valk and we'll figure which roads apply.

[Jack]

You could always take up a second career path.  Look at Jack Holmes, aka Laborman.  He was the Personal MGR for an oil company and now is a professional photographer.

My dad got the same treatment as you from Sears 34 years ago.  They fired him one month before he turned 55 so they wouldn't have to pay him full retirement bennies.  He draws $59/mo from them after working for them for 33 years.

On another note:  It is good to have you stateside.  I worried about you overseas.  Welcome home.  See you at the Q!

[Gental Gaint]

Man... I always wondered what had happened to ya... So, how's retirement so far....????

[Slyk Willy]

All the best to you in your retirement Strider!

[The emperor has no clothes]

I haven`t seen Strider on here in quite some time. Hope he`s doing ok. Any of you Facebookers seen him ?

[Misfit]

I have talked with him. He is doing well. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have talked with him. He is doing well. 

[Karen]

They laid me off in 2011, at the end of  a contract, and retired me in 2013. Like John, I now wonder how I ever found time to work. Welcome to what you will call "My Time". Enjoy. All the things you tasted and wanted more of are now available. Life is good.